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Mandatory, hidden fee that hits you when you get the bill.
Now help the restaurant pay it's employees health insurance.
Watch for this to come to a restaurant near you soon......
I'll tell ya folks..we're gonna be fee'd and taxed to death soon as revenue dries up for both government and private business.
snippet:
"The latest hidden mandatory add-on is a "health" charge added to restaurant bills. As far as I know, this scam cropped up first in San Francisco, but you can count on it to spread.
The rationale for this one is to cover the employers' mandatory contribution to the City's "Healthy San Francisco" health-coverage system. The charge actually is levied on employers, but at least some restaurants are adding a few dollars or percentage points to each customer's bill to cover this charge."
The cost of doing business, usually reflected in the prices but not in this case.
They could also add a "utility fee" if they want to highlight and protest the electricity rates or whatever. I'm underwhelmed by all of this to be honest.
The cost of doing business, usually reflected in the prices but not in this case.
They could also add a "utility fee" if they want to highlight and protest the electricity rates or whatever. I'm underwhelmed by all of this to be honest.
Until you go out to eat and get a bill with charges like this added.
Totally unexpected to a casual diner..wouldn't you agree ?
Until you go out to eat and get a bill with charges like this added.
Totally unexpected to a casual diner..wouldn't you agree ?
Unexpected? Yes. But like I said, there are many "fees" built into the price of a meal and highlighting this one seems silly. I probably wouldn't eat their anymore because when I go out I want to enjoy my meals, not have political statements beat me over the head. Plus, it hides the true cost which isn't something I like to find out only when I get my bill.
What can you do to avoid this fee? Presumably, not many of you would feel strongly enough about this minor scam to get up and walk out of a restaurant the minute you saw a notice about such a fee. And you probably wouldn't feel like making a fuss when you're paying your bill, either. But when you leave, you can certainly let the restaurant know that you resent this deception and that you won't be returning.
Of course there's nothing to do to avoid the fee but it's hardly a scam. ALL of the businesses have to pay it and it increases costs for the consumers. SOME of the businesses are making patrons aware of the real cost to them instead of just upping prices generically.
How many times have you heard people complain about rising prices with no understanding of the contributing factors? Now people will know why the meal that used to cost $15 now will cost $16.50. How is that deceptive?
Until you go out to eat and get a bill with charges like this added.
Totally unexpected to a casual diner..wouldn't you agree ?
It's not hidden as you described in your OP. It's printed on the menu...just like other 'fees' like the $2 plate sharing fee or the mandatory 18% gratuity for parties over 6 people, etc.
It's not hidden as you described in your OP. It's printed on the menu...just like other 'fees' like the $2 plate sharing fee or the mandatory 18% gratuity for parties over 6 people, etc.
Yeah..after you get there, sit down and get a menu.
Sly..yes. Above board if they also have an internet menu without this fee advertised? No.
It really depends.
I've tried to argue with the phone company on their mandatory FCC fee on lines..I had 2 lines to the house but off the same wire yet got charged twice.
You just cannot win against the phone company...so I canceled that second line.
It's not hidden as you described in your OP. It's printed on the menu...just like other 'fees' like the $2 plate sharing fee or the mandatory 18% gratuity for parties over 6 people, etc.
Ahh, if it's upfront then no problem. I'd still rather see it be built into the price, which is the easy way to handle business expenses. If it's printed on the menu then the owners must REALLY hate this particular law. That's their problem, not mine.
Is it news that a business prices it product based on expenses? If a business chooses to point out what certain costs contribute to their price, although not a wise business decision, I think it is up to them. What's the issue?
Yeah..after you get there, sit down and get a menu.
Sly..yes. Above board if they also have an internet menu without this fee advertised? No.
It really depends.
I've tried to argue with the phone company on their mandatory FCC fee on lines..I had 2 lines to the house but off the same wire yet got charged twice.
You just cannot win against the phone company...so I canceled that second line.
That makes no sense. The cost will be the same either way. How many times do you know exactly how much you will spend on dinner before you get to the restaurant, sit down and get a menu? What does it matter if the price is $15+$1.50 or if the price is $16.50?
The only difference I see is that I don't have to tip on the $1.50 fee so I am SAVING money as opposed to it all be lumped together with the cost of the meal.
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