Rant, eating out

nickaluch said:
We went out to Green port long Island Saturday wife's birthday party of 8 at Claudio's just cocktails overlooking the Atlantic Ocean $780 without tip. Then a winery 8 glasses of wine and a charcuterie board $350 without tip. Back to a restaurant closer to home for dinner $810 I forgot what I paid for car service to haul us there n back paid him a few months ago did give him $80 tip he was with us the whole day. Dinner and drinks are definitely through the roof.. Friday night dinner and drinks bar bill was more than the dinner bill I think it was a little over $300 with tip. I told my wife this morning Wednesday is your birthday we are eating at home the celebration is over.
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It was my wife’s birthday last week and we didn’t spend a ton, $120 before tip and a $20 Whole Foods cake (I figure no, I can’t afford Whole Foods, but with a cake, don’t want leftovers. Now we can get quality and small quantity and win). Only difference than any other weekend is we went to a nice town (Malvern PA), found a new place, and it was just a different experience making it more special. Don’t know why I accept high restaurant prices but not other things. Part of me says the people in the industry got hurt by food costs so it’s a case where I am not blaming them…
 
Patman said:
That’s bad if a business charges more just because people want to use their credit card. Yes, a business has to pay 2 or 3% to the credit card company but 99.9% of businesses just absorb that cost because so many people use credit these days. I wouldn’t return to any place that tries to charge me extra for that (so far I haven’t encountered that happening in my area though)
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It is happening every place here. One gets away with it, they all must follow. They are all gonna squeeze every penny they can as long as they can.
Even encountered the sign on the wall at a Doctor appointment. Now who on earth is carrying enough cash to pay for a Doctor visit to avoid that card up charge!?
 
CKN said:
and food trucks as well. Many food trucks with these being a younger people thing take Venmo
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Haven't encountered a food truck yet - and I frequent them fairly often - that doesn't take credit cards. As for Venmo, if I'm not mistaken, they only charge fees when people want an "instant" money transfer. When people pay me with Venmo, I'm fine with the few-days-later-for-free ACH transfer option.
 
John105 said:
It was my wife’s birthday last week and we didn’t spend a ton, $120 before tip and a $20 Whole Foods cake (I figure no, I can’t afford Whole Foods, but with a cake, don’t want leftovers. Now we can get quality and small quantity and win). Only difference than any other weekend is we went to a nice town (Malvern PA), found a new place, and it was just a different experience making it more special. Don’t know why I accept high restaurant prices but not other things. Part of me says the people in the industry got hurt by food costs so it’s a case where I am not blaming them…
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Which place in Malvern...Jockey Tavern?
 
JohnnyG said:
Debit cards have no fees, why wouldn't you just use that?
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If you pay with card (regardless of credit or debit) the business pays a third party for the electronic transaction, which usually 1.5-2% for all cards and about 3% (or more for AmEx). After the pandemic some business started to include that charge on the customer's bill, instead of paying it themselves as before.
 
Japanese said:
If you pay with card (regardless of credit or debit) the business pays a third party for the electronic transaction, which usually 1.5-2% for all cards and about 3% (or more for AmEx). After the pandemic some business started to include that charge on the customer's bill, instead of paying it themselves as before.
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It's amazing that Costco had the power to say they wanted a 0% interchange rate, and got it. AMEX said no, lost 24% of their entire interest bearing portfolio (that means some Costco members carry a balance), and Citi stepped up and accepted 0%. I cracked a joke while in BJs on Saturday, and 3 ladies almost rolled on the floor laughing. If I had cracked the same joke at Costco, it would have been blank stares and crickets. Such different clientele and outcomes from 2 warehouse clubs that started at the same time.
 
Dinoburner said:
We used to eat out 3 to 4 times a week now down to once and choose places that serve a decent portion. Having a to go container with enough for another meal gets a return visit.
Being charged a fee for using a cc is wrong and short sighted IMHO.
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I agree I remember years ago first time I came across a credit card surcharge on a restaurant receipt I spoke to the owner outside told him you're embarrassing yourself with this surcharge it's the price of doing business just raise your menu prices 5% nobody will notice. But I'm guessing they like you to pay cash goes right in there pocket tax free not claimed as income. With everyone using CC they have to pay the surcharge and tax credit card purchase is traceable by the IRS. This credit card surcharge scam happened after covid when nobody wanted to handle cash. They missed the cash and trying to force you to pay cash with the tax dodging credit card surcharge
 
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nickaluch said:
I agree I remember years ago first time I came across a credit card surcharge on a restaurant receipt I spoke to the owner outside told him you're embarrassing yourself with this surcharge it's the price of doing business just raise your menu prices 5% nobody will notice. But I'm guessing they like you to pay cash goes right in there pocket tax free not claimed as income. With everyone using CC they have to pay the surcharge and tax credit card purchase is traceable by the IRS. This credit card surcharge scam happened after covid when nobody wanted to handle cash. They missed the cash and trying to force you to pay cash with the tax dodging credit card surcharge
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When I got married the venue said you pay cash no sales tax. I said 20% off I pay cash. Mgr said no. So I said I’ll use AMEX (knowing it’s the worst for him) and collect 3% rewards.

He’s not gonna declare 40k if I pay cash I felt 20% is splitting it in half. And no I have no qualms if the venue cheats, I’m not the guy’s mommy lol
 
John105 said:
When I got married the venue said you pay cash no sales tax. I said 20% off I pay cash. Mgr said no. So I said I’ll use AMEX (knowing it’s the worst for him) and collect 3% rewards.

He’s not gonna declare 40k if I pay cash I felt 20% is splitting it in half. And no I have no qualms if the venue cheats, I’m not the guy’s mommy lol
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Deposits and prepays with any smaller companies always better to use credit cards in case place goes belly up. The one time I prepaid half my honeheating oil cash other credit card the company went belly up. I got all the money back from credit card $750. The other $750 I got $50 and one delivery worth about $125.
 
90% of consumer transactions prior to the pandemic were already on a card. The price was already built into the goods. The 3% fee is simply margin improvement program in which they don't need to disclose the price increase up front. The retailers think there sly.

Clearly people are paying it. I did a quick search and all 4 of the subway restaurants in my little area are still open. From the other thread a couple years ago I thought they were all heading towards belly up. I guess they all got in line and signed all their relatives up as employees so they could collect PPP and employee retention credits on the taxpayers dime.

And yes we all know - eating at home is better. Sometimes your not near home.
 
John105 said:
it was called Tuk Tuk. The inside was nice, and we'd never been there before, making it a good experience. Prices, not that cheap. The last time we went out that way, son had a 4th grade birthday party at the rock climbing place...
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Might have to try it. Ate at Dan Dan in Wayne because my son lives nearby.
It's good
 
Hall said:
I've never seen a place (restaurants, specifically) that differentiates them when it comes to the fee. What happens in almost all cases is they process it as a credit card, even when it's a debit card, so they still are charged the same processing fees by the card processor.
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My hff group is that some residents have started charging extra especially if a third party delivers the food. One near me has a "convenience fee" on top of the delivery fee. I thought getting delivery was a convenience?
 
John105 said:
When I got married the venue said you pay cash no sales tax. I said 20% off I pay cash. Mgr said no. So I said I’ll use AMEX (knowing it’s the worst for him) and collect 3% rewards.

He’s not gonna declare 40k if I pay cash I felt 20% is splitting it in half. And no I have no qualms if the venue cheats, I’m not the guy’s mommy lol
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I always ask contractors if there's a price difference for cash payment. It usually knocks a couple of hundred off depending on the job...5-10% as a rule.
 
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