Bringing down the cost of restaurant bills

[Granny square]

I've heard that same excuse from people who want want to sneak their 4yr old into the parks for free. And people who want to put 5 people into a room that only holds 4. It doesn't make any sense here either. The cost of something is the cost.

Would you go to a store and only give them $10 for a shirt that costs $15 and tell them they should be grateful for whatever money you decided to give them? No, of course not. Same thing. A business doesn't have to be grateful because you decided to throw a few pennies their way. You need to pay for what you need to pay for.

Nope, not the same thing. There isn't a rule that says to use our business you must drink a beverage. There are rules that say if you want to bring your child in they must have a ticket.

If someone sells me a cup of hot water or bottled water am I allowed in your world to flavor it? Btw, if there is a sign I wouldn't do it. just satin I've only seen them at places like McDonald's when they don't want people bringing in cakes. As a server a long time ago there weren't flavor packs but people came in and use lemons and sugar. I didn't know I was supposed to be offended.

Your analogies are not accurate. I think that a business should be happy to have customers even if they come in to check out the clearance rack rather than the full priced stuff. But we run a business and I am grateful for clients. Even if they do come in and bargain or barter. I even like the people who come in to see if I have hot coffee in the pot.

 

[Granny square]

Lol really, as a server i'f much rather a "lemon water" drinker than the aa coffee drinkers. 12 cups of coffee, a Danish and 3 hours of smoking for $1 tip.

 

[Granny square]

My Apologies for snippets. Not feeling well here so too much time on my hands.

You all really think that if I've taken my family into a restaurant and spent $150 plus a starting tip of 20% that I am ripping someone off for putting a tea bag in my water glass? Weird.

 

[Granny square]

So is it wrong to take Cheerios in for toddlers too? You all never did that?

 

[maxiesmom]

Nope, not the same thing. There isn't a rule that says to use our business you must drink a beverage. There are rules that say if you want to bring your child in they must have a ticket.


Your analogies are not accurate. I think that a business should be happy to have customers even if they come in to check out the clearance rack rather than the full priced stuff. But we run a business and I am grateful for clients. Even if they do come in and bargain or barter. I even like the people who come in to see if I have hot coffee in the pot.

But it is not up to the customer to decide what to pay for and how much they are going to pay for something. And most if not all restaurants do have a rule about bringing outside food in. Maybe I don't think you are committing a crime, but bringing in drink packets is tacky. Very tacky.

As a business owner you can decide if you want to allow bartering. Most places do not, and most restaurants do not. Again, it is for the business to decide if they allow it or not, and not up to the customer. The way the customer gets to vote on cost is by not shopping or dining at a certain place if the cost is too high. They don't get to pick and choose for themselves what they will pay for and how much they get to pay.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope, not the same thing. There isn't a rule that says to use our business you must drink a beverage.

A beverage? No. But if you're going to order a beverage for which the restaurant charges $0 (and so, loses money) and then doctor it to your liking with items, flavorings, sweeteners you brought from outside when the restaurant sells - and earns revenue from - similar, probably healthier beverages?

There doesn't need to be a sign prohibiting outside food. You're patronizing an establishment whose entire income is derived from selling food and drink. Your own sweetener is one thing. But chemical-filled powdered drink mix instead of real lemonade? Seriously? The posters who say 'if you can't afford to pay for the whole meal including drinks, wait until you can or find a less expensive restaurant' have it right.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So is it wrong to take Cheerios in for toddlers too? You all never did that?

Right, we never did that. You choose restaurants that serve food the toddler will eat. Or an adult takes the overactive toddler outside for a walk while waiting for the food to come.

Now the youngest person in my family is fifteen, so it's not an issue ; but like eliza1 said - you know the menu. You know if there'll be something or nothing to satisfy your needs. You don't cut into the restaurant's profit margin by bringing your own anything.

 

[Granny square]

Lol, interesting.


Eta: sorry 10 teenage boys just turned up here, lol.

I suppose that if you rate a lot in "family style" restaurants there is always something for even the newest mildest tastes. While mine learned to eat Thai and Hungarian, sometimes the tastes were too strong, so we resorted to carrying. Considering 90% of restaurants fail, I will still tend to believe that they would rather business than not. if they are failing because someone uses a tea bag if their own they probably need to relook at their pricing structure.

