Would it been seen as unethical (or even 'bullying') to order take away food then haggle over the price when picking up?

[Deactivated] on 20/04/2022 - 20:26

Let's say someone orders some take away food by phone and are told that the bill will come to say $70.00.

They've already made the food (and again, told the price beforehand) thus would it be seen as unethical (even bullying) to haggle when picking up? Maybe you could say… 'how about' or 'would you' take $50.00 or some such discount as just one example. In many cases you'd have the upper hand as they've taken the time and made your selected order.

How might you expect a small restaurant or food service/take away to respond to this and would you see someone asking as rude, cheap or even bullying? Using more the example of the smaller establishment and not a huge chain such as Maccas' or KFC as of course systems will automatically disallow such.

Food & Grocery

closed Comments

    • striker5950 on 21/04/2022 - 18:25

      who ever is negging you can feel however you wana feel but im speaking based on what ive seen, I've personally seen Indians haggle over food a few times now (last time was 2 months ago at a local kebab shop), not only were they haggling over the price they were also very annoying asking for more meat saying how it does not look full enough and I could see the person serving them getting frustrated. I've never seen any other race do that and hold up the line and ask for more meat without paying extra, let alone haggling over the price..

      • MrThing on 22/04/2022 - 06:53

        I agree with your comment wholeheartedly

        Ive never met, as a generalisation, a more dishonest group of people, they would rip off their mother to get ahead it seems. Its even worse by indians in India!….

        I made the exact same comment below as you striker before I even saw your post.

  • Thorn69 on 21/04/2022 - 15:12

    if this happened to me or any of the staff we would go get the boss and she would have verbally ripped new orafaces out of any customer that does this,

    you order food its your responsibility to pay for what you ordered at the cost that was agreed on, on the other hand at the end of the day before closing with extra food coming from a hotbox you may get a discount on stuff like that if you ask nicely,

  • OzHunterNSW on 21/04/2022 - 15:24

    Not at all….just plain stupid. You were notified of prices prior to purchase… who are you going to argue with… the delivery guy?

    • dbmitch on 21/04/2022 - 22:38

      In any of the tipping countries, Imagine arguing with the guy who actually lives on tips, but doesn't even want to pay full price for the meal.

      The guy is driving straight back to the store, Pizza in hand.

  • adn on 21/04/2022 - 15:46
    +1

    The worst. People do this as well coming to pick up second hand good as well. Agree on a price beforehand. Agree to meet up somewhere. Once arrive, start haggling again.

    • DoctorCalculon on 22/04/2022 - 08:29

      Just slam the door right in their face.

  • Vote for Pedro on 21/04/2022 - 16:31

    I’d turf then food in the bin right in front of you and tell you to f&$k off.

  • bweiss on 21/04/2022 - 16:51

    This is probably already covered by someone else.. but the comments are already TLDR;

    If the restaurant records their calls, this could potentially be pursued by them as a 'breach of contract'. They had conveyed a price to you (over the phone) for their work and materials to produce some custom ordered goods. You accepted this agreement, and they spent labour and expense as agreed. You have arrived and failed to pay for the work and materials in accordance with the contract.

    I'm very confident that a judge would rule in their favour if they took it to small claims court or similar.
    Law firm link

  • drfuzzy on 21/04/2022 - 16:54
    +3

    OP is at the local brothel attempting this strategy.

    • Hangryuman on 21/04/2022 - 17:53

      body found face down in nearby late night lane …

  • harthagan on 21/04/2022 - 17:02
    +2

    I know a guy who regularly orders meals at restaurants and after eating half of it he sends it back to the chef with a made up complaint about the dish.

    They usually offer to remake a fresh meal for him, at which point he adamantly declines and then swiftly leaves without paying a cent. The worst part is he brags about it like it's a feather in his cap!

    • Hangryuman on 21/04/2022 - 17:52

      sociopaths, who simply enjoy hurting others, are over-represented in management

      dunno whether they're 1% or 10% of the population

      but I'm guessing most online food delivery 'services' happily pass on the risk to the vendor

      wait - you're saying this guy does this in sit-down restaurants !?

      that takes balls - and if he keeps doing that, it may be a chef with a cleaver that takes his balls.

