Is it me, or are restaurants adding more "fees" than in the past?

[SC Maintenance]

No, I hate Walmart and I’d walk.

Point was, things cost money. And things that folks say are “fair” cost money. If you want them you end up paying. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the cost of the product, or the cost of surcharges to provide the mandated payouts to staff.

I generally agree with your sentiments. I’m ok with reasonable (not a politically convenient number) wage increase, and I also recognize that people can go work elsewhere, or get the skills and behavior patterns to be able to.

I disagree. A meal in a restaurant is a product. The product costs money to make, so most of these fees should be in the price.

A 15% tip for a sit down restaurant used to be usual and customary, and was baked into the cake but was left open so you could leave a lot more if the service was excellent. It was supposed to be an incentive for the staff to perform.

This is why supermarkets are required by law in most states to show the price per unit on the the good on the shelf - so you can compare different sizes and brands. Its why new cars have Mulroney stickers that show all the adders including freight.

I can't wait till some state mandates that every service charge is listed on the menu by item, by order item. So my $10 cheeseburger will now have to list that it will have added a $0.30 kitchen fee, a $2 tip and a $0.45 credit card service fee. The restaurateurs are going to scream murder, but they can't be trusted when left to themselves.

The credit card fee is a joke. It costs them way more to handle cash, especially when their staff tends to lift it.

 

[SHOZ]

Illinois just passed a law that prohibits any credit card fees on the tax or tips for a transaction. Retailers and Restaurateurs are upset.

 

[Dave P.]

I know how it works, it's the cost of doing business and needs to be built into the product. Very few people dine out and pay in cash.

The diner that I frequent for takeout puts two totals right on the bill; a cash total and a credit total. I always pay cash in part because I have cash that is easier to spend than it is to deposit. Plus when I pay cash, I don't have to deal with the screen that they turn around asking how much do I want to tip! I usually stick a buck or two in the tip jar anyway but, I don't like being shamed into it.

 

[John105]

Were there any crab harvesting service fees?

A gentleman in my office, Lawrence, has told me stories about how he and his buddies order some unbelievable amount of king crab legs and beer, and gorge. Been doing it for a decade or more.

The literally switched to snow crab, and reduced the qty.

 

[BISCUT]

I despise the games. Added fees not disclosed ruin the dining experience for me. I prefer knowing upfront the expected cost. Even a higher-end burger for $20-25 I want to know it before I drop the coin. I can digest (haha!!) that but if it's $18.99 and I get a $5 kitchen fee at the end I'm not ok with that.

 

[Nukeman7]

The typical American consumer prefers to buy things with clear pricing and not deal with negotiations, unlike many overseas countries where haggling over a sale is commonplace and culturally expected. We are ingrained with fixed pricing in our daily lives (e.g., grocery stores, gas stations, public utilities, movie theaters, etc.). Hence, the attraction of fixed pricing used car dealerships like CarMax, Carvana, and new car dealerships that don't tack on "processing fees", including the late Saturn brand.

If restaurant management had a better understanding of the U.S. consumer's mindset, they would simply adjust the price and just bake-in the increased operating cost. Most of us would understand inflation's effect on the economy. Making up imaginative fees to pad the bottom line feels like a sham and is perceived as dishonest and somewhat insulting to the intelligence of the consumer.

 

[SevenBizzos]

The industry is a mess right now. Everything from napkins to chicken has seen a huge spike in price. A lot of them are trying to keep their food costs around 25% (which is the traditional target), but when the cost of that product triples in a year, it's really hard to keep things profitable. A lot of places have moved to doing stuff like you guys describe. Obviously it's very short sighted and hurts the industry as a whole, but a lot of these places are just trying to live day to day.

We don't go to places that do this stuff and I only see these practices getting worse (as of now).

 

[John105]

The typical American consumer prefers to buy things with clear pricing and not deal with negotiations, unlike many overseas countries where haggling over a sale is commonplace and culturally expected. We are ingrained with fixed pricing in our daily lives (e.g., grocery stores, gas stations, public utilities, movie theaters, etc.). Hence, the attraction of fixed pricing like used car dealerships like CarMax, Carvana, and new car dealerships that don't tack on "processing fees", including the late Saturn brand.

If restaurant management had a better understanding of the U.S. consumer's mindset, they would simply adjust the price and just bake-in the increased operating cost. Most of us would understand inflation's effect on the economy. Making up imaginative fees to pad the bottom line feels like a sham and is perceived as dishonest and somewhat insulting to the intelligence of the consumer.

I think it's what makes Costco so successful. The membership fee is out in the open--it's not for all. Once paid, margins are small. When the pandemic became a food and cleaning supplies free for all, they didn't gouge. Especially with meat--they made it known their price increases which were substantial, were due to suppliers charging them. When prices retreat, so would their prices, all the while, margins remaining the same. When new restaurant fees appear out of nowhere, I actually don't think margin is being maintained. It may be trying to recoup more of the loss due to covid.

 

[JHZR2]

I disagree. A meal in a restaurant is a product. The product costs money to make, so most of these fees should be in the price.

I think we’re saying the same thing. Most of these fees should be baked in.

A 15% tip for a sit down restaurant used to be usual and customary, and was baked into the cake but was left open so you could leave a lot more if the service was excellent. It was supposed to be an incentive for the staff to perform.

