Comments on: Top 15 ways restaurants are sneaking in cost savings

By: skirty

skirty — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:08:24 +0000

Where are you writing from?
Where I am, food prices are definitely going up, but a lot of these examples here shocked me. Restaurants not serving water?? You’ve got to be kidding me. When I go out for dinner I have to tackle the servers to keep them from filling my glass.

By: The Downtown Boutique

The Downtown Boutique — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:34:08 +0000

I know what you mean about all of this, although, I see it more in grocery prices, because we don’t eat out as often.

I have noticed that the “half gallon” container of ice cream from Breyer’s is smaller, but is still selling for the same price!

By: Homemaker Barbi

Homemaker Barbi — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:53:15 +0000

I have noticed the same thing with water not automatically being served. I remember about 10 years ago taking a trip to California and not being served water in a restaurant unless you specifically asked for it (water consumption / drought, I was told). Great article!
Homemaker Barbi

By: kellys

kellys — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:06:22 +0000

Mom on the Go, that is what I am toalking about. I would be happy to pay the higher price if they are just honest about it!

By: MomOnTheGo

MomOnTheGo — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:04:06 +0000

We had a local bakery that closed because the cost of flour and other staples went up so much that they couldn’t cover their costs and they didn’t think people would pay the extra money. Their customers told them that they would pay the extra and they’ve reopened. My grocery store – a big chain – has posted signs that say “due to the rise in prices, our rice is now more costly”. I appreciate their openness.

By: kellys

kellys — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:45:16 +0000

Emily, I didn’t say that they were “scamming” us. I just want them to say, “our prices went up” instead of moving menus around and raising the price up in a fashion that you wouldn’t notice it like the increase from .95 to .99 . See what I mean? Just be honest and say that you are going to raise your prices.

If you read the post, you will see that I agree with shrinking the portions as well. Just don’t ask me to pay for a 5 oz serving of chicken and then keep the price the same when you only give me 3 oz. Does that make sense?

Also, I just said to DH that I would much rather support the local hardware than Home Depot.

Hope this helps you understand that I wasn’t saying that they were “scam”ing us. I too want local restaurants to make it.

By: JayMonster

JayMonster — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:44:35 +0000

I had noticed some of these things myself recently.

For example, the water example has been going on quite a bit (and at more places) lately. The one that really got me, was when she asked for water at one restaurant, they asked if she wanted Deer Park or Pellegrino (in other words the only options were to buy the water).

Honestly, the smaller portions don’t bother me as much in a restaurant as they do in packaged goods, because other than some of the examples you gave (like leaving the tops on Strawberries), the change is more transparent, and not covered up like it is with say Potato Chips where the bag size stays the same and they puff it with air in a clear attempt at deception. The only place it would bother me, is if they continued at a place like say Outback Steakhouse where they list the size of the steak, and then not actually give you that.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:48:15 +0000

One more thing… if you went to a resturant and all food went up a buck, you would be mad. Well, to avoid angry customers, resturants have to be sneeky about things.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:46:43 +0000

This really does NOT bother me. I would rather have smaller portions of food (which is better anyway) than have them hike their prices sky high. I really feel bad for the struggling businesses around my area. I want to see restaurants and small business survive this economic down turn. It is peoples livelihoods. Honestly, restaurants do not do it to scam you, they are doing it out of necessity. Just like you encourage savings to your readers, why can’t businesses practice the same philosophie??