I am really confused on this.
So, they are finally allwed to reopen. And in order to attract customers to come back. And thank them for coming out to their places they are going to whack them with nuisance fees?
This is now a “dine in” sur-charge?
Seems pretty silly now that people are used to take out. And the restaurants make most of their money on people sitting in their places and drinking hugely marked up alcohol.
“And in order to attract customers to come back. And thank them for coming out to their places they are going to whack them with nuisance fees?’
Restaurants are a business. They have overhead and fees to pay. The income generated must exceed expenses for them to stay in business.
Due to Covid-19 fears many state and local governments are now limiting restaurants to 25% of their former seating capacity. If your economic model requires 50% occupancy, and the state allows you use only 25% of your seats, to survive the business must still find a way to generate enough revenue to cover expenses. Unless the landlord is willing to reduce the rent by 50%, the utility companies are willing to reduce their charges by 50%, the food vendors and the employees will also decrease their costs, the owner of the restaurant must find another way to increase revenue or shut down. Hence the Covid 19 surcharge.
When government regulates a market, in this case mandating the restaurant owner serve fewer customers, costs go up. The potential customer can choose to pay the surcharge, patronize another establishment, or eat at home.
One of our favorite “Greek” restaurants just opened for takeout only. Previously completely shut down.
We’ve ordered togo several times and each time we’ve left a very good tip for the cashier that puts the order together. If I see a COVID surcharge, I won’t be going back until it’s off the bill. I don’t mind spending a like extra...but on the voluntary side only.