Can I charge for a water cup? I own a fast food restaurant...?

Question

Can I charge for a water cup? I own a fast food restaurant...?

Answer 1

Nice answer E-ma.



Customers may not like the idea at first, but I really dont see anything wrong with that.



As for giving customers water from the 'fossit', depending on where you live, that wouldnt be the best idea. Some places have pretty dirty tap water. =X

Answer 2

I have seen it done B4, but in a very bad way. They used number of cups for inventory of drink sales, thus $1.25 drink also charged $1.25 for empty cup b/c inventory of cups would show a sales loss.



In this new economy, I think you could place a positive spin on a campaign of "Only pay for what you use." This would require more inventory analysis, but could be savings for you and customers (and when customer saves, they come back).



So track cost of cups you pay per pkg. Divide cups per price. Let's say each cup costs you 9 cents so you charge 10 cents a cup (don't be greedy). Now you have set price for 12oz. of drink. If customer brings in container holding 12oz. they only pay the drink price without the 10 cent cup price. Customer gets to feel "green friendly," are pleased with cheaper purchase. Others are aware of 12oz. drink + 10 cent cup price.



This could be done full scale on all products. Meals, plates, utensil, etc.



Again use that positive spin on why pay for utensils if you're bringing food home & have your own flatware, but can buy utensils if you are taking food to park. Price per utensil would be so minute as to not cause problem. That's why I suggest 1 cent over your cost so as not to cause a stir among customers.



Then let them know this experiment to see what customers want. Ask for feedback. Customers like when you ask them how you can serve them better.



Being in Marketing research for 8 years, I learned that customer service beats out price & quality everytime. B/C there is the assumption that any quality problem will be fixed to satisfaction & price can be adjusted because service has shown that dialog is open between you & consumer.



Hope that gives you enough information to help you think on how what may suit your customer needs.

Answer 3

most places, If they charge, charge 10 cents, but there is a simpler solution, sell bottled water!!!! If a customer asks for water, tell them you sell it by the bottle, lots of places do it, and you make a profit without worrying about upsetting the customer. with the way things are economy wise for businesses nowadays, it seems like the only smart solution, good luck. :)

Answer 4

Personally, I will not patronize a restaurant that charges me for a cup. If I make a purchase, then they should give me a cup for my water. I don't drink soda or tea or coffee. I most always drink water with lemon with my meals. If I am charged for the cup of water, I never go back. However, I always purchase food. If no food is purchased, then it would be OK to charge for the cup for the water.

If you are being taken advantage of with the utensils etc, then try keeping them behind the counter and giving them out sparingly.

Answer 5

Can You Charge For Water

Answer 6

We had: Reception in our local village hall. Flowers done by our village flower arranging group ("Nobody EVER asks us to do weddings!" they said, and they spent ages on them and they were gorgeous!) Catering by a local man who had been an army chef and was just trying to set up his own business. Again, beautiful food, which he put loads of effort into because to him being asked to do a wedding was special rather than something he did ten of a week. A friend of a friend made the wedding cake. My dad drove me to the wedding. I wore my mum's wedding dress. Special rather than trendy - and free. We had a photographer come to take a few posed pictures after the service and that was all. My brother took informal pictures of people arriving and at the reception. Just make sure you have what YOU want and not what everyone tells you that you are supposed to want. If you aren't going to look at fifty pictures of your guests arriving, don't bother having them taken. If whether your dress is new and this year's latest style doesn't matter to you then get a second hand one or borrow one. If you'd rather be driven to your wedding by a friend with a nice car than a stranger doing it for money, then ask your friend before paying money for a fancy hired car. I hope that gives you a few ideas :)

Answer 7

People don't understand how much it costs to run a restaurant (especially if you are running a small business/mom & pop shop) and what goes into having a cup of water. So for all the customers out there that question the water charge, I hope this helps you to understand that probably 9 times out of 10, you are not being nickeled and dimed and there is a reason for the charge. Here goes... The cup: has to be washed, put on the drying rack and back out to the customer which requires labor and chemicals in the dishwasher and electricity to run the dishwasher. Electricity for the ice machine to make the ice and then, in some cases, labor to transfer the ice from the ice machine to the beverage unit. Labor to wash and cut the lemons and then wash the knife that was used. THEN, after the regular non-disposable cup is used, the to-go cup is requested which require the lid and straw.

Answer 8

I remember something from the past that you cannot not charge them for the water, but you can charge them for the service of bringing you the water. Water laws are complicated

Answer 9

Courtesy Cups for customers are a standard for the industry. They are NOT the regular cups used for beverage sales, and therefore do not count against inventory.

Back in the days when you could spend a $1 at MacD's and get a burger, fries, and a small soda, they made up the difference by charging a penny here and a penny there.

Instead of charging an even 5 or 10, charge an odd number like 3, or seven on your menu board. This will give you a 2 penny increase in over-all sales across the board.

If somebody asks why the odd prices (and you know someone will) just say you've trimmed the prices DOWN, not up, to save them money. They'll be back for your consideration to them.

Answer 10

Well, as a consumer, i could understand charging for four. I would definately charge for dine in ..in case ppl get soda.,



but 1 for the drive through..no way should you charge, lots of ppl have kids and maybe need to make a bottle or something/.



more than 1 for the d.t. and yes 25 cents is reasonable to me.

Answer 11

Wow, there seems to be great confusion over this issue on the interwebs. My first reaction was "Of course you can charge for it!", but after spending an hour or so scoping out the web, I've read all sorts of different opinions.



1) You can charge for water just like you charge for anything else.

2) You can't charge for the water, but you can charge for the cup.

3) You must provide fee water to customers, just like you have to provide them a bathroom to use.

4) You only are required to provide free water if your establishment serves alcohol.

5) You can get in trouble if you serve water to customers who DON'T request it. (this would be in areas where there's a water shortage).



So I'd basically say nobody knows for sure, and it would almost certainly depend on the laws in whatever city or county you're restaurant is located in, so anything you read on the internet would probably not apply anyway.



I would advise you to follow the example of some of the national fast food chains. Get some special cups for water... the should be small and cheap. If a customer asks for water, give them one of the special cups filled with tap water. If they ask for ice, tell them ice is only available with the purchase of a drink.



And understand that if you make a new policy for water, you run the risk of driving off good customers who just prefer to drink water with their meals. You'll have to decide if the savings justify the possible loss.

Answer 12

Are people living in the 70's? I fully expect to be charged for the cup. Anywhere. They even charged me at the drugstore- when I needed to take A PILL!

Answer 13

1st of all ppl will start getting angry that ur charging for WATER.

you should go but some disposable cheap cups frm walmart or something

if ur complaining about your "culligan water filtration sysytem that you pay for. " then give them water from the fossit!!!



and if u decide to charge then do it 10 cents......