My $15 pint of beer today

[mashdar]

Let's not get too political or this will be the DME thread all over again (deleted?)

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

There are restaurateurs on both sides of the spectrum who have put political messages and charges on bills. It's annoying either way.

Five Guys raised charges dramatically at selected restaurants to complain about something or other the government made them do for employees. I could not believe it when I got a bill for $17.34 at a burger joint, about a decade ago.

 

[Skeeter686]

Charging extra for credit cards is insulting. If you're determined to recoup processing fees, offer a cash discount instead. Same result, and you'll make customers happy, not angry.

I was thinking the same thing. I've gotten the "cash discount" at a variety of places in the past and although I recognize that it's just a marketing spin for a credit card surcharge, I do find it easier to swallow.

I find the CC surcharge to be offensive, particularly when I'm certain that most of the sales are on plastic. One of the local breweries doesn't even accept cash. I swear the bills in my wallet state: "legal tender for all debts public and private".

 

[mac_1103]

the insurance company doesn't have the brains to add a fee to my premium, let alone charge me for Amex's cut. A mystery.

Much like "free" shipping, they bake the credit card transaction fee into what they charge everyone. Nobody writes checks anymore, right? But I guess this is still penalizing people who pay with debit cards.

 

[whoaru99]

Nobody writes checks anymore, right?

I do occasionally. Majority of places around here still accept them.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I still have to write a few.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I went to a brewery in the North Loop area of Minneapolis today. I hadn't been there in a while, and I was running an errand nearby, so thought I'd stop in for a pint. I ordered a pint of an Irish stout, $8. It was so-so, and I finished it and went to the counter to close out. That $8 pint came with a 20% compulsory tip, plus a flat $3.50 charge that allegedly is used to "help pay staff a living wage," a 5% cc fee, and 9% local/state sales tax. The bill came out to $15 for a beer I could brew better myself.

grrr

That $15 could pay for half of the ingredients for my next 5 gallon brew, or a 4-pack of something really good from the liquor store.

Geez, I fee for living wage AND a mandatory tip?! I hope all that shiz was posted and whatever cash you were going to leave went back in your wallet.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Movie theater popcorn is a better deal.

 

[Bobby_M]

I'm confused by the "for here" cans, as I have a (possibly irrational) preference for draught beer if I'm at a brewery. Was it a special event or something?

This is just the impossibility of accurately estimating the ratio of taproom vs. to go sales. Once you're out of that beer in the kegs but still have plenty in cans, you'd be nuts to let it age out in the can and not sell it in the taproom. However, cracking them and pouring them would be the more appropriate serving method before it gets to the customer.

 

[Bobby_M]

I was thinking the same thing. I've gotten the "cash discount" at a variety of places in the past and although I recognize that it's just a marketing spin for a credit card surcharge, I do find it easier to swallow.

I find the CC surcharge to be offensive, particularly when I'm certain that most of the sales are on plastic. One of the local breweries doesn't even accept cash. I swear the bills in my wallet state: "legal tender for all debts public and private".

Businesses that don't take cash don't trust their employees not to skim, plain and simple. I was surprised to find that there was no federal law that compels a private business to accept cash as payment for goods or services.

I fully understand the controversy over credit card surcharges or cash discounts as it does seem to be an arbitrary airing of cost of doing business. On the more extreme end of the argument, you don't charge extra if someone uses your restroom while there. As a business owner, and as I said in the DME thread, the variability of shipping cost by destination and total lack of shipping cost and packing overhead on the walk in business, I decided not to offer free shipping across the board and make everyone pay the same as a subsidy.

I thought long and hard about the credit card fee thing. As more and more local businesses enacted the fee, I realized that more locals expected to see it. I also decided it was better to make it a cash discount. The reason I went with it is that it's a choice the customer can make right on the spot. You want the convenience of not carrying cash, no problem. You cover the fee for processing while everyone else can enjoy the discount. The money is literally going right to the credit card company so using cash allows that money to stay either in the customer's pocket or the business owners depending on what policy is enacted.

AMEX can eat it.

 

[mac_1103]

You got charged some virtue-signaling fees

If they're virtue signaling, they should try to do a better job of it. Pissing people off is generally not an effective way of convincing them of the virtue of anything. Just raise the prices and pay the employees better (like you said). Put a note on the menu that says "our prices are higher than our competition because we pay our employees well; the only thing we will add to your check is sales tax; tipping is completely optional; feel free to leave a little something extra if you think your service was exceptional, but please don't fee obligated."

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

The compulsory tipping is kind of stupid, too. I would just put "service included" on the menu and bill.

Funny story, or maybe not: a foreigner in Miami Beach ran a Thai joint, and he added a service charge for black customers only. He had no idea it was illegal. Got in some hot water. Makes you wonder what they do in his country. I believe he was Japanese.

 

[whoaru99]

Pissing people off is generally not an effective way of convincing them of the virtue of anything.

My guess is there are people who view it as a noble thing.

Trying to hide/bury it I think would be even worse. Whether one thinks it's completely BS or maybe a good thing, at least in the open you have a choice to stay and pay it or leave before ordering anything.

If they don't have that tack on stuff posted they should. A local joint in town started adding $1 on the tab for credit card, comes off if paying cash. The policy is posted right up front as you come in.

 

[mac_1103]

Trying to hide/bury it I think would be even worse.

Hence the rest of my post.

 

[whoaru99]

Hence the rest of my post.

Yeah, I wasn't really responding to that part or I would have quoted it. But, I do see how it could come across that way.

 

[lumpher]

I've never seen a 4% credit card fee in my life.

I see signs every day saying if you pay by credit card, there will be a 4% upcharge. They do charge those fees. Only place I've seen them are restaurants and other food service places, but they are all over the place, and here in Texas they have to divulge it with written signs, but EVERY prepared food business here has those signs up and charges that fee.

 

[cobill]

Reminds me of going into an car audio/alarm shop in Dallas in 1992 that didn't have any prices on their merchandise. I worked in the restaurant industry for 30 years and deceptive business practices used by dishonest owners, without posting all "fees" customers should anticipate will result in another empty building as consumers control the power. Take your money somewhere else!