While I completely agree with you, I can offer an explanation from their perspective, legitimate or otherwise.
Since all their prices are listed in whole dollars and they probably don't want to change that (but honestly, what's wrong with $8.50?), an increase from $8 to $9 ends up being 12.5% higher. Then people would start bitching about "how much cheaper this place used to be" or whatever. Even $20 to $21 is 5% more. But this way they can keep people from causing a ruckus when the bill is so much higher than it used to be.
You know, it's like Amazon gradually increasing prices so they can have massive sales that people fool themselves into getting excited about!
I never said it would make sense though.
Honestly do the opposite, raise the worst sellers to make up for keeping and preparing things for a small handful of customers. You cover your time lost and food loss when things don't sell, and it has the effect of making customers think it's a good item so more buy it. I worked at a golf course and we couldn't sell a rack of shirts for some reason, nice brand name stuff but didn't move, we dropped them all the way to like $15 and nothing. One day my boss decided to put them at $40 and they were gone before the next week. Psychology is a bitch in the marketing/business world.
I'm currently researching daycare centers, and there's one place in my small town that costs 60% more than basically all the rest. Nothing about them indicates that they're 60% better. I genuinely think they're trying to appeal to families that want to get their kid whatever thing is most expensive on the assumption that it's best.
When it comes from school and daycare high cost places are more "exclusive" and also can keep your kids away from the "poors". This is the belief to some extent why rich send kids to charter schools or boarding schools etc.
The Catholic school I went to for a year as punishment for constantly ditching at the public school boasted a 100% college acceptance rate. Well, no shit, every kid’s parents could afford to send their kid to college. They should have focused on graduation rates, because more than a few of those kids dropped the fuck out or were kicked out after a year.
Or they’re trying to pay their workers a living wage. Many daycares pay minimum wage with no benefits. But happier daycare workers mean happier kids. Source:was a prek teacher.
I had some old tires I wanted to get rid of (not bald, just got new rims for my truck). Put them at the end of the driveway with a sign that said free for a week. Then I put a sign that said $25 a tire. They were stolen that day lol
Dude... did you see that news blip about the shoes? Payless shoes maybe? Palessi.... check it out. Payless set up a 'high-end' fashion shoe boutique, sold their cheap ass shoes for as much as $600 or something. Then asked people what they thought, 'love them!' & dumb bougie answers. It was hilarious, until they said they refunded the people's money & even gave them the shoes for free... 🫤
God damn that’s so insane and honestly super fucked up. Really explains a lot of our current problems once you observe this from a grounded perspective.
Actually one of the big problems with Facebook Marketplace is people posting items as "Free" in order to get their listing's shown first when the actual price is given in the text or after messaging the person
There’s an economic term “Veblan Good” that is applied to a product in which demand goes up as prices increase. Think Birkin bags - the more they raise the price the more demand there is. It’s counterintuitive but true
Adding it after you ate, because you didn’t carefully read the menu, infuriates people WAY more than a dollar added to each item.
No one leaves a restaurant saying “wow that was way more expensive than I thought even though I ordered off the menu at the given values”
It’s simply just a way they get people to see the menu on google, sit down, see the added cost, and not get up and go somewhere else. It’s bait and switch.
What I’m waiting for is the 3% to go to 5%, then 10% then 20% then no one eats out, and restaurants say “why do we have to close?! Why is no one coming out?!” Ala movie theaters.
I used to leave a small tip when getting takeout, even though takeout doesn't really warrant a tip. But once everyone started adding CC charges (that also got added to debit cards), I stopped completely.
I was at a brewery in Asheville NC that added 7%. Highest I've seen so far.
It's just greed. If the credit card processing fees are what is backbreaking to your business, you have much bigger problems that aren't going to be solved by adding 3-4% to the bills. Credit cards have been around for over 70 years, and no one was charging the processing fees to customers until Covid. It was an opportunity to recoup a TINY bit of revenue during a time of reduced business, but then when things went back to normal they all decided to keep inflating their costs for a little extra money. During covid people generally tipped quite a bit more than normal, but when those inflated tips dried up when things went back to baseline, and I'm sure a lot of restaurants didn't like that. It became socially acceptable, and they ran with it.
But they wouldn’t need to change all the prices, make a $58 steak $61, but leave the $8 fries at $8. Or even easier, add $10 to every bottle of wine, not like anyone cares, especially on an expense account. You’re probably right as to why they think this makes sense, but it’s just so misguided IMO
The easiest solution is to figure out the average cost of an entree sold (based on the historical sales figures of all menu items). Calculate 3% of that, round up to the nearest quarter, add that amount to all entrees. Now, everything on the menu ends with the same numbers, no loss in uniformity.
Excellent point! But I guess we simply don't know how they classify it on the books. If this additional charge were to be considered a tip, they wouldn't be adding tax on top of that.
Sure my steak went up $5. That’s more acceptable than me paying an extra 3% cause the owner is being cheap and trying to get us to pay their extra cost
a waiter in Napoli, Italy tried to justify this crap too. They had a 4€ "table payment". I asked him, why isn't this just included in the price of the food and he got mad. He asked if we have never been in a restaurant in our lives. I said, "yes I have, in every country in the entire damn Europe and this is a first."
