Charging for a doggie bag?

Nope. The only way I could see it being okay is if they charge like a quarter for the actual container... food's already paid for. I remember a few years ago, a local place started charging a dime for the cup when someone asked for only water to drink... didn't last long.
 
Lots of places charge for a cup of water.

But a doggie bag, no. You've paid for the meal. In the hospitality business, people want to feel pampered. Some extras are included (like an extra napkin, or extra coffee cream).

They could put any extra charges on the menu, but one thing I've learned in this life is that people don't read.

Every place is different. Especially in different countries. I remember someplace (forget where), where it was customary to charge for the bread basket, even if you didn't order it or didn't want it.

So I just go with the flow I guess. If a restaurant charges for a doggie bag, I can accept it or not go there again.
 
Kind of silly, but hey private business can charge for anything they can get us to pay for. Like the airlines... I've never been charged for one.
Nathan said:
like the restaurant in our town that charges $.45 for a credit card transaction...
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Not completely illogical, it costs them more than that. I have found a lot of fishing charters charge 3% for a credit card, and encourage cash.
 
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They can do whatever they want, but it does not make sense if they want to get folks to come back.

Reminds me of a Mexican restaurant we went to last year where they skimped on the rice and rationed out the after dinner hard-candy mints. So you left hungry and did not get more than 1 piece of candy. They saved a dime or two at the most and lost a customer.
 
RadishRose said:
Oh, gimme the dam bag; I'll pack it myself!
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Well, that's the thing. Here they are charging for the bag, not for packing it. It's only a dime but that's not really the problem. It started with the switchover to reusable bags and the state making a law saying that stores (not just grocery) could use up the bags they had on hand but had to charge customers if they needed a bag.

My first unpleasant encounter with this at a restaurant was a takeout order. I didn't remember to bring my own bag and I didn't bring a dime either. :ROFLMAO: Just as my disbelief was settling in they said it was ok. Don't worry about it. The next time I went back I brought 2 dimes, one for now, one for before. They refused it. That particular restaurant had caught on pretty quick that it was better not to ask the customer to pay and they are paying for their own bags to keep the governor and the customer happy.
 
It seems like restaurants are like other small businesses since the Pan. They add on little charges. I took my little 20 pound dog to the groomer last week. The basic bath and nail trim went up 8 bucks over pre pan plus they added a $5.95 supply fee! Um shampoo for a 20 pound dog! I shoulda asked for the rest of the bottle.
 
debodun said:
What is that law?
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It differs according to country, state, or municipality. The upshot is that some places don't have bags at all, or are using up the ones they have (when they're gone they're gone). Some charge for bags, or will sell you a "reusable" bag, etc. For a while, some had paper bags, but they seem to be on the way out too.
 
debodun said:
Survey - do you think its right for a restaurant to charge a fee for putting your leftovers in a take-home container?
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It depends. I was at a nice restaurant and they had something similar to industrial grade containers. The waiter said "If you don't mind, I'll pay for it out of my tip"

Yes, he got extra. But they WERE charging $.50 cents for them, I'd have paid anyway as I used that container for months afterward. (But left it in freezer once too often...😭)

But it's very rare to charge it. My sister would order t-bone steak, pancakes, hash browns and eggs. Steak and hash browns would be later meal, she'd eat everything else but the containers they gave, were quite good. (Shari's)
 
I don't believe you should be charged for a container to take home leftovers after paying for a meal. We're being nickeled and dimed to death. Back in the day, if you had food left on your plate, often the waitress would ask, "Shall I wrap that up for you?" Then they'd remove your plate, take it into the kitchen, and bring back your wrapped-up leftovers. Now they bring you the container, and you pack up the leftovers yourself. I haven't been charged for a container yet. If it happens, I'll tell them to keep it and that I won't be back.

Speaking of bringing your own bags when dining out, I have a friend who carries plastic baggies in her purse. She doesn't bother to ask for a doggie bag, she just shovels the leftovers into her baggies and puts them in her purse. That's fine, but it's not something I think I should have to do or want to do after I've paid for a meal.

Bella✌️
 
I was at a church supper years ago with my mom. She brought plastic wrap and aluminum foil with her so she could wrap the food and bring it home to eat later because she had a poor appetite. The person acting as a server saw her wrapping food and putting it in her purse and accused her of stealing it and grabbed it away saying, "I think you've had enough." It was a family style dinner (bowls and plates of food are put on the table and the diners can help themselves from them). So that food was wasted - it's not like they can put it back in the bowls once someone has taken it. We never went back there for any more dinners.
 
They probably shouldn't. But businesses are nickel and diming customers like crazy these days.

I was unamused when I found out my safety deposit box at the bank was no longer free. Now 70 dollars a year. I just hope they keep free checking because I have two checking accounts with them. My regular and the one linked to my paypal account. I keep money in there for online shopping.
 
debodun said:
I was at a church supper years ago with my mom. She brought plastic wrap and aluminum foil with her so she could wrap the food and bring it home to eat later because she had a poor appetite. The person acting as a server saw her wrapping food and putting it in her purse and accused... So that food was wasted - it's not like they can put it back in the bowls once someone has taken it. We never went back there for any more dinners.
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Deb, I don't know about the church or churches you have gone to. This person was out of line. Jesus would have had no problem with your mother taking the wrapped food. I'm sorry your mother was treated that way.
 
Remy said:
Deb, I don't know about the church or churches you have gone to. This person was out of line. Jesus would have had no problem with your mother taking the wrapped food. I'm sorry your mother was treated that way.
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All I can say is that the person may have thought she was taking it from the bowls and not what she had already on her plate.
 

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