Bringing down the cost of restaurant bills

[daughtersrus]

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

I think that's different. DH works for a car dealer. Generally, if you have a Ford product (Lincoln, Mercury) you bring it to a Ford dealer, not a BMW dealer so the parts are available. To ask for a discount because you don't want to bring your own parts seems rude. It's like bringing your eggs to a restaurant and asking them to cook them for you.

 

[maggiew]

I think that's different. DH works for a car dealer. Generally, if you have a Ford product (Lincoln, Mercury) you bring it to a Ford dealer, not a BMW dealer so the parts are available. To ask for a discount because you don't want to bring your own parts seems rude. It's like bringing your eggs to a restaurant and asking them to cook them for you.

AGREED!

Maggie

 

[manning]

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

Sad to say, I'm cheap and tacky.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

OK. I just spent the last 90 minutes reading all 18 pages of this thread and I have to say I am not really surprised how this turned out.

I couldn't care less if someone takes Crystal Light packets into a restaurant to flavor their water and I doubt very seriously a restaurant owner would prefer that customer not come in at all. That is just someone blowing smoke real hard trying to make their point that they think is the only right opinion.

What did surprise me is that a handful of the same ppl kept repeating themselves OVER AND OVER saying the same thing numerous times. DO you think if you say it more that it will make ppl see it your way?

Flavoring your own water is not stealing from a restaurant. That is ridiculous.

To the OP. You do whatever you want to do with your free water and know, that restaurant very much does value your business whether you order a drink from them or not. ALl these restaurant experts on here tickle me.

I know a man I went to real estate school with who owns a very nice steak house in town and I know personally that he buys steaks that cost him $7 a piece from a major restaurant supplier and sells them for $35 a piece. If you are willing to make his huge mark up on food, I bet he would be more than happy for you to use your flavor packet to flavor your free water.

 

[planningjollyholiday]

OK. I just spent the last 90 minutes reading all 18 pages of this thread and I have to say I am not really surprised how this turned out.

I couldn't care less if someone takes Crystal Light packets into a restaurant to flavor their water and I doubt very seriously a restaurant owner would prefer that customer not come in at all. That is just someone blowing smoke real hard trying to make their point that they think is the only right opinion.

What did surprise me is that a handful of the same ppl kept repeating themselves OVER AND OVER saying the same thing numerous times. DO you think if you say it more that it will make ppl see it your way?

Flavoring your own water is not stealing from a restaurant. That is ridiculous.

To the OP. You do whatever you want to do with your free water and know, that restaurant very much does value your business whether you order a drink from them or not. ALl these restaurant experts on here tickle me.

I know a man I went to real estate school with who owns a very nice steak house in town and I know personally that he buys steaks that cost him $7 a piece from a major restaurant supplier and sells them for $35 a piece. If you are willing to make his huge mark up on food, I bet he would be more than happy for you to use your flavor packet to flavor your free water.

Even though it only costs $7 for the steak you still have to factor in all the other costs of running a restaurant into that entree. Restaurants not only have to pay for food cost, but also wages, rent, electricity, etc. I'm guessing after all these things, the profit on a $35 steak is under $5. And thats if everything in a restaurant runs smoothly. Now factor in if server accidently breaks a bunch of dishes, or if they unnexpectedly have to pay for a fridge repair etc, now that profit margin gets lower and lower and will see way less than a $5 profit. The restaurant industry is an extremely hard industry to be succesful in and more complex then people realize.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What did surprise me is that a handful of the same people kept repeating themselves OVER AND OVER saying the same thing numerous times. DO you think if you say it more that it will make people see it your way?

No. We actually realize each time we repeat ourselves we're responding to a different person. Not every person reads every post, and certainly not in one sitting - especially in an older thread like this one.

 

[mom2my3kids]

I try to get the family to order water, for one its better for you and two it saves a bunch on a family of five..Now saying this, I think its tacky to ask for hot water and bring your own tea bag just as I think its tacky to bring the drop ins and add to your water..I mean come on just drink water, if it really bothers you that bad then buy a soda or tea..This is coming from a server, now I dont mind people drinking water, its when they want a big bowl of lemons so they can make lemonade is where I draw the line..COME ON JUST BUY LEMONADE..before to long they are going to start charging for lemons...just my two cents not that its going to change anything but you know..