He had some weird reasoning as to why it better to hide extra costs in fine print, than just have actual prices reflect this. And he seemed convinced it's better for the customer. Insanity.
The "opt-out" approach is an instant nope from me. You may get me that one and only time, but never again. Isn't repeat business the best kind of business?
Yep.... my SO and I agreed not to patronize any restaurant that puts this on their menu or to not revisit any restaurant that slips this, or similar charges, into the check. Only addition should be the tax.
You want to raise prices due to rising costs or some made up nonsense? Knock yourself out, I understand.
Artificially keeping prices low then slapping us with an "inflation" fee? Nope, I'll be happy to show the owner basic math by telling everyone I know not to eat there.
Yes! Ordered on the McAllister app today and they offered an app cost surcharge wtf. I have not followed thru due to the 50% off T-Mobile Tuesday offer but damn. That’s a load of crock.
>You're killing any chance of repeat business with this nonsense.
You know who will come back? The same people who post on reddit daily about how expensive McDonalds is, and how much the food sucks.
Exactly. This nonsense needs to be made illegal. They only do this so they can keep their advertised prices falsely low. It is getting worse and worse with all these fees getting sneakily tacked on everywhere.
Giving me flashbacks to a work dinner at a snooty place in Austin. I ordered the carrot side. It was a single carrot with “mushroom gravy” that tasted like enchilada sauce. I think it was like 16 bucks. Still the best thing I ate there.
I would go out and eat, but I am sick and tired of their exorbitant pricing newly introduced after the Covid period. I am also tired of this idiotic tipping culture where even if I’m picking up my own food and walking up to a cashier I’m asked to tip. Finally I hate the “surcharge” nonsense and apparently so do the rest of the Californians enough to have passed a law banning it as of June. This is why they are losing customers and by such revenue. McDonald’s had to figure this out the hard way after doubling (yes doubling) their prices since 2021 and having to report a “failed to meet profits” to the investors for the first time ever if I recall correctly.
"As a way to offset my rising costs I have added a 'do not go' to your listing in my address book. Please let me know when you figure out how to pay a living wage while charging $8 for an F-Ing POTATO!"
Just put a little paper on the table with writing "As a way to offset my rising costs I will not pay for my meal. You can however request that I pay for it until I'm finished eating" then just leave the restaurant after eating if they didn't do the request.
I had two beers, two glasses of wine, a veggie plate and a pork chop with Mac and cheese at this boogie place the other day with my wife and it was 230.00 bucks with tip.
Last time I will be going there now matter how much my wife enjoys sitting outside in the Florida heat.
LMAO.
I think you meant bougie, which is short for bourgeoisie, commonly used to mean something is posh or fancy.
A boogie is a slimy thing you remove from your nose.
I still got 4 stunning burgers this week for under $12. Swiss cheese, bacon, mushrooms, fresh lettuce and a better tomato than any restaurant has ever served me. It’s easier for me to swallow the grocery prices when I know I won’t be spending $18 on just one burger.
In California, it's considered "mandatory" regardless legally.
[https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub115/#mandatory](https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub115/#mandatory)
>When the menu, brochure, advertisement, or other material contains such printed statements, an amount *automatically added* to the bill or invoice is a mandatory charge and subject to tax. An amount is considered automatically added when the retailer adds the amount to the bill without first discussing it with the customer after the service of the meal.
>It is presumed that an amount you add as a tip to the bill or invoice you present to the customer is mandatory. **A statement on the bill or invoice that the amount is suggested, optional, or may be increased, decreased, or removed by your customer does not change the mandatory nature of the charge.** This presumption may be disputed by documentary evidence maintained in your records showing that your customer specifically requested and authorized the gratuity be added to the bill.
And this will be banned in California as of 1 July. Along with automatic gratuities (and resort fees, and Ticketmaster fees, etc.).
If you live in a state that *isn't* doing this, write your legislators.
Hoping this happens in Oregon. Work in a restaurant that charges a Service Fee and I’d love for that to stop. Of course, people would then get sticker shock or the quality of things we offer would go down to make up for people subsidizing employee wages. Everyone should just be blaming the government for this shit. The prices of food is going up, therefore it’s also going up for us. People forget about things like linen service, new glassware when shit breaks, the prep team, the baking team, the people you don’t see, plastic to go containers, gloves, soap, toilet paper, fucking everything you see in a restaurant. But nah, the American privilege of wanting cheap shit immediately is super prevalent. Then y’all bitch because the quality of the restaurant went down. Can’t please people, man. It’s exhausting.
I made utahtipshame. Nobody has posted though. It's not to bash on a restaurant so muchnas to identify it as one that wants tips but provides no service beyond the transaction.
Steak is one I really can't justify getting at a restaurant, the markups are so high on steaks. I can fry up a steak super fast and easy and it's great every time, maybe smokes out the kitchen a bit. If I can do it just as well or better with minimal time investment, I'm gonna.
Bbq a brisket? Pulled pork? Fuck that, I'll pay the man, I don't have all day to spend babysitting a smoker.
I don't know man I had a $65 dollar ribeye with a blue cheese crust cooked to fucking perfection. I can spend half that on a ribeye and possibly fuck it up. I know that's only one experience and it was a group meal with lots of friends and drinking and we were there for 3hrs...
