Bringing down the cost of restaurant bills

[maxiesmom]

And if you didn't like coke and you went somewhere that served coke and nothing else, wouldn't you bring a Pepsi?

Nope. That is horribly tacky! If I didn't like what was offered, I would drink water. Not bring in my own.

 

[JDUCKY]

Anyone who claims to be a restaurateur and is worried about someone bringing in a flavor packet has much more to be worried about re: their business. I suggest researching the man who started Farrell's restaurant and his famous "Give them the pickle" motto.

If I order water (which is usually provided at many restaurants without even asking) and I open a flavor packet and someone from the restaurant asks me not to, or that I have to order a drink from the menu or asks me to leave should I refuse, would lose me and my family as patrons forever. PLUS, I'd be posting all over Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, et al about the horrible and obscenely picky service at that restaurant.

Anyone comparing bringing in a flavor packet to ordering a soda needs to get a life. I have re-committed to no more soft drinks and I wouldn't order a soft drink in a restaurant, just the water. And, esp. here in FL, tap water does not taste very good so I have ZERO problem bringing in a Propel packet or something to flavor it. I don't want lemonade or fruit punch (way too much sugar) either. I might order a hot tea (unsweetened) and have on many occasions.

 

[SaraJayne]

You go to a restaurant for the food, not necessarily the drink. Who cares if you get water and add mio? And if you didn't like coke and you went somewhere that served coke and nothing else, wouldn't you bring a Pepsi? And you expect us to believe that you've never taken a drink into a movie theater? Yeah, right.

No, I would not take a Pepsi into a restaurant if they served Coke. I either drink what they have or drink water.

And nope, I've never taken a drink into a theater.

 

[Julylady]

Due to stomach issues and being diabetic, I can only have caffeine free, non carbonated, sugar free drinks. Only about 1 in 10 restaurants can meet that request and then it's typically decaf ice tea or sugar free lemonade. I typically just drink plain water, but have no qualms about bringing in flavored water packets either.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Last week we went to a museum that had a diner inside and I was just going to order water with our meal since we were thirsty but the soft drink option was Faygo for 3.00 a bottle (glass bottle so smaller)and I knew that we would likely just chug it since we were so thirsty but water was 2.50. So Faygo it was.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

You go to a restaurant for the food, not necessarily the drink. Who cares if you get water and add mio? And if you didn't like coke and you went somewhere that served coke and nothing else, wouldn't you bring a Pepsi?

I go to a restaurant for a meal. If they serve coke I order sprite as I am a Pepsi girl, coffee or water. I would never just bring in my own food/beverages to mix and match with the establishments. If you don't like what the restaurant is serving you are under no compulsion to visit that establishment.

We also have a breakfast place where the food is great and the coffee is AWFUL. I just order juice or tea instead. I would not bring my own coffee from home. ever.

Manners are on the downslide in this country.

 

[Lewisc]

There are some budget ideas which are best not publicized on the internet. Restaurants price their entrees with the assumption customers will be ordering drinks. A restaurant might not care if a small number of customers make their own lemonade but are likely to have a different opinion if a significant number of diners chose this budget idea. They might charge for water (not likely), outright ban customers from making their own lemonade, charge those customers who use water to make their own lemonade (but otherwise offer free water) or increase entree prices and reduce the price of drinks.

This budget idea won't work if too many customers use it.

Some comments. Don't like Florida water? Most restaurants give you the option of ordered bottled water. Don't like soft drinks? Many restaurants have drinks like lemonade on the menu. You just want water with your meal. No problem. You don't want water with your meal but you don't want to pay the restaurant so you bring your own powdered mix. Not the end of the world but not nice. You ask for lemons with your water. I suspect most restaurants will give them to you but a restaurant has the right to charge extra.

A PP said he doesn't like the coffee served at a local restaurant but wouldn't think of bringing his own. Why not tell the owner?

 

[JDUCKY]

"Give em the pickle"!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISJ1V8vBiiI&feature=player_embedded


Watch and learn how to run a restaurant (or a business, in general).

 

[Lewisc]

"Give em the pickle"!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISJ1V8vBiiI&feature=player_embedded
H
Watch and learn how to run a restaurant (or a business, in general).

You can't give them free pickles if a customer is happy making a meal of pickles.
The condiment buffet Disney offered in Pecos bills became an issue.

 

[angwill]

"Give em the pickle"!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISJ1V8vBiiI&feature=player_embedded


Watch and learn how to run a restaurant (or a business, in general).

So true.

 

[2ndStarr]

Does anyone else find it hilarious that this post grew to 17 pages?

 

[disneychrista]

Does anyone else find it hilarious that this post grew to 17 pages?

