Customers express outrage over hidden fees on an ‘average tasting sandwich’
- Replies 28
As the cost of living continues to rise, consumers are increasingly finding themselves navigating a landscape rife with hidden fees, particularly when dining out.
What begins as a simple meal can quickly become a financial minefield, with unsuspecting patrons encountering unexpected charges on their bills.This was precisely the case for one café-goer, whose experience has sparked a heated debate about the fairness of additional fees for food preparation.
The incident unfolded when a customer, seeking a simple lunchtime pleasure, ordered a sandwich at a Perth café.
Describing the sandwich as ‘average tasting’, the man was taken aback when he discovered that his request to have the sandwich toasted came with a 90-cent surcharge.
Taking to an online forum to express his dismay, he shared, 'Perth café standard…$14.90 for an average tasting sandwich. They charged 90 cents to toast it!'
The post quickly garnered attention, amassing over 150 comments, with many expressing their outrage at the toasting fee.
'I've never been charged to have (a sandwich) toasted before...that's outrageous,' one commenter exclaimed.
Another echoed the sentiment, and said, ‘Charging 90c to toast is absolutely outrageous.’
One user simply said, ‘Absolute joke.’
The consensus among the disgruntled was clear: a toasting fee was an unwelcome surprise.
However, not everyone shared the customer's views.
‘And yet, you bought it, which is why businesses can get away with taking the p*** like this,’ a commenter noted.
Another commenter said, ‘That’s on you. I’m assuming it was in a display case, and you chose the toasted option?’
The debate didn't end there. Some sympathised with the customer's plight, understanding the awkwardness of challenging the price at the point of sale.
‘The prices of things going through the roof in the last say 2 years has definitely been an eye-opener for me on how fantastically more affordable it is to make literally anything yourself,’ a defender of the customer wrote.
This Perth café's toasting fee isn't an isolated incident.
In 2023, Sydney podcast producer Hannah Bowman shared her experience of being charged a ‘wild’ $25 for a smoked salmon bagel at a café.
‘Guys, I've been the victim of a heinous crime,’ she recounted, having been ‘shook to the core’ by the price.
Despite her disbelief, she paid for the bagel and left the café feeling ‘sick’.
Unfortunately, as the cost of living goes up, we are seeing more and more stories of Aussies being outraged at restaurant prices.You can read a similar story of customers criticising a cafe for its expensive prices here.
If stories like this one have convinced you to eat at home more often. You may want to read about how this mum whips up delicious dinners for just $1.60 a plate.
Have you encountered similar hidden fees or outrageous prices when dining out? How did you handle the situation? Share your experiences in the comments below!
What begins as a simple meal can quickly become a financial minefield, with unsuspecting patrons encountering unexpected charges on their bills.This was precisely the case for one café-goer, whose experience has sparked a heated debate about the fairness of additional fees for food preparation.
The incident unfolded when a customer, seeking a simple lunchtime pleasure, ordered a sandwich at a Perth café.
Describing the sandwich as ‘average tasting’, the man was taken aback when he discovered that his request to have the sandwich toasted came with a 90-cent surcharge.
Taking to an online forum to express his dismay, he shared, 'Perth café standard…$14.90 for an average tasting sandwich. They charged 90 cents to toast it!'
The post quickly garnered attention, amassing over 150 comments, with many expressing their outrage at the toasting fee.
A customer expressed outrage online after a cafe billed him a 90-cent toasting fee. Image Source: Reddit / ShreemBreeze
'I've never been charged to have (a sandwich) toasted before...that's outrageous,' one commenter exclaimed.
Another echoed the sentiment, and said, ‘Charging 90c to toast is absolutely outrageous.’
One user simply said, ‘Absolute joke.’
The consensus among the disgruntled was clear: a toasting fee was an unwelcome surprise.
However, not everyone shared the customer's views.
‘And yet, you bought it, which is why businesses can get away with taking the p*** like this,’ a commenter noted.
Another commenter said, ‘That’s on you. I’m assuming it was in a display case, and you chose the toasted option?’
The debate didn't end there. Some sympathised with the customer's plight, understanding the awkwardness of challenging the price at the point of sale.
‘The prices of things going through the roof in the last say 2 years has definitely been an eye-opener for me on how fantastically more affordable it is to make literally anything yourself,’ a defender of the customer wrote.
This Perth café's toasting fee isn't an isolated incident.
In 2023, Sydney podcast producer Hannah Bowman shared her experience of being charged a ‘wild’ $25 for a smoked salmon bagel at a café.
‘Guys, I've been the victim of a heinous crime,’ she recounted, having been ‘shook to the core’ by the price.
Despite her disbelief, she paid for the bagel and left the café feeling ‘sick’.
Unfortunately, as the cost of living goes up, we are seeing more and more stories of Aussies being outraged at restaurant prices.You can read a similar story of customers criticising a cafe for its expensive prices here.
If stories like this one have convinced you to eat at home more often. You may want to read about how this mum whips up delicious dinners for just $1.60 a plate.
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