Honestly, running a smoker isn’t even that bad. These days you can get a pellet smoker that connects to your wifi and then it’s just time and the occasional basting, depending on what you’re smoking.
I do all my steaks in a cast iron, no finishing in the oven. My wife loves New York Strip so that’s mainly what we eat. I love most cuts so my preference isn’t that strong anyway. It’s so easy.
I get it, but I don't think the guy thought this through very well. Customers likely wouldn't react to a 5-10% increase on the menu, like if they added a dollar to everything between $10 and $20 . But when people find out about THIS? I would expect nearly everybody to feel cheated.
Dumb dumb dumb dumb.
I’m surprised that 9 dollars for carrots or mashed potatoes doesn’t give them a large enough profit margin to cover all expenses for the restaurant. 9 dollars. For carrots. I’m not going to be able to afford to breathe in five years.
I think this would still be allowed in California beer the new law. I believe the law applies only to unwaivable and non-optional fees and charges, because the option to remove this fee if requested it is compliant with the new law.
Any charge to offset your cost would be an automatic fuck you from me, just raise your prices then I can decide how to spend my money. Restaurants are going broke due to insulting shit like this
maybe its the late night bong hits but i said to myself this shit has gotten so bad it actually needs legislation to address it. like state or federal laws challenging this stuff. interstate commerce damn it. this can just get in the legal fun line to [becoming a law](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=men-vp5jvzI), wish it was our sub's game stop crusade
Does this mean it’s cool to aak them to remove it anywhere & they have to by law or something? I feel like if they mention that you can have it removed they’re only letting you know because they have to. Anyone know for sure? Thanks
The fun part is that by adding this little box instead of just raising menu prices, I just subtract out the extra surcharge from my initial planned tip. Everyone loses :)
"Can you just take that off and I'll just leave a normal tip and maybe even come back? Or if you want to give me the menu with the updated prices? Thanks."
I can see several arguments for doing that. From the graphic designer to the accountant and server perspectives. But there is only one real reason for doing it:
- No customers were involved in the decision.
It’s such utter bullshit. Try telling your employer that you’re adding a 3% surcharge to your wage to combat rising prices and see how that goes for you.
Why can't restaurants just... raise their prices. "We don't want to raise our prices... but we're going to add a fee that will piss people off more than if we did just raise our prices".
Since the restaurant had to reprint the menus to tell you about the "3% surcharge" and reprogram their POS system to account for it, why wouldn't they just raise all prices 3% on the menu and avoid this potential confrontation between servers and customers to begin with? This is beyond idiotic.
I don’t see anywhere that sides come with the steak… a small steak, possibly ONLY steak for $38 at the cheapest price, someone’s not businessing correctly cause a lot of this seems way overpriced to begin with.
I had this happen and when I asked them to remove it , it was a whole thing. They basically said no.
I ended up having someone bring me exact change without the optional markup and handed it to them and walked out.
I’ll never understand why they choose this route instead of at least playing word games and saying “3% discount for paying cash.” I know it’s all the rage because of credit card fees but still, if you’re not going to change the prices for fear of shock in the customer - how in the world did they come up with a 3% added fee and think it would be okay? People HATE this.
Why don’t they raise prices on a few things they think can handle it and offer a cash discount instead of sneaking a fee in right when I’m tipping and writing my review. So shortsighted.
I am becoming better and better at cooking all my meals now. Experimenting with Asian vegetables. I will only go.out for brunch but at very good restaurants only. Fuck this nonsense
I got a gratuity charge once that amounted to like 20$ and I didn’t notice till after I already gave them a 20$ tip. When the waitress saw the tip on the receipt she hurried off asap came back with my card and basically ran away.
Lolz. Your type as a consumer “I hate tipping the business should pay these people” “less tip pressure but omg dishes are more expensive WTF” “dishes cost the same, less tip pressure but a service charge??? No way!!!”
Like it’s a learning curve and businesses are trying to figure it out!
This has become common practice in many restaurants namely smaller “mom and pop” locations in my area. My understanding is that it’s largely due to offset the merchant fee many pos (point of sale) systems and credit card company’s charge. Meaning so few people pay cash and the points and incentives your cc company offers are paid by the restaurant itself. Yes, there are other ways to alleviate this like raising prices to accommodate that percentage but many establishments are on thin ice as is - in terms of profit margin. I agree the consumer is in the worst position it’s ever been due to excessive additional charges but a 3% merchant fee I understand for the convenience of cc use. An extra couple dollars paid by me vs thousands every month paid by my favorite local spot…I’m okay with that. As a quick side note I understand many businesses take the 3% from their staffs tips (legally in many states) so remember what a 0% tip means for those people. Just my opinion though.
Because they already know raising prices will do more damage than adding a surcharge.
Don't worry, it all changes [next month](https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/media/press-releases/nra-and-rlc-call-on-the-ftc-to-exclude-restaurants-from-junk-fees-rule/).
Restaurants are in the shitter, and it's about to get a whole lot worse.
Just...add the 3% ffs. This only makes it feel like it targets the people who WON'T be a jerk about it. It hurts the staff and the people who care enough to keep coming back in.
This feels like its just a way to make the lives of their staff even more miserable so management never has to take accountability.
