Rant, eating out

[Rmay635703]

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)

Around here it’s been the norm to charge extra if you use a card at nearly all restaurants for a long time. Only exception is large chains.

Im back to carrying cash because
1. Mandatory 3-4% CC fee on debit and credit of all types
2. Many restaurants additionally charge a $1-$2 “service fee” in addition to the cc fee, no matter how you pay which i subtract from the tip
3. I have started to encounter restaurants that do not have any option for a custom tip or no tip with a 20% minimum selection on the total with tax and no way to bypass or change it if you pay by card, one of these places claimed they could not accept cash to which i said i have no other way of paying and they begrudgingly took cash and kept the change for the tip.

Many of these places do not prominently display their service fees or no cash policies, though they will display CC fees by thevregister and usually on the menu in small writing.

We haven't cut back, but we do lunches at places that have a discount lunch menu (like Chedddars, or Tex Roadhouse 3-5 M-Thu offerings).

Where I eat out except for Friday is 100% based on cost, if it’s too expensive I likely will never return if I go there at all.

I also use coupons extensively and limit how much I will pay out.

Certain places unless they have coupons I will never eat there.

 

[JHZR2]

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)

That’s ever more prevalent.

On top of that, an “employee benefits surcharge” I’ve seen in many places… and tip expectations going up to 30%.

We recently went to Sesame Place. They had big signs about going cashless. Convert your cash to a prepaid visa. Then every cc machine has a sticker that there’s a 5% processing fee for CC payment.

Yeah, I’m sure they went cashless for expedience and sanitary reasons. lol.

 

[Kira]

Kind of wish there was a disclaimer or a menu item that you could purchase at the counter; stating " We will cover your doctor bills if you get food poisoning"!

Perhaps you should 'aim higher' with your restaurant choices?
However, a restaurant offering food poisoning insurance is hysterical.

 

[NA4U]

Well I worked for the state for 15 years for the health authority. I was in information technology and I was not a field investigator but I did see photographs. And it is disheartening to see some of these kitchens in Little Saigon that's a predominantly Vietnamese area where I live.

Now most of these places don't take credit, they are a cash only business.

And what these establishments do is they take cash from a customer they stay in business for 5 years and show no profit, then go out of business.

They don't have to pay taxes because they show only loss on their " cash books" they change the business name and start all over again.

They have a real scam going. And there are many cash run businesses that do the same thing.

 

[Pablo]

Well I worked for the state for 15 years for the health authority. I was in information technology and I was not a field investigator but I did see photographs. And it is disheartening to see some of these kitchens in Little Saigon that's a predominantly Vietnamese area where I live.

Now most of these places don't take credit, they are a cash only business.

And what these establishments do is they take cash from a customer they stay in business for 5 years and show no profit, then go out of business.

They don't have to pay taxes because they show only loss on their " cash books" they change the business name and start all over again.

They have a real scam going. And there are many cash run businesses that do the same thing.

Truth. Cash only. I know the game!

 

[Patman]

Truth. Cash only. I know the game!

The wealth!!

 

[fat biker]

Yes, I have cut way back, and I dine at locally owned non corporate restaurants.