I've been "ripped-off" on MSE !!!!

moonrakerz

I keep opening new threads on this site which have "rip-off" in the title, but when I read them there isn't a rip-off in sight !
I have just read one where Venice is described as a "rip-off" purely because it is expensive - obviously the OP hasn't been following the state of the Pound against the Euro !

I feel, quite legitimately, that I am being "ripped off" by these posts which claim to be highlighting something shocking yet when I read them they certainly are not !! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Meepster

I agree, 100%...

fitzroy

I also agree. Why don't you "hover" over the question with your mouse? That way you get to see the gist of the post and avoid wasting your time.

JasonLVC

Have not read the Venice thread but Venice is a genuine "rip-off", but not becuase of the the Euro.

Venice is world renowned for charging tourists 3x more than a local which is in breach of EU rules and steps are been taken to remedy this. Cafes have two menus a cheap one for locals and a dear one for everyone else - the EU are chasing Venice for a remedy to this situation.

The mayor of Venice last month made a statment to all vendors/retailers in Venice to stop ripping off customers and has also advised tourists to report over-priced sellers to the establishment.....the Police are being regularly called out for disputes involving restaurants charging tourists £100 for a coke & pizza and it's getting nasty.

moonrakerz

JasonLVC wrote: »

Have not read the Venice thread but Venice is a genuine "rip-off", but not becuase of the the Euro.

Venice is world renowned for charging tourists 3x more than a local which is in breach of EU rules and steps are been taken to remedy this. Cafes have two menus a cheap one for locals and a dear one for everyone else - the EU are chasing Venice for a remedy to this situation.

The mayor of Venice last month made a statment to all vendors/retailers in Venice to stop ripping off customers and has also advised tourists to report over-priced sellers to the establishment.....the Police are being regularly called out for disputes involving restaurants charging tourists £100 for a coke & pizza and it's getting nasty.

Whilst I agree with you to a certain point, like with most "tourist traps", just walk a little distance and you will find the prices tumble - caveat emptor !

PolishBigSpender

JasonLVC wrote: »

Venice is world renowned for charging tourists 3x more than a local which is in breach of EU rules and steps are been taken to remedy this. Cafes have two menus a cheap one for locals and a dear one for everyone else - the EU are chasing Venice for a remedy to this situation.

Why is this a problem? As long as the prices are clearly stated upfront and people agree to the prices - what's the issue?

It would be far more serious if they were giving people menus with one price, then tripling the price for no reason.

And yes, I agree that the endless RIPOFF SCAM threads are rather tiring.

yorksrabbit

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Why is this a problem? As long as the prices are clearly stated upfront and people agree to the prices - what's the issue?

The problem is, the sun is blazing, the day tiring, the tables are outside, and there's not a menu on any of 'em. Just an ashtray and maybe a paper serviettes holder. You're tired and hot and you just want to sit down for a drink and a quick snack. You know a snack ain't a 4-course meal so you don't ask for a menu but instead ask the waiter what've they got, a pizza, yes? It's Venice. It's Italy (not strictly, but never mind that). And surely it's no problem, ordering a pizza.

And eventually the bill arrives at a figure eight times more than a local would be charged. (And still probably ten times what the meal is worth.)

Yes, it was your fault for not asking to see a menu, but you thought that this at least you might take on trust: a drink; a quick snack. Think again, then.

Rip-off Venice has nothing to do with the sterling-Euro exchange rate but everything to do with the long established widespread practice of seeing tourists not as customers, but victims.

The MSE thread's aptly titled: don't knock it, if you don't know Venice.

trumpton

I have to agree, Venice is a mega-rip off (though Rome is pretty bad too). Few of the cafes in St Mark's Square have menus or prices up so many people sit down and order just a coffee expecting it to be pricey, but not expecting to pay £7.

The two price system in restaurants was also evident in Corfu several years ago when we visited. Many places in the UK are a rip-off too, but at least we are all ripped-off equally.

JasonLVC

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Why is this a problem? As long as the prices are clearly stated upfront and people agree to the prices - what's the issue?

The problem is they DO NOT display menus....people just assume a glass of coke will cost less than £25

They don't actually have two menus, they have one menu for tourists and no menu for locals, the local knowing full wel what a cappuccino costs.

Secondly, it is against EU law to have different retail prices for the same product.

LemonGrove

moonrakerz wrote: »

I keep opening new threads on this site which have "rip-off" in the title, but when I read them there isn't a rip-off in sight !
I have just read one where Venice is described as a "rip-off" purely because it is expensive - obviously the OP hasn't been following the state of the Pound against the Euro !

I feel, quite legitimately, that I am being "ripped off" by these posts which claim to be highlighting something shocking yet when I read them they certainly are not !! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

This thread is a rip-off, I was expecting to read about a Rogue MSE'er going around the forums giving bad advice to the members lol

Paddy2eyes

I feel that I have been conned by this so-called rip off thread. It is obviously a scam! It must have slipped through a clever loophole.