  • fastnbulbous on 21/04/2022 - 17:23
    -1

    OPs username checks out

  • KiLotr on 21/04/2022 - 17:25
    +2

    -I'm kind of surprised that 99% of comments assumed that OP is suggesting he's asking for himself.
    -I'm not saying that he isn't but in the realm of possibilities, the OP might be asking as a restaurant owner and how to handle a potential haggler.

    If the OP is reading this:

    If you're asking for yourself. I would suggest you seek medical help. Having to ask whether if this is unethical shows a huge disconnection with reality. Because it is very unethical and extremely obvious to anyone with some degree of education or respect for others.

    If the OP is a restaurant owner, asking how to deal with something like this. First, get some details from your dick of a customer. (Say something like sure, I can do that, I just need your driver's licence so add you to our VIP list or some BS like that) and once you have some info on them, withhold the food and advise them that if they don't pay in full, you'll be calling the police.

  • Hangryuman on 21/04/2022 - 17:39
    -1

    'Let's say' - if the OP is 'asking for a friend' contemplating trying this as a customer -

    how would you feel about a punch in the face !

    on the turd count I think the OP has a high score so far for this possibility

    time to go back to where you came from, etc. - you POS, etc.

    OTOH - if the OP is a small business owner after this scam was tried on them, I would say it is indeed a nasty trick and dunno - maybe note the address on a big sign on your front window - beware this address - they don't pay for their orders - but wait, don't most UberEat$#it type deliveries require online payment beforehand ?

    if a business is delivering meals not yet paid for, I'd say that is an unusual risk these days - I am however well aware of the bite these online companies take from small business profit margins, and I too would be looking for a way to avoid the a$$hole$ myself - which I do - I have never ordered food delivery so that's just me.

  • yamborghini on 21/04/2022 - 18:23

    I personally would:

    Ask if they are ok or experiencing financial hardship. Act very sympathetic but condescending. Oh is this pricing too expensive for you? Can you not afford it? Are you hard on your luck right now, I completely understand with the job losses going on. Are you looking for a employment/shelter?

    Normally people have an ego and when you just assume the worst of them they generally want to disprove your assumptions. It's how condescending sales people at lux brands get you.

    They will probably say don't worry about or even add a few things onto the order to make it not look like they are unemployed/homeless.

  • Cluster on 21/04/2022 - 19:08

    It's a terrible act. The price was stated over the phone at time of ordering. $70. You agreed to it and the food was cooked. Turning up and starting to haggle is completely unreasonable.

    I really hope this is a homework question, and not something the OP is considering doing.

  • Supercool on 21/04/2022 - 20:55

    I normally settle for a free bag of prawn crackers

  • steve289 on 21/04/2022 - 20:55
    -1

    haven't read every post, so not sure if already mentioned
    ALL takeaway shops should have customers pre pay for their food, at time of ordering.
    99% of problem solved, although im sure some scumbags would try for a charge back.

  • legendary-noob on 21/04/2022 - 21:05

    simple - if you are the owner, would you want people doing that do you?
    if your answer is yes, then maybe it is OK
    i think many people would just say no

  • R4 on 21/04/2022 - 21:47

    Yes

    Duh!!

  • Sidog on 21/04/2022 - 21:51

    As someone that briefly worked in fast food in high school, I can assure you more people like this exist than you would believe…

  • TheBird on 21/04/2022 - 21:57

    Sht act deserves a sht response.

    Step 1: Agree..
    Step 2: Take the money.
    Step 3: Sh*t in their food.
    Step 4: Hand it over.

  • eldudebrothers on 21/04/2022 - 22:02
    +1

    I am glad there are very few people here in agreement with the question, and that gives me hope for humanity after all. Thank you for restoring my faith. Legend.

  • MrFrugalSpend on 21/04/2022 - 22:19

    OP seems to have not given any context of an actual scenario or event on which this post is based - nor indicated which side of the argument he is on… then not made another comment in over 24 hours.
    Would that be seen as unethical?

