Restuarant Surcharge - What’s Your Interpretation of This T&C?

mini2 on 03/10/2022 - 10:51
Last edited 03/10/2022 - 11:34 by 1 other user

So we went to a buffet restaurant last night and got into a bit of an argument with the cashier.

This is their T&C:

“(Price also applies for dinner on the night before a public holiday.)”

“ Please note a 0.85% surcharge applies for all credit card transactions. A 10% surcharge applies on Sundays. A 15% surcharge applies on all Public Holidays (one surcharge fee of 15% if Public Holiday falls on a Sunday). An additional service fee of 10% applies to bookings of 10 people or more.”

We’ve been charged the 15% surcharge which I was OK with then got slapped with the 10% on top of the whole bill. So based on their T&C I should’ve paid the normal price + 15% surcharge then that was it not this 15% + 10% double jeopardy?

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • duluxe2000 on 05/10/2022 - 13:39

    The menu price is confusing as sh~t, congrats on whoever made it.

    https://www.crownsydney.com.au/getmedia/67de02ae-449c-4aed-8…

    Can someone give me the price if :
    1. Dinner on a Monday Public Holiday ? Is it 155 or 128 * 1.15 = 147.2 ?
    2. Dinner on a Friday Public Holiday ? Is it 155 or 155 * 1.15 = 178.25 ?
    3. Dinner on a Sunday Public Holiday ? Is it 155 * 1.1 = 170.5 or 135 * 1.15 = 155.25 ?

    • Miss B on 05/10/2022 - 13:55
      +2
      1. Dinner on a Monday Public Holiday ?

      155 x 1.15

      Dinner on a Friday Public Holiday ?

      155 x 1.15

      Dinner on a Sunday Public Holiday ?

      155 x 1.15

      Dinner on a Sunday that's not a public holiday or the night before one would be 135 x 1.1

      Dinner on a Sunday that is the night before a public holiday, the public holiday price is charged, but not the surcharge, but the Sunday surcharge still applies, which is OP's situation
      1.55 x 1.1

      • duluxe2000 on 05/10/2022 - 16:13

        Oh I see. I guess my next question is that if it's worth the 170$ price tag lol.

        • mini2 on 05/10/2022 - 16:35

          Check Google review. I should've done that first.

      • Miss B on 05/10/2022 - 16:20

        1.55 x 1.1

        Oops, slipped a . in there by accident.

        155 x 1.1 on a Sunday the night before a public holiday

    • mini2 on 05/10/2022 - 14:18
      +1

      The menu price is confusing as sh~t, congrats on whoever made it.

      I'm starting to think it's purposely written like that.

    • Homr on 05/10/2022 - 14:47

      I just re-read it. Is the $135 Sunday price including the 10% surcharge?

      • mini2 on 05/10/2022 - 15:04

        Based on what they've told me, no. $135 plus 10%.

        It's always the price listed prominently then find the corresponding applicable surcharge below.

        • Homr on 05/10/2022 - 15:10
          +1

          wow scums

  • damienpang on 05/10/2022 - 17:04
    +4

    I wonder what ACCC thinks about this. The price that they advertise for 'Sunday' is actually never obtainable on any Sunday.

    • serpserpserp on 05/10/2022 - 20:41

      Clearly states 10% on a Sunday.

      • Homr on 06/10/2022 - 10:35
        +1

        I think what he meant is the price $135 is never obtainable on Sunday, which I agree with. Why even have $135 in the first place? Why not just show $148.50 and remove the small 10% surcharge at the bottom?

        It's like years ago when buying a new car and the price listed is never the drive away price. ACCC stepped in and changed the law

        https://www.drive.com.au/news/accc-e28098drive-away-no-more-…

        • gleamnite on 06/10/2022 - 15:59

          Perhaps there are other things (such as wine) that you can buy which would also attract the additional surcharge, and it doesn't make sense to run multiple price versions of each product on their system when the same can simply be achieved by applying a surcharge at the end. It's less of an issue for the food buffet, because it's just turning one item into three or four.