Absolutely NOT! Anything that could be controversial tends to be get lots of posts.

I do find it pretty amazing that it stayed as civil as it did and didn't get closed by a Moderator.

 

[pens4821]

I think it's only a matter of time before restaurants start charging for water (even tap), or just offering bottled (for a charge) to customers. Not saying much, maybe .50 or so for tap, but I think it's just going to take one major restaurant to do it before it takes on. Restaurants make most their profit of beverages, people drinking water lowers the profit of the business. Not saying I disagree with anyone ordering water to save a couple bucks, but it's bad for the business.

I don't think adding something to the water is all that bad, although I do think it's a bit tacky. The one thing that gets me, is the people that order water and say they want extra lemons. Then they sit there, squeeze the lemons, and add sugar. Now that's just being flashy cheap, and a server seeing this isn't going to pay as much attention to you as the table that has drinks/appetizers.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can't give them free pickles if a customer is happy making a meal of pickles.
The condiment buffet Disney offered in Pecos bills became an issue.

Exactly. Many customers now are not happy with the extra pickle. They want free pickles from you, from the place down the block, or sent in from out of state.

Most people I know who work in a service industry like making people happy. It makes our job easier and fun! But often it is not as easy as just giving them the pickle. I really wish it was that simple.

I think a better question to ask would be how Mr Farrell would feel if he did sell pickles, yet people brought in their own.

 

[shortbun]

I would never do this. To me it looks cheap and tacky. Just my personal feeling

Yeah...just order and drink water. That's like bringing your own food into a restaurant; bad form.

 

[pampam]

I think it's only a matter of time before restaurants start charging for water (even tap), or just offering bottled (for a charge) to customers. Not saying much, maybe .50 or so for tap, but I think it's just going to take one major restaurant to do it before it takes on. Restaurants make most their profit of beverages, people drinking water lowers the profit of the business. Not saying I disagree with anyone ordering water to save a couple bucks, but it's bad for the business.

I don't think adding something to the water is all that bad, although I do think it's a bit tacky. The one thing that gets me, is the people that order water and say they want extra lemons. Then they sit there, squeeze the lemons, and add sugar. Now that's just being flashy cheap, and a server seeing this isn't going to pay as much attention to you as the table that has drinks/appetizers.

When the latest recession hit, our local KFC did start charging $.25 for a cup of cold water. I was ok with paying it since they were supplying the cups and ice. I'm not sure if they still charge it.

 

[daughtersrus]

Yeah...just order and drink water. That's like bringing your own food into a restaurant; bad form.

Along the same lines, my DH is an auto tech at a Lincoln car dealer. They've had customers want to bring in their own parts and only pay for labor. (example:bring in the oil and filter and ask how much it will be for labor to change the oil or have them diagnose the problem and then want to go to the auto parts store and bring them back to the dealer to install)

 

[Lewisc]

Along the same lines, my DH is an auto tech at a Lincoln car dealer. They've had customers want to bring in their own parts and only pay for labor. (example:bring in the oil and filter and ask how much it will be for labor to change the oil or have them diagnose the problem and then want to go to the auto parts store and bring them back to the dealer to install)

Years ago I read an anecdote, maybe Reader's Digest. A local coffee shop owner brought his own oil to the local mechanic. Next day the mechanic brought his own eggs to the coffee shop and asked how much to have his eggs cooked.

Some exceptions.

Years ago, before synthetic oil was popular, I'd buy Mobil 1 oil and pay Jiffy Lube for an oil change. At the time they didn't offer synthetic oil. They had a price for customer supplied oil.

A few restaurants in resort areas will cook (and clean) fish caught by a customer.

Some restaurants, particularly those without a liquor license, will let customers bring their own wine. Sometimes there is a "corkage" charge and sometimes customers just add a few dollars to their tip.

 

[marthachick]

You can't give them free pickles if a customer is happy making a meal of pickles.
The condiment buffet Disney offered in Pecos bills became an issue.

Do they still have the condiment bar? We're planning to go to MK this year & I might need a salad! Just kidding! But I did like the condiment bar!

 

[maggiew]

Along the same lines, my DH is an auto tech at a Lincoln car dealer. They've had customers want to bring in their own parts and only pay for labor. (example:bring in the oil and filter and ask how much it will be for labor to change the oil or have them diagnose the problem and then want to go to the auto parts store and bring them back to the dealer to install)

When we take my car to Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed, we HAVE to bring the oil and filter from the auto parts store. They don't carry the products for my VW Jetta Diesel car. They give us a break on the price. (Please note, we did not suggest this. We took my car to Jiffy Lube the first time and they said they didn't have the materials and then told us to go buy them and bring them back.)

Maggie