  • Aznee on 21/04/2022 - 22:39

    This makes my blood boil! Some small restaurants are already doing it tough with increased prices for fresh food.
    My friend runs a burgers and ribs food truck. He told me that a particular group of customers have been asking for discounts at the counter then gives him a 1 star google review when he tells them no for an answer.

    • bobolo on 22/04/2022 - 17:49

      starts with I ends with N?

  • juki on 21/04/2022 - 23:04

    i'd rather not give you the food and keep it for my dinner ect than even begin to haggle - no soup for you!

    • MrThing on 22/04/2022 - 06:49

      Id throw it in the trash and then soup nazi soup

      • juki on 22/04/2022 - 08:44

        yeah i dont waste food but same idea

  • OzzyOzbourne on 21/04/2022 - 23:54

    Wtf…nuff said

  • CalmLemons on 22/04/2022 - 01:38
    +4

    Wouldn't worry about replying. OP probably dead by now.

    Death by chopstick or whatever sharp utensil they would have in the back of the kitchen.

    • pharkurnell on 22/04/2022 - 11:07

      Death by chopstick

      LOL! I just had a day dream about this happening LMAO

  • burns13 on 22/04/2022 - 05:10

    Obviously a scum move.

  • MrThing on 22/04/2022 - 06:48
    +3

    OP are you indian?

    • striker5950 on 22/04/2022 - 09:46

      i said that earlier my comments got reported by Indians and deleted, if we've all seen it its not racist its an observation..

      • mapax on 22/04/2022 - 09:49

        That sounds racist, because it was probably easily offended white people that reported you…

        • striker5950 on 22/04/2022 - 11:13

          yeh could be some male karens too, we will never know, you underestimate the amount of indian users on ozbargain. once i saw a deal posted here that required to go into hardly normal store, i think i saw about 20 indians there looking for the same item waiting in line.. most of them were buying 4 to 5 units (for resale). i think it and i didnt get to buy the one unit that i wanted, later checked ebay the were all listed lol

  • connorlo on 22/04/2022 - 08:30

    Dog act for sure. I would bar you from ordering again

  • echelon6 on 22/04/2022 - 08:51
    +2

    (profanity) on gumtree do this sometimes - price is agreed and they come to pick up, only to say "I only brought $x"

    • j4ck on 22/04/2022 - 09:35
      +1

      I love when this happens. I point them in the direction of the nearest ATM and tell them to come back when they've got the full amount.

    • striker5950 on 22/04/2022 - 09:49
      +4

      indians from FB marketplace, ooofffftttttt they do your head in to the point where i stopped replying to whoever was indian because they were a waste of time and wana negotiate to death even when you write "price fixed non negotiable".

      • Ughhh on 22/04/2022 - 10:47

        You could put up a brand new latest flagship Samsung phone for $100, and Some gumtree buyers (no particular race) will still haggle and low ball you $40.

        • striker5950 on 22/04/2022 - 11:15
          +1

          idk about gumtree but FB marketplace when you specifically put (not negotiable fixed price) almost everyone will ask a few questions but never haggle about the price, unless they are indian, that has only been my experience

          • lufee on 22/04/2022 - 12:39
            +1

            @striker5950: Sold over 150+ item on FB marketplace, ditto for 90% Indians/Middle eastern people haggle the price to death.
            Now I don't even reply and block them if they low ball you for stupid amount.

            It this still available? (duh, why are you even asking this)
            What is the location? (location is already on the listing, please read)
            I offer you $$$ cash (I only take cash, it says on the listing)
            I'm on tight budget (seriously you don't have extra $10???, then why are you even thinking for buying it )

            my lists goes on and on.

            • MrThing on 22/04/2022 - 13:09

              @lufee: Fb market place and gumtree is a cesspool - seller beware always….buyer always pay cash on pickup

            • striker5950 on 23/04/2022 - 09:26

              @lufee: actually I've had a few middle eastern buyers. and when i tell the fixed price they dont haggle, its only the indians/paki even after telling them its fixed they keep on trying for minutes to get a discount with funny lines.. one of them came up with a full story about his family in india and why he needs these samsung bluetooth headphones which are obviously a luxury if you are in that much financial stress..

