What odd replies-- and I'm a former restaurant worker who is all about paying what's owed-- and more.

But this isn't about "cheap Americans" or whatever-- it's about custom/expectations.

In my entire life, I have never been in a scenario like this one where the soda/water was NOT on the house. I can't remember if the person offering always specifically indicated it was free beforehand, but at least mostly, I think? And it was always free.

The problem here has nothing to do with the $3 (though in typical DCUM fashion, people are very "it's one banana" about this-- there have been many times in my life where that $3 would have hurt at least a little for me to pay).

The actual problem is that:

1) the custom* is to offer people an item that is low-cost/nearly free for the company, but has some perceived/real value to the customer, as a way of making up for an excessive wait or just easing the burden of the wait -- for ex, we used to give out fresh baked mini-biscuits to the breakfast/brunch line at a casual restaurant if the line had gotten very long

AND

2) they are not disclosing that there will be a charge

AND

3) they are then charging for it

AND

4) the customer very very likely would not have accepted the soda offer if they knew for sure they'd have to pay. Otherwise, at least most of the time, they would have ordered a soda themselves

The end result is that it feels like bait and switch. Very poor practice AND IT'S NOT ABOUT THE $3!

Honestly, if I encountered this, I'd assume it was a new/poorly-trained employee and a one-off. Someone who mistakenly thought they were supposed to charge for it, but they weren't. I don't mind paying for the soda per se, it's just that I'd not have accepted if I knew it was going to cost me. If this were actual policy, it would be a HUGE turnoff and unless I otherwise adored the place, I wouldn't be back. They would literally be turning a great, cheap retention strategy into a great, cheap way to lose a customer. As a former business owner, I cannot stand this scarcity/nickel and dime mentality-- and mainly because it's just so counterproductive for the business!

For 13 cents worth of syrup/CO2, you are probably ensuring the average customer will at least come back for an average of one additional visit d/t goodwill. For $2.87 in profit, you are probably ensuring that anywhere from 25-50% of those customers will never return, and may even warn others away with their story. Maddening.

It's really not about the money.

*Maybe there's some place or chain or... something... where it's normal and expected to charge for this, but I have never encountered it.

Would result in a $0 tip from me. So congrats to the owner for making $3 and the server costing themselves a tip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:anytime i am asked if i want a drink while i wait, it has been free. not crazy for someone to assume this.

+1

+2

To be honest I rarely check the tab, so it's possible I've been scammed like this in the past. I'm going to test it out next time this happens to me. And if I'm scammed for a few sips of diet coke, I'm going to call the server out. Often times it seems like the manager serving me at the cafe we get a lot of carry out from.

Anonymous wrote:anytime i am asked if i want a drink while i wait, it has been free. not crazy for someone to assume this.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we can't have nice mom and pop shops and it's all chains. You would never question McDonald's asking do you want fries with that, but as soon as a local small business owner tries to gently upsell you get all upset and say a scam.

Wait…what? I’m supposed to pay for those fries?! They aren’t free?!!
Lol, great analogy, PP

Fries have a cost and require labour. A soda requires no more labour than a free glass of tap water. A cup of fountain soda costs 1 to 3 cents. And also, fountain soda for $3 during a meal would require refills, additional labour for those refills, and multiple glasses to clean. A to-go patron waiting 5 minutes isn't going to suck down multiple glasses of soda.

You don't own a restaurant so you have no idea. There is absolutely a cost and labor involved in drinks

Seems like you have no idea. In fast food, you absolutely always always try to sell a drink. It’s often the biggest profit margin.

My reaction to this OP was… Who still drinks soda casually?

I’ve had restaurants offer water.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we can't have nice mom and pop shops and it's all chains. You would never question McDonald's asking do you want fries with that, but as soon as a local small business owner tries to gently upsell you get all upset and say a scam.

Wait…what? I’m supposed to pay for those fries?! They aren’t free?!!
Lol, great analogy, PP

Fries have a cost and require labour. A soda requires no more labour than a free glass of tap water. A cup of fountain soda costs 1 to 3 cents. And also, fountain soda for $3 during a meal would require refills, additional labour for those refills, and multiple glasses to clean. A to-go patron waiting 5 minutes isn't going to suck down multiple glasses of soda.

You don't own a restaurant so you have no idea. There is absolutely a cost and labor involved in drinks

I have always refused offers if drinks (except occasionally tap water) because I assume there is a charge.

I think the key is to make sure you close out immediately upon entry. Then if a soda is offered after, they can't really charge you. They are absolutely setting you up to juice the tab if they offer you a soda before closing out the main tab.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we can't have nice mom and pop shops and it's all chains. You would never question McDonald's asking do you want fries with that, but as soon as a local small business owner tries to gently upsell you get all upset and say a scam.

Wait…what? I’m supposed to pay for those fries?! They aren’t free?!!
Lol, great analogy, PP

Upsells happen at the time someone is ordering. Op had already ordered and was waiting for their food. That’s why most people would have assumed it was complimentary.

anytime i am asked if i want a drink while i wait, it has been free. not crazy for someone to assume this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also wonder if this has basis in a somewhat American mindset (not, I am American this is not a criticism but an observation) that people want it only if it is free. Like being upset you get charged for the drink you had a few sips from as a PP upthread did, implying you would have skipped it if you knew you’d be charged as you weren’t thirsty, but otherwise would be fine wasting it so long as you didn’t pay. Weird to me - if you aren’t thirsty enough to pay for it maybe just don’t order it, even if it may be free?

But we're talking about fountain soda, which costs literally pennies -- not a bottle of wine or beer or some fresh-squeezed orange juice. And if the person really wanted a soda, they would have ordered one over the online app or on the phone. They are being induced into the soda under the guise of a complimentary drink while they wait a few minutes And also, most restaurants give complimentary bread for free, where people maybe don't even take a bite. When a restaurant offers bread, do you immediately ask if there's a cost? No, you assume it's free.

But that’s exactly what I mean - maybe don’t say yes just because you think it is free.

Personally I don’t ask if the bread is free but I also don’t aak for it when offered if we don’t actually want it. And if we actually want it we din’t mind paying for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why we can't have nice mom and pop shops and it's all chains. You would never question McDonald's asking do you want fries with that, but as soon as a local small business owner tries to gently upsell you get all upset and say a scam.

Wait…what? I’m supposed to pay for those fries?! They aren’t free?!!
Lol, great analogy, PP

Fries have a cost and require labour. A soda requires no more labour than a free glass of tap water. A cup of fountain soda costs 1 to 3 cents. And also, fountain soda for $3 during a meal would require refills, additional labour for those refills, and multiple glasses to clean. A to-go patron waiting 5 minutes isn't going to suck down multiple glasses of soda.

Anonymous wrote:I also wonder if this has basis in a somewhat American mindset (not, I am American this is not a criticism but an observation) that people want it only if it is free. Like being upset you get charged for the drink you had a few sips from as a PP upthread did, implying you would have skipped it if you knew you’d be charged as you weren’t thirsty, but otherwise would be fine wasting it so long as you didn’t pay. Weird to me - if you aren’t thirsty enough to pay for it maybe just don’t order it, even if it may be free?

But we're talking about fountain soda, which costs literally pennies -- not a bottle of wine or beer or some fresh-squeezed orange juice. And if the person really wanted a soda, they would have ordered one over the online app or on the phone. They are being induced into the soda under the guise of a complimentary drink while they wait a few minutes And also, most restaurants give complimentary bread for free, where people maybe don't even take a bite. When a restaurant offers bread, do you immediately ask if there's a cost? No, you assume it's free.