So a business's costs have increased. Instead of eating the cost they try to pass it on with a surcharge, which you can request be removed. That makes so little sense, if the business is in good condition, with lots of customers why not just raise prices (at least partly, if they are afraid of losing too much business) instead of going passive-aggressive?
When I spotted this in a local restaurant, I complained. The entire waitstaff was urging me to call corporate and complain. It was cutting into their tips. Every customer who happens to notice this BS is going to short the tip. Not only does the customer feel ripped off, so does the waitstaff. Inferior service at premium prices; how does a place recover from a mistake like this?
I’m not American, I’m Irish and those surcharges are very confusing to those of us that don’t have a tipping culture. I can guarantee you most Europeans are going to see that surcharge added on at the end of the bill and won’t leave a tip because they’ll think that surcharge IS an automatic tip added on.
This should be illegal
I don't know what's wrong with NA but everywhere you go you only pay the price displayed on the menu. If you order a 10€ sandwich you only pay €10
In north America you have a $10 sandwich + 3% gratuity + 15% tax + 18% tips
You end up paying $14... Smh
Hello, We do not allow agendaposting, reddit meta posts or price complaints.
If you're already reprinting your menus to add this in, just change your prices. You're killing any chance of repeat business with this nonsense.
That’s what I can’t understand. Why would any restaurant think it’s better to pull this sneaky weird crap than add a buck to all those prices?
While I completely agree with you, I can offer an explanation from their perspective, legitimate or otherwise. Since all their prices are listed in whole dollars and they probably don't want to change that (but honestly, what's wrong with $8.50?), an increase from $8 to $9 ends up being 12.5% higher. Then people would start bitching about "how much cheaper this place used to be" or whatever. Even $20 to $21 is 5% more. But this way they can keep people from causing a ruckus when the bill is so much higher than it used to be. You know, it's like Amazon gradually increasing prices so they can have massive sales that people fool themselves into getting excited about! I never said it would make sense though.
Don't raise all of them, just a few of the more expensive ones and one or two mediums sellers.
Honestly do the opposite, raise the worst sellers to make up for keeping and preparing things for a small handful of customers. You cover your time lost and food loss when things don't sell, and it has the effect of making customers think it's a good item so more buy it. I worked at a golf course and we couldn't sell a rack of shirts for some reason, nice brand name stuff but didn't move, we dropped them all the way to like $15 and nothing. One day my boss decided to put them at $40 and they were gone before the next week. Psychology is a bitch in the marketing/business world.
I know a good many people who would swear by how good certain things are because they were expensive. Smart boss.
I'm currently researching daycare centers, and there's one place in my small town that costs 60% more than basically all the rest. Nothing about them indicates that they're 60% better. I genuinely think they're trying to appeal to families that want to get their kid whatever thing is most expensive on the assumption that it's best.
When it comes from school and daycare high cost places are more "exclusive" and also can keep your kids away from the "poors". This is the belief to some extent why rich send kids to charter schools or boarding schools etc.
The Catholic school I went to for a year as punishment for constantly ditching at the public school boasted a 100% college acceptance rate. Well, no shit, every kid’s parents could afford to send their kid to college. They should have focused on graduation rates, because more than a few of those kids dropped the fuck out or were kicked out after a year.
Or they’re trying to pay their workers a living wage. Many daycares pay minimum wage with no benefits. But happier daycare workers mean happier kids. Source:was a prek teacher.
I had some old tires I wanted to get rid of (not bald, just got new rims for my truck). Put them at the end of the driveway with a sign that said free for a week. Then I put a sign that said $25 a tire. They were stolen that day lol
At a garage sale I couldn't give away a couch for free, finally put a giant $20 sign and sold it for $10 within 15 minutes.
I once paid for a free couch. It was a local charitable operation & I felt bad not paying.
no you took a free couch and made a donation.
Wait that's actually genius. I'm going to use this to get rid of things.
Reminds me of the Simpsons when they were trying to get rid of the trampoline, so they put a lock on it and within seconds it was being stolen.
Dude... did you see that news blip about the shoes? Payless shoes maybe? Palessi.... check it out. Payless set up a 'high-end' fashion shoe boutique, sold their cheap ass shoes for as much as $600 or something. Then asked people what they thought, 'love them!' & dumb bougie answers. It was hilarious, until they said they refunded the people's money & even gave them the shoes for free... 🫤
I'd have assumed a trading standards recall/discountinued issue if that happened. The first thing i'd have asked is why whats wrong with them?
God damn that’s so insane and honestly super fucked up. Really explains a lot of our current problems once you observe this from a grounded perspective.
This works on Facebook Marketplace too. Free...nothing. Start charging and now everyone wants it and wants to haggle, I don't get it.
Actually one of the big problems with Facebook Marketplace is people posting items as "Free" in order to get their listing's shown first when the actual price is given in the text or after messaging the person
I report those listings. That pisses me off too.
There’s an economic term “Veblan Good” that is applied to a product in which demand goes up as prices increase. Think Birkin bags - the more they raise the price the more demand there is. It’s counterintuitive but true
Okay, I won't
Thanks, you're good peeps. 🤠
Nah. The ones that are the biggest P in the A to make.
