More cafes are ditching price tags—and the reason isn’t what you’d expect
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It started as a quiet annoyance for some customers—until a social media post pulled it into the spotlight.
Cafes across Australia are being accused of a subtle but frustrating tactic that leaves diners surprised at the till.
And the twist? It is not about prices being too high…it is about there being no prices at all.
A viral thread in a local social media forum saw one Perth resident call out the growing number of cafes and bakeries that displayed food without listing the cost.
‘Prices are not getting displayed on food in cafes and bakeries?’ the post began.
‘I mean, it’s been happening for a few years and I’m sure it’s probably an Australia-wide thing.’
They claimed the omission was deliberate, forcing customers to either ask or accept the total when it flashed on the EFTPOS machine.
‘I hate it. It’s scammy and frustrating,’ they said.
Under Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) rules, retailers do not have to display prices—however, customers must be told the cost before purchase.
According to the ACCC, prices can be communicated in various ways, such as in-store signage, online menus, ordering apps, or verbally.
Even so, social media users agreed the tactic felt manipulative, with one person calling it ‘predatory’.
‘When the price is higher than you expected, but you’re already at the till, it’s harder to speak up,’ they wrote.
Another added: ‘It’s so annoying! I like to know pricing so I can decide accordingly!’
One commenter said they were once charged $23 for a coffee and a small cake—paid it, but never returned.
Others shared stories of loudly asking for prices on multiple items to make a point.
Some suggested the trend was a reaction to economic pressures, with inflation, rising supply costs, and higher wages making cafes hesitant to set fixed menu prices.
‘If inflation stays low and as people get used to the higher prices, I think we’ll see prices slowly start to be displayed again,’ one person speculated.
As another summed it up: ‘No price, no purchase’.
If you thought cafes skipping price tags was frustrating, there’s another sneaky tactic catching diners off guard.
Some businesses are quietly adding extra fees that only show up when you’re ready to pay.
One recent example left a customer shocked after discovering a hefty surcharge on a simple meal.
Read more: Are Aussie cafes secretly charging you extra? The shocking 30 per cent fee one customer just discovered
Would you still order if you could not see the price beforehand?
Cafes across Australia are being accused of a subtle but frustrating tactic that leaves diners surprised at the till.
And the twist? It is not about prices being too high…it is about there being no prices at all.
A viral thread in a local social media forum saw one Perth resident call out the growing number of cafes and bakeries that displayed food without listing the cost.
‘Prices are not getting displayed on food in cafes and bakeries?’ the post began.
‘I mean, it’s been happening for a few years and I’m sure it’s probably an Australia-wide thing.’
Perth locals question missing cafe price tags. Image source: Google
They claimed the omission was deliberate, forcing customers to either ask or accept the total when it flashed on the EFTPOS machine.
‘I hate it. It’s scammy and frustrating,’ they said.
Under Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) rules, retailers do not have to display prices—however, customers must be told the cost before purchase.
According to the ACCC, prices can be communicated in various ways, such as in-store signage, online menus, ordering apps, or verbally.
Even so, social media users agreed the tactic felt manipulative, with one person calling it ‘predatory’.
‘When the price is higher than you expected, but you’re already at the till, it’s harder to speak up,’ they wrote.
Another added: ‘It’s so annoying! I like to know pricing so I can decide accordingly!’
One commenter said they were once charged $23 for a coffee and a small cake—paid it, but never returned.
Others shared stories of loudly asking for prices on multiple items to make a point.
Some suggested the trend was a reaction to economic pressures, with inflation, rising supply costs, and higher wages making cafes hesitant to set fixed menu prices.
‘If inflation stays low and as people get used to the higher prices, I think we’ll see prices slowly start to be displayed again,’ one person speculated.
As another summed it up: ‘No price, no purchase’.
If you thought cafes skipping price tags was frustrating, there’s another sneaky tactic catching diners off guard.
Some businesses are quietly adding extra fees that only show up when you’re ready to pay.
One recent example left a customer shocked after discovering a hefty surcharge on a simple meal.
Read more: Are Aussie cafes secretly charging you extra? The shocking 30 per cent fee one customer just discovered
Would you still order if you could not see the price beforehand?