    • witsa on 05/10/2022 - 20:42

      How so? The Sunday fee applies if it's not a public holiday the next day

      • Homr on 06/10/2022 - 10:35

        I think what he meant is the price $135 is never obtainable on Sunday, which I agree with. Why even have $135 in the first place? Why not just show $148.50 and remove the small 10% surcharge at the bottom?

        It's like years ago when buying a new car and the price listed is never the drive away price. ACCC stepped in and changed the law

        https://www.drive.com.au/news/accc-e28098drive-away-no-more-…

        • Miss B on 06/10/2022 - 11:06

          Someone mentioned they may have better food on Sundays/Public holidays. So the price would include the better offering, while the surcharge is because they have extra runnings costs. The surcharge is probably on everything, not just the buffet.

          So I think I kind of get it now, though I'd still be unlikely to eat there. They could list the $135 + 10% as the price, but then they'd have to explain that drinks have a surcharge and the meal prices don't, but the meal prices do on other days.

          Maybe just a note in the surcharge section that this is on top of any listed prices above. People may also be more understanding if there was an explanation of the higher prices being for better food options and list some of what you get for the additional cost.

  • cunningdrew on 05/10/2022 - 19:41

    Would not eat at a place like that. Period. And I can afford to no problem. Are they paying their staff x% more? If not, they're just jerks.

  • serpserpserp on 05/10/2022 - 20:39

    the frogurt is also cursed

  • Kinko82 on 05/10/2022 - 21:52

    Looks like the surcharges of the Crown Barangaroo restaurants. I’m going to the Epicurean on Saturday and that’s their surcharge policy too. I never understand the surcharge for 10 or more people, not just at the Epicurean but at all expensive restaurants.

    • Homr on 06/10/2022 - 10:33
      +1

      OP already mentioned it is at Epicurean

      • Kinko82 on 07/10/2022 - 13:38

        Ooops, definitely missed that detail

    • bobbified on 06/10/2022 - 16:57
      +1

      Looks like the surcharges of the Crown Barangaroo restaurants. I’m going to the Epicurean on Saturday and that’s their surcharge policy too.

      Looks like someone hasn't read the comments! haha

      • Kinko82 on 07/10/2022 - 13:38

        Certainly guilty there!

  • squaredonut on 06/10/2022 - 16:11

    I've been to this buffet like twice, it's decent, and I guess if you compare it to harvest buffet, it does have better quality and variety. But yeah no way in hell would dinner there, or public holiday or weekend, everytime I've been I've aligned it for a weekday lunch.

  • DrLobster on 06/10/2022 - 19:28
    +2

    Not sure if this has been said already. The ACCC just needs to step in and say that all pricing in menus need to be inclusive of all surcharges with the day clearly marked at the top. Therefore there will be a Monday to Saturday, Sunday, Public holiday and Sunday Public holiday menu. The price will also be inclusive of the 2.5% surcharge or whatever for cards as cash isnt that common these days anyways. Will save a lot of mental gymnastics trying to remember what was on the menu % wise and confusion at the till.

  • KaTst3R on 06/10/2022 - 20:39

    If a holiday falls on a Monday, eating on a Sunday is more expensive than the actual public holiday falling on that Sunday. Damn…someone screwed up the logic in the system. You get hit by a Sunday charge and a public holiday charge.

    • parsimonious one on 06/10/2022 - 21:26

      Yeah, it’s straight up dumb, greedy or both 🤷‍♂️

  • witsa on 06/10/2022 - 22:32

    Aside from the intentionally confusing pricing model, what I wonder is how a restaurant manages to stay in business charging such high prices and only being rated 3.7 stars?

    https://g.co/kgs/X82ePb

    • mini2 on 07/10/2022 - 21:20

      Because there are idiots like me who believe word of mouth over Google reviews?

  • sleet on 07/10/2022 - 06:09

    So why are they charging a surcharge on dinner on the day before a public holiday?

    I thought the surcharge on a public holiday was to pay staff for the holiday allowance?

    • Aureus on 07/10/2022 - 17:41

      Greed.

  • trashcan on 10/10/2022 - 19:26

    Has anoyne noticed or is just me but lot of places with surcharge are short changing the tax office by not collecting gst on the surcharge.

    (https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/diner-blasts-sydney-rest…)

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