good clip

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:

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.

I understand that side of the argument, and it is one commonly held by restaurant/ bar operators. Unfortunately, dealing with an often unreasonable public means having to acquiesce to optics.

But I'm on the flip side and prefer transparency. We often talk about wanting to know ahead of time what our costs are going to be when dealing with things like medical billing expenses or car repairs. Why is this not also true when ordering in a restaurant?

If a customer wants something not advertised on a restaurant menu, is it really so unreasonable to expect them to pay for it? If I order a filet of fish with cheese I get charged for the slice of cheese. If I order a Tripple Whopper I pay more for the extra burger patty.

If businesses don't charge for the cup of water then they are forced to raise menu item pricing so every customer pays (subsidizes) what only a few customers will order while expecting the item for "free".

Again, it is worth remembering that these are tough economic times for many, including restaurants.

TANSTAAFL...words to live by.

Nope...

I'm all for free enterprise, but if I'm at a sit down restaurant and they charge me for water, three things are going to happen.

1) I will tell them their policy of charging for water is STUPID!

2) I will deduct the cost of the water from the tip.

3) I will NEVER patronize said restaurant again and will tell everyone I know about their STUPID water charge.

Yes, times are tough. But... tough times aren't exclusive to restauranteurs. It's tough for a lot of folks. Restaurant owners should be thankful people are choosing to do business with them and not gouge their customers with STUPID charges on water.

quote:

2) I will deduct the cost of the water from the tip.

So you're going to punish the server for a policy of the restaurant?

I'll bet you walk outta there struttin' your shit, dont you?

You're a real hero.

quote:

Restaurant owners should be thankful people are choosing to do business with them and not gouge their customers with STUPID charges on water.

This reminds me of a story about my SO's time in the restaurant business:

She had a family that would come in to eat, complain, and get their meal comped. Again, and again, and again. One day she told them not to come back. They contacted corporate, and corporate explained that she couldn't "treat customers that way" even though those "customers" hadn't actually paid for a meal.

I've got news for you. When you're costing a business money, you're not a customer, you're a free loader. Customers pay.

Personally, I don't think I'd ever charge for water. Just before all of this Covid nonsense I was getting ready to open a small restaurant. Most people have zero idea how much money it cost to operate even a small hole in the wall. Even that free glass of water has expenses associated with it, and margins at restaurants are slim to begin with.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:

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.

You're probably right. It's most likely a Diet Pepsi.

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Possibly charging for the cup only.

Exactly. Liked the concession stands at the movie houses they keep track of sales by the cups..for the soda and popcorn.

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Originally posted by Shaql:

quote:

2) I will deduct the cost of the water from the tip.

So you're going to punish the server for a policy of the restaurant?

I'll bet you walk outta there struttin' your shit, dont you?

You're a real hero.

That's big talk coming from a guy in an ass backward, thoroughly corrupt state where they can't even count votes on time or properly.

LOL!!!

quote:

Originally posted by a1abdj:

quote:

Restaurant owners should be thankful people are choosing to do business with them and not gouge their customers with STUPID charges on water.

This reminds me of a story about my SO's time in the restaurant business:

She had a family that would come in to eat, complain, and get their meal comped. Again, and again, and again. One day she told them not to come back. They contacted corporate, and corporate explained that she couldn't "treat customers that way" even though those "customers" hadn't actually paid for a meal.

I've got news for you. When you're costing a business money, you're not a customer, you're a free loader. Customers pay.

Personally, I don't think I'd ever charge for water. Just before all of this Covid nonsense I was getting ready to open a small restaurant. Most people have zero idea how much money it cost to operate even a small hole in the wall. Even that free glass of water has expenses associated with it, and margins at restaurants are slim to begin with.

It's a business just like any other, governed by supply and demand as well as competition. You can charge for water, hell you can charge for the oxygen in the restaurant if you want. People decide where to do business and vote with their pocket book.

Fortunately for me, I have a wide variety of restaurants to choose from and it's quite common for the manager's of the restaurants I visit to personally welcome me when I visit.

quote:

Originally posted by Belgian Blue:

quote:

Originally posted by Modern Day Savage:

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.

I understand that side of the argument, and it is one commonly held by restaurant/ bar operators. Unfortunately, dealing with an often unreasonable public means having to acquiesce to optics.

But I'm on the flip side and prefer transparency. We often talk about wanting to know ahead of time what our costs are going to be when dealing with things like medical billing expenses or car repairs. Why is this not also true when ordering in a restaurant?

If a customer wants something not advertised on a restaurant menu, is it really so unreasonable to expect them to pay for it? If I order a filet of fish with cheese I get charged for the slice of cheese. If I order a Tripple Whopper I pay more for the extra burger patty.

If businesses don't charge for the cup of water then they are forced to raise menu item pricing so every customer pays (subsidizes) what only a few customers will order while expecting the item for "free".

Again, it is worth remembering that these are tough economic times for many, including restaurants.

TANSTAAFL...words to live by.

Nope...

I'm all for free enterprise, but if I'm at a sit down restaurant and they charge me for water, three things are going to happen.

1) I will tell them their policy of charging for water is STUPID!

2) I will deduct the cost of the water from the tip.

3) I will NEVER patronize said restaurant again and will tell everyone I know about their STUPID water charge.

Yes, times are tough. But... tough times aren't exclusive to restauranteurs. It's tough for a lot of folks. Restaurant owners should be thankful people are choosing to do business with them and not gouge their customers with STUPID charges on water.

