Aussie 'outraged' over cafe's unexpected fee for a basic service

While some criticised the act as "stingy," others justified it, saying it was the "price you pay for convenience."

2 min read

April 29, 2024 - 9:35AM

Lifestyle

Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.

We're all familiar with cafe surcharges, whether it's for a weekend or a public holiday, we suck it up and get on with it.

But one Aussie was slapped with a fee for a basic service that left him gobsmacked — toasting a sandwich.

Yep, a cafe is charging people for something they're already paying them to provide... FOOD!

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

Image: Reddit

"Perth cafe standard..."

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 vented to Reddit.

The photo shows a sandwich on multigrain sourdough with what appears to be egg and lettuce.

It also appears he still went ahead and got it toasted despite the additional charge.

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.'

"Ridiculous"

"And yet, you bought it, which is why businesses can get away with taking the p**s like this," one commenter pointed out.

Another agreed, saying consumers were to blame for enabling these sorts of cafes: "The prices from places like this have always been ridiculous. Of course, it’s worse now, but I was always flabbergasted to see them and people lining up effectively saying, 'Yes, please, keep doing that'."

And a third took it a step further, adding: "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."

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.

"90 cents to toast it? WTF?" one user said.

"You are not just paying for the sandwich"

However, some people defended the cafe, 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."

"I'm assuming it was in a display case, and you chose the toasted option? That's on you," someone else concluded.

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