Restaurant Rounding up and down bill

[matthewb0051]

We went to dinner last Saturday night. Had to wait for a few minutes for table (even though there were empties and some needing clearing) so we went to the bar.

Bartender gives me the check and as I'm about to hand over my CC something looked off. The 3 beers totaled $24.00 and tax was $1.98. The total was $26.00.

Trying to not be a dick, I asked the bartender why the numbers didn't add up. She was shocked and had no idea. Several minutes later she says she had discussed with the manager who also didn't know the why but was 'very concerned'.

We ate dinner, got check and noticed the exact opposite had happened. The bill was rounded down from $85.63 actual cost of items plus tax ... to $85.60.

Is this a new thing? Anyone else seen it?

[matthewb0051]

[David Inc.]

Death to pennies!

[masraum]

That's fargin' weird!

When I was in college (30+ years ago), dad was stationed in Rota, Spain. I visited one summer, and the parents setup a trip to Albufeira, Portugal. The grocery store there rounded up/down when you paid with cash and they were giving back change.

What's surprising is that the place you went rounds both ways (which seems fair to me, but I'm sure folks won't like it, or will only complain when it's against them).

[NYNick]

In Canada they round up or down and don't use pennies at all, at least in cash transactions. Maybe CC transactions too. I think many European countries don't use them either. To think we still use pennies in the USA is ridiculous. It costs more than a penny to mint a penny. Seriously dumb.

But since we still do, that restaurant had better check their Point of Sale system. That rounding up thing might just be illegal.

[stomachmonkey]

We had a Custard shop back on Long Island.

They figured out menu pricing that plus sales tax always came out to even dollar amounts.

No coins required.

I thought it was genius.

[URY914]

Close enough!

[GH85Carrera]

I have not seen that as yet. I usually make my tip round out the price, but I am a generous tipper. I stated rounding out the price when I entered the charge or my checkbook register back when checks were common.

Now my computer downloads the charges, for my CC and debit card and the computer does all the math for me so I really don't have a logical reason to round it off now except habit and inertia.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by NYNick

But since we still do, that restaurant had better check their Point of Sale system. That rounding up thing might just be illegal.

Exactly what I was thinking. It isn't an accurate representation of your bill AND they do not make you aware. Hells bells, the staff and manager don't even know it is happening so that they can address concerns.

[David Inc.]

I wonder at which point we just give up on anything smaller than a dime. I mean we used to have half-pennies so why not drop pennies and nickels?

Oh nevermind, I know why. Because then you couldn't trick people with $19.99 pricing. Oh wow, under twenty bucks! What a steal!

Edit: Now that I say that I forgot that gas prices are broken into mils.

[wilnj]

Was in Portugal earlier this month. Small businesses pricing was generally rounded to the nearest €0.10 and since taxes are included in all prices, it was easy.

It was only in the larger chain stores where I dealt with the €X.98 or €X.99 style pricing we typically find here and I’d leave the store with €0.01 and €0.05 pieces in my change.

I hate carrying a lot of notes and coins in my pocket so even the €1 and €2 pieces were a pain the aXX.


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[stevej37]

The place I worked at 10 years ago before retiring....we rounded prices to the closest dollar with the state tax.
Made cash sales a lot easier.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by NYNick

In Canada they round up or down and don't use pennies at all, at least in cash transactions. Maybe CC transactions too. I think many European countries don't use them either. To think we still use pennies in the USA is ridiculous. It costs more than a penny to mint a penny. Seriously dumb.

But since we still do, that restaurant had better check their Point of Sale system. That rounding up thing might just be illegal.

Two things.

I agree, pennies are an anachronism. Seriously dumb.

Second, you are right, rounding up to the nearest nickle, without the consent of the customer is "illegal"...they have to inform the customer in advance, written or otherwise.

I get it, but for pennies, let's just end it.

[Bill Douglas]

In NZ we haven't had coins smaller than 50 cents for many years. There is some formula for rounding up and rounding down but it's so little in change I don't bother to know the details.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

They figured out menu pricing that plus sales tax always came out to even dollar amounts.

No coins required.

I thought it was genius.

It makes it easy for "old people with money" (baby boomers) to figure out their bill is, and what tip to pay the server.

(i.e a positive dining experience....to return...again and again...for a decade...with consistent returns)


Sometimes I think this billing should be an automatic function, but that is rife for abuse.
Some "apps" only "allow" a certain automatic point of sale. Their reaction is to never return.
But the state department is woefully absent.

Most restaurants fail within 5 years.
2/3rds I think was the number before.
Probably more today.

Huge overhead and personal time spent into buying the RE itself, re-vamping the entire place, waiting for permits, city taxes, one inspection could shut the whole thing down, employee hiring, dealing with food vendors, day-to-day maintenance 24/7, and making sure each and every penny and every plate is correct.

[MikeSid]

I blame Peter Gibbons, Samir Nagheenanaja, and Michael Bolton.
Those pennies add up.

[john70t]

So basically the customer is always right.

(exception: Microsoft)

[Arizona_928]

You're just cheaaap. I've seen it in bourgeoisie restaurants

[unclebilly]

In Canada there are no more pennies… this is how we roll.

[A930Rocket]

Give a penny, take a penny.

I find it highly unusual that the bartender and manager had never seen it before.🙄