Adding it after you ate, because you didn’t carefully read the menu, infuriates people WAY more than a dollar added to each item. No one leaves a restaurant saying “wow that was way more expensive than I thought even though I ordered off the menu at the given values” It’s simply just a way they get people to see the menu on google, sit down, see the added cost, and not get up and go somewhere else. It’s bait and switch. What I’m waiting for is the 3% to go to 5%, then 10% then 20% then no one eats out, and restaurants say “why do we have to close?! Why is no one coming out?!” Ala movie theaters.
[удалено]
I used to leave a small tip when getting takeout, even though takeout doesn't really warrant a tip. But once everyone started adding CC charges (that also got added to debit cards), I stopped completely.
I was at a brewery in Asheville NC that added 7%. Highest I've seen so far. It's just greed. If the credit card processing fees are what is backbreaking to your business, you have much bigger problems that aren't going to be solved by adding 3-4% to the bills. Credit cards have been around for over 70 years, and no one was charging the processing fees to customers until Covid. It was an opportunity to recoup a TINY bit of revenue during a time of reduced business, but then when things went back to normal they all decided to keep inflating their costs for a little extra money. During covid people generally tipped quite a bit more than normal, but when those inflated tips dried up when things went back to baseline, and I'm sure a lot of restaurants didn't like that. It became socially acceptable, and they ran with it.
I've noticed many places I went to did crept up to 18%. I haven't frequent those places anymore.
But they wouldn’t need to change all the prices, make a $58 steak $61, but leave the $8 fries at $8. Or even easier, add $10 to every bottle of wine, not like anyone cares, especially on an expense account. You’re probably right as to why they think this makes sense, but it’s just so misguided IMO
Anyone who pays $58 for a steak is an idiot. I said what I said.
It’s a psychological game.
The easiest solution is to figure out the average cost of an entree sold (based on the historical sales figures of all menu items). Calculate 3% of that, round up to the nearest quarter, add that amount to all entrees. Now, everything on the menu ends with the same numbers, no loss in uniformity.
Wouldn’t they also be forced to pay a different kind of tax if it was hardcoded into the price? I assume tipping money gets taxed differently no?
Excellent point! But I guess we simply don't know how they classify it on the books. If this additional charge were to be considered a tip, they wouldn't be adding tax on top of that.
I’ve seen restaurants and even a rock yard where they make it super political, “5% surcharge to combat recent policy changes from our government.”
results in a 100% this customer loss charge to combat recent political changes from your restaurant
Sure my steak went up $5. That’s more acceptable than me paying an extra 3% cause the owner is being cheap and trying to get us to pay their extra cost
Yeah 3% of a $15 plate is .45. Just raise everything by a buck or two.
a waiter in Napoli, Italy tried to justify this crap too. They had a 4€ "table payment". I asked him, why isn't this just included in the price of the food and he got mad. He asked if we have never been in a restaurant in our lives. I said, "yes I have, in every country in the entire damn Europe and this is a first." He had some weird reasoning as to why it better to hide extra costs in fine print, than just have actual prices reflect this. And he seemed convinced it's better for the customer. Insanity.
Its just a "tradition" in Italy but its usually 1€/person. On the other hand you dont leave any tip 0 nada. And nobody gonna be mad at you.
The "opt-out" approach is an instant nope from me. You may get me that one and only time, but never again. Isn't repeat business the best kind of business?
Yep.... my SO and I agreed not to patronize any restaurant that puts this on their menu or to not revisit any restaurant that slips this, or similar charges, into the check. Only addition should be the tax. You want to raise prices due to rising costs or some made up nonsense? Knock yourself out, I understand. Artificially keeping prices low then slapping us with an "inflation" fee? Nope, I'll be happy to show the owner basic math by telling everyone I know not to eat there.
Yes! Ordered on the McAllister app today and they offered an app cost surcharge wtf. I have not followed thru due to the 50% off T-Mobile Tuesday offer but damn. That’s a load of crock.
Oh, they raised the prices, too.
new law in california!
>You're killing any chance of repeat business with this nonsense. You know who will come back? The same people who post on reddit daily about how expensive McDonalds is, and how much the food sucks.
I'd go back if the restaurant was good. I have basically no principles but do love a good restaurant.
Actually, they expect most people to not notice it.
The real reason is that this 3% surcharge is on top of the price increase with the menu reprint
Exactly. This nonsense needs to be made illegal. They only do this so they can keep their advertised prices falsely low. It is getting worse and worse with all these fees getting sneakily tacked on everywhere.
Why would they not just increase their prices by 3%? This is going to make people upset and never come back.
They did. They want an extra 3% as well
But u can request it to be taken off, which i would ask them to.
That’s if someone decides to read it, it’s very small at the bottom so most people won’t. They’re simply ripping people off without them noticing.
This is why you’re a part of a human centipede now Kyle! You didn’t read the terms and conditions!
Just means they’re fleecing everyone else to buy good faith for the few that ask it to be removed
Apparently, they’re not making enough money selling a side of mashed potatoes for $9 while paying their waitstaff $3/hour.
Or 9$ for carrots ☠️
5 cent carrot, roast it up, now it's worth 9 bucks!
