Rant, eating out

[zzyzzx]

That’s bad if a business charges more just because people want to use their credit card. Yes, a business has to pay 2 or 3% to the credit card company but 99.9% of businesses just absorb that cost because so many people use credit these days. I wouldn’t return to any place that tries to charge me extra for that (so far I haven’t encountered that happening in my area though)

Businesses need to stop pretending that it doesn't cost money to handle cash.

 

[Hermann]

Debit cards have no fees, why wouldn't you just use that?

It's the "minimum swipe fee" that every debit transaction incurs, that is why they are upcharging the debit card also.

 

[JohnnyG]

Security. I don’t want to give out a number that accesses my checking account. If that card is compromised - they can drain your account. Sure, if the bank finds that it is not your fault - they will put the money back in your account - 15 business days later.

No thanks.

This is probably the best answer. However, Verison automatically charges my debit card each month. When setting up that autopay, they said they would not accept a credit card, but a debit card would be fine. I wonder what differentiates the two exactly?

At one point, not that many years ago, state (or fed) law prohibited businesses from passing that swipe fee on to the customer. I suppose somebody changed that as well.

 

[wander2039]

Went to a Vietnamese restaurant this weekend $95.. couple weeks ago went to a Chinese Buffet and it was $97. Unless we go to Freddy's or a burger joint with me, her and the two teenage boys it's close to $100. Even at burger joints around $50. We didn't eat out but maybe twice a month before but we're even cutting that back. Sometimes we won't take the boys which helps, the youngest is a picky eater. Haven't seen the convenience fee.

 

[John105]

Might have to try it. Ate at Dan Dan in Wayne because my son lives nearby.
It's good

they have a location at Suburban Sq in Ardmore.

If you like Chinese, Cheng Du in Paoli is at the top, and great prices…

 

[John105]

Went to a Vietnamese restaurant this weekend $95.. couple weeks ago went to a Chinese Buffet and it was $97. Unless we go to Freddy's or a burger joint with me, her and the two teenage boys it's close to $100. Even at burger joints around $50. We didn't eat out but maybe twice a month before but we're even cutting that back. Sometimes we won't take the boys which helps, the youngest is a picky eater. Haven't seen the convenience fee.

During the pandemic pho at our favorite place spiked to $9.25!!!!!

Now we can’t afford it at maybe $17

 

[pbm]

We eat out a lot especially when on vacation. Most restaurants now charge the ‘convenience fee’ which I assume they do to recoup the fee they are charged by the bank. My standard tip is 20% and I always round up and tip a little better for a pleasant waiter/waitress.
One thing that bothers me is when they have ‘suggested gratuity’ and 30% is one of the suggestions….especially when I’m sitting at a bar and not at a table. Another annoyance is when they include the tax when calculating the tip. Why am I tipping on tax?

 

[Bailey28]

Awesome! If I don't eat out often I can buy more discount oil when it goes on sale.

 

[thastinger]

It used to be illegal to charge a different cash/credit price so those businesses ALWAYS baked the CC fee cost into the cake...and its not 3% for a point of sale swipe where the card is present, but some cards like AmEx is more, so most baked in 3%. Now that it isn't illegal to charge two different prices, they charge you the 3% BUT haven't lowered their prices the 3% they bake in.

 

[Vil_Riker]

My most recent lunch for a burger and 6 chicken wings with two ice teas was $72 at a Louisville, KY restaurant for two. A dinner at 21c Proof restaurant came to $180 for two - at least the food didn't suck too much.

Things are very expensive and the $10 Mcdee meals look like a great bargain.

 

[tcp71]

Took my boys out for a beer and a bite at a local brewery. They have a great patio (dog friendly) and good beer. Total for 3 pints and 3 burgers was $107Cdn with tax and tip (20%). We don't eat out often.

 

[tedsweet]

Wife and I went out to eat the other day at a new small mom and pop restaurant. Ordered two gyro sanwiches and waters. No sides, no dessert. Final bill after the credit card convenience fee and tip was $39.00.