But I will happily admit you are better people than we are.

 

[luvmy3]

I grew up in my families soul food restaurant. all my siblings, cousins, aunt and uncles worked it at various points in our lives.
So here are some thoughts.

1) We realize that eating out can be expensive but we are also trying to maintain a livelihood. We post our prices outside the door and in various other easy to spot places.(this was pre-internet). We make the assumption that if you read it and come in you fully know approx what it's going to cost.

2) profit margins at restuarants are not very high. Sure the markup on soda maybe alot but it also covers the loss when 2 adults come in and want to split a meal because they want to save a buck.

3) There is a reason many places have signs that say "no outside food allowed".

4) we sell lemonade. If you want lemonade we would appreciate it, if you order it. We don't appreciate outside cans of coke, nor outside lemonade.

Chilis and almost every other chain restuarants sell non soda beverages (lemonade, strawberry lemonade, ice tea, unsweeten ice tea, etc). If you can't afford to purchase them as others have pointed out, it may be time to rethink eat out.

5) yes I know you tip well ***sighs*** even the guy who leave 2 bucks on a 50 dollar tab swears he tips well. I have no idea what that has to do with any thing, tips do not lost revenue for the establishment. If every patron decided to bring in their own drinks places would simply jack up the prices on the entree to cover lost revenue.

Wacky, tacky. Just drink water.

Or just order a lemonade.
I get that some people want to save money, but seriously if you are trying to save $12 off your restaurant bill then you should just stay home and make your own meals, you'll save alot more.
I mean whats next, bring in your own deli meat and use the complimentary dinner rolls to make yourself a sandwich?

 

[Soulsearching]

Well, I don't find bringing crystal light into a restaurant wrong, some people are diabetics and don't take chances. I do think it is wrong, please don't flame, but to give children crystal light. I have a real problem with diet drinks for children, for that matter any soft drink that are filled with chemicals, my own opinion.

I do understand trying to keep the bill low and ordering water and adding a flavor packet does do that.

I really don't see the difference between doing that to keep the bill low as long as you tip like you have been served a drink, because you have. Water being served in glass and placed on your table is "service".

On another note, I bring snacks to a movie theater to keep the bill low, but no one is serving it to me and I like healthy snacks and they don't sell fruit, nuts, etc.

 

[disfan07]

Well, I don't find bringing crystal light into a restaurant wrong, some people are diabetics and don't take chances. I do think it is wrong, please don't flame, but to give children crystal light. I have a real problem with diet drinks for children, for that matter any soft drink that are filled with chemicals, my own opinion.

I do understand trying to keep the bill low and ordering water and adding a flavor packet does do that.

I really don't see the difference between doing that to keep the bill low as long as you tip like you have been served a drink, because you have. Water being served in glass and placed on your table is "service".

On another note, I bring snacks to a movie theater to keep the bill low, but no one is serving it to me and I like healthy snacks and they don't sell fruit, nuts, etc.

But why can't a diabetic just drink water? What's wrong with that? And it's better for them to than the junk that is crystal light. I agree with others who say its tacky.

 

[Granny square]

Eh, my teen niece was just diagnosed type 1. Life has gotten sucky enough for her to begrudge some flavor. And, yeah, she drinks plenty of water, lol. It is so sweet of you to be concerned about her health though.

 

[disykat]

I always drink water and agree it's a great moneysaver, I don't take my own beverage in though.

Taking outside food into a restaurant seems wrong unless you are talking about an infant, toddler, or someone with obvious health needs. It's hard to imagine a health need where you couldn't drink water.

I have done what some disser's don't approve of and taken fast food from one fast food restaurant into a neighboring fast food restaurant. I remember a quite heated discussion about this. I figure those neighboring stores chose those locations partly BECAUSE they knew they could benefit from familes who might not agree.

 

[reginaastralis]

As a server I have had people bring in their own soda and then ask for a glass of ice. I don't know if it was just the smoke my boss was selling, but he said it was against health code to bring in your own drinks to an establishment. When they rebuffed, he asked them to leave. Did he lose a customer, probably, but let's be serious ... you're going out to eat and you're going to bring in a can of coke to save $2?!

If you want to save money, order your food togo. You can tip less (and yes, I believe you should tip on togo orders, since the server/bartender still has to make sure your order is complete, package your order and get condiments, this isn't done automatically) and then you can drink whatever you want at home.

