It's two different fees, both supposedly going to the staff. I don't have a problem with paying a little more to help out staff. I am all for people being paid a living wage. I'm usually a very generous tipper. In a perfect world the brewery would pay staff a decent wage from the beginning and not have to rely on extra charges at the end for the customer to "top things off." But in doing this fee thing instead, the brewery has the best of both worlds: they can keep prices lower and keep paying lower wages, with the customer picking up the extra. This is the system we have in the restaurant and bar industry in the U.S., and it happens a lot. I rather that they tack on another dollar for pours and pay their staff better.
The problem here is they initially had one fee, the 20% compulsory fee, which has been in place since the pandemic wound down a year or so ago. I've known about this 20% fee and I've been OK with it. But now they have added a second, a flat fee of $3.50 per bill, that supposedly goes to the staff as well. Or does it? The flat fee is added
after the bill has been settled and the receipt is issued. The transaction should be complete at this point. Once the bill is settled, that should be final. Sneaking in another $3.50 after the POS completion is sketchy at best, and possibly illegal.
It's not the $3.50 to me. I could dig that out from under my sofa cushions. It's the idea that a business has to stoop to that level. If they're cheating you for that, what else are they cheating on?
I don't want this to turn into a tipping thread, as that can become very contentious. It really isn't about tipping, anyway. It's about dubious choices made by a business owner likely motivated by greed.
The brewery is Pryes Brewing Co. I've since discovered
a number of online reviews pointing out this fee thing. Maybe it will bite them in the ass, maybe not. Don't care. I just know I'm not going back. You can't swing a dead cat in this town without hitting a brewery. Plenty of others.
I just wanted to vent here. Thanks for indulging me.