What cheeses me off

[Quickstatus]

weekend surcharges really, really cheese me off

I am actually against making prices an all in one inclusive price. Inclusive prices hide additional fees taxes etc and over time people forget there are other fingers in the pie.

So in my view
Additional fees and charges including weekend surcharges should also be separately itemised so that the customer can see what the costs are.

I would also like to see a further breakdown of where my taxes go each year. Currently there is a certain level of granularity but not enough in my opinion

 

[Mr_Orange]

Came across an interesting one last month at a restaurant. Standard 1.5% on top of menu for paying with debit or credit card. But 5% discount for cash! So effectively a 6.5% surcharge. No doubt the cost of taking credit cards is significant as there is an indisputable record of the transaction.

I have heard of this too and I suppose these buinesses are the ones that are not declaring the cash transactions. The reality is, for an honest business, the cost of accepting cash would be higher than card, since someone has to sort, count and bag/bind the cash and then take it to the bank - all done at whatever their hourly rate is and then that staff member is not doing something else for the business.

 

[MARTINE]

I am actually against making prices an all in one inclusive price. Inclusive prices hide additional fees taxes etc and over time people forget there are other fingers in the pie.

So in my view
Additional fees and charges including weekend surcharges should also be separately itemised so that the customer can see what the costs are.

I would also like to see a further breakdown of where my taxes go each year. Currently there is a certain level of granularity but not enough in my opinion

I remember once - years ago - when traveling in the 80’s cant remember where in Italy I treated myself to a hair cut at some bougie place worthy of Warren Beatty in Shampoo
I had ‘the consultation’ then hair guru explained the miracles that awaited me at ‘x’ price. Sounded great. At the end of hours of luxury, massages, unguents and an incredible hair cut I just loved i went to pay. The bill was indeed ‘x’ plus the shampoo, conditioner, cut by hair guru …. It went on and on and about 5x tines ‘x’!!
But hey I felt like a rock star so I paid.
I am more than happy with all inclusive rather than ‘extras’ thanks
Think the only thing they did not charge for was the loo paper used and the glass of water!!!!

 

[DejaBrew]

Think the only thing they did not charge for was the loo paper used and the glass of water!!!!

I’m betting that was an oversight…

 

[dajop]

I am actually against making prices an all in one inclusive price. Inclusive prices hide additional fees taxes etc and over time people forget there are other fingers in the pie.

I see a price that says $38, I want to pay $38. Not $38 + 1.5% + 10% + 8%.

We had ridiculous situations a few years back where airfares appearing on the initial booking scree for $100 (or whatever) came to $400 when you got to the final screen.

Component pricing is just there to make things look cheaper than they actually are, to lure people in.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Component pricing is just there to make things look cheaper than they actually are, to lure people in.

The budget airlines in the UK were pioneers in this space but, quite rightly, it got outlawed ages ago.

I see a price that says $38, I want to pay $38. Not $38 + 1.5% + 10% + 8%.

Precisely.

 

[Pushka]

Yes, but a buiness model can be adjusted. What worked at the start won't necessarily workin the future but surcharging is a sure fire way to annoy the heck out of your customers.

I have walked out of restaurants when I have found out that there is a surcharge.

Let's not even start on card surcharging which the RBA should just ban, outright!

So they did adjust. And didn't open. They didn't want to charge their customers anything extra. No winners there.

 

[Mr_Orange]

So they did adjust. And didn't open. They didn't want to charge their customers anything extra. No winners there.

That is a poor outcome, however......

At $25p/h, the penalty rate becomes $87.50. Assume 8 hours per day for 3 staff for 10 public holidays per year - $21,000.

Assume that the business is open for 300 days per year, excluding the public holidays, that they have 20 items on their menu and that they sell each item 10 times per day, the additional cost per item is 35c.

That is obviously an incredibly simplistic example but you can see how a pricing structure can be adjusted with minimal impact to customers and without the bad will of surcharging.

 

[Pushka]

That is a poor outcome, however......

At $25p/h, the penalty rate becomes $87.50. Assume 8 hours per day for 3 staff for 10 public holidays per year - $21,000.

Assume that the business is open for 300 days per year, excluding the public holidays, that they have 20 items on their menu and that they sell each item 10 times per day, the additional cost per item is 35c.

That is obviously an incredibly simplistic example but you can see how a pricing structure can be adjusted with minimal impact to customers and without the bad will of surcharging.

Agree but think the changes were brought in almost immediately and they didn't have the chance to amortise the costs of that over 12 months. Possibly by now that's what has happened but this was just before Covid hit and we know how that went for these businesses.

 

[p--and--t]

I see a price that says $38, I want to pay $38. Not $38 + 1.5% + 10% + 8%.

And in the US that seems to be before service charge and tip.

Read the menu outside a restaurant on my first visit and the price of a steak seemed reasonable/ comparable. When they brought the bill to the table with all the bits and pieces and suggested tip it was nearly double the displayed menu price

 

[Quickstatus]

Component pricing

I was not clear

By all means have one price on the menu
However, the invoice should have the relevant items including GST, other taxes, surcharges, fees - anything that increases the price over the normal

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Yes, but a buiness model can be adjusted. What worked at the start won't necessarily work in the future but surcharging is a sure fire way to annoy the heck out of your customers.

I have walked out of restaurants when I have found out that there is a surcharge.

Let's not even start on card surcharging which the RBA should just ban, outright!

The reserve bank might soon introduce a surcharge on cash payments. It was mentioned not long ago - as accepting cash has a cost associated with it total craziness.