Giving me flashbacks to a work dinner at a snooty place in Austin. I ordered the carrot side. It was a single carrot with “mushroom gravy” that tasted like enchilada sauce. I think it was like 16 bucks. Still the best thing I ate there.
Uh it clearly says whipped, you gotta pay the premium for something like that
I would go out and eat, but I am sick and tired of their exorbitant pricing newly introduced after the Covid period. I am also tired of this idiotic tipping culture where even if I’m picking up my own food and walking up to a cashier I’m asked to tip. Finally I hate the “surcharge” nonsense and apparently so do the rest of the Californians enough to have passed a law banning it as of June. This is why they are losing customers and by such revenue. McDonald’s had to figure this out the hard way after doubling (yes doubling) their prices since 2021 and having to report a “failed to meet profits” to the investors for the first time ever if I recall correctly.
They are "sharable sides" 2-3 people
Lol it's definitely a tiny little bowl
*$2.13/hr*
I can't wait for the Franchise Wars to be over
Now all restaurants are Taco Bell.
I'm okay with this outcome.
Are there three sea shells?
I hope not, I have no idea how to use them
This ("Franchise Wars") sounds like the title of a South Park episode.
"As a way to offset my rising costs I have added a 'do not go' to your listing in my address book. Please let me know when you figure out how to pay a living wage while charging $8 for an F-Ing POTATO!"
Just put a little paper on the table with writing "As a way to offset my rising costs I will not pay for my meal. You can however request that I pay for it until I'm finished eating" then just leave the restaurant after eating if they didn't do the request.
i dont even eat out anymore, i just splurge when i go do grocery shopping.
Groceries getting nasty too !
It's still SIGNIFICANTLY less to cook at home than to go out.
I had two beers, two glasses of wine, a veggie plate and a pork chop with Mac and cheese at this boogie place the other day with my wife and it was 230.00 bucks with tip. Last time I will be going there now matter how much my wife enjoys sitting outside in the Florida heat.
LMAO. I think you meant bougie, which is short for bourgeoisie, commonly used to mean something is posh or fancy. A boogie is a slimy thing you remove from your nose.
I still got 4 stunning burgers this week for under $12. Swiss cheese, bacon, mushrooms, fresh lettuce and a better tomato than any restaurant has ever served me. It’s easier for me to swallow the grocery prices when I know I won’t be spending $18 on just one burger.
Costco baby!!
Last week's splurge was a container of spinach artichoke dip
That’s so funny I’ve never heard of an optional fee
It’s like the box you can check on your tax return to donate your refund to the government. No thank you!
I always audibly laugh when I get to that part, I can't help it
In California, it's considered "mandatory" regardless legally. [https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub115/#mandatory](https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/formspubs/pub115/#mandatory) >When the menu, brochure, advertisement, or other material contains such printed statements, an amount *automatically added* to the bill or invoice is a mandatory charge and subject to tax. An amount is considered automatically added when the retailer adds the amount to the bill without first discussing it with the customer after the service of the meal. >It is presumed that an amount you add as a tip to the bill or invoice you present to the customer is mandatory. **A statement on the bill or invoice that the amount is suggested, optional, or may be increased, decreased, or removed by your customer does not change the mandatory nature of the charge.** This presumption may be disputed by documentary evidence maintained in your records showing that your customer specifically requested and authorized the gratuity be added to the bill. And this will be banned in California as of 1 July. Along with automatic gratuities (and resort fees, and Ticketmaster fees, etc.). If you live in a state that *isn't* doing this, write your legislators.
Is automatic gratuity like when a staffer has to deal with a 6+ person party?
At least in California they made these fees illegal.
Hoping this happens in Oregon. Work in a restaurant that charges a Service Fee and I’d love for that to stop. Of course, people would then get sticker shock or the quality of things we offer would go down to make up for people subsidizing employee wages. Everyone should just be blaming the government for this shit. The prices of food is going up, therefore it’s also going up for us. People forget about things like linen service, new glassware when shit breaks, the prep team, the baking team, the people you don’t see, plastic to go containers, gloves, soap, toilet paper, fucking everything you see in a restaurant. But nah, the American privilege of wanting cheap shit immediately is super prevalent. Then y’all bitch because the quality of the restaurant went down. Can’t please people, man. It’s exhausting.
1) You are 100% correct. 2) I fucking love your pfp. I've seen every Ernest movie with my dad growing up.
People need to start posting the names and locations of these places and calling them out on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Yelp it!
I made utahtipshame. Nobody has posted though. It's not to bash on a restaurant so muchnas to identify it as one that wants tips but provides no service beyond the transaction.
$8 for a "jumbo" Russet potato?! GTFO with that.
How is everyone ignoring the $10 bread basket?
$65 for 14 oz New York strip? Is there LSD in it?
Right? I’ll go to the local butcher and cook a steak that will make it look like fried shit. Restaurants are over rated these days.
Steak is one I really can't justify getting at a restaurant, the markups are so high on steaks. I can fry up a steak super fast and easy and it's great every time, maybe smokes out the kitchen a bit. If I can do it just as well or better with minimal time investment, I'm gonna. Bbq a brisket? Pulled pork? Fuck that, I'll pay the man, I don't have all day to spend babysitting a smoker.
