What Is This Charge On My Restaurant Receipt?

Have you noticed additional charges added to your restaurant check?

Apparently, we all need to be more aware of hidden charges these days that are being added to our check without our knowledge.

I recently read an article that mentions two restaurants being involved in a lawsuit for overcharging customers.

@All About Arizona News - AG Mayes Announces $20,000 Settlement with Two Phoenix-area Restaurants for Charging Undisclosed Add-on Fees

I wanted to contact this Attorney General to let her know it's not only these two restaurants that are adding in undisclosed/add-on fees to customers. I could mention many more. Many times now you get your restaurant check and see additional charges on it. Of course, this is after you have had your meal and can't make the decision if you want to pay them or not. You ask "Why or what they are for" and get numerous excuses. See below for some of the fees I and others have seen lately:

• Credit card fee - Few people carry cash these days, so this almost feels like you are punishing people by making them pay the additional cost for using their credit card. This is either a % at the end of the check or even a smaller amount added to each item- for example, a $7 item will show as $7.24 as a line item so it's not quite so obvious! A credit card fee is a business expense and can be written off on taxes, so think of it as a cost of doing business in the age of credit cards.?
• Front-of-the-house staff fee - Isn't this what a tip/gratuity is for?
• Back-of-the-house staff fee - In the 25+ years of experience in the restaurant industry the back-of-the-house staff have always been paid a larger salary than the front-of-the-house so why would a customer tip them for doing their job?
• Restaurant fee - What is this fee? Isn't this what the cost of food includes?
• Covid fee - Covid wasn't any of our faults, so why are we being penalized for something that was out of our control?
• Surcharge fee - Why are cities adding surcharges? What is this for?

You name it we have heard it. And it's time to STOP these unexplained additional charges on customers' checks. If you need to increase your prices to cover costs, raise them, and don't nickel and dime customers into thinking they are being taken advantage of. Customers understand raised prices, however additional fees on a receipt just upset your customer and will probably cost you a customer and revenue. Right after the pandemic restaurants had signs on the doors to at least warn you ahead of time, so you could decide if you wanted to eat there. Now they just add it to your check so after you eat, you have no choice.?

Maybe this is a good time to review your menu and see what is selling, what is not, and what your food costs/labor costs are to see where you can raise your pricing to accommodate increased expenses. Don't upset your customers after they have had a great experience! Don't get a bad review from a customer that has recently visited your restaurant and have it seen by everyone on Social Media!

We at The Hart Experience can evaluate your restaurant and help you and your team see areas that are costing you customers and revenue. Contact [email protected] 602.717.3271, https://www.thehartexperience.com

PS. Would love to hear from you about any other additional fees you have seen at a restaurant lately! Please share your experiences in the comments section