Talk of The Villages Florida
Page 3 of 3 1 2 3
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)
-   The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)
-   -   Split fee at restaurants (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/split-fee-restaurants-61869/)

DougB 08-25-2013 07:26 PM
We tried to share a meal at Golden Corral. They said we would have to pay full price each. Last time I go there.

missypie 08-25-2013 07:27 PM
We own our own business as well and totally understand what you are saying. Was there on Sat morning and was very pleased with the meal. Thank you for explaining how costs work.

missypie 08-25-2013 07:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougB (Post 733283)
We tried to share a meal at Golden Corral. They said we would have to pay full price. Last time I go there.
That's because it is all you can eat!

DougB 08-25-2013 07:34 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by missypie (Post 733286)
That's because it is all you can eat!
What? I left there still hungry.

Happinow 08-25-2013 07:39 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougB (Post 733283)
We tried to share a meal at Golden Corral. They said we would have to pay full price each. Last time I go there.
Are you serious?? You are sharing a meal at an " all you can eat" restaurant? So what prevents you from going back to the buffet 4 times and sharing it all with your wife?? Wouldn't that mean you each ate a meal? I'm thinking you are joking on this one.....

DougB 08-25-2013 07:45 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happinow (Post 733293)
Are you serious?? You are sharing a meal at an " all you can eat" restaurant? So what prevents you from going back to the buffet 4 times and sharing it all with your wife?? Wouldn't that mean you each ate a meal? I'm thinking you are joking on this one.....
I never joke. I take my TOTV posts very seriously.

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

ilovetv 08-25-2013 07:46 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Here2Stay (Post 733124)
As a prior restaurant owner its a bad call for any restaurant to charge such a fee. For those who believe its no big deal, then how would you feel if the next charges created by restaurants are.....tap water .50......a party of two who use a table for 4....$1 for each empty chair....doesn't the restaurant lose out when a party of two sit at a table for 4...the $1 charge for an extra plate (or sharing charge as they call it) is NOT worth losing customers ; NOT even ONE customer. It's a silly charge! It;s NOT about a dollar people! It's about what would be next! You don't think that tap water doesn't cost them, the cost of ice, the cost to wash to glass, the lemon you request with your fee water....if they charge to share, why not the water!

The restaurant owner needs to understand this....if you lost a customer (1) over this fee...and that customer was spending $10 a week, that's $520.00 a year in lost sales...for 1 customer.....if the fee creates a lost of 20 customers (which is a low number) that would mean $10,400 in the bottom line GONE! It's plain BAD business for any restaurant to charge such fee's, is that dollar really worth losing $10,400.

My advise to Athens...lose the fee....you just lost my business and that will cost you about $800 a year! I love that place, however; such a fee tells me that they don't appreciate my business! I need to add, I don't share.... but if I did.....I would be the first to tell them on my way out...that was the last time I visit until they remove that silly fee! Its just a bad business decision, this coming from my experience in the business
Essentially, the second person is getting their meal for $1.00. People who complain about that are the same tightwads who demand more lemon wedges so they can make lemonade in their water glass because they're too cheap to buy a soda, wine, beer, etc. Cheapness at that level borders on a mental disorder.....like the people who just cannot leave the extra, unopened creamers on the table and put them in their purse. Or the people who go to a buffet and put their big ole purse in their lap and scrape a plateful of food into the plastic bag in their purse. It's not normal behavior!

If a person cannot afford a meal at Athens' prices, or they feel those prices are too high, then they should just eat at home.

Barefoot 08-25-2013 08:26 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DougB (Post 733283)
We tried to share a meal at Golden Corral. They said we would have to pay full price each. Last time I go there.
Doug, thanks for always injecting some much needed humor. :jester:

LuckySevens 08-25-2013 08:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Here2Stay (Post 732669)
As a prior restaurant owner I will never understand why any restaurant would elect to charge a "split" fee to its customers. It's one sure way of losing customers. It's a silly charge, with so many restaurants wanting your business....I would not allow my company to lose customers over such a petty charge. I was grateful for every customer, and if they elected to share their meal....so what! I was just glad to have them select us. Why risk losing customers....losing even one customer is too many! That $1 dollar will not make that company, but I promise it could break them...I would never impose such a fee to my valued customers!
What a positive attitude you have, plus sensible thinking. I applaude you!!!

