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Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

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Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#311

Post by seadan83 »

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #238
hadlock wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Servers make $2.14 an hour in Texas, they're fully dependent on tips. They often/always have zero control over the kitchen or management's ability to do staffing. Keep this in mind when you eat in that state.

Still required by law to pay the difference up to minimum wage. Still only 7.25 but let's be accurate.

Law and practice can often be different. Often "the agreement" is cash tips are not declared on taxes, and you don't hassle the company when you make an hourly shortfall. My impression is that arrangement is far more common than companies actually making sure you get minimum wage every hour.

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#312

Post by hyperhopper »

crazygringo wrote: post #84

Note that drip pricing for restaurants (e.g. 10-20% non-tip surcharge) is illegal in many jurisdictions (if not "conspicuously advertised" before eating), but some restaurants try to do it anyways (claiming the policy is "conspicuously advertised" on the last page of the menu, or a tiny sign behind the bar). Sometimes you can just refuse to pay it and they'll back down because they want a repeat customer more. Someti…

This reads like yet another reason to outlaw tipping and enforce minimum wages for everybody to get rid of tipping culture

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#313

Post by happycube »

metaphor wrote: post #275
myself248 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most places in the US, the local tax is the same statewide. Not in Ohio, where it can vary by township, sometimes across invisible boundaries. I once attended a large flea-market where such a boundary cut through the fairgrounds. Taxes were different on one side of the line than the other. It's so bad that Ohio actually has a mobile app that uses your phone's GPS to figure out which jurisdiction you're in and show th…

> Most places in the US, the local tax is the same statewide. Didn't quite pass my seasonally congested anecdotal sniff test. Turns out[1]: - 74% (37 states) vary depending on a local rate - 18% (9 states) are fixed at a state level - 8% (4 states) don't have sales tax > Not in Ohio, where it can vary by township, sometimes across invisible boundaries. Ohio isn't really exceptional in this regard; a few examples that…

Note that South San Francisco is actually in a different county.

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#314

Post by iinnPP »

avitous wrote: post #30

Just say no. If the added fees are known up front, take business elsewhere. If they're only revealed after the fact, I would become That Ugly Customer, and they would never get my business again. If enough do this, then behaviors will change, especially if such businesses are retaliated against. As they should be.

It's so strange that we go out of our way to discount the only people in society who are trying to correct issues like fraud.

Businesses defrauding customers with brain-dead customers attacking people standing up for their consumer rights. Absolute insanity.

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#315

Post by thayne »

hadlock wrote: post #231
II2II wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Restaurants must be happy that I am not the type of person who eats out more than once or twice a year. I don't tip unless there is table service. I withhold tips if the quality of the product is bad (sorry servers). Even in social situations. That doesn't mean I don't tip when it is appropriate, but I view it as more of an incentive for good service than to reinforce bad business practices. I'm not sure how I would…

Servers make $2.14 an hour in Texas, they're fully dependent on tips. They often/always have zero control over the kitchen or management's ability to do staffing. Keep this in mind when you eat in that state.

That is not unique to Texas.

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#316

Post by [deleted] »

fencepost wrote: post #279
JKCalhoun wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was being trained to work at a McDonald's restaurant (like four decades ago) they had us watch an awesome PSA about "the customer". To this day I remember the closer spoken by the poorly treated customer in the video, "I don't get mad, I just don't come back." I've left notes on my bill explaining to "management" why I'm not returning to a particular restaurant. I don't like doing it, but I think someone needs…

I've left notes on my bill explaining to "management" why I'm not returning It's likely much more effective explaining in a review why you're not returning.

[deleted]

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#317

Post by thayne »

jaredhallen wrote: post #284
flandish wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Truthfully, while it IS well established, this is only because the class of “owners” have beaten it into us (workers/consumers) and it is a great example of capitalism gaslighting more exploitation.

Is it capitalism? That doesn't sound like it's specifically the result of the free market at work. I don't love the situation, but it seems like it's kind of a nuanced history that started with extra incentive for exceptional service, which changed over time. Why? I don't know. But ultimately we (in the US) know that we should be expecting to pay ~20% on top of our bill, and take that into consideration when we're ma…

Capitalism doesn't necessarily mean a free market. It just means that capital is controlled by private entities as opposed to the state.

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#319

Post by JKCalhoun »

fencepost wrote: post #279
JKCalhoun wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was being trained to work at a McDonald's restaurant (like four decades ago) they had us watch an awesome PSA about "the customer". To this day I remember the closer spoken by the poorly treated customer in the video, "I don't get mad, I just don't come back." I've left notes on my bill explaining to "management" why I'm not returning to a particular restaurant. I don't like doing it, but I think someone needs…

I've left notes on my bill explaining to "management" why I'm not returning It's likely much more effective explaining in a review why you're not returning.

You're probably right. I'm thinking specifically of a few restaurants at a time that was pre-Yelp.

Re: Companies use drip pricing to overcharge consumers

#320

Post by flandish »

jaredhallen wrote: post #284
flandish wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Truthfully, while it IS well established, this is only because the class of “owners” have beaten it into us (workers/consumers) and it is a great example of capitalism gaslighting more exploitation.

Is it capitalism? That doesn't sound like it's specifically the result of the free market at work. I don't love the situation, but it seems like it's kind of a nuanced history that started with extra incentive for exceptional service, which changed over time. Why? I don't know. But ultimately we (in the US) know that we should be expecting to pay ~20% on top of our bill, and take that into consideration when we're ma…

Part of the exploitation process, imho inherent to capitalism, involved a migration from your “tip to good service” to “opportunity to save” (money) by the owners.

I am, admittedly, a leftist and incredibly untrusting of anything where workers are not an equal part of the ownership in a business, so I know I jump too conclusion/assumption quicker than I prob should. But, I think there is no doubt that there is a lot of FUD around what would happen if staff were paid a living wage, all meant to distract to keep profit in pockets of the owner.

(Anecdotally, I don’t remember tipping being the norm when I visited Europe. But it was some time ago.)

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