Turns Out, Some Restaurants Are Charging COVID Taxes After Re-Opening And It Boggles People
It is safe to say by now that the coronavirus pandemic has affected much more than only people’s health; it has had a major effect on our day-to-day routines too. Many venues were forced to temporarily close their doors to customers due to lockdown and experienced great loss, restaurants included. In order to salvage their businesses, some restaurants have decided to implement a small extra fee, “COVID surcharge,” upon their customers. While some customers realize what’s behind this tax and accept it quietly, some are rather furious about being charged extra.
A huge number of restaurants worldwide were forced to close their doors to customers due to the coronavirus lockdown
Image credits: Sarahmirk
While some restaurants kept working during the lockdown, offering pickup and delivery, some didn’t have such opportunities and had to temporarily close their doors to customers.
Turns out, some restaurants are implementing an extra COVID tax after reopening
Image credits: talialikeitis
However, some restaurant owners just couldn’t keep their business afloat without letting go of some or all of the staff.
Some customers are completely content about the situation
Image credits: mstinaswu
Turns out, some restaurants that were affected particularly badly by the lockdown are now turning to their customers for help after reopening.
And are pointing out to unhappy ones that restaurants are not living their best days
Image credits: Br212Br
They are implementing “COVID surcharges” upon their customers in order to cover the additional costs they’re experiencing after reopening.
After all, they have to take in fewer customers and ensure everything’s been sanitized
Image credits: jurekrl
A sushi restaurant recently added just over $2 to a customer’s bill labeled as “COVID-19 surcharge.” A similar charge has been implemented at Goog’s Pub and Grub in Holland, MI.
Some customers seem to be aware of the extra costs restaurants are facing
Image credits: abigail_adams76
Goog’s Pub and Grub told Fox 17 that “the ‘COVID charge’ is a way for them to be transparent about the rising costs in the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
And therefore don’t mind paying an extra $2 to “stay safe”
Image credits: Doveshaun
“You’re not just putting it on a plate or tray and washing that again. It’s the silverware, the boxes,” said Goog’s owner, Brad White.
However, some people think this is the worst time to implement extra taxes
Image credits: mr_mookie
Restaurant owners also report that food prices are increasing as well due to the supply chains being affected by lockdown rules.
And are saying they would refuse to pay extra if they saw that on their bill
Image credits: taffyallen9
Some customers seem to be aware of the hardships their favorite restaurants are currently facing and don’t show any discontentment about the charges.
Some are even convinced these new taxes will affect tipping
Image credits: slmaso
However, there are some that are infuriated by the “COVID” surcharges.
It is said by some people that extra money from the government should be enough to cover the extra costs restaurants are facing
Image credits: CraveKate
Some even say that they wouldn’t pay the bill if they ever saw such a charge being forced upon them.
However, some restaurant owners disagree
Image credits: McintireJordyn
They argue that it’s the worst time to be charging extra when so many people have lost their jobs or experienced salary cuts due to the pandemic.
Thus, some people are pointing out people just shouldn’t go if they’re not planning to be nice about having to pay a little extra
Image credits: malonespeaking
92Kviews
Share on FacebookPeople complaining about "freeeeedom" and "tyranny", then grousing when the reopened restaurants charge a bit extra AND saying that these are hard times to be taxing people who can "least afford it". B***h, buy groceries and cook at home if that's the case.
Yes to all of what you said. Some people want it both ways.....open your store, but I won't wear a mask; open your restaurant, but I don't want to pay extra; open your grocery, but I'm going to touch EVERYTHING; open public transit, but I'm going to smear my saliva on it (or dump a tub of cereal??). The reason places can't open is because people can't be trusted to behave properly.
Load More Replies...Oh my gosh the people complaining about it... IF YOU CANT AFFORD IT, DONT GO, IT'S A LUXURY NOT A RIGHT. Geez the entitlement
Well, whether you're for it or against it, if you can't afford an extra two dollars you probably shouldn't be eating out a lot. However I certainly wouldn't want to be surprised by this. It's information I'd want to know before I dine there.
Exactly this. If it's stated before ordering the food, it's completely fine. If it's surprise when you get the bill, it's nasty and shouldn't be supported.
Load More Replies...Not all the restaurants got the SBA loans, either because of the nonsense we saw about who did get them or because they looked at the terms and realized it would bankrupt them faster than hanging in there. We've all seen it at our grocery stores, we all know that cleaning supplies and food costs have gone up. Had the restaurant just upped their prices, would we protest so much?
Honestly I think increasing prices would be better than a surcharge. Then if people don't know about it since it's price increase instead of an added line item they have nothing to complain about... Win-win.