      • gerrys on 23/04/2022 - 19:06

        LoL… very true.

        A while ago I sold a laptop to a chap (obviously from same ethnic) on FB (or Gumtree, can't remember which one) and we had agreed on price $xxx. He came to my house, assessed the laptop and happy with the condition.

        He had guts telling me "OK, how about $yyy ($100 cheaper than the agreed price we talked)" and I told him "OK, we are wasting time here. Please kindly leave the house now".

        At the end he paid with original agreed price.

  • Butt Scratcher on 22/04/2022 - 08:59

    Why is this even a question?

    It is like asking for something to be delivered, then not wanting to pay for it once it gets delivered. But actually worse than that

  • Ravensbane on 22/04/2022 - 09:19
    +1

    Would make the person a total twat. Should be charged extra then banned from the store.

  • hasher22 on 22/04/2022 - 10:02
    +2

    That's some low scum move right there.

    I used to sell alot on gumtree and the amount of people that did this was disgusting. I would say "sorry, you agreed on X price, there's an ATM around the corner".

    Literally scum bag move. Errrrrr.

  • lainey13 on 22/04/2022 - 10:26

    Stop taking the piss and giving humans a bad name.

  • pharkurnell on 22/04/2022 - 11:06

    Just a hunch, but I dont think this went the way OP expected it to go..

    I'd expect a flying sidekick to come over the counter if I thought of doing this…

    Thoughts?

  • chiuy on 22/04/2022 - 11:59
    +1

    As the shopkeeper:
    1. Take the $50.
    2. Delay/withhold the food.
    3. After 30 mins tell them they can leave with $50 refund or pay the rest of full price.

    But no. 100% not worth the hassle.
    Don't deal with people like this.

  • od810 on 22/04/2022 - 12:33
    +1

    Mate, I would pull a Will Smith on you, maybe even give you some extra sriracha on the face.

  • BuyoTheCat on 22/04/2022 - 13:41

    “Apologies, we do not haggle over the price of food here.”

    I would give his person’s meal to the next paying customer. In front of him/her.
    If it is a big order, I will split it up the freebies.

    In all honesty, I doubt a scenario like this has occurred. If it did, it will be all over media outlets that report social events as “news”

  • FireRunner on 22/04/2022 - 13:45
    +1

    “I am altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.” - Darth Vader

    Yes, it's unethical to change the terms after they've fulfilled their end of the agreement
    It's even worse that you'd consider it against small businesses

  • Tiredman on 22/04/2022 - 14:06
    +1

    Who the f does that?

  • syousef on 22/04/2022 - 15:00
    +3

    Is this a troll? If so, well played. If not…wow!

    I would expect the restaurant to sell the food at a discount to someone else, or bin it and write it off as spoilage.

    • burns13 on 22/04/2022 - 20:08
      +1

      Yeah this is some good trolling

  • Piranha2004 on 22/04/2022 - 15:20
    +1

    No youve essentially entered into a contract by asking them to make the food at the original price. Prick move either way

  • Kosmo-Kramer on 22/04/2022 - 16:12

    No Soup for you

  • imurgod on 22/04/2022 - 16:36

    Scum move. No question.

  • jchowx on 22/04/2022 - 17:33

    Awful!

  • Vita85 on 22/04/2022 - 18:20

    I'd be okay with the restaurant pulling a Mike Tyson on the "customer"

  • Donaldhump on 22/04/2022 - 19:14

    Breach of contract

    I would literally tea bag your food

  • Thom81 on 22/04/2022 - 20:52

    I think OP is trolling…….. :(

    • dcash on 23/04/2022 - 09:27

      You would have to hope so, wouldn't you?!?

  • netjock on 22/04/2022 - 20:53

    I wouldn't be surprised. Having worked in a takeaway there is people who don't turn up. Lucky it ain't many else the owners would pack a few extra kilos.

  • Halc on 22/04/2022 - 21:37

    If you are going to haggle do so before ordering at which they will laugh you out of the shop.

  • Bills22 on 22/04/2022 - 22:11

    There's a menu with prices and if you don't like the price go to another restaurant. Otherwise, eat dirt.