Pturner 08-25-2013 08:53 PM
I don't mind when a restaurant charges for sharing. In some ways, I almost prefer it. It takes the guilt out of sharing.

ydnar9 08-25-2013 09:23 PM
A lousy dollar and you're complaining and it said it on the menu? No wonder the waitress got a little upset. The Villages Sun newspaper said the average median retirement household income in the Villages is $93,000 a year. I had a credit slip changed last year, the server added to the tip I put a 15% tip on the slip. I was upset when I saw that as that's fraud. That wasn't at this restaurant but was in Lake Sumpter.

jblum315 08-25-2013 09:24 PM
I don't know. When I split something, or sit with someone who is having a meal and I just have coffee, I always feel guilty.

Golfingnut 08-26-2013 03:43 AM
When I go to the movies next time I will ask for a 50% discount and promise to close one eye.

I absolutely think their should be a $5.00 minimum for each seating in a restaurant. A full service restaurant comes with more than a McDonalds like a wait staff, personal service, utensils and atmosphere. Splitting a meal in a sit down dining facility is no different than asking for a take out box at a buffet.

jhrc4 08-26-2013 04:50 AM
The individuals who are slinging mud at the originator of this post who by the way merely asked a perfectly honest question leaves me wondering this...

Are you the same individuals who regularly " Pop " into Panera Bread to re-fill your to-go coffee cup ?? And then with a casual who me look, jump back into your golf cart without even the thought of paying for it..One only wonders..

Golfingnut 08-26-2013 05:58 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhrc4 (Post 733388)
The individuals who are slinging mud at the originator of this post who by the way merely asked a perfectly honest question leaves me wondering this...

Are you the same individuals who regularly " Pop " into Panera Bread to re-fill your to-go coffee cup ?? And then with a casual who me look, jump back into your golf cart without even the thought of paying for it..One only wonders..
No but I would suspect anyone that would complain about a one dollar split meal charge would do just that. I could never own a restaurant due to the insensitive selfish actions of so many customers. There is a limit to what owners and wait staff should be expected to tolerate. I never noticed these isses in the real world, but have witnessed it myself since moving to the villages.

kittygilchrist 08-26-2013 06:04 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by PandG (Post 565495)
Has anyone dealt with the "split fee" issue at restaurants here in The Villages?

The other day we had lunch for the first time at Athens in Spanish Springs. The host explained it's a family Greek restaurant, and seated us outside. We weren't super hungry, so decided to order one gyro with fries. I noticed the menu said there was a $1.00 fee for split orders. When we ordered, I specifically told the waitress we did not want to pay for them to cut it in half, and just requested 2 plates.

Many restaurants will bring the second plate at no charge, and let the customers do the "work" of cutting the sandwich in half. When we got the bill, sure enough they charged the $1.00 split fee. But for what, because they didn't even cut the sandwich! I asked the waitress about it, and she got argumentative with me, and said she'd have to ask the manager. The host walked by, and I asked him about it. He was blase', said it was taken care of, and hoped we would come back. I said I doubted we would.

Sure, restaurants and businesses are hurting for extra money, and it was only a dollar. But it was the principle of the thing, and I felt it was not disclosed properly. Any thoughts?
I am rereading the original post. I believe the poster thought and reasonably so, that a "split" fee meant that the charge was for the restaurant to prepare one entrée and then "split" it placing one share on each of two plates.

The complaint that it is the principle of the thing has clearly fallen on deaf ears. The principle is that if the fee had been called a "sharing" fee, it would have been clear to the diners what the fee meant.
I agree.

And I empathize with the OP for having been thrashed, trashed and bashed for an innocent query which was carefully written to say it was the principle of poor disclosure, not the dollar.

Golfingnut 08-26-2013 06:16 AM
I do not wish to offend, but the OP, (to me) reeks of trying to beat the system at someone else's expense. This was two seats with two customers being waited on, two place settings, clean up for two. All that and only one payment. Two people used time material and space. Too add several dollars for the extra body should be expected. I also understand when a higher charge is applied to my hotel stay even if we have only one bed.

kittygilchrist 08-26-2013 06:29 AM
8 charges that make sense and 8 that don't
 
opinion of editor 8 restaurant surcharges that don't make sense – and 8 that do – Eatocracy - CNN.com Blogs

quote:
Splitting a dish/extra side dish
If an entrée costs $15 and you use your fork to give your spouse several bites, no one charges you extra. Ask if you can officially split the dish and you may get hit with a surcharge of between $2 and $5 or more, a penalty that feels like it’s designed to discourage sharing (which is weird because don’t we go to restaurants to share a meal with others?) That said, if the request requires time and effort from a server to literally divide the dish and garnishes, then a separate fee seems warranted. If just a side plate is requested, it ought to be free (please don’t suggest that the effort of washing the extra plate necessitates the fee).

deltaguy 08-26-2013 06:34 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kittygilchrist (Post 733403)
I am rereading the original post. I believe the poster thought and reasonably so, that a "split" fee meant that the charge was for the restaurant to prepare one entrée and then "split" it placing one share on each of two plates.

