Rip off Ireland Still alive and well?

Lord Trollington

Booked a table for dinner tonight (for 2) in Port House in Dublin earlier in the week and in order to do so I had to buy either a bottle of wine for €33 or a bottle of Cava champagne for €35 not only that I had to pay for the bottle by card over the phone for them to take the booking.

Absolutely outraged as I am a regular customer of here and I love the place.

I thought this kind of sh*t was finished in Ireland 3/4 years ago.

I understand it is Valentine and all that but have we not moved away from this kind of carry on, obviously not.

Anyone else still finding this on their travels?

tin79

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Booked a table for dinner tonight

That was your first mistake!

Heroditas

The Porterhouse pub? Which one?

bitemybanger

buuuut you still payed!!

Lord Trollington

Heroditas wrote: »

The Porterhouse pub? Which one?

Sorry, was a typo. Port House I should have said.

Lombardo86

I think regardless of whether or not it was a mistake to book tonight (I am sure lots of people will go to dinner), your mistake was paying that? I think you are worse for letting them get away with it.

I am going to make some food and i bought a bottle of wine for 6 EUR in M&S..

Let's be honest as well - It all comes out the same colour!!

Heroditas

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Sorry, was a typo. Port House I should have said.

They usually don't even take bookings.

josip

There's value to be had out there.
Just not tonight Josephine.

Fr_Dougal

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Sorry, was a typo. Port House I should have said.

If it was such a 'rip off', why did you still book it? Why did you give your money to them?

kneemos

That's like stabbing yourself in the foot and asking why did I stab myself in the foot.

Lord Trollington

bitemybanger wrote: »

buuuut you still payed!!

I know.

Herself wants to go here, as I said we are regulars. I just found it extremely exploitative to insist on buying wine or champagne before taking the booking.

What if neither of us even drink?

Typical Ireland really.

No Pants

What if you don't like wine or you don't drink?

SEPT 23 1989

after tonight take your custom elsewhere

krudler

Lord Trollington wrote: »

I know.

Herself wants to go here, as I said we are regulars. I just found it extremely exploitative to insist on buying wine or champagne before taking the booking.

What if neither of us even drink?

Typical Ireland really.

cook for her tonight, take her out during the week, boom, problem solved

Merkin

Not being funny, but if you're going to buy into a commercial event to that extent then you have to take the rough with the smooth. The venue is relying on people like you to pay, which you have done.

Jon_459

Yeah - but as long as people are prepared to continue to pay, Rip Off Ireland will continue to flourish!

phasers

you should have told them you were teetotal for religious reasons and offered to buy a bottle of water instead :pac:

biko

Market economy at its finest.

the_syco

Lord Trollington wrote: »

What if neither of us even drink?

Taste it, spit it back into the glass, refuse it.

MonkeyTennis

I would have asked for the manager and told him to **** right off.

Legs.Eleven

Lord Trollington wrote: »

I know.

Herself wants to go here, as I said we are regulars. I just found it extremely exploitative to insist on buying wine or champagne before taking the booking.

What if neither of us even drink?

Typical Ireland really.

Typical absolutely every single country in the world where Valentine's Day is celebrated to the extent it is in Ireland. You think you'd eat out cheaply in the UK or the States tonight? Ehhh...no.

bitemybanger

Lord Trollington wrote: »

I know.

Herself wants to go here, as I said we are regulars. I just found it extremely exploitative to insist on buying wine or champagne before taking the booking.

What if neither of us even drink?

Typical Ireland really.

It's to be expected on a night like Valentines. Overly priced set menu's and not so romantic, loud, packed restaurants

dub_skav

This seems like more of a Rip off Valentine's day, rather than a Rip Off Ireland complaint.

But anyway, you could have gone somewhere else for Tapas or indeed a different type of restaurant.

If I had a valid complaint or grievance with a business I would not do business with them

darkpagandeath

€35 for a bottle that prob cost them €2 ... Don't you feel sorry for them as apparently pubs are having a hard time as they cant compete with the Offies/supermarket. That's why they have to charge 4 times as much apparently. Or did I get that wrong and their just greedy ?

osarusan

As a regular, has this happened to you before?

Lord Trollington

bitemybanger wrote: »

buuuut you still payed!!

Just because I payed doesn't mean the retailer isn't being exploitative.

It also doesn't mean I am buying into a commercial event.

We have a 10 month old and try to out got a meal once/twice a month, mostly on a Friday night after working all week. It's also easier to get a babysitter. Just happened to fall on Valentines Night.

Heroditas

darkpagandeath wrote: »

€35 for a bottle that prob cost them €2 ... Don't you feel sorry for them as apparently pubs are having a hard time as they cant compete with the Offies/supermarket. That's why they have to charge 4 times as much apparently. Or did I get that wrong and their just greedy ?

€2 for a bottle of wine? Yeah right...

ted1

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Booked a table for dinner tonight (for 2) in Port House in Dublin earlier in the week and in order to do so I had to buy either a bottle of wine for €33 or a bottle of Cava champagne for €35 not only that I had to pay for the bottle by card over the phone for them to take the booking.

Absolutely outraged as I am a regular customer of here and I love the place.

I thought this kind of sh*t was finished in Ireland 3/4 years ago.

I understand it is Valentine and all that but have we not moved away from this kind of carry on, obviously not.

Anyone else still finding this on their travels?

tell them you don't drink and see what happens

Leroy42

€33 doesn't seem that bad a price, although I would not pay it but I don't drink wine.