Load More Replies...We already pay the salary of the wait staff, so this extra charge is not fine. What's next? Charging rent for when we dine in? Paying to use the restrooms? I worked in the service industry as a bartender in various restaurants and pubs for almost a decade and think this charge is b******t. The ones who are really struggling are the wait staff. I'll leave extra in their tip, go from 20 to 30%, but I'm not paying a f*cking covid surcharge to the owners who already got help from the government.
It's not so cut and dry peeps...I personally wouldn't pay it and it's not because I can't afford it since I'm a great tipper, it's out of principal. Other industries can't charge a COVID rate for doing their jobs and restaurants weren't the only industries affected, & a lot of people lost jobs and are suffering too & sometimes it's nice to eat out and forget how much s**t sucks. Finally to state some facts, I'm a State Government employee and I know at a state level small businesses were given tax breaks, extensions, forgiveness programs, and emergency funds for employees they furloughed to help alleviate their costs. Also Federal are giving restaurants and small business forgivable SBA loans where the main stipulation not to have to repay it is not to terminate & rehire furloughed employees. So after all of that why do they need more? & if you think they still should get more then I guess it's OK for markets, stores, doctors offices, McDonald's, hey EVERYWHERE can do it.
a lot of those smaller mom & pop operations got hit hard, by this shutdown. i'm fine with paying a covid surcharge, if one shows up on my bill. looking at that ticket, in that one post, that's a $48 dollar food order, and the covid tax was negligible. working in the service industry, myself, i have to wonder if the o.p. tipped. that's straight where my brain went.
If it's NOT state or federally mandated, it is NOT a Tax & therefore an illegal charge. This is technically a fraud & you can legally withhold that part of the fee. In the UK, if prices of supplies increase due to the supply chain, the END cost to our customers is recalculated & advised to them in the form of a MENU CHANGE.
many of these places are doing less business, even with the takeout increase, many are struggling, they are adding this on to survive. I go to a Pizza place that adds 1.35 per purchase now, and I am happy to pay it, they can't do their normal seating, business in down overall, and I want to support my local family owned Pizza Shop, they have been in my neighborhood over 50 years, and I dont want to see it go under, I am more than willing to pay the extra charge to help out this family.
As long as it was disclosed ahead of time, I think it would be ok. That way, people can decide beforehand if they wanna pay it or go somewhere else (including home.) If it was added on the bill as a surprise afterwards? Sorry, but that's just not cool. To me, it's not the charge per say, but how it was presented.
No, you either add it to the overall cost of goods, ie, raising your prices, or you don't include it.
But if it's added this way, it implies it's temporary. If/when the COVID situation goes away, the fee will too. If they raise prices, they aren't going to lower them. It's like the Fedex/UPS fuel surcharge... given oil prices right now, that better be zero.
Load More Replies...If it's disclosed up-front I'll consider it. But in the UK we have an OPTIONAL 10% service charge. There's been uproar due to delivery companies like deliveroo with their "screw you" monopoly surcharges on their surcharges.
For those of you saying this a small price to pay to keep restaurants open, you are completely wrong. Restaurants got relief packages from governments. If you are trying to sneak in charges such as these, you need to be reported. If you cannot afford to keep your restaurant open, then close and do something else. I’ve worked in restaurants for years. Customers pay enough for the food they consume. Any other charge is complete BS that comes from greed.
Do people not understand that what goes into a good or service is absolutely paid for by the consumer?
WOW- people are self entitled these days!! I'd be very happy if any restaurants in my little tourist town were open! So paying a little extra to help them out is everything to them. Not all small businesses got help, some more than others...
listen. if you're out of work or getting your panties in a twist over $2, then you shouldn't be eating out at all and should just make your own food at home.
In my country only my federal government can impose new taxes, so for businesses to arbitrarily add additional taxes or surcharges to a bill is illegal, I don't care what their reasoning or excuse is for it. Most small business owners in my area have had to close their doors permanently or their home base business have gone belly up and no one is helping us.
I'm sure some restaurants are just outright increasing the prices rather than doing a surcharge like this. Either way, if you don't like it.... don't eat out? Cook your own damn food if you don't want to support your local restaurants.
I agree that eating out at a restaurant, no matter how cheap, is a luxury and not a necessity. If you can't afford the extra $2 COVID 19 surcharge then you obviously can't afford to eat out! If we are having $ trouble in my house then eating out is the FIRST thing to go!
