Honest guv, I wouldn't of brought it if I knew then what I know now...

mikcatta

I went to a coffee shop today, and the prices weren't easily visible as the magic screen was busy showing me what wonderful Frappuccino I could buy. 

When it came to displaying the full list of prices, I was a bit taken aback buy the price of my Americano, but I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order.

If I had seen the price ahead of time, I might of walked down the road. But, perhaps that's what it should really cost and charging more meant they could pay their staff a decent wage!

So I wondered if anyone else had been "embarrassed" into paying the price as they had been put on the spot. Normally I am quite frugal and would of said Nah, but it felt like they had me by the short and curlies and I had to order.

Would you of succumb to the tactics or stood your ground and go elsewhere?

WelshPaul

A couple of years ago, I walked into a Five Guys and asked how much a cheeseburger, chips, and Coke would cost for three people. When the young lady responded, I replied, “HOW MUCH?” Her response was, “You get a lot of chips.” No way was I going to pay well over sixty quid for three fast food meals, so I simply walked out and took my family to a local pub for some pub grub. 

We were the only customers in there at the time, and had it been packed to the gills, I wouldn’t have done any differently.

flaneurs_lobster

Ordered a pint of cooking lager at that big tourist central pub in St Katharine Docks E1, can't remember how much the bar person said I owed (it was years ago) but I simply swore and walked out. 

Should have known better as a relative local, but the markup over "usual" prices (in the City) was outrageous.

Pollycat

mikcatta said:

I went to a coffee shop today, and the prices weren't easily visible as the magic screen was busy showing me what wonderful Frappuccino I could buy. 

When it came to displaying the full list of prices, I was a bit taken aback buy the price of my Americano, but I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order.

If I had seen the price ahead of time, I might of walked down the road. But, perhaps that's what it should really cost and charging more meant they could pay their staff a decent wage!

So I wondered if anyone else had been "embarrassed" into paying the price as they had been put on the spot. Normally I am quite frugal and would of said Nah, but it felt like they had me by the short and curlies and I had to order.

Would you of succumb to the tactics or stood your ground and go elsewhere?

I'm not a coffee fan so don't frequent fancy places.

But if I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order and they told me the price, I'd have said 'no thanks'.
It's not a case of 'standing your ground'.
The price is what it is (unless you mean they were trying to charge you more than the stated price). You wouldn't negotiate with the cashier in Aldi for a pint of milk and you don't do it in coffee shops.
You just leave.

Time for big boy/girl pants.

BridgetTheCat

Was ithe signage in compliance with the Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003?

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/2253/article/7/made

mikcatta

Pollycat said:

mikcatta said:

I went to a coffee shop today, and the prices weren't easily visible as the magic screen was busy showing me what wonderful Frappuccino I could buy. 

When it came to displaying the full list of prices, I was a bit taken aback buy the price of my Americano, but I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order.

If I had seen the price ahead of time, I might of walked down the road. But, perhaps that's what it should really cost and charging more meant they could pay their staff a decent wage!

So I wondered if anyone else had been "embarrassed" into paying the price as they had been put on the spot. Normally I am quite frugal and would of said Nah, but it felt like they had me by the short and curlies and I had to order.

Would you of succumb to the tactics or stood your ground and go elsewhere?

I'm not a coffee fan so don't frequent fancy places.

But if I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order and they told me the price, I'd have said 'no thanks'.
It's not a case of 'standing your ground'.
The price is what it is (unless you mean they were trying to charge you more than the stated price). You wouldn't negotiate with the cashier in Aldi for a pint of milk and you don't do it in coffee shops.
You just leave.

Time for big boy/girl pants.

My point is the fact that when you are faced with an on-the-spot decision, perhaps we don't always make the best choices.

Yeah it was only 1 coffee and it didn't break the bank, but perhaps we should be more aware of these ploys that make our decisions harder because they have to be made quickly.

baser999

In a similar vein we were looking to sell our late mothers flat and had an idea it’d be valued around £130k. Called an agent that we knew had previously been involved in selling in her block and was given a figure of ‘around £3500’ so we arranged for their valuer to call in. He agreed our valuation was reasonable but just before he left my brother asked him to confirm their costs which he confirmed to be 5% plus Vat, a total of £7800. That could have been an expensive mistake.

mikcatta

BridgetTheCat said:

Was ithe signage in compliance with the Price Marking (Food and Drink Services) Order 2003?

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/2253/article/7/made

I don't know, but it's something I am now more aware of and will get the price before I join the queue. If the price isn't clear, then I walk down the road.

mikcatta

flaneurs_lobster said:

Ordered a pint of cooking lager at that big tourist central pub in St Katharine Docks E1, can't remember how much the bar person said I owed (it was years ago) but I simply swore and walked out. 

Should have known better as a relative local, but the markup over "usual" prices (in the City) was outrageous.

Yes, I think that perhaps they believe we will pay "whatever" rather than appear to be mean. Good on you for walking away from.

There is definitely some psychology to buying something where the price isn't clearly stated ahead of time.

Hoenir

mikcatta said:

Would you of succumb to the tactics or stood your ground and go elsewhere?

Walked out on numerous occasions out of pubs, cafes and restaurants. No shortage of convenience stores these days.  

Pollycat

mikcatta said:

Pollycat said:

mikcatta said:

I went to a coffee shop today, and the prices weren't easily visible as the magic screen was busy showing me what wonderful Frappuccino I could buy. 

When it came to displaying the full list of prices, I was a bit taken aback buy the price of my Americano, but I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order.

If I had seen the price ahead of time, I might of walked down the road. But, perhaps that's what it should really cost and charging more meant they could pay their staff a decent wage!

So I wondered if anyone else had been "embarrassed" into paying the price as they had been put on the spot. Normally I am quite frugal and would of said Nah, but it felt like they had me by the short and curlies and I had to order.

Would you of succumb to the tactics or stood your ground and go elsewhere?

I'm not a coffee fan so don't frequent fancy places.

But if I was at the front of the queue with a helpful smiling assistant waiting to take my order and they told me the price, I'd have said 'no thanks'.
It's not a case of 'standing your ground'.
The price is what it is (unless you mean they were trying to charge you more than the stated price). You wouldn't negotiate with the cashier in Aldi for a pint of milk and you don't do it in coffee shops.
You just leave.

Time for big boy/girl pants.

My point is the fact that when you are faced with an on-the-spot decision, perhaps we don't always make the best choices.

Yeah it was only 1 coffee and it didn't break the bank, but perhaps we should be more aware of these ploys that make our decisions harder because they have to be made quickly.

I don't find decisions like that very hard at all.

You just need to work on making the right decision for you.