There isn't much of a difference from bringing in your own flavor packets or asking for a glass of water and using a bowl of lemon and all of the packets of sweetner on the table (which I've seen more than once). Both are extremely tacky ... I'm so glad I no longer am a server.

 

[SaraJayne]

I agree with the majority here. If you cannot afford the cost of soft drinks when you go out to eat, drink water or save for another week until you can afford it. Bringing your own mix-ins is akin to bringing your own dessert and expecting the establishment to furnish you with plates & forks to enjoy it. Tacky. Cheap. And I would be horrified if I was with someone who did this.

Exactly what I was going to say.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

My children and I order water with lemon most everywhere we go because we have been trying to cut out having so many soft drinks. DH always orders a drink though, but he drinks more water then we do during the day. I have found that it does save us a about $8.00 a meal by doing this.

I should add that we would never bring in flavored packs to put into the water.

 

[SaraJayne]

My children and I order water with lemon most everywhere we go because we have been trying to cut out having so many soft drinks. DH always orders a drink though, but he drinks more water then we do during the day. I have found that it does save us a about $8.00 a meal by doing this.

I should add that we would never bring in flavored packs to put into the water.

I have no issue with people that choose to drink water. I will occasionally drink water myself when out to eat.

 

[eliza61]

That is the restaurant's right. I'm fine with it. If a restaurant sells unsweetened decaf tea I will happily pay for. Panera and Tim hortons both offer some nice ones.

Would you rather I eat elsewhere if I can't find a drink on your menu? Or use your lemons to flavor the water? It seems to me some business is better than none. I've only seen signs about outside food at fast food places.

As far as tipping goes, you are right. I can't tell you how many people stiff the wait staff.

I've also asked for a cup of hot water and paid for it. If someone will work with me I am beyond happy. I just can't drink carbonation, choose not to drink sugar that isn't fermented and caffeine after 2 or 3 doesn't work for me.

No, some times "some" business can be bad. Now this is just very very general information, there are always exceptions and alternatives.

A successful restaurant runs on making a certain amount in sales based on a time period, some business set that time in a week, others daily receipts and I know some restuarantuers who calculate hourly what the receipts should look like. Now all businesses have a defined amount of space and guest they can hold.
So if my business has 20 tables, I calculate how much per person I need to bring in. So if I have a booth that can fit 6 people and a young couple comes in and wants to eat in that booth, that's bad. On a spreadsheet that's lost revenue because the space that could be made generating income from 4 or 6 is now generating less. Now once a day, no problem. 10 or 12 times a day. big problem. Have you ever gone into a place with tons of booths empty and you wonder why you can't sit at them and you're asked to wait?

Now if I'm running a chilis or Olive Garden, it may not be a huge issue, corporate may absorb some of that cost but if you're a family business you want the space used to maximum capacity.

Same with parties where there maybe 3 girlfriends but only 1 really orders a dish, they other two just get a drink or folks who split meals. Sure technically that is "some" money but the owner is looking at two seats he possible could be filing with 3 full tabs now being used at a loss. And again, yes once or twice you can recoup. 9 or 10 customers coming in splitting meals can be a big problem. Hence some restuarants charging a split plate fee.

So if a place needs 5K a day to see a profit, simply saying "some money" is better than none is not how it's viewed. That's why you some bartenders hate patrons who "nurse" one beer through an entire football game ( I hate those guys, you want 1 beer, stay home) He's not generating any income and no his 10 bucks is not better than nothing. He's taking up space we want to fill with the guy who's going to buy a round every time a touch down is scored.

It's a quirky business.

Now my family and I are the exact opposite, we don't drink a lot of soda at home so when we go out soda is a "treat" for us. I love a great pizza with a ice cold coke. So when I know I'm going out to eat, the fact is I'm not trying to save money. IMO the way to save money is to not eat out.

Lastly now that most restaurants offer free refills, a glass of soda is not 3 bucks. Most kids will have at least 1 refill each

 

[disneychrista]

We rarely get drinks with our meals. We prefer water and it saves us money too.

 

[averysmom]

We almost always order water at restaurants. It just seems like such a waste of money to spend 3 dollars on a coke. Sometimes we splurge though! I'd never bring in a crystal light though, or anything like that-at least not in a sit down restaurant.