Hidden Fees #285
By Hank Silverberg
We all know that inflation has crept into a lot of things we buy, from cars to grapes. But some things are just so annoying about increased prices that they can drive you crazy. I am going to ignore what causes inflation and how it really can't be blamed on one particular politician, or even the government as a whole. Economists can explain it better. What I can write about are the hidden fees that keep turning up on bills or receipts that may be the result of inflation, but are not disclosed by the store or vender.
Such was the case this weekend when my wife and I took our two grandsons to a family restaurant they had requested.
I knew it was going to be expensive. The prices on the menu proved that. But when the bill came, it included about three bucks for an "administrative" fee because I was using a debit card to pay for the meal. (It's rare that I use anything else. Like most people, I stopped carrying more than ten bucks in my wallet since the pandemic.)
I questioned the "administrative fee," and to their credit the restaurant manager took it off after I complained. I know about swipe fees, but here's the issue:
Anyone who has ever gotten a gallon of gas knows that there are different prices for cash or credit. It's always marked on a sign or the pump.
My problem here is that there was no warning about such a fee on the menu. When it said $13.00 for my chef's salad, that is what I expected to pay. The same with the rest of the family. I had a good idea what the bill, plus the tip, was going to be as we were ordering.
When I objected to the extra fee, the manager pointed to a small sign by the cash register outlining the charge. But transparency and good business practice say I should have been warned about this fee before I ordered. It could easily be added to the menu. The manager said they used to have a sign on the front door with that information, but it had fallen off. Sorry, that doesn't cut it. It wasn't there now. I thought about taking the extra three bucks off the tip, but that would not be fair to our server, who did a good job.
I won't be going back to that restaurant, ever.
And this brings up another issue. Some restaurants will put on their menu that there is a mandatory 20% "gratuity" attached to the bill. Okay, they disclose it. But to me that violates a basic rule. You tip what you want based on the service you get. Mandatory tipping, with a large percentage, breaks that unwritten rule of tipping. Example: the tip is based on the price of the meal BEFORE taxes, not the overall price of the bill.
There are probably some folks in the food service industry who will argue with me over this. But remember, it's not the fee that got my ire up. It was the lack of transparency from the start.
Electrifying
Are you getting your electricity from wind or solar power? A new report says about 30% of the electricity produced worldwide now comes from renewable energy sources that don't emit planet-warming pollution. Despite a 2% increase in the overall consumption of electricity worldwide, a London think tank called "Ember" says that 30% figure was a first.
Hydroelectric dams still produce the most renewable energy, but drought conditions in 2023 in some places have produced a record low for that type of energy generation.
But the United States is well behind at least three other large countries in our use of solar power. China is first, Brazil is second, and India is third.
China accounted for 51% of the increased use of solar power and 60% of the increased use of wind power.
While climate change is the driving factor in the move towards clean energy, the growing use of electric vehicles is expected to increase demand for electricity in general.
Scalpers Beware
Buying a ticket for a Taylor Swift concert or a sporting event like the Super Bowl can be difficult and very expensive.
But two states have now approved legislation that will at least make ticket purchases more fair.
Maryland's Governor Wes More has just signed a bill that will take effect July 1st aimed at those who try to resell tickets at outrageous prices. Minnesota has done the same thing.
They must also refund money if the ticket turns out to be counterfeit, which is becoming a big problem, and they must refund the money if the event is cancelled or the ticket does not match what was advertised.
There is similar legislation proposed on the federal level, but it's stalled in a congressional committee.
A number of well-known entertainers have been pushing for such rules. The Minnesota bill is actually named after Swift.
Dumbest Quote of The Week!
This week's dumb quote comes from North Dakota's Republican Governor Doug Burgum, who is apparently on Donald Trump's short list as a possible running mate. He spoke just before Trump at a rally on Saturday in New Jersey. He said of Trump:
"You won't find anybody better than this gentleman...get ready for something, just get ready."
Governor Burgum needs to get out of Bismarck more often because he apparently has duck blinders on, or never watches TV.
A few minutes after the Governor's comments, Trump used part of his speech where he was attacking illegal immigrants to praise fictional serial killer Hannibal Lector, whom he called "a wonderful man".
Note to my Readers:
There will be no blog next Sunday, 5/19. I will be on a long-planned vacation. Look for Time to Think to return on 5/26.
(Your suggestions and comments are welcome)
My recent book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at:
HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q7K6M5/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796
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