You should have gone to WataBurger.

quote:

It was the drive through, they told me that small waters were free, but the large were not.

Standard pretty much everywhere for the last 20 years. Supposedly it's the ice and cup, but really it's just a policy to hope to get some 99% margin large water sales!

Reminds me of a story I heard about how years ago in Rhode Island, the Feds busted on tax evasion mom and pop pizzerias and other mostly cash-only eateries by contrasting their low revenues against the high number of paper cups they purchased.

Their choice, and the cup is not free, even if the water is close to free. But it pisses people off so much it is probably not worth it. Bury it in the cost of the Whopper.

it cost the business more than that to count your change.

You paid with loose change in the drive though. They probably added the extra cost as service fee

It's these little things that turn me off to restaurants. There's a pretty nice casual sea food restaurant that we like (take out only these days) but they started charging a credit card fee. We don't go there anymore.

Everybody enjoys their 'freebies'. It doesn't take long before the business has to raise prices for everyone. I don't order water and I don't want to pay more for the food to make up for those who do order water. Unless the business prohibits it, bring your own water.

Geez, the catsup, napkins and toilet paper are still free...

Since April ,we have gone from seven or eight trips to the restaurants ,per month to three or four visits per month.

I've been offering a dollar tip to those working the drive up windows.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleAdobe:
I remember some of the times that restaurants would not bring water unless you asked. I live in Arizona and New Mexico and in dry/tough times this has happened before.
But having a fair knowledge of the restaurant and bar industry, things like charging for water just piss people off. Adjust some of your other charges to absorb the small cost of the water and/or cup. It is off-putting to be charged for a thing like that.
Adjust your prices to absorb the occasional water drinker.

Bingo. It's like charging me for condiment packages for my burger. Charge $.05 more on every burger you sell and you'll come out ahead in the end, while not pissing off customers.

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:
Again, it is worth remembering that these are tough economic times for many, including restaurants.

Yep, and potentially pissing off people over the cost of a $.02 cup and the water in it and losing future sales is not what most restaurant owners are going to risk.

What if a customer doesn't use the condiments, but is charged for them anyway. Isn't paying for something that you're not using but others do, a form of socialism?

quote:

Originally posted by az4783054:
What if a customer doesn't use the condiments, but is charged for them anyway. Isn't paying for something that you're not using but others do, a form of socialism?

The particular restaurant I was referring to will not offer any condiments at all, unless you request them, therefore they are only charging the people who actually request them. But if I had to guess, my bet is they lose way more return business to nickel and diming customers over condiments. Of course their lousy service might also have something to do with that too.

I totally understand a restaurant or any business for that matter wanting to recoup some revenue loss caused by the pandemic. I guess what they must realize is that their patrons are (might) be going through equally difficult financial times.

When we where just starting our business and finally showing a decent profit for our efforts, 911 hit. There was absolutely no costs we could pass on to our customers. There where few customers and we where just very grateful for every order we received. We went through hard times for a year, but thankfully we emerged and things were fine. I guess that taints me a bit with business trying to pass on every little expense to the customers. Will the few pennies being charges put me in the poor house... of course not. But me thinks the same for the business. Will they go out of business without these charges and is there somewhere else they can cut expenses. Anecdotal, but I see more businesses fail because they didn't satisfy their customer's needs and not because they didn't tried to recoup mickey-mouse expenses.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
Yep, and potentially pissing off people over the cost of a $.02 cup and the water in it and losing future sales is not what most restaurant owners are going to risk.

No fast food junky is going to quit going because they got charged for a water. They will “show them next time” by paying $1.50 for a .25 cent soda.

I keep a backpack full of water bottles in every vehicle. If I get stuck somewhere, I'd rather not do without water.

The only thing I drink when dining out is water, no lemon. When I leave they will fill a styrofoam cup with water and ice if I ask. Never been charged ever in my state for water.

quote:

Originally posted by 1s1k:
No fast food junky is going to quit going because they got charged for a water. They will “show them next time” by paying $1.50 for a .25 cent soda.

I strongly doubt anyone who could be called a "fast food junkie" is ordering water in the first place.

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
What torques me is when I go to a real, sit-down Mexican restaurant and they charge for chips and salsa!
p

Before the Rona we drove down to Arizona. There’s a chain restaurant that’s not in the PNW but common in CA and AZ. Stopped in CA chips & salsa no charge. In AZ, nothing so I asked. Nope it’s charged unless you join a “club” (mailing list, spam...)

However, a quarter mile away we then found a little family restaurant that has the best Mexican.

quote:

Originally posted by M'headSig:
the Feds busted on tax evasion mom and pop pizzerias and other mostly cash-only eateries by contrasting their low revenues against the high number of paper cups they purchased.

Pizza boxes. Even a long-time acquaintance / owner would not tell me how many pizza boxes he goes through.

This thread reminds me of:

https://youtu.be/KNQRqAoT-2c