I am most sad about the comment of "girls on a journey" :"The people that put us in this place should pay". Blaming somebody (in this case a bat) will not help a single bit. Nobody is at fault here. Yeah, things could have been managed better, but blaming will not help struggling restaurants. If you can afford it : Go to a restaurant, and pay the covid surcharge with a smile. Otherwise, there soon may not be a restaurant anymore.
pret a manger in the UK are charging extra for their Sandwiches and baguettes.
They can keep their food and their tax then, it's cheaper to eat home, why would i care to "support a business" by wasting my already sparse money. Then again I'm broke AF and never eat out anyway....
Everyone could appreciate to give or not give a plus covid tip. But i think, a lot of people complaining about the fact to be forced to. If owners could just raise their entire menus bill, people won't see it or won't go for it seeing price. But it's actually what resto owners did before the lockdown, just calcul their costs before proposing a meal price. It's called business right ?
Idiots will always find ways to entertain other people. Ranting over a $2 surcharge is one of them.
I have absolutely NO PROBLEM paying this extra, but I would like it know about it and not be surprised.
I agree that costs will need to rise, because the cost of doing business has increased, however, they should have just buried the increase into the cost of the food instead of calling attention to it. That's what people are used to; any time raw materials go up, you don't see an added line to your receipt saying "cost of meat went up."
surcharges like that never help the business, its liek charging for fork and napkins on reciept its ugly. Increase your price by less than a dollar or 50 cents and you will save your self the embarassment ... also 2 doalrs per cutomer is super high
giving such sircharges is stupid business managment its always off putting, its like charging for fork, knife and napkin... just increase your prices by less than a dollar or 50 cents and you will cover your extra expences and not put your business on a blast . And 2 dolars per customer is insanly high
People complaining about "freeeeedom" and "tyranny", then grousing when the reopened restaurants charge a bit extra AND saying that these are hard times to be taxing people who can "least afford it". B***h, buy groceries and cook at home if that's the case.
Yes to all of what you said. Some people want it both ways.....open your store, but I won't wear a mask; open your restaurant, but I don't want to pay extra; open your grocery, but I'm going to touch EVERYTHING; open public transit, but I'm going to smear my saliva on it (or dump a tub of cereal??). The reason places can't open is because people can't be trusted to behave properly.
Load More Replies...Oh my gosh the people complaining about it... IF YOU CANT AFFORD IT, DONT GO, IT'S A LUXURY NOT A RIGHT. Geez the entitlement
Well, whether you're for it or against it, if you can't afford an extra two dollars you probably shouldn't be eating out a lot. However I certainly wouldn't want to be surprised by this. It's information I'd want to know before I dine there.
Exactly this. If it's stated before ordering the food, it's completely fine. If it's surprise when you get the bill, it's nasty and shouldn't be supported.
Load More Replies...Not all the restaurants got the SBA loans, either because of the nonsense we saw about who did get them or because they looked at the terms and realized it would bankrupt them faster than hanging in there. We've all seen it at our grocery stores, we all know that cleaning supplies and food costs have gone up. Had the restaurant just upped their prices, would we protest so much?
Honestly I think increasing prices would be better than a surcharge. Then if people don't know about it since it's price increase instead of an added line item they have nothing to complain about... Win-win.
Load More Replies...We already pay the salary of the wait staff, so this extra charge is not fine. What's next? Charging rent for when we dine in? Paying to use the restrooms? I worked in the service industry as a bartender in various restaurants and pubs for almost a decade and think this charge is b******t. The ones who are really struggling are the wait staff. I'll leave extra in their tip, go from 20 to 30%, but I'm not paying a f*cking covid surcharge to the owners who already got help from the government.
It's not so cut and dry peeps...I personally wouldn't pay it and it's not because I can't afford it since I'm a great tipper, it's out of principal. Other industries can't charge a COVID rate for doing their jobs and restaurants weren't the only industries affected, & a lot of people lost jobs and are suffering too & sometimes it's nice to eat out and forget how much s**t sucks. Finally to state some facts, I'm a State Government employee and I know at a state level small businesses were given tax breaks, extensions, forgiveness programs, and emergency funds for employees they furloughed to help alleviate their costs. Also Federal are giving restaurants and small business forgivable SBA loans where the main stipulation not to have to repay it is not to terminate & rehire furloughed employees. So after all of that why do they need more? & if you think they still should get more then I guess it's OK for markets, stores, doctors offices, McDonald's, hey EVERYWHERE can do it.
a lot of those smaller mom & pop operations got hit hard, by this shutdown. i'm fine with paying a covid surcharge, if one shows up on my bill. looking at that ticket, in that one post, that's a $48 dollar food order, and the covid tax was negligible. working in the service industry, myself, i have to wonder if the o.p. tipped. that's straight where my brain went.
