Fee to eat in restaurant?

**Frugal Girl** · 07-12-2007, 09:56 AM

I heard today that restaurants are starting to charge a fee for eating in their restaurant. A coworker told me her friend was charged .17Cents for eating in the restaurant and that most restaurants will start this.

Has anyone had this happen to them in their towns? I mean, really, first they won't let us smoke in restaurants, now they're going to CHARGE for eating in a restaurant where the food is OVERPRICED to begin with?

OMG, this is CRAZY! How much longer are we going to let this go on? When will anyone start a revolution?

It's as if society is forcing people into frugal lives, whether preferred or not...No, let me take that back...I think society is forcing people into debt. They all want your money and they want you to hand it over willingly for whatever convenience they can offer you.

It isn't convenient to hand over the money I worked for. I'M NOT GIVING MY MONEY AWAY TO SIT IN A RESTAURANT. This is the FINAL STRAW with these crazy restaurants in this town!

WHO'S WITH ME?
Are there any restaurant owners out there? What do you think/have to say for yourselves/is this true?

**sdrjeolsen** · 07-12-2007, 10:14 AM

I hadn't hear of that, but it doesn't suprise me. It seems more and more there are random charges/fees on phone and utility bills.
When we closed on our house, we chose not to escrow our money for taxes and insurance. There was a 1378.00 fee for us to keep our own money. I about flipped! I protested and threatened, but to no avail. But in the long run we will make more $ by keeping it in our e-account at 5% than giving it to the bank to hold and letting them make the $ from it. Some times it makes me sick, I feel like I am getting nickled and dimed to death. I guess resturants want their piece of the pie and the figure they can get it.

**loretta12974** · 07-12-2007, 10:15 AM

i agree with you on that, i haven't seen it myself let. i think i would go to the drive in myself, if the resturant have one

**Holly** · 07-12-2007, 10:16 AM

MacDonalds has an eat in tax and a take out tax on every order.
You pay to eat there , you pay to take it out.
They have done that for years. ( I worked there and know this ) .35 cent tax here and a .35 cent tax there really adds up for a resturant in a day
Our resturant will not do that...

**FreesiaE** · 07-12-2007, 10:26 AM

We have at least one supper club in my imediate area; I believe it is $250 a couple per year for the priveledge of eating there.

**Neeley** · 07-12-2007, 10:28 AM

None of our real restaurants or fast food places have this. There is no eat in or take out fee here, nor has our local government approved any such tax. We just have the regular sales tax (10%)that we pay on everything - food included.

I really don't agree with being charged an eat in fee. However, I know how my family and I are and it probably would not stop us from eating out.

**Early Bird** · 07-12-2007, 10:35 AM

I think that, if they charge you for the space, you ought to be allowed to bring in your own food.

**pip** · 07-12-2007, 10:39 AM

I don't think places are doing that around here, not that I've looked for it, though. How would that charge look on you bill?

**Dancing Lotus** · 07-12-2007, 10:39 AM

We eat out once a year so I dont think the restaurants will miss me if I stop all together.

**lanford66** · 07-12-2007, 10:43 AM

In our county they just passed a law that charges an eat-in tax. I'm not sure but I think it's either 3 or 4% of your bill. I personally think its a crock because they say the $$$ is going to build new "sports" center, but somehow I really don't think that will ever be done.

**Holly** · 07-12-2007, 10:43 AM

On Macdonalds slips it states eat in tax
take out tax.
this is on top os sales tax on food ( at least the ones here do )

**Mom23boys** · 07-12-2007, 10:52 AM

I haven't heard of this in our area yet. I wouldn't put it pass someone to start charging the fee though.

**cheappearls** · 07-12-2007, 10:53 AM

Whoa. Never heard of that but we also don't eat out a lot. I'll have to watch for that now.

**baxjul** · 07-12-2007, 11:06 AM

I thought that restaurants were made to eat in? Hmmmm.

**Grayce** · 07-12-2007, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Holly

MacDonalds has an eat in tax and a take out tax on every order.
You pay to eat there , you pay to take it out.
They have done that for years. ( I worked there and know this ) .35 cent tax here and a .35 cent tax there really adds up for a resturant in a day
Our resturant will not do that...

I worked at McDonalds and while the bill did say eat-in and take out there was no difference in the tax. It was the same amount, whatever the tax rate (charged by the government) is where you are. Mc Donalds does not get this money, taxes go to the government, it's a sales tax. The reason it says eat in or take out was to let the person who was backing you up know whether to put the food in a bag or on a tray. There were 2 buttons on the till to total, one for eat in or take out. I imagine it also helps Mcdonalds keep track of how many people eat in or take out. McDonalds did not charge extra for eating in or taking out.