How Restaurants Trick You Into Spending More Money

We have all gotten the bill at the end of a long meal, only to wonder where some of those expenses came from. Restaurants have a lot of ways to trick you into spending more money, and they are all perfectly legal. However, if you want to be on the lookout for them, we’ve got you covered. You probably know a bit about upselling, but you might not be aware of all the detail that is put into menu arrangement or wine lists. Let’s take a look at some ways in which restaurants will trick you into spending more money.

#Restaurants #Money #Food

Upselling | 0:00
Server incentives | 0:48
Smaller portions | 1:15
Instant refill | 1:35
Surcharge surprise | 2:16
Sides aren't included | 2:45
Engineered menus | 3:05
Desserts | 3:44
Wine psychology | 4:18

[midwesttogotham]

U lost me at 50$ ribeye...I stay in my lane. 9.99 Applebee's baby

[insidelifestyle]

This is mostly in the US though. The rest of the world isnt so obsessed with scamming you out of your money, maybe for American tourists yes because they understand that that's just what they're used to.

[WilliamAndrews]

If you get "tricked" into buying a 75$ bottle of wine, you don't deserve to keep your money anyway.

[billc]

When I walk into a restaurant, I already know what I am going to eat. I rarely deviate from it.

[grantchow]

Upselling is part of any business whether your eating out, buying a car, electronics or insurance. Where there's an opportunity to build on a sale it's part of the "sell". There is a whole industry of people who plan, strategize and market the business of selling. It's what makes the whole go round. As as consumer you ultimately decide what you want.

[crazieeez]

"They say market price ... *sniffs* *sniffs* ... what market are you shopping at??!?? " hehe omg so funny so like me

[ItsNicoAlonzo]

Graphic designer = menu engineer. That shit is goin on my Resume

[ErnestJay]

Want to avoid that ? choose what you're gonna eat BEFORE you go to the Restaurant, for example, if you wanna eat Steak, just order a steak, don't bother with lobster tail, asparagus soup, corn soup, mashed potato, extra sauce, special topping, ect. that usually recommended by waiters.

[PRRAY-fumy]

The super pricey item among the less pricey items is the trick I always fall for. This was REALLY HELPFUL

[kingbibihabibi]

Servers will hate you but I always look at the menu online beforehand, pick out one main dish I want, and order only that and a glass of water. No appetizers, no wine, no dessert, no drinks -- no shock when they bring the check.

[dogerriders]

Glad I don't eat in restaurants like this.

[lacavernedufrenchgeek]

I lived in various countries in Europe but only in the US did I noticed that 1) most restaurants don't have a "several courses menu", instead billing each plate the price of a 2 or 3 courses menu ($18-$25); 2) there is no dessert included in the main menu and if I don't ask for it, the server often doesn't brings it; and 3) the server brings the bill without me asking for it, and without asking me if I want something else. So my experience in American restaurants (New York, San Francisco, Kentucky) is overall a lot lower than in Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Belgium).

[jklinders]

Much of what is on this list is sales 101.

About smaller portion sizes. Real insiders to the food biz know that what comes back to the kitchen on the plate is analyzed as well. Often times massive portion sizes just mean that food gets uneaten. And with food prices going up for everyone that means that the portions will shrink accordingly. One spot I worked at reduced the number of bread toasts that went out for bruschetta. I thought for sure the guests would go apeshit over it. On the contrary, I was not aware of a single complaint. And there was no reduction in the number of orders for that item either. this was a VERY obvious downsizing that went uncomplained about because we were in fact overserving.

About steakhouses. If you go to a top quality traditional steakhouse you expect to pay extra for sides. just like you expect your wallet to be a lot lighter. Just try that trick at the mid price range and see just how badly your guests riot. I fucking dare you.

No restaurant that adds a surcharge to my bill will get any repeat business from me. I'm not aware of it being done locally, but if it was I would not be returning and I would take the time to explain to the manager exactly why. This is not because it's "Dishonest" so much as because it breaks away from a reasonable business model where you would roll the increased costs of doing business into your prices. When you add a "minimum wage" surcharge, you are not covering your costs, you are making your guests a pawn in your game of politicising low wage earners and wage standards. Any business that does that can fuck right off

[Hoktoooey]

My cuzins restaurant did the same thing to me ! Nice guy-we( wife n me) bought two meals, two drinks-$90 bucks, my dinner was steak the size of a golf ball AND TWO POUNDS OF MASHED POTATOES! Of course, he went out of u can’t skimp on food...

[EdBball]

A clip from “Inglorious lol. They weren’t exactly concerned with the food price; but GREAT scene, great movie.

[kerriwolfton]

Early- and interesting. I don’t have to worry about the alcohol as I don’t drink. Also with smaller portions the price is probably still the same as when they used bigger plates.

[slimj]

"In lieu of raising prices" But adding a surcharge is raising prices. What they are really saying is "look we want to pay our staff as little money as possible. so we are doing this to blame them for the higher prices of your food in the hopes that you will be mad at them instead of us".

[bearyboy]

I like how none of the clips have anything to do with what is being said at that moment

[jeffstanley]

I was on a date once long ago and the waiter came by with a bottle of wine for me to taste test. He poured a sip and I tasted it. I borrowed a line from Sanford and Son and said, "grape ain't it?" My date made a low laughing type sound and said, he's kidding. Yes, I saw her several more times.

[rikilii]

How is upselling "tricking" you into anything? Does anyone think the extra lobster tail is free?