‘I couldn’t believe my eyes!’ Disbelief over Melbourne cafe’s cheeky hidden fee

“They just add it to the bill without telling you!”

Laura Jackel

2 min read

May 28, 2024 - 6:54PM

Lifestyle

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As the days become cooler, there is something wonderful about a small sweet treat at a cafe to fill your tummy and your soul. But as the cost of living crisis continues on, customers are becoming more aware of what these delicious treats cost.

Hidden fees or expensive surprises on the bill are never welcome, which is why a Melbourne cafe goer was left fuming over a cheeky fee he only noticed after he digested his morning snack.

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“A complete surprise”

According to an article in the Daily Mail, the man ordered a second coffee with a delicious white chocolate muffin on a whim.

“I was asked if I would like it heated. [It was a] cold Melbourne morning, sure why not?” the man said he told the staff member.

It was only when he got his bill that he noticed the $1.00 ‘standard heating’ fee.

The man complained (in a now deleted post) to Facebook, that this fee was a complete surprise.

“They just add it to the bill without telling you,” he wrote.

He went on to say how with the cost-of-living crisis and expenses 'going up', customers should be informed of extra charges before they are added to the bill.

His long black coffees cost $4.50 each and his last minute decision to have the warmed up muffin ended up costing him an additional $8.

The unhappy customers' Facebook post attracted more than 1,000 reactions and 850 comments - with most people as disgruntled as he was.

“I can't believe they charged you $1 to heat a muffin,” one woman said.

“I would be furious,” said another.

The receipt in full. Image: Facebook

Always look at your cafe receipts

Some of the commenters even suggested that the cafe be reported because charges should always be made clear to customers.

“They are supposed to say ‘that will be an extra $1, is that ok?’' one respondent advised.

The man concluded that he would be examining his receipts more closely from now on, writing that most people don't pay enough attention to fees and service charges at cafes.

Perth cafe 'standard'

While the sneaky surcharge was surprising to many, heating fees are clearly becoming more standard in food outlets.

Kidspot recently shared how in Perth, a man was outraged to be charged a fee by a cafe for having his sandwich toasted.

The disgruntled Perth man said he ordered an "average-tasting" sandwich, and when he asked for it to be toasted, he discovered the option came at a price.

"Perth cafe standard... $14.90 for an average tasting sandwich. They charged 90 cents to toast it!" he ranted to Reddit.

The Reddit users were as horrified about the sandwich as the Facebook users were about the muffin.

"It is time we all stop eating out/buying takeaway. They might learn that all these surcharges and exorbitantly priced, yet shi**y food, is not going to be tolerated," one Reddit user suggested.

Someone else asked, "Since when are we getting charged to heat up the food we’re buying?!"

Then others jumped in, saying they'd never heard of a fee for toasting a sandwich before.

However, some Reddit posters backed the cafe’s decision, with one noting,

"Did you not see the prices before you ordered? You are not just paying for the sandwich; you are paying for all the operational costs that go into the café. I know it’s overpriced, but that’s what you pay for convenience."

It might only have been one dollar, but right now, every cent counts.

What do you think? Fair or ridiculous? Tell us in the Facebook comments.