 

[jastel]

As a Business you are there to make money for yourself first, second and last...IF you can give good service and keep people happy great! If you are losing money the doors shut...very simple.

If YOU want to go out on a Public Holiday why should I have pay more on a random Tuesday?

Christmas day here, very few things open due to the high penalty rates. Christmas Lunch was $300 each at a 5 star city hotel and $180 at a suburban one...one guy complained he only got 2 beers in 3 hours in his all inclusive package as there were NO STAFF to serve anyone. So basically Christmas Dinner out priced out of existence by penalty rates.

During the cyclone people were amazed that stores that had no power wanted cash and wouldnt give them stuff for free...or on a promise to pay next week etc.

Im pretty sure you wont find too many Australian hospitality workers agreeing with "they're getting a living wage so dont need any tips" statement. They are still working unsocial hours and putting up with Karens and Darrens cough.

Be careful what you wish for...I'll keep using cash when I can and tip/pay fees when I must.

Everybody is entitled to vote with their feet and wallet - be it over woke Corporate BS, high prices, bad service or credit card fees.

 

[serfty]

Read the menu outside a restaurant on my first visit and the price of a steak seemed reasonable/ comparable. When they brought the bill to the table with all the bits and pieces and suggested tip it was nearly double the displayed menu price

Last month at LA, I met with some AFFers for dinner. I had a steak (listed on menu as $33) and two beers (@$8ea) totalling USD49. Add 10%tax, 20% tip and I paid USD65. Came through on my ING as AUD99 after -$3 rebate.

 

[DejaBrew]

WCMO? Taylor Swift. Now before any "Swiftys" decide to jump down my throat, just hear me out...

My GF and I are going to see the Australian Ballet's production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" at the Capitol Theatre later this month so I figured I'd see how much it might cost us to make to have a really nice night out with a stay in the CBD?

Imagine my horror to discover the cheapest Accor member price for a property was $720 at the Sofitel Wentworth!! Qantas Hotels has the cheapest property as the Mercure Sydney for a cool $790!! Pretty much anything in the Sydney CBD is insanely priced

Guess I’ve got to “Shake It Off” and settle for a nice pre-show dinner. Thanks Tay Tay.

 

[Flashback]

WCMO is having my new turntable setup and only having 2 records to play on it....... better get cracking with some purchases, another expensive hobby if I want to build it up quickly

 

[Pushka]

WCMO is having my new turntable setup and only having 2 records to play on it....... better get cracking with some purchases, another expensive hobby if I want to build it up quickly

WCMO? We have hundreds of 78 records that were passed down from mrP's father. They are orchestral. Opera and the like. We've had them for something like 50 years. We've never had a turntable. We are planning to put them into am estate auction.

 

[Guvner]

Went to see my usual trusty dental hygienist late last year. Aforementioned hygienist moved premises to a different dental practice a bit further down the road.
Usually get a good deep clean / polish once every 6 months or so, takes about 30 mins. Covered by Health Insurance rebate.

Whilst in the chair one of the Dentists walks in, introduces himself, and has a quick glance at the cleaning being done.
Says to me "your teeth are in good nick for your age". I nodded, as you do at the Dentist. Came across to me as a new client sales pitch.

Go the the front desk to pay the usual ~$100, and on the insurance invoice there's an additional charge for "Initial Consultation - 011" by the Dentist.
Another $135. Yes, covered by rebate, but that wasn't the point as far as I'm concerned. He barely stopped as he went past, let alone "consulted".

Obviously I assumed it was a mistake. Nope. Receptionist insisted it was a valid consultation item code according to the computer. Told her I wasn't paying it and asked to see the Dentist. "Too busy". So I waited, making it clear I wasn't leaving.
Eventually he came out and, after umming and ahhing, said to her "oh, OK, I'll let it go this one time".
I said "don't worry, I won't be back". I've pretty much told anyone who will listen not to go to that practice.

WCMO is I now have to find another hygienist..

 

[Pushka]

Went to see my usual trusty dental hygienist late last year. Aforementioned hygienist moved premises to a different dental practice a bit further down the road.
Usually get a good deep clean / polish once every 6 months or so, takes about 30 mins. Covered by Health Insurance rebate.

Whilst in the chair one of the Dentists walks in, introduces himself, and has a quick glance at the cleaning being done.
Says to me "your teeth are in good nick for your age". I nodded, as you do at the Dentist. Came across to me as a new client sales pitch.

Go the the front desk to pay the usual ~$100, and on the insurance invoice there's an additional charge for "Initial Consultation - 011" by the Dentist.
Another $135. Yes, covered by rebate, but that wasn't the point as far as I'm concerned. He barely stopped as he went past, let alone "consulted".

Obviously I assumed it was a mistake. Nope. Receptionist insisted it was a valid consultation item code according to the computer. Told her I wasn't paying it and asked to see the Dentist. "Too busy". So I waited, making it clear I wasn't leaving.
Eventually he came out and, after umming and ahhing, said to her "oh, OK, I'll let it go this one time".
I said "don't worry, I won't be back". I've pretty much told anyone who will listen not to go to that practice.

WCMO is I now have to find another hygienist..

Just disgusting. It also wasn't Pre as the treatment had already commenced and he didn't have any input as to having it done.

 

[kookaburra75]

WCMO is having my new turntable setup and only having 2 records to play on it....... better get cracking with some purchases, another expensive hobby if I want to build it up quickly

On one hand, you can get new vinyl so easily, everything new and a lot of re-releases are available. You would have thought LP's would be fashionable - dust, knowing how to handle them by the edges, scratches etc. But on the other hand, if you decide to move back to Oz, you have to get them shipped out as well.