That's all pretty clear for in-person dining, but what happens when you're ordering food through an app?
A recent Reddit post in r/montreal stirred things up with a bold claim:
"FYI: Uber Eats is not using the new tipping law," one user wrote.
The post quickly gained attention, with other Montrealers chiming in about confusing tip amounts and unclear checkout breakdowns. So, we decided to check it out for ourselves.
We first reached out to an Uber Eats representative, who responded to our inquiry with the following statement:
"In compliance with the law, suggested tips are calculated based on order total, including Delivery Fees and Service Fees, but excluding taxes."
And based on our own testing, that's exactly what's happening. The app doesn't include taxes when calculating the tip, which follows the letter of the law. But the suggested tip amounts are based on more than just your food. They also include added fees like delivery and service charges.
When we placed a test order from Spicebros on Rue du Centre, the math checked out. The food subtotal was $16.99, with a $2.49 delivery fee. The app calculated a 15% tip as $3.22, based on a pre-tax total of $19.48. Taxes and other fees added another $5.21, bringing the full total to $27.91.
In this case, 15% of the food price (without fees or taxes) would be about $2.55.Uber Eats
While the tip is calculated before tax, it's also based on more than just the food. That's the part that seems to be tripping people up. Many users assume a 15% tip is based only on the meal, not the meal plus the extra fees.
So is Uber Eats following Bill 72? Technically, yes. The law only requires that tips be shown before tax. It doesn't say anything about excluding fees. Still, for users who expect the tip to be based just on their food order, the current setup can feel misleading.
Uber's label — "order total before taxes" — might not be helping.
We also tested DoorDash with an order from Monteiro Grill. The food subtotal was $18.99, plus a $1.99 delivery fee and a $2.09 service fee. Taxes came to $3.45, and the suggested tip was $4.50.
The checkout page features tip suggestions based on an amount that includes fees. DoorDash
Although the app says the recommended tip is based on distance and effort, it doesn't clearly show this calculation. In this case, the 15% tip seems to be based on the subtotal plus fees, not just the food. If the 15% tip was solely based on the food, it would be around $2.84.
For now, it seems these companies are doing what the law requires. But it's also easy to see why some Quebecers feel a little confused at checkout.
- Montreal's Uber Eats scene is full of 'ghost kitchens' and you may have ordered from one ›
- Michelin just picked Quebec's best budget-friendly restaurants and Montreal scored big ›
- 10 everyday things Canadians say they've stopped buying because of ridiculous prices ›
- Major Montreal road closures are coming this weekend — Here's what's affected - MTL Blog ›
- These 12 name-brand items are worth buying at Dollarama, according to shoppers - MTL Blog ›
- Montreal's finally getting a dose of summer weather this week but it won't last long - MTL Blog ›
- A discount grocery chain with viral prices is opening its biggest store ever in Laval - MTL Blog ›
- Quebec's new average salary is almost $65K but 8 other provinces are making more - MTL Blog ›
- 9 name-brand items I was surprised to find at Dollarama - MTL Blog ›
- 2 Montreal food spots were fined over $6,000 each for hygiene violations this year - MTL Blog ›
- Canadians shared where they refuse to leave a tip and some answers might surprise you - MTL Blog ›
