AIBU to be pissed off at friends with no concept of money

[Liliablue]

group of my friends went out for a dinner on holiday to celebrate two of ours friends engagement. We went to a very lovely meal where the prices were already expensive but as that’s where the couple wanted we were happy to go.

During the meal the waiter brought out a bottle of champagne, which we presumed to be complimentary once they heard it was an engagement party. We all drank the champagne.

At the end of the meal the bill came and we were shocked at the price of it, turned out the bottle of champagne was £470 (currency exchange equivalent as we were abroad). This was when friend A admitted that they had gone and ordered the bottle as a special treat to celebrate the couple and thought that we wouldn’t all mind splitting the bill. The group were horrified and really angry at this as this was costing us massively but nobody was being vocal about it apart from myself. the bride to be offered to pay for the champagne to stop the awkwardness but we refused.

Nobody spoke about this for the rest of the holiday until this morning friend A went to a local shop to stock up on wine. They got 10 bottles “for the villa” at €18 each. The exact same bottle we got from the supermarket for €4 so a very big rip off. When they got back they asked to be transferred for some of the wine. At this point I have refused a) I didn’t ask for it 2) I don’t want to pay the rip of prices c) I’m still pissed off about the previous issue. AIBU to put my foot down about this? Everyone is making me feel crazy even the people who feel pissed off about it to think it’s not worth the argument !

I can't believe anyone would do this! If you want to buy a £470 bottle of champagne, then you pay for it yourself! Or ask, obviously. Silly thing to spend money on unless you are extremely well off. Buy from the shop for £50 rather than paying the mark up!

The wine is a bit different. They may not have realised you could get the exact same wine much cheaper and it is not an outrageous amount to spend on wine. Are you sure it was exactly the same??? But coming after the champagne, I can see why you objected.

Wow I would say I'm quite a generous person and easy going with money but this is crazy. Totally stupid behaviour from them

OMG I'd have been livid and would have taken A outside at the restaurant and told them they were to pay for the bottle.

I would not have paid for the champagne. And I’m quite a generous person. There is no way in hell I would have paid.

Good for you for sticking to your guns. I can’t bear bill splitting. I am often deemed the CF for paying my share during a trip to the loo, but sadly it’s the only way not to be put in an awkward position.

Also what a waste of champagne, if you were to drink a small glass worth £75 you probably would want to know beforehand so you could possibly try and enjoy it a bit more. It’s just such a stupid thing to do.

On both issues there's no communication, beforehand. A orders expensive champagne. Never consults anyone. A then buys red wine, never asks before : "hey everyone I was thinking of buying ..".

Why are you friends with such people?

Your friend was totally out of order. But I can't think why £470 champagne would be complimentary. I don't think I wouldn't go on holiday with them again.

YANBU

That is just fucking ridiculous!

Totally outrageous!

Did OP know the champagne was £475 before the bill arrived? She just thought it was a bog standard complementary bottle of bubbly?

Could you honestly tell a £475 bottle of bubbly compared to a £50 one?

I couldn't!

I had no clue that it was £470 when they brought the bottle out it didn’t look very special or how I would assume such an expensive bottle would come out with fireworks and be gold plated 😂
I’m so angry at myself, the more I think about it the angrier I get. I did try and say I didn’t want to pay for it but I was responded with “well you drank it”

This happened to me once, and they do a good job of making you feel tight when in reality, you're just not a flashy twat and like to be consulted before massive purchases are made on your behalf. So annoying

You and me both OP, I'd want gold bloody leaf in it for £470!

If she really wanted to treat them she should have bloody paid herself. I'm getting annoyed on your behalf

@Liliablue did you pee gold & glitter afterwards? That’s what I’d at least expect. 😂

I’d refuse to pay for any of it. I’d simply tell her if she wanted anyone else to chip in she should have asked instead of assuming.

It should be an expensive mistake for her, but hopefully one she’d learn from.

I was all set to tell you that you’re a tightwad breadrolling whinger but I take it back. Their behaviour is awful.

Bunch of CF's !

Clearly just showing off- why on earth did she think people would either pay it or need a bottle at that price-

I hate ostentatious behaviour for the sake of it.

I suspect with the villa wine - maybe she didn't know you had bought it cheaply elsewhere- was she with you when you bought it at supermarket? we've paid 18 euros a bottle lots of times as we like nice wine . Was it definitely the same?

Jeez Louise YADNBU Op! If the champagne was £80 between the table then a bit CF but I might shrug it off, but £480?!? WTF?

Definitely don't contribute to the wine, just go out and get a couple of bottles for yourself.

We have a few friends that are significantly better off than us but they're always understanding of that and adjust their spend (or the splitting of a bill) discreetly and accordingly.

Normally I'm pretty relaxed about sharing costs and don't have a lot of time for people who whip out their calculators at the end of meal.
But this is far too much to expect people to absorb I would also be very cross.