DINING out has become more expensive and some customers are fed up with the additional charges on their prescriptions.
Hidden fees and surcharges have been cropping up at restaurants serving dine-in and takeout, causing cash-strapped consumers to resort to drastic measures to alleviate costs.
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Despite inflation rates finally showing signs of cooling, prices continue to rise and cash-strapped consumers are feeling the effects even when dining out.
Restaurants across the country have consistently found ways to incorporate additional fees for customers in hopes of offsetting rising food and labor costs.
From BYOB corkage fees to surcharges for credit card payments, customers have almost become accustomed to a few extra cents or more showing up on their bills.
However, a recent dinner believes some fees are completely unnecessary and said the new culture – and costs – of dining out are “really getting out of control”.
“WTF is a “kitchen appreciation fee” and why don’t they warn you before you eat there,” wrote restaurant Byl Holte, sharing a photo of a receipt he received on his X account.
Byl didn’t reveal the name of the restaurant, but according to the address on the receipt and the items ordered by his group, he popped in for dinner at True Chesapeake Oyster Co.
True Chesapeake Oyster Co. is a “fine dining restaurant born from an oyster farm,” according to the establishment website.
The receipt lists several charges for Byl’s Sunday brunch, including a mimosa for $10, two breakfast dishes — which include “three eggs your way, local bacon, confit potatoes, [and a] toasted baguette” for $38, and two orders of orange juice for $8.
The receipt also lists a “Kitchen Appreciation Fee (dine-in)” of two percent of the total bill before taxes, worth $1.12.
The total cost of the meal was $60.78, including taxes and additional fee.
“We asked the waiter to explain and he said ‘well, it’s kind of hard to explain. Let me call my manager,’” he continued.
“Of course the manager never showed up. Do I really need to start asking first?”
Additional fees have become very common in restaurants and are typically not disclosed until the customer requests the check.
Then, customers are greeted with vague or confusing fees they didn’t even know they were going to pay, leaving cash-strapped consumers frustrated with the additional costs.
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While some restaurant owners outline the charges and what they want — employee health insurance, restaurant overhead, pandemic-related costs — these fees are often too vague and confusing for most diners to understand.
Some customers even resorted to drastic measures and began subtracting fees from the amount they would have left as a tip.
“When I see extra fees like this, I deduct it from the tip,” replied one user.
“Sorry, I’m not subsidizing your restaurant if you can’t afford to run it. It’s a shame for your servers,” they added.
SALARY OR SURFACE?
U.S. restaurant owners are required to pay tipped employees a minimum of “$2.13 per hour in direct wages, if that amount combined with tips received is at least equal to the federal minimum wage,” according to as US Department of Labor.
Still, after tips, the average hourly wage for a food server in the US is reportedly $15.46, but it varies greatly by restaurant and location.
While waiters and bartenders are not responsible for setting hidden fees, their take-home pay may face the biggest hit as customers continue to tip less to offset additional expenses.
“Apparently the wait staff is not taking care of the kitchen staff satisfactorily,” another user added.
“TIPS = To guarantee immediate service”, they added.
“As a waitress, I was always getting money from the kitchen staff, because they could make or break your day.”
“It sounds right, but it’s not my job to pay these people,” Holte responded.
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And while many customers are becoming increasingly frustrated with the costs, they aren’t abandoning dining out forever.
“I’m not going to do that. Right now we’re basically eating at home because of the costs of dining out, and now they’re trying to scam us even more?” one user questioned.
“Next… a dishwasher appreciation fee. A floor cleaning fee. NO,” they wrote.
Other customers are increasingly concerned that restaurant owners are simply pocketing the costs for themselves.
“Seems like a way for the restaurant to pay its workers less and pass the costs onto customers,” wrote one user.
“This is the result of restaurant owners not wanting to pay their employees properly, so they are forcing you to do it,” commented another.
“And make no mistake, the kitchen staff don’t see a single penny of it. I would demand it be removed,” wrote another user.
Common Types of Restaurant Surcharges
Hidden fees and surcharges are becoming increasingly common for customers dining out at restaurants. Here are some common types of fees and surcharges customers may find on their receipts:
- Tip or gratuity – Most common or expected fee when dining out, the customer may choose to add an additional amount, typically 15-25% of the total bill, for the service they received.
- Federal or state taxes or fees – Customers are used to seeing a few extra dollars added to their bills as a result of federal or state taxes, or additional taxes on alcoholic beverages.
- Service charge – Instead of individual tips, some restaurants incorporate a flat service charge, usually 15 to 20% of the total bill, for large groups or parties.
- Corkage Fees – Commonly found in BYOB restaurants, this charge covers the cost of opening and serving wine or other alcoholic beverages that customers bring to accompany their meal.
- Health care – Some restaurants have adopted a “health care” surcharge since the pandemic, offsetting the cost of employee health care for customers.
- Split Board Fees – With the costs of dining out rising, some customers choose to split entrees or appetizers with a friend, only to receive an additional fee to cover the cost of additional plates and cutlery, or to cover the labor costs used to share a dish between two. or more customers.
- Split Check Fees – Customers should also be careful when splitting their bills between larger groups, as restaurants may charge a small fee for splitting a bill into two or more separate transactions.
- Credit card minimums – Customers are often shocked to discover that they may be charged an additional fee if their total bill is less than a specified amount, for example $10 or $15, and they are paying by credit card.
Some users have also questioned the legality of these hidden fees and whether customers are required to pay them.
“This is called forced tipping. If I see a surcharge, I don’t tip,” one user wrote.
“This is ridiculous…” wrote another user.
“That’s a hard no from me. If I didn’t ask, I wouldn’t pay for it. That would probably end the management,” another user added.
“I would call this a robbery,” another user commented.
“If it doesn’t post, tell them to remove it from their account,” one user commented.
“They cannot legally charge an extra fee like this unless it is published,” they added.
Some consumers have assured that there is at least one way to avoid paying these fees.
“I would show my appreciation if I didn’t go back there,” another user added.
For now, restaurant fees are here to stay, even though some states, like California, try to ban them by law.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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