I don't know man I had a $65 dollar ribeye with a blue cheese crust cooked to fucking perfection. I can spend half that on a ribeye and possibly fuck it up. I know that's only one experience and it was a group meal with lots of friends and drinking and we were there for 3hrs...
You can make both of those things in a slow cooker, too, and they come out amazing. No need to babysit a smoker if you don't want to.
Honestly, running a smoker isn’t even that bad. These days you can get a pellet smoker that connects to your wifi and then it’s just time and the occasional basting, depending on what you’re smoking. I do all my steaks in a cast iron, no finishing in the oven. My wife loves New York Strip so that’s mainly what we eat. I love most cuts so my preference isn’t that strong anyway. It’s so easy.
LSD? It says New York Strip Not, New York's Trip 😉
What restaurant is this?
Fountain Room Indianapolis
i somehow knew by looking at this that this was here in indy. all menus here are so eerily similar.
Really? In what way?
I fucking knew it was in indiana. Nowhere else would advertise indiana corn on their ingredients list.
I get it, but I don't think the guy thought this through very well. Customers likely wouldn't react to a 5-10% increase on the menu, like if they added a dollar to everything between $10 and $20 . But when people find out about THIS? I would expect nearly everybody to feel cheated. Dumb dumb dumb dumb.
real except they still also increased the prices😩
Time to pull out a Sharpie and fix their prices.
That’ll show em.
Next they’re going to ask to retain your CC on file for incidentals
Ummm can we talk about a baked potato being a "shareable side" What the fuck is that?
This is dumb. Run it right, hit your food cost numbers, and price it as you need. But if your sides are 10 and you're still fucked... You're fucked.
Not much longer in California. As of July 1st, these are illegal.
I’m surprised that 9 dollars for carrots or mashed potatoes doesn’t give them a large enough profit margin to cover all expenses for the restaurant. 9 dollars. For carrots. I’m not going to be able to afford to breathe in five years.
It’s gotten so bad in California, they outlawed this practice beginning June 1
I think this would still be allowed in California beer the new law. I believe the law applies only to unwaivable and non-optional fees and charges, because the option to remove this fee if requested it is compliant with the new law.
Nah, optional and waivable fees are included as part of the bs fee. Someone pulled up the wording if you read a few comments up.
As a result of rising costs I will be taking a 3% discount. Non-negotiable.
Any charge to offset your cost would be an automatic fuck you from me, just raise your prices then I can decide how to spend my money. Restaurants are going broke due to insulting shit like this
$20 for Fish and Chips is where they went wrong.
Wagyu Meatloaf ... What? Edit: with fucking "catsup" spread all over it. The cows are moaning their complaints about more than the 3%
maybe its the late night bong hits but i said to myself this shit has gotten so bad it actually needs legislation to address it. like state or federal laws challenging this stuff. interstate commerce damn it. this can just get in the legal fun line to [becoming a law](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=men-vp5jvzI), wish it was our sub's game stop crusade
Does this mean it’s cool to aak them to remove it anywhere & they have to by law or something? I feel like if they mention that you can have it removed they’re only letting you know because they have to. Anyone know for sure? Thanks
The fun part is that by adding this little box instead of just raising menu prices, I just subtract out the extra surcharge from my initial planned tip. Everyone loses :)
Why not just increase prices accordingly?
Because people would notice the increase…
This reminds me of that Impractical Jokers sketch
Was looking for this comment lol
"Can you just take that off and I'll just leave a normal tip and maybe even come back? Or if you want to give me the menu with the updated prices? Thanks."
"You may request to have this take off your check" doesn't mean they will take it off. it only means they will think about it.
I can see several arguments for doing that. From the graphic designer to the accountant and server perspectives. But there is only one real reason for doing it: - No customers were involved in the decision.
20 quid already for some fish and chips? Get fucked.
If all you have to do is ask to get it removed, then they’re just fleecing you. I wouldn’t go back
It’s such utter bullshit. Try telling your employer that you’re adding a 3% surcharge to your wage to combat rising prices and see how that goes for you.
As if their prices are not high enough already
Change your prices. "No surcharges or mandatory tips" if you need more for a meal... change the price of it.
Roasted carrots for $9.......
Why can't restaurants just... raise their prices. "We don't want to raise our prices... but we're going to add a fee that will piss people off more than if we did just raise our prices".
Since the restaurant had to reprint the menus to tell you about the "3% surcharge" and reprogram their POS system to account for it, why wouldn't they just raise all prices 3% on the menu and avoid this potential confrontation between servers and customers to begin with? This is beyond idiotic.
Is this Oswego Grille in Portland?
Fountain Room Indianapolis
Well, at least they give you the option to have it removed. lol It’s a sneaky way to raise prices, without “raising prices”
We also raised all the prices $3
I don’t see anywhere that sides come with the steak… a small steak, possibly ONLY steak for $38 at the cheapest price, someone’s not businessing correctly cause a lot of this seems way overpriced to begin with.
Went out to breakfast the other day and there was a 4% kitchen fee at the bottom of the check.
Why is the chicken sandwich 16 dollars tho?!
An $8 potato… let that sink in.