We used to eat out a lot when we were younger and things were cheaper but we really backed off a few years ago after not finding value in it. Now we pretty much eat at home and take our lunches to work. The gyro place was a spontaneous decision as we were hungry and running a bunch of errands.

Anyone else cut out or severely limit eating out recently?

almost all non chain places here charge the 3 percent

 

[Dave Hess]

Paying $40 for two gyros that have quality meat taste decent or the convience in certain places does not bother me. It’s pricey however makes me pause on the decision to eat out which generally is really unhealthy and also likely not best used of your money as a constant in life

Sometimes it’s good to spend for a quality meal even if kind of expensive.

 

[nickaluch]

Just went out for Mexican 2 apps,2 entree's,diet coke, sangria and a slice of birthday cake for my wife $135 with tip

 

[Japanese]

It's the "minimum swipe fee" that every debit transaction incurs, that is why they are upcharging the debit card also.

But at the same time they don't take out the CC/DC charge if you pay cash. That should be illegal.

 

[mikeduf]

Sweet Jiminy crickets this is a long rant! And I love Rants!

Well the girlfriend still likes to go out once a week so I oblige her and keep my mouth shut

I'm trying to forget all of the hard-earned cash that I have flushed down the toilet within a few hours after going out!

Here in SoCal they raised the minimum wage to $20 something dollars an hour to flip burgers and pump the public full of sodium nitrate! One of the leading causes of stomach cancer and bad health is the crap from processed foods from these restaurants that go under the disguise that we make it fresh here! But in most cases they are just heating it up and removing it from some plastic bag from a central warehouse location.

I think Farmer's dog food has more fresh ingredients and made better than some of these restaurants.

I should also say that it appears we are riding the thin line of getting food poisoning from staff that pick their nose and sweat into your food, as well as cough and sneeze without any concerns about it. I have personally received warm food on a few occasions where I just flat out sent it back.

And yes I'm the guy that will call the health department and Report the restaurant. There are just too many crap holes around where I live. Okay I'll stop now because this rant I could go on a very long time on how we are being ripped off, overcharged, given subpar food and risk a trip to the hospital from food poisoning. I do my shopping weekly I eat clean and make my own food and I have just gotten used to that.

Everything now tastes highly processed and full of carcinogens.

And I'm mostly talking restaurants that charge 50 to 125 for a couple to eat. Now if I want to spend $250 for dinner, then I will be dining in a upscale place that is making their food from scratch in the restaurant and they actually pay for a bona fide chef, not a burger flipper that knows how to add salt and sugar to everything. Which brings me to another Rant, everything is over salted so they can poison us even more.
I need a tranquilizer now!

 

[Wolfshead]

I had a local restaurant Sneak in a TO-GO charge of 15% last month. It was Not posted anywhere . I saw the Fee on the receipt when i got home.Paid Cash too ! Food was not great either. I will not be returning.

 

[Starving Electrician]

Never made made eating out a habit so never had to cut back, but I understand the issue as I see grocery prices these days. My wife and I grew up poor well first world poor no heat in the winter and only one pair of dollar store shoes for the school year. Not like actually truly poor. Side note most Americans would think we were soul crushingly poor, but I have seen true poverty. So eating out has always seemed like a massive luxury. My adopted sister however dropped 127 dollars the other day for just her and my nephew to eat out.

 

[SC Maintenance]

This is probably the best answer. However, Verison automatically charges my debit card each month. When setting up that autopay, they said they would not accept a credit card, but a debit card would be fine. I wonder what differentiates the two exactly?

At one point, not that many years ago, state (or fed) law prohibited businesses from passing that swipe fee on to the customer. I suppose somebody changed that as well.

I direct pay Verizon via bank routing also - I think they give me an extra $10 off a month. And a couple other places. However I feel that direct paying a publicly traded Fortune 500 company is more secure than swiping my card in some unknown terminal at a restaurant. Possibly I am deluding myself?

 

[silversport]

But at the same time they don't take out the CC/DC charge if you pay cash. That should be illegal.

any restaurant I've been to has never charged me a CC/DC charge if I paid cash...