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AIBU?

To think that if you are going to charge a pound for a mug of hot water, you should make it clear?

234 replies

pussycatwillum · 17/07/2013 09:50

Yesterday I went out for lunch with a group of old ladies. One of them only ever drinks hot water. The waitress provided this for her. We then had lunch and asked for the bill.
The mug of hot water was charged at one pound.
The lady concerned was a) not happy to be asked to pay so much, although she did concede that she would have happily paid 50p as presumably they do have overheads to pay.
b) cross that nowhere on the menu was it mentioned and the waitress did not say 'There will be a charge of a pound for that, madam' which would have given her the chance to say no.
So was she being unreasonable?
It was at a place I have been to lots of times and when I mentioned that she wasn't happy the waitress immediately deducted the charge, but I think this was to avoid a scene.
Is it reasonable to charge for hot water, and is one pound a reasonable amount?

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MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:20

Different places make different informal contracts with their customers.

The group of mums who meet weekly and have coffee and cake can merrily feed their small offspring snacks they have brought.

The group of mums who order a cup of tea and bring out the full picnic at high lunch service and stay for an hour and a half are less so.

Ragwort · 18/07/2013 18:21

Madame - I am genuinely interested in your views as a professional, I too have worked in the hospitality industry.

Re: your comments about butter, I get that it is expensive but I do feel that when you buy a sandwich out it should be made with 'real' butter; I was very disappointed recently when, at a fairly upmarket tea shop, I ordered a sandwich and it had clearly been made with 'spread' not butter. I didn't complain, because the description of the sandwich didn't actually say 'fresh buttered bread filled with ..........' or anything like that, but, just for interest, do you think I should check each time when ordering that the establishment is using 'real' butter?

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:22

Every place has a breakeven for the day figure...before profit.

They need to make that money in order to just stay open. They won't make it if every customer brings their own food and drink.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:25

I agree, ragwort, and the price of the butter will be reflected in the price of the sandwich! I think you would probably have a pretty good idea when you go in what you might get.

A greasy spoon will serve bread and butter and charge say £1 for a round, using cheap bread and spread.

The fancier place up the road will serve some nice sour dough with real butter and charge £2.

they are both bread and butter, but you pay for the quality.

If in doubt, yes, always ask!

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:26

both are valid, just serving a different customer base with different expectations in terms of price and quality.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:26

MmeDefarge - I do not want to bring my own fecking jam to your cafe or any other cafe, not now, not ever. I am not sure why you are going on about me wanting to bring my own jam, when all I am asking is why, IF a cafe is happy to give/sell me a mug of boiling water, it makes a blind bit of difference if I drink it unadulterated or put a tea bag in. No fecking jam, just a liquorice and sweet Egyptian spice herbal bloody tea bag, because I want a hot drink that isn't caffeinated or hot chocolate and can't stomach any other herbal tea!!

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:27

And thank you so much for according me the dignity of being a professional!

Ragwort · 18/07/2013 18:27

Thank you Madame - and sorry to go off topic from the hot water subject. I will ask in future but feel a bit embarrassed as it makes me look poncey .

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:28

using spread instead of real butter when you charge real butter prices is how you lose customer confidence.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:29

Its nice to get away from the war of attrition surrounding hot water on this this thread!

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:31

ST, for the umpteenth time, you shoud use the food outlets offerings or nothing at all. You are effectively stealing from them.

If they know you well and you are a good customer, many folk will waive the charge.

You do not have an absolute to right to be there, nor to be so cheeky as to save yourself money at the expense of the establishment.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:31

That meant as a dig at me, MmeDefarge? Nice.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:31

And ST , its the same principle. Thought it might make more sense if I changed the product.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:33

How am I stealing from them if they are willing to sell/give me the hot water? Perhaps they should provide a proper range of herbal teas, to suit all tastes, if they are trying to provide a service.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:33

And. Just. To. Spell. It. Out. You. Bought. Hot. Water. You. Are. Drinking. Herbal. Tea. Just. Not. Paying. For. It.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:34

If you ask them first and they agree, fine. If not. Not fine.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:35

I would happily buy my tea, if they sold it.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:36

It might shock you but food outlets are businesses, . We like customers, because they pay money for what they consume on the premises. And so pay the bills and keep the business going.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:37

It is not all about you, ST, either on this thread or in the real world of businesses struggling to survive when customers think they can do what they like and not pay for it.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:38

But clearly logical explanations as to why its not really on makes no impression on you.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:39

Well - you are the only food service professional I have ever come across who has a problem with this. And I suspect that we are both equally happy about the fact that I don't eat or drink at your fine establishment. Of course it is no loss for me, there are plenty of places I can happily eat and drink.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:41

So - which is better for a struggling local cafe - customers who come in, place a decent sized order (which I ALWAYS do) plus a mug of hot water to make a herbal tea, or the same customer staying and eating at home because she cannot get the drink she wants at her local cafe?

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MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:41

One last time, if my cafe does not offer prawn sandwiches, it does not make us evil. maybe they are not profitable. If you come in and want a prawn sandwich and its not on offer, you can either buy another one or leave. What you can't do is order two slices of bread and butter, reach down into your handbag, whip out some nice prawny mayo from M&S and make your own.

MadameDefarge · 18/07/2013 18:42

Its the same principle, just because you think hot water is unimportant, it does not make it unimportant to the finances of the business.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 18/07/2013 18:43

Oh dear god. I am not talking about any fecking thing one might put on or between bread or toast, JUST hot water for a herbal tea.

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