About our Service Charge
To help ensure a fair work environment for all our team members, ANC has implemented a service charge. ANC’s commitment to creating an equitable workplace encompasses everyone on our team: from the vineyard crew who carefully prune the vines, to the cellar crew who meticulously tend to the wines, to the tasting room team member who delivers an exceptional experience, and to everyone else behind the scenes who facilitate each of those roles.
This service charge goes directly to the company and helps fund competitive pay and benefits for everyone on our team. The majority of the funds generated from service charges are used to compensate team members who are unable to retain tips due to Washington state law.
We recognize that we serve generous people in a luxury market, and the last thing we want is for this service charge to leave you feeling frustrated. If you feel uncomfortable with this charge for any reason, we are happy to refund it.
Below is a brief explanation of how the charge is calculated.
Due to the limitations of our software program (Wine Direct), the service charge is calculated on a staggering metric that increases in $5 increments with any purchase of $10 or more. The rate is between 4% and 7% before it moves to the next range with a maximum service charge of $21.
Example #1: At the $10-$15 price range:
A $10 purchase is charged at 7% equaling a total service charge of $0.70.
A $15 purchase is charged at 4.7% equaling a total service charge of $0.70.
Example #2: At the $30- $35 price range:
A $30 purchase is charged at 7% equaling a total service charge of $2.10.
A $35 purchase is charged at 6% equaling a total service charge of $2.10.
Service Charge & Tips:
We understand that guests are also adjusting to the new world of service charges. Rather than adding a large flat-rate service charge like many other businesses have done, we have chosen to keep our rate low. We want guests who wish to voluntarily tip those who served them to be able to do so without exceeding the median tipping metric. Voluntary tips and gratuities are appreciated but not expected and go entirely to the tip-earning team.
Please note that if you feel uncomfortable with our service charge for any reason, please let us know and a manager can remove the charge or issue a refund.
We appreciate your support!
FAQ’S
Why don’t we raise our prices instead of adding a service charge?
We have found our guests prefer to voluntarily tip
Tasting Room Associates. Raising prices sufficiently to achieve our goal of equitable wages for all staff, results in a larger cost to guests.
Example #1: A 10% price increase is added to food and beverage sales:
$100 sale + 10% price increase = $110
Plus voluntary tip (assuming 20%) = $22
Total transaction cost: $110 + $22 = $132
Example #2: No price increase, but a service charge is included in the sale:
$100 food and beverage price
Plus voluntary tip (assuming 20%) = $20 tip
Plus $100 x 7% = $7 service fee
Total transaction cost: $100 + $20 + $7 = $127
We appreciate your patronage and support of local wineries!
To help ensure an equitable work environment for all of our team members we have implemented a service charge. As part of ANC’s commitment to creating a fair and equitable workplace for everyone on our team: from the vineyard crew who carefully prunes the vines, to the cellar crews who meticulously tend the wines; to the tasting room team member who delivers an exceptional experience and everyone behind the scenes facilitating each of those roles.
This charge goes directly to the company and helps fund competitive pay and benefits.
We recognize that we serve generous people in a luxury market so the last thing we want is to have this charge leave you feeling frustrated so I’ve done my best to explain the rationale below. However, it is most important that you know that if you feel uncomfortable with this charge for any reason ~ we are happy to refund it for you because it is not something that we want to be forcing on guests rather a means of helping to compensate a number of people on our team who are unable to retain any portion of the tips due to state law.
Below is a brief explanation of how the charge is calculated.
Due to the limitations of our software program (Wine Direct) we were unable to allocate a straight percentage to each charge instead we have built out a staggering metric. The charges increase in $5 increments. This range begins with any charge of $10 or more and ends with a maximum service fee of $21. Each rate increase begins at 4% and ends at 7% before it moves to the next rate.
Provide examples:
We understand that guests are also adjusting to the new world of service charges. Rather than add a large service charge like many businesses have done we have chosen to keep our rate low so that if guests wish to voluntarily add an additional tip for those who served them they can also do without exceeding the median tipping metric.
The entirety of the service charge is retained by the company.
Additional gratuities for exceptional service are greatly appreciated by the Tasting Room Teams.
Please note that if you feel uncomfortable with this service charge for any reason, please let us know and a manager can remove the charge or issue a refund.
We appreciate your support!