Thursday, May 02, 2024

DEATH TO JUNK FEES

By Bob Walsh

 


 

Once in a while the formerly great state of California can do something right (often by mistake, but that's another story).

On July 1 a great many "junk fees" will be illegal in CA.  This seems to cover mostly two areas.  One will be Ticket Master.  If you have ever bought any tickets from them you will know that the "fees" can amount easily to 30% of the basic cost of the tickets.  They will now have to either go away (fat chance there) or be folded into the actual price.

Another area is sit-down dining.  I eat in restaurants almost not at all but I understand this is common now.  This is often called a "kitchen service fee" or something like that and is added onto the bill but is not listed on the price of the menu items.  This is essentially an enforced tip added to your bill to spread around to people like the bus boys and kitchen help.  That's nice I guess, but it would be good IMHO if this were listed PROMINENTLY on the menu or, better yet, folded into the menu price so the restaurant can pay the help a decent wage.

In any event that it what will happen soon in CA.  I am a big fan of truth and honesty generally speaking so my inclination is that this will be a good thing.  The moronic Attorney General in CA things so too, so maybe I should second-guess myself, but...... 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

We just paid entertainment ticket fees last week and they were high. However, I have caught tacking on so called kitchen fees after my bill arrives. I demand they be removed. So far they have been taken off my bill. We eat out each week and when we travel all the time. We tip well at a sit down restaurant where we are waited on. I also refuse to tip anywhere that I must stand and order from a counter. (USA)