TIPPING POLICY

Big news here at Bernstein's — WE’VE GOTTEN RID OF TIPPING! 

Our bagelers have historically earned on average 20% in tips because you, our customers, are amazing and we are beyond fortunate to have you. Moving forward, we've simplified things a bit. Instead of basing this portion of wages on the inconsistent nature of sales, we are now incorporating it directly into the hourly pay that our employees take home. Because it’s better to know exactly how much you’re earning at your job.

To make this work, we have done away with tipping, increased prices by 20%, and given our bagelers substantial hourly raises across the board. This will go along with an expanding benefits package to continue being the sustainable, supportive, community-minded employers that we strive to be. The price you see on the menu is the total price you pay, and it reflects our costs of keeping the ship afloat.

What does this look like? You’re seeing higher prices on the menu, but our aim is that without having to worry about gratuity, your final tab will be about the same as you've grown accustomed to. (Some restaurants are adding in automatic service fees at the end of the transaction, but we think this is more straightforward and transparent.) Employees are earning the same on their paychecks as before, just in a guaranteed hourly wage. In short, it's the same ol' Bernstein's! Amazing bagels, folks who are super happy to help you achieve your bagel dreams, and customers who can rest easy knowing they're helping us provide livable wages for our number ones. 

Read on for more info, resources, etc. If you're a restauranteur curious about following us and a number of our buds in the Portland restaurant scene in doing away with tipping, give a shout. Thank you all for your continued support of our little shop, and remember, bagel if you bagel bagels!

Love and bagels,

B'sBs

FAQs

I typically order online, will I still need to pay the online service fee?

NO! Good news: we are doing away with the online service fee and the Tip feature, so your bill will likely be less than you were paying before.

I always tip 20%, will my bagel bill change?

NO! Good news: your 20% is now included in the price and it's going directly to employees' wages.

I HATE tipping and I NEVER tip.

OK! Good news: you STILL don't have to tip. We have done away with tipping at our shop.

Will this also apply to dozens and bulk orders?

YES! We have a highly involved two day process to make our bagels and each one is hand rolled, boiled, topped, and baked to exacting standards by folks who have been doing this with us for years. We use quite literally the best ingredients we can find and cut no corners along the way. This is all reflected in the price, and we think it's worth it. 

Is tipping really based on racist practices from the post-Civil War era and has it helped develop an exploitative restaurant system that encourages sexual harassment, sexism, an unnecessary hierarchical structure of employees between front and back of house, and, of course, still, racism?

YES, that's all exactly right! Some resources from Eater, NPR, and The NYer to get you started. 

But as unskilled laborers, aren't--

There's no such thing as unskilled labor! 

COMMUNITY

Shout out to some food buds who have done away with tipping or opted instead for an automatic service fee to help insure living wages: Scottie's Pizza, Red Sauce, Cafe Olli, Broder, Apizza Scholls, Luce, Kachka, Gracie's Apizza, Nostrana, Sugarpine Drive-In, Gabbiano's, Mama Bird, Fermenter...