The complaint that it is the principle of the thing has clearly fallen on deaf ears. The principle is that if the fee had been called a "sharing" fee, it would have been clear to the diners what the fee meant.
I agree.

And I empathize with the OP for having been thrashed, trashed and bashed for an innocent query which was carefully written to say it was the principle of poor disclosure, not the dollar.
Only in The Villages with a whole dollar at stake could anyone not understand that "split fee" is a sharing charge. By the way, the Gyro at Athens is yummy.

graciegirl 08-26-2013 06:40 AM
I say.

Ask for take out and do with it whatever you want.

I know that many innocent questions are misinterpreted or disagreed with because we are all just different people with different life experiences. I am thrifty but I am not a "haggler" like people do at garage sales. I am a searcher for the best price though. I don't think it's wrong to get a better deal. I think being careful with my money is my way of being green and sort of a game I play with myself, looking for bargains, saving a little money to use for a lot of GOOD reasons.

I think that the question was how does this work here in this area,in this restaurant, pure and simple.

I have learned to expect surprising answers on this forum.

As I said before, I think the prices at most restaurants here are very, very reasonable, the service is almost always the best I have ever experienced, and I think as a group we undertip. Those hard working people are very patient with a lot of us miserly folks.

bkcunningham1 08-26-2013 06:42 AM
This question is almost one year old. The OP stated in the 8th post that they were sorry they posted the question and misunderstood the phrase split fee.

graciegirl 08-26-2013 06:46 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkcunningham1 (Post 733412)
This question is almost one year old. The OP stated in the 8th post that they were sorry they posted the question and misunderstood the phrase split fee.
OH. There have been a lot of really old threads dredged up and rehashed lately, BK. Good morning!:wave:

Golfingnut 08-26-2013 06:48 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 733411)
I say.

Ask for take out and do with it whatever you want.

I know that many innocent questions are misinterpreted or disagreed with because we are all just different people with different life experiences. I am thrifty but I am not a "haggler" like people do at garage sales. I am a searcher for the best price though. I don't think it's wrong to get a better deal. I think being careful with my money is my way of being green and sort of a game I play with myself, looking for bargains, saving a little money to use for a lot of GOOD reasons.

I think that the question was how does this work here in this area,in this restaurant, pure and simple.

I have learned to expect surprising answers on this forum.

As I said before, I think the prices at most restaurants here are very, very reasonable, the service is almost always the best I have ever experienced, and I think as a group we undertip. Those hard working people are very patient with a lot of us miserly folks.
Hey, Gracie. I wish I typed your post. I am on board with it all. It bring to mind, that we have never been treated badly and, we also feel the prices are fine. I hesitate to suggest, that maybe, perhaps, some customers create their own reality not in line with required business practices. We have had a few poor quality meals, but never been threaten badly.

bkcunningham1 08-26-2013 06:49 AM
Good morning, Gracie. :icon_hungry: Want to split breakfast?

Golfingnut 08-26-2013 06:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by bkcunningham1 (Post 733412)
This question is almost one year old. The OP stated in the 8th post that they were sorry they posted the question and misunderstood the phrase split fee.
Well, there ya go, and yet the statement is defended. Now I am dizzy.

capecodbob 08-26-2013 08:03 AM
Think you got a word mixed up.
You're suppose to have a little "wine" with your meal, not "whine"!

Russ_Boston 08-26-2013 08:43 AM
Thanks for the reply Athens.

But I do agree with the other business owners here. I would bet that the people you lose on principal would far surpass the number of times you need to add that $1. Why not think of it as a $1 coupon to get them back in the door? Just my 2C.

kittygilchrist 08-26-2013 09:17 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moderator (Post 566189)
Please refrain from directing comments at other members and be sure to address the topic at hand. Several comments in this thread have displayed a lack of civility that is generally not tolerated. The thread will be closed if the personal comments continue.

Thanks for your cooperation.. . Moderator
I'm with you, mod. A year later, we are still piling on.
some threads get out of hand, and we all look silly.
All this passion over a buck tickles me and I love when that
happens.
If the OP was making too much of it...who isn't??
:coolsmiley:


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:22 PM.
Page 3 of 3 1 2 3
Show 40 post(s) from this thread on one page

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.32 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.