If it's NOT state or federally mandated, it is NOT a Tax & therefore an illegal charge. This is technically a fraud & you can legally withhold that part of the fee. In the UK, if prices of supplies increase due to the supply chain, the END cost to our customers is recalculated & advised to them in the form of a MENU CHANGE.
many of these places are doing less business, even with the takeout increase, many are struggling, they are adding this on to survive. I go to a Pizza place that adds 1.35 per purchase now, and I am happy to pay it, they can't do their normal seating, business in down overall, and I want to support my local family owned Pizza Shop, they have been in my neighborhood over 50 years, and I dont want to see it go under, I am more than willing to pay the extra charge to help out this family.
As long as it was disclosed ahead of time, I think it would be ok. That way, people can decide beforehand if they wanna pay it or go somewhere else (including home.) If it was added on the bill as a surprise afterwards? Sorry, but that's just not cool. To me, it's not the charge per say, but how it was presented.
No, you either add it to the overall cost of goods, ie, raising your prices, or you don't include it.
But if it's added this way, it implies it's temporary. If/when the COVID situation goes away, the fee will too. If they raise prices, they aren't going to lower them. It's like the Fedex/UPS fuel surcharge... given oil prices right now, that better be zero.
Load More Replies...If it's disclosed up-front I'll consider it. But in the UK we have an OPTIONAL 10% service charge. There's been uproar due to delivery companies like deliveroo with their "screw you" monopoly surcharges on their surcharges.
For those of you saying this a small price to pay to keep restaurants open, you are completely wrong. Restaurants got relief packages from governments. If you are trying to sneak in charges such as these, you need to be reported. If you cannot afford to keep your restaurant open, then close and do something else. I’ve worked in restaurants for years. Customers pay enough for the food they consume. Any other charge is complete BS that comes from greed.
Do people not understand that what goes into a good or service is absolutely paid for by the consumer?
WOW- people are self entitled these days!! I'd be very happy if any restaurants in my little tourist town were open! So paying a little extra to help them out is everything to them. Not all small businesses got help, some more than others...
listen. if you're out of work or getting your panties in a twist over $2, then you shouldn't be eating out at all and should just make your own food at home.
In my country only my federal government can impose new taxes, so for businesses to arbitrarily add additional taxes or surcharges to a bill is illegal, I don't care what their reasoning or excuse is for it. Most small business owners in my area have had to close their doors permanently or their home base business have gone belly up and no one is helping us.
I'm sure some restaurants are just outright increasing the prices rather than doing a surcharge like this. Either way, if you don't like it.... don't eat out? Cook your own damn food if you don't want to support your local restaurants.
I agree that eating out at a restaurant, no matter how cheap, is a luxury and not a necessity. If you can't afford the extra $2 COVID 19 surcharge then you obviously can't afford to eat out! If we are having $ trouble in my house then eating out is the FIRST thing to go!
I am most sad about the comment of "girls on a journey" :"The people that put us in this place should pay". Blaming somebody (in this case a bat) will not help a single bit. Nobody is at fault here. Yeah, things could have been managed better, but blaming will not help struggling restaurants. If you can afford it : Go to a restaurant, and pay the covid surcharge with a smile. Otherwise, there soon may not be a restaurant anymore.
pret a manger in the UK are charging extra for their Sandwiches and baguettes.
They can keep their food and their tax then, it's cheaper to eat home, why would i care to "support a business" by wasting my already sparse money. Then again I'm broke AF and never eat out anyway....
Everyone could appreciate to give or not give a plus covid tip. But i think, a lot of people complaining about the fact to be forced to. If owners could just raise their entire menus bill, people won't see it or won't go for it seeing price. But it's actually what resto owners did before the lockdown, just calcul their costs before proposing a meal price. It's called business right ?
Idiots will always find ways to entertain other people. Ranting over a $2 surcharge is one of them.
I have absolutely NO PROBLEM paying this extra, but I would like it know about it and not be surprised.
I agree that costs will need to rise, because the cost of doing business has increased, however, they should have just buried the increase into the cost of the food instead of calling attention to it. That's what people are used to; any time raw materials go up, you don't see an added line to your receipt saying "cost of meat went up."
surcharges like that never help the business, its liek charging for fork and napkins on reciept its ugly. Increase your price by less than a dollar or 50 cents and you will save your self the embarassment ... also 2 doalrs per cutomer is super high
giving such sircharges is stupid business managment its always off putting, its like charging for fork, knife and napkin... just increase your prices by less than a dollar or 50 cents and you will cover your extra expences and not put your business on a blast . And 2 dolars per customer is insanly high
100
47