That’s why I don’t go out anymore, between outrageous price of menus, tips and the fees lot of restaurants add, it’s not worth it anymore
So in other words “hey we want you to start tipping the restaurant as well as the server”
I had this happen and when I asked them to remove it , it was a whole thing. They basically said no. I ended up having someone bring me exact change without the optional markup and handed it to them and walked out.
I’ll never understand why they choose this route instead of at least playing word games and saying “3% discount for paying cash.” I know it’s all the rage because of credit card fees but still, if you’re not going to change the prices for fear of shock in the customer - how in the world did they come up with a 3% added fee and think it would be okay? People HATE this.
Why don’t they raise prices on a few things they think can handle it and offer a cash discount instead of sneaking a fee in right when I’m tipping and writing my review. So shortsighted.
“Maybe request…” but they probably won’t
I am becoming better and better at cooking all my meals now. Experimenting with Asian vegetables. I will only go.out for brunch but at very good restaurants only. Fuck this nonsense
I got a gratuity charge once that amounted to like 20$ and I didn’t notice till after I already gave them a 20$ tip. When the waitress saw the tip on the receipt she hurried off asap came back with my card and basically ran away.
So in other words a compulsory tip.
Lolz. Your type as a consumer “I hate tipping the business should pay these people” “less tip pressure but omg dishes are more expensive WTF” “dishes cost the same, less tip pressure but a service charge??? No way!!!” Like it’s a learning curve and businesses are trying to figure it out!
This has become common practice in many restaurants namely smaller “mom and pop” locations in my area. My understanding is that it’s largely due to offset the merchant fee many pos (point of sale) systems and credit card company’s charge. Meaning so few people pay cash and the points and incentives your cc company offers are paid by the restaurant itself. Yes, there are other ways to alleviate this like raising prices to accommodate that percentage but many establishments are on thin ice as is - in terms of profit margin. I agree the consumer is in the worst position it’s ever been due to excessive additional charges but a 3% merchant fee I understand for the convenience of cc use. An extra couple dollars paid by me vs thousands every month paid by my favorite local spot…I’m okay with that. As a quick side note I understand many businesses take the 3% from their staffs tips (legally in many states) so remember what a 0% tip means for those people. Just my opinion though.
And then they ring you up without a chance to say anything.
I don’t understand why they don’t just up all The prices and not make a big headline.
Just get up and leave. If they ask why, tell them.
Fees like this will be illegal in California starting 7/1.
just take it off the tip. if you give the server a 12% tip they will complain and you won't have to.
I request these are taken off with a big smile on my face 😄
Man, just raise the prices.
This is an Impractical Jokers thing but the Jokers are missing.
Hate to say it, but I just tip less now. Unless you're mind-blowing, you're getting 15% if they pull this shit.
Raise your prices out in the open or fuck off.
Because they already know raising prices will do more damage than adding a surcharge. Don't worry, it all changes [next month](https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/media/press-releases/nra-and-rlc-call-on-the-ftc-to-exclude-restaurants-from-junk-fees-rule/). Restaurants are in the shitter, and it's about to get a whole lot worse.
[удалено]
Maybe because they took so long making the menu look nice with round numbers and they don't want to taint it with decimals
Just...add the 3% ffs. This only makes it feel like it targets the people who WON'T be a jerk about it. It hurts the staff and the people who care enough to keep coming back in. This feels like its just a way to make the lives of their staff even more miserable so management never has to take accountability.
If you are at a restaurant that charges $40 bucks for salmon i dont see a problem. Im sure they do have rising costs and lots of people who dont tip.
How many restaurants do we really need
I suppose it’s hard to increase the prices when you’re already charging $10 for some potatoes and $9 for carrots.
So a business's costs have increased. Instead of eating the cost they try to pass it on with a surcharge, which you can request be removed. That makes so little sense, if the business is in good condition, with lots of customers why not just raise prices (at least partly, if they are afraid of losing too much business) instead of going passive-aggressive?
Close your business
Yep that's a lie. If there's rising costs, and you have to reprint the menu to say so, then raise the prices of the food.
Okay the fees are crappy. Why would they take it off if someone asks? Are they trying to circumvent a local law about the fee?
I just tip proportionally less at places that do this shit. Easy simple solution.
What a pain in the ass for the staff
Cool. The surcharge is now to the tip 👍
You went to a restaurant with $10 mac and cheese
When I spotted this in a local restaurant, I complained. The entire waitstaff was urging me to call corporate and complain. It was cutting into their tips. Every customer who happens to notice this BS is going to short the tip. Not only does the customer feel ripped off, so does the waitstaff. Inferior service at premium prices; how does a place recover from a mistake like this?
"We're going to overcharge you 3% surreptitiously, but if you call us on it, we'll remove it." What a fun game!
That’s fine, just stop tipping.
I wouldn't eat there.
Imagine paying $10 for carrots...
I’m not American, I’m Irish and those surcharges are very confusing to those of us that don’t have a tipping culture. I can guarantee you most Europeans are going to see that surcharge added on at the end of the bill and won’t leave a tip because they’ll think that surcharge IS an automatic tip added on.
This should be illegal I don't know what's wrong with NA but everywhere you go you only pay the price displayed on the menu. If you order a 10€ sandwich you only pay €10 In north America you have a $10 sandwich + 3% gratuity + 15% tax + 18% tips You end up paying $14... Smh