I’m not a fan of restaurants pushing 20-25-30% tips as if it is expected and customary. I tend to not go to those places, or even actually tip less/expect more.

I can't wait till some state mandates that every service charge is listed on the menu by item, by order item. So my $10 cheeseburger will now have to list that it will have added a $0.30 kitchen fee, a $2 tip and a $0.45 credit card service fee. The restaurateurs are going to scream murder, but they can't be trusted when left to themselves.

The credit card fee is a joke. It costs them way more to handle cash, especially when their staff tends to lift it.

I actually hope that happens. Why not expect transparency if they’re going to tack on bogus stuff instead of building the costs of operation into the product cost?

The credit card fee is a joke. It costs them way more to handle cash, especially when their staff tends to lift it.

A credit card surcharge I kind of get. The businesses want the cash so they can cheat on their taxes, and the banks have gone haywire with fees, so having a cash price kind of makes sense. Until now the optic was that the business was eating it, but in reality the credit price was just passed on to everyone.

 

[JHZR2]

, I actually don't think margin is being maintained. It may be trying to recoup more of the loss due to covid.

I bet a lot of these places got Paycheck Protection grants, kept a lot for the owners, and then got the debt waived.

Lots of owners of many business types with new cars/boats/etc.

 

[John105]

I bet a lot of these places got Paycheck Protection grants, kept a lot for the owners, and then got the debt waived.

Lots of owners of many business types with new cars/boats/etc.

That reminds me of the $600/wk extra unemployment. Even though my own lil' brother got it and the max unemployment allowable in CT, he was trying to get a new job. BUT, an extra $2,400/mo didn't exactly hurt. And some got more when unemployed, than at their job when they were employed. I hope we can get back to a point where things make sense again. My buddy said sorry to be cynical but that will be never lol

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I just had brunch at a restaurant that is local to my work. I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich with fries (no salt) When I got my bill I was charged $1.00 for a side of pickles and,40 cents for a "Kitchen fee" I don't really remember restaurants nickle and diming customers. I know people have to make money but I've never had this added to my bill. Is this the new "going out to eat."?

Probably they had to fry a basket of potatoes for your NO SALT order?
Special orders DO upset us, lol.

I recently balked at the Chinese restaurant up the street when she charged me a dollar for two little hot mustards, and I bring my own Japanese Kikkoman or San-J tamari Shoyu - And I don't really want the Duck sauce or the fake soy sauce in the plastic packets - they always spray on my shirt!

Restaurants are barely able to operate in the black - and that's with exorbitant beverage costs.

For the final coupe de grâce, my State adds a Nine percent meals tax!

Hey I got to spend my excess RMD money somewhere!

 

[zzyzzx]

Luckily not too common around here. I left a negative review complaining about the fee and the owner replied accusing me of taking it out of the server's tip.

Always mention extra fees in the review as a warning to others. It amazes me the number of people who don't even mention it when you know they are doing it to everyone.

 

[wpod]

I just say no and do not return.

 

[oil pan 4]

Those restaurants must have bank of America or wells Fargo.
Didn't one of them get class actioned for charging a fees for charging a fee?
Like "we're going to charge you $2 because you made us charge you $7".

 

[John105]

Probably they had to fry a basket of potatoes for you NO SALT order?

I recently balked at the Chinese restaurant up the street when she charged me a dollar for two little hot mustards, and I bring my own Japanese Kikkoman or San-J tamari Shoyu - And I don't really want the Duck sauce or the fake soy sauce in the plastic packets - they always spray on my shirt!

Restaurants are barely able to operate in the black - and that's with exorbitant beverage costs.

For the final coupe de grâce, my State adds a Nine percent meals tax!

Hey I got to spend my excess RMD money somewhere!

I think a mgr at Domino's didn't get the memo. She goes, you want garlic sauce with that? I say, is it extra? She said no, and gives me 3. Some folks are just nice lol (when I was a waiter, we had a free breakfast but OJ was $3, I didn't charge customers and got busted)

 

[oil pan 4]

Always mention extra fees in the review as a warning to others. It amazes me the number of people who don't even mention it when you know they are doing it to everyone.

This is probably the best idea I'll hear for the month of August. Best so far at least.

 

[zzyzzx]

Reminds me of the time I got charged for pickles on a (burger or a sub?). I understand an upcharge for cheese / tomatoes / bacon, but not pickles. I could have bought a whole jar for what I got charged.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Reminds me of the time I got charged for pickles on a (burger or a sub?). I understand an upcharge for cheese / tomatoes / bacon, but not pickles. I could have bought a whole jar for what I got charged.

Don't forget to add the appropriate portion of your mortgage, home insurance and health care cost to that three dollar pickle jar puchase and storage .

But I know what you are saying.

- Just say NO to the embarrassment called "American Cheese"

 

[Hall]

Illinois just passed a law that prohibits any credit card fees on the tax or tips for a transaction. Retailers and Restaurateurs are upset.

Nothing to be upset about - just raise the price of everything equivalent to the credit card fee. It also avoids people complaining about these fees being added on top.

Remember, up until a few years ago, CC processors forbid retailers from adding these fees. They dropped that and now we see them.