Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is it cheeky to get a hot water?

69 replies

Itsgonnabeacoldone · 18/11/2017 07:09

In a cafe? I hate paying 1.80 ish for a tea I don't really like. I'd rather hot water, but it's a bit embarrassing that some places don't charge.

OP posts:
Angelicinnocent · 18/11/2017 07:11

Depends, are you getting anything else or with a group who are getting other things?

Ausparent · 18/11/2017 07:11

If you are willing to pay when they ask you to then YANBU.

It is people who expect if for free and get shitty when they are charged who piss of cafe owners

Council · 18/11/2017 07:12

I'm going to watch this. I prefer hot water too, but am too embarrassed to ask. Same with cold water in a bar. I'm happy to ask for tap water with a meal but if we're only drinking, not so sure. I'd happily pay something for it (hot or cold) but not the price of a cup of tea.

ninnynono · 18/11/2017 07:13

If you only order that then yes! If it's with food then no.

MamaPhoneHome · 18/11/2017 07:14

Just say 'can I be charged for a boiled water please'

Showing you are happy to pay. If they say it's free then happy days :)

TheMaddHugger · 18/11/2017 07:17

I ask for a Cuppa Tea, leave the tea bag on the side of the cup please.
I also like hot water

InspMorse · 18/11/2017 07:23

Tricky.
You have to pay for the use of the facilities by buying stuff. If you ask for tea without the teabag you pay £1.80 for hot water.

Do you want the water for free? Are you intending to use something You have brought with you? Fruit tea for example? If so & you do want free HW, you are a CF.

TBH, you should pick a drink you like off the menu. Hot or cold. Surely hot after is not the only thing you will drink?

MamaPhoneHome · 18/11/2017 07:25

Isn't that wasting a teabag though?

I would just say 'can i have a boiled water please. Am happy to be charged' with a hig smile.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 18/11/2017 07:26

You’re the rare person who wants the hot water and offers to pay for it. I used to work in a cafe, many a time some cheeky fucker would ask for a hot water, then once at their table produce their own tea bag/cup a soup/hot chocolate sachet etc and expect to make full use of the comfy surroundings and facilities whilst paying nothing. We started charging for hot water pretty promptly.

Itsgonnabeacoldone · 18/11/2017 07:35

I would be happy paying for it.

Ten years ago at uni they charged 15p and lots made cup a soup. But I didn't like that as it came in a disposable cup with a lid and it's a huge waste.

How much is hot water in places that charge?

OP posts:
Raisinbrain · 18/11/2017 07:35

MamaPhoneHome’s way of asking is perfect I think

blueskyinmarch · 18/11/2017 07:36

That's all my DM ever drinks and she is happy to pay for it in a cafe. Sometimes they charge and sometimes they don't. It is up to them and isn't your problem.

jarox · 18/11/2017 07:36

I do this sometimes but then I usually buy something to eat too. As pp have said if you are sitting in the cafe I would pop a £1 or something into the tip jar or charity box instead if they don't charge!!x

TheMaddHugger · 18/11/2017 07:40

MamaPhoneHome Sat 18-Nov-17 07:25:03
Isn't that wasting a teabag though?

yeh sorry. [i take the teabag home with me]

Only1scoop · 18/11/2017 07:40

Depends if you are eating or having anything else.

IMO sitting at a table with just a hot water would be rude even if they charged you 50p for it.

HotelEuphoria · 18/11/2017 07:41

I have to honest here, but if I ran a coffee shop I would rather my tables went to someone that ordered a coffee and a cake than someone that wanted to pay a quid or less for a cup of hot water.

Itsgonnabeacoldone · 18/11/2017 07:43

It's for when in groups, not me on my own going out for a hot water Grin

OP posts:
Cheby · 18/11/2017 07:45

You’re not really lying £1.80 for tea, you’re paying it for a warm cafe with lights on with staff who serve you. The tea bag probably costs them 5p. So maybe you could offerto pay £1.75?

Cheby · 18/11/2017 07:45

Ugh, paying not lying

Itsgonnabeacoldone · 18/11/2017 07:49

I'm not sure that logic works, all the drinks cost pennies to make tea or coffee and they vary by alot. But I know what your generally saying and j agree, I'm not one of those twats that expect it for free.

OP posts:
Trills · 18/11/2017 07:54

I think you're unreasonable to think that hot water by itself is a nice drink.

But from what you've said, you're not unreasonable to want a cup of hot water. The staff might just be a bit confused as there's probably not a button on the till for that.

KungFuEric · 18/11/2017 07:54

I think I'd go for the approach of asking for a tea without the tea bag in the cup.

These places aren't support centres, they're businesses.

Cauliflowercheede · 18/11/2017 07:59

I worked in a coffee ahop for a while and we weren’t allowed to charge for hot water as it wasn’t a quantifiable expense. It also wasn’t an option on the till!

Tbh whatever we would have charged, people would have complained. The VAT is only added when you’re having stuff “in” (if you get it to go then we wouldn’t have to pay) is which makes a difference.

wictional · 18/11/2017 08:03

In my café we didn’t charge for hot/tap water on its own. However, there was a time when one CF very brazenly said she’d brought her own teabag. I charged her for a specialty tea Grin

KarmaNoMore · 18/11/2017 08:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.