Talk of The Villages Florida - Split fee at restaurants

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- 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/)

have been in some resturants that charge $5. for plate splints....

I am in total agreement with the person who posted this. I am really surprised and the negative and mud slinging that is aimed directly at the person.
When all the person did was ask a simple question and really expected civil,intelligent responses..for the most part this did not happen.
The best response came from " Trish Crocker " who responded very intelligently, and certainly gave her response a lot of thought.
The moderator did the right thing stepping in to remind some individuals to keep their opinions civil.
Just as a reminder: This is the first time " pandg " experienced this split charge and asked a simple question, nothing more.
By the way food for thought...
1) The customer is always right..
2) Customer Service
3) The split charge IMO....cheapens the establishment.
4) The food that you ordered ..." The " owners expected you to finish it all, therefore we are going to charge you for the container(s) if you so choose to take the left-overs with you. That is the next step.
5) Carabbas,Olive Garden,Red Sauce,Nancy Lopez,Thai Ruby,Too Jays, all and more are very happy to NOT Charge a split fee.

Good evening everyone

As most of you know I never respond to open criticism on an open forum like talk of the villages for many reasons as I would never want anyone to misunderstand me or for anyone to think that their opinion is not taken seriously. I have always no matter good or bad sent a private email and have tried in my best effort to always make my guest happy and even at times to explain why we do certain things

This one time I feel I need to explain why we charge a dollar fee so that instead of people wondering why and making comments that my family do not care about the customers they can hear it straight from my family. The dollar charge is for when two customers order one meal and split it and purchase nothing else. This fee covers the napkin,the silverware, the plate and the cost to clean those items. If for example you purchase a soup , appetizer, side salad, appetizer, dessert for example we do not charge the split fee to our guest. After myself working my whole life in the restaurants and my father over 55 years in this business we have never and will never nickel and dime anyone or take advantage of any single customer. Anyone who has met my family knows that we are very giving people who do anything we can to make sure our guest know how much we appreciate them each and everyday of our lives

Even as cost of goods have risen at unbelievable numbers we fight everday to keep our prices as low as we can and give the best quality possible so that our guest can make our restaurant a place they enjoy. Almost every week over 12000 of our athens club members receive coupons giving them anywhere from discounts to $2.50 dessert to bottles of beer for 1.50. This year alone we have given out over $15,000 in gift cards to several clubs churches and organizations who have requested our help for fundraiser and for just give away at thir functions

I hope this in no way offends anyone I just felt that I needed to atleast explain that when someone says my family does not appreciate our guest it could not be the furthest from the truth. I appreciate an always have every single person who has ever come into our restaurant and from a young child I was taught people have choices where to go and when they chose our restaurant it should never be something taken for granted

I hope this clears this up

Christopher Kitrinos and my entire family
Athens NY restaurant

Well said...you should charge $3 for split meals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandG (Post 565513)

OK, OK... It just seemed silly to charge a fee without doing anything. We did tip the waitress generously, as we do no matter what. She was grumbling to another waitress about the couple next to us having only 2 cups of coffee and nothing else. The gyro was good, but the service was not.

Most places do this down in fl. I think you were asking for something for nothing, but I could be wrong.

We tried to share a meal at Golden Corral. They said we would have to pay full price each. Last time I go there.

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.

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!

Quote:

Originally Posted by missypie (Post 733286)

That's because it is all you can eat!

What? I left there still hungry.

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.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happinow (Post 733293)

I never joke. I take my TOTV posts very seriously.

:1rotfl::1rotfl:

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.

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:

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!!!

I don't mind when a restaurant charges for sharing. In some ways, I almost prefer it. It takes the guilt out of sharing.