Sydney cafe slammed for adding ‘ludicrous’ extra charge on popular menu item

“This is sneaky, and cafes get away with these charges because customers don't ask or challenge them.”

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September 6, 2024 - 7:19AM

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A popular Sydney cafe has come under fire for adding a “sneaky” surcharge on its drinks menu, sparking a fierce debate online.

The cost-of-living crisis is yet to release us from its nasty grip, so it’s no surprise that people are being extra cautious when splashing their cash around.

In early September, a customer aired their grievances with the Sydney cafe, where he ordered breakfast with a “sneaky” surcharge added to the side.

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The man was furious at the extra $1 charge for removing ice. Picture: Yahoo Finance

“Do not normalise this”

Underneath the order for two rounds of breakfast was an order of orange juice, which set the customer back $7 - but that wasn’t the issue.

For those who wish to have a little more juice and forgo the ice, it will cost them an extra $1.

The man was furious that he was charged an extra dollar for something to be removed from his drink.

It turns out he wasn't the only one who was fed up with the surcharge; after sharing the post online, the customer was inundated with support.

“It's a sneaky charge, I agree,” a person wrote on social media, per Yahoo News.

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“Sneaky either way and cafes get away with these sneaky charges because customers don't ask or challenge them.”

“It's gross. They are charging more than enough to cover their costs,” said another. “Do not normalise this. Would two ice cubes be sufficient ... without the cost?”

But others saw things differently and took the cafe’s side in the debate.

“Ice costs restaurants and cafes money,” someone defended. “Some have expensive ice machines and they make it themselves; others buy ice ... If you don't want ice, you're saving the cafe money. It should even out.”

“You are technically getting more juice, but wow,” another wrote. “That's crazy. I have never seen that ever.”

The owner of the cafe supported their extra charge, which is mentioned on the cafe's menu board, arguing that the ice took up one-seventh of the glass. Without it, the cafe would have to fill the glass with more juice, which would cost extra.

The cafe owner argued it would cost more to fill the glass with juice entirely. Picture: iStock

An increase in rising costs

However frustrating the extra charge is, this Sydney cafe is far from the only venue to operate such surcharges.

In May, a man visiting a Melbourne cafe was outraged when a staff member charged him an extra $1 to warm up his muffin. The owners have since apologised for this mistake, blaming a new employee for the error.

But that’s not the last of it. In July, a woman complained online about forking out $13.90 for Vegemite toast and a coffee in a Sydney cafe.

“I ordered Vegemite on sourdough and a small, soy flat white,” she said in the TikTok clip. “And in the city, that would normally cost around $10 or maybe $11. It cost me $13.90.”

Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Sandy Fitzgerald, a senior lecturer at RMIT, explained that with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis affecting everyone, small businesses are finding “creative” ways to keep their costs down.

“However, many people have criticised restauranteurs for charging exorbitant surcharges yet failing to deliver good service experiences,” Fitzgerald said.

“In turn, customers avoid dining during these periods, meaning less income for the business.”