    Give it a try though and while you're at it, try the same at the local Supermarkets, let us know how you go.

  • squaredonut on 22/04/2022 - 22:51

    Back when my relatives ran a restaurant, a specific ethnicity (not going to name it's considered "racist") of people would ALWAYS, without fail, haggle, they would do this when they pay the bill. After eating, being served etc. They would always make up lots of excuses, hey the food was too salty, etc, yet they would take away the left overs etc… We weren't so sure if it's just the area where the restaurant was in, or if they were all related to each other, but yes, it was certainly annoying.

  • Lucky13 on 23/04/2022 - 01:23

    Yeah not considered ok to barter the price of your meal on pick up. You could try Door Dash's referral deal atm which isn't bad, x3 $15 off $20 min spend - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/doordash.com Can use the same mobile number with a different email address to do it again to get x6 times. Hope this helps.

  • kaio on 23/04/2022 - 03:44

    Why proactively de-civilize yourself for just a few dollars? Is your dignity worth only that much? I insist to pay at full price even a business owner is my good friend. You can often take advantages on others without being sued, and also ignore theory of Karma if you don't have a belief. Don't waste your time to find another disgusting individual similar to you.

  • CHIEFMEGADETH on 23/04/2022 - 04:48
    +1

    What kind of a dickhe@d would do something like that?

  • Willy Stains on 23/04/2022 - 07:52

    Just imagine yourself in the other position

  • dcash on 23/04/2022 - 09:26

    Does OP feel no shame at all that he would even ask such a question? What is the world coming to, seriously?!?

    • mapax on 23/04/2022 - 09:34

      OP had a similar story but is a tradie and was the victim. Due to lack of context for all we know OP could be retelling the story from a different point of view to see if community reacts any differently when it’s a restaurant because a lot of OzBargainers are anti-tradie bigots.

      • dcash on 23/04/2022 - 10:56

        Surely the same rules apply. And no matter what business you're in, you will always have to deal with a certain number of dips@#t customers. As a tradesperson, I dare say you would quickly learn to have the customer sign a written quote, before commencing any work.

        • Hangryuman on 23/04/2022 - 13:35

          'As a tradesperson, I dare say you would quickly learn to have the customer sign a written quote, before commencing any work'

          that's why tradies charge $200 for callouts - to cover/average out the cost of the WOFTAMs

          yesterday in the screw/bolt section of Bunnings I saw about 8 tradies studying which shelf/rack/box of fasteners they wanted to restock with for their next job/s

          as for signed quotes, I once got a quote for a sliding security/insect screen door - the guy came and filled out a form and asked me to sign it 'just as acknowledgement'

          when I didn't take it up, the principal (son of the original owner) called me up and said I had to pay for the work or 'see you in court' - WTF !? - what a nasty R Soul - I'm sure his father didn't grow the business that way - so I will always remember that and make sure I don't sign any quote unless I agree to do the whole effing job. Live and Learn. R Souls maybe 10% of people you deal with …

          • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2022 - 16:17

            @Hangryuman:

            I once got a quote for a sliding security/insect screen door - the guy came and filled out a form and asked me to sign it 'just as acknowledgement'

            I had the same thing happen following a free measure & quote for blinds. When I read the form, it wasn't an acknowledgement at all, rather an acceptance to proceed so I declined to sign which the salesperson wasn't too happy about at the time.

            The company even went so far as to call a few weeks later to book an appointment to supposedly install the blinds and I had to tell them repeatedly that no-one gave them the go ahead. And that's when they referred to the signed form & I told them to check the lack of a signature on their stupid form.

            Tricky 'r souls'!

  • ChaLuo on 23/04/2022 - 15:02

    never heard of price-haggling for meals, take-away, dine-in, grab-and-go, etc.

    where did this happen btw? or did it happen at all?

  • Zhangus on 23/04/2022 - 15:48

    wtf is wrong with people

  • nodeahs on 23/04/2022 - 20:53

    How do we down vote a forum post? /s

  • Moderatorscrimshaw on 23/04/2022 - 20:57

    Commenting closed, the comments are starting to become inflammatory / personal and the OP has not responded to their own forum post.

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