Wait...don't tell me...let me guess. You are one of those guys that gets all torqued up about free loaders walking into hospital emergency rooms expecting to be treated with no ability to pay and therefore the hospital adds surcharges or increases the costs of EVERY PAYING PATIENT to cover the fees for the indigent being treated and, then you get all riled up when service or shop fees are added to a vehicle repair bill to cover incidental costs not detailed in the estimate...but somehow you expect every paying customer to pay an increased per item fee to cover the relatively few who order a disposable cup of water.

If you order a burger that doesn't normally come with cheese on it and you ask for a slice of cheese, should all the other customers be forced to subsidize your cheese also?

Oh, don't worry, this very debate has been raging within the restaurant industry this year during the C-19 lock down...increase per item fees vs. adding a C-19 surcharge. I've seen examples of both, but most restaurant owners have chosen your side and simply raise all their per item fees so that all customers cover incidental amenities not used by all, so you most likely won't have to pay for your very own cup of water.

Oh, and you are absolutely right on one point. It isn't just tough economic times for restaurants, but their guests as well. Lot of pain to go around...but just how many folks facing economic hardships are eating out to begin with...and should they be eating out if they can't afford to pay for what they order?

quote:

Wait...don't tell me...let me guess. You are one of those guys that gets all torqued up about free loaders walking into hospital emergency rooms expecting to be treated with no ability to pay and therefore the hospital adds surcharges or increases the costs of EVERY PAYING PATIENT to cover the fees for the indigent being treated and, then you get all riled up when service or shop fees are added to a vehicle repair bill to cover incidental costs not detailed in the estimate...but somehow you expect every paying customer to pay an increased per item fee to cover the relatively few who order a disposable cup of water.

Lemme guess... You're one of those guys who thinks it's just peachy for a pharmaceutical company to arbitrarily jack the prices of commonly used medicine to astonishingly high prices in the U.S. but practically gives it away in other countries... Then has their CEO testify in Congress and smirk and laugh about it...

LOL...

Your argument is absolute bullshit. I pay the price on the menu and leave the appropriate tip. Freeloader? You must be a liberal. That's what THEY do when they can't make a point. Attack the other person because they aren't intelligent enough to make a case for themselves.

Who the everlovingfuck gave you the authority to decide who gets to eat out and who has to eat at home?

What, you couldn't be bothered to answer my simple questions in pointing out your inconsistencies?

Well, I'll answer yours. I'm fine with any business, including pharmaceutical companies, to charge whatever they decide to charge, and then let consumers decide whether to pay it or seek alternatives in the market from their competitors.

Which one of the points I made is bullshit? Is it so unreasonable for a business to expect a customer to pay for items/ services provided?

Expecting others to pay for items/ services rendered is one of the hallmarks of Liberals, which is what you are arguing for, not I.

And why is it you assign some sort of "authority" to me that I never claimed? 'Straw Man' arguments are the refuge of those who who can't logically defend their own position. I simply pointed out an economic logical argument. How many people experiencing economic hardship choose to eat out, and is it a smart choice for them to make?

Why all the anger Belgian Blue? Why is it almost every thread you enter you feel the need to insult or attack anyone not agreeing with your position, rather than relying on good old fashioned debate logic to make your point?

You have a history of being moderated on this forum and you managed to get the X95 thread locked recently. Do you intend to get this thread locked as well?

quote:

I'm fine with any business, including pharmaceutical companies, to charge whatever they decide to charge, and then let consumers decide whether to pay it or seek alternatives in the market from their competitors.

Not everyone has the option or ability to "shop around" for alternative sources when the price of the medication used to sustain their lives ends up costing a fortune. By your answer, I take it you don't agree with Trump's policy to bring drug costs down for Americans? You sound like a Biden voter.

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Which one of the points I made is bullshit? Is it so unreasonable for a business to expect a customer to pay for items/ services provided?

Pretty much everything you posted was bullshit. I never mentioned ANYTHING about subsidizing anyone's meals. Sometimes people order a drink AND water. Charging for water is utter bullshit and none of your inane babbling changes that.

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Expecting others to pay for items/ services rendered is one of the hallmarks of Liberals, which is what you are arguing for, not I.

Another clear example of your bullshit. I never said anything about others paying for items or services. I even said restaurants should feel free to charge for water and the oxygen in their buildings. People will ultimately decide whether they want to pay for it. That's called freemutherfuckingenterprise. Look into it. I simply said I would go elsewhere should any restaurant in my state be stupid enough to charge for water.

quote:

And why is it you assign some sort of "authority" to me that I never claimed?

Nope, wrong again Savage... You usurped that yourself in your own words:

"but just how many folks facing economic hardships are eating out to begin with...and should they be eating out if they can't afford to pay for what they order?"

Newsflash Savage... You ain't got no authority over who eats out or stays home. Get over yourself.

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Why all the anger Belgian Blue? Why is it almost every thread you enter you feel the need to insult or attack anyone not agreeing with your position, rather than relying on good old fashioned debate logic to make your point?

No anger. Maybe just a few snowflakes like you who can't understand that some people have differing opinions.

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You have a history of being moderated on this forum and you managed to get the X95 thread locked recently. Do you intend to get this thread locked as well?

That X95 thread had someone who was posting nonsense. I called them out on it. It got locked. Who cares? Speaking of my history, I've been here longer than you and your posts don't always add up to much, so you might step off your pedestal.

Some places have been doing that for a while. I’ve found a way to get around it. After you’ve paid and they are getting ready to hand you your food, act flustered and say “sorry I forgot to order a small water can I have one of those please?” They have yet to charge me or even attempt to do such a ridiculous thing.