The €33 is basically a deposit as the restaurant knows they will be full and rather than have their regular customers turn up and not get a table they have decided to put this deposit down knowing that only dinners that actually were going would pay up.

You get the €33 back by having it off the bill at the end so not a rip-off.

You left it to the last minute to book, your favorite restaurant is able to accomodate you. What is the problem?

shruikan2553

Theres more demand than there is supply tonight. By charging 33-35 euro extra they thin out some and get those who are willing to spend more money. By paying for it you are causing the problem. If nobody paid for the wine then they wouldnt be able to do it as the place would be empty.

Lord Trollington

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Typical absolutely every single country in the world where Valentine's Day is celebrated to the extent it is in Ireland. You think you'd eat out cheaply in the UK or the States tonight? Ehhh...no.

I have been all over the world. L.A on New Years, New York on New Years.

Dubai, Paris, London, Milan and this kind of sh*t I'm sorry does not happen

osarusan

Leroy42 wrote: »

You get the €33 back by having it off the bill at the end so not a rip-off.

Huh?

No you don't get it back.

Lord Trollington

Leroy42 wrote: »

€33 doesn't seem that bad a price, although I would not pay it but I don't drink wine.

The €33 is basically a deposit as the restaurant knows they will be full and rather than have their regular customers turn up and not get a table they have decided to put this deposit down knowing that only dinners that actually were going would pay up.

You get the €33 back by having it off the bill at the end so not a rip-off.

You left it to the last minute to book, your favorite restaurant is able to accomodate you. What is the problem?

I booked it on Monday, hardly last minute. It's not a booking deposit, if it was they would have just asked for a booking deposit. I had to buy a bottle of booze to make a booking.

syklops

Lord Trollington wrote: »

I have been all over the world. L.A on New Years, New York on New Years.

Dubai, Paris, London, Milan and this kind of sh*t I'm sorry does not happen

Bollox.

I booked it on Monday, hardly last minute.

Ah jaysus, Lord Trollington is right. You booked it four days before. Considering Pope Gregory the 9th could have worked out that 14 February 2014 was going to be a Friday, that is last minute.

Lord Trollington

syklops wrote: »

Bollox.

Great contribution. Have you evidence to prove other wise?

Leroy42

shruikan2553 wrote: »

Theres more demand than there is supply tonight. By charging 33-35 euro extra they thin out some and get those who are willing to spend more money. By paying for it you are causing the problem. If nobody paid for the wine then they wouldnt be able to do it as the place would be empty.

They aren't charging €33 extra, they are simply asking for a deposit and tying it to a specific product.

Is €33 a normal price for this sort of wine in this restaurant? If it is normally €10 then yes its a rip-off but if its usually €33 then no rip-off.

The OP can cancel the booking and get your deposit back. (I assume they can get the money back)

donegal__road

its the Galway Races / Fleadh Ceoil / Cork Jazz festival syndrome. Accomadation prices sky-rocket, the price of booze goes up, and basic take-away food doubles in price.

Heroditas

Leroy42 wrote: »

They aren't charging €33 extra, they are simply asking for a deposit and tying it to a specific product.

Is €33 a normal price for this sort of wine in this restaurant? If it is normally €10 then yes its a rip-off but if its usually €33 then no rip-off.

The OP can cancel the booking and get your deposit back. (I assume they can get the money back)

Port House have an excellent selection of wines.
For €33 you'd get a very nice bottle.

Lord Trollington

Leroy42 wrote: »

They aren't charging €33 extra, they are simply asking for a deposit and tying it to a specific product.

Is €33 a normal price for this sort of wine in this restaurant? If it is normally €10 then yes its a rip-off but if its usually €33 then no rip-off.

The OP can cancel the booking and get your deposit back. (I assume they can get the money back)

Why are you making assumptions on what they are or are not doing having not made the booking yourself.

I know what I booked. It's a €33/€35 bottle of drink in order to make the booking.

josip

Lord Trollington wrote: »

... after working all week...

Life is tough

ronjo

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

Typical absolutely every single country in the world where Valentine's Day is celebrated to the extent it is in Ireland. You think you'd eat out cheaply in the UK or the States tonight? Ehhh...no.

Is there many countries that is like this though?

Certainly not in Central Europe.

Leroy42

Lord Trollington wrote: »

I booked it on Monday, hardly last minute. It's not a booking deposit, if it was they would have just asked for a booking deposit. I had to buy a bottle of booze to make a booking.

So Monday then, wasn't clear from your OP, but regardless still its good that you can get the restaurant you both like on Val's Day.

It is a booking deposit in all but name. Rather than asking for €30 up front they think that by linking it to a specific product it sounds a bit nicer. Would you be happier if it was a booking deposit?

When you get to the place, simply state that rather than the wine you just want the €33 taken from your bill. I'm sure they will agree as it's your sitting they are interested in.

Lord Trollington

josip wrote: »

Life is tough

Surely is. Hard to live now on €2,000 a week with the price of drink.

darkpagandeath

Heroditas wrote: »

€2 for a bottle of wine? Yeah right...

You think they actually give you good house wine .... Most people have no idea about wine and think price = Quality.

Heroditas

darkpagandeath wrote: »

You think they actually give you good house wine .... Most people have no idea about wine and think price = Quality.

I'm not "most people".
Also, even if they actually got a bottle for €2 and sold it, there is still duty and excise as well as VAT on top of that cost price.
The Port House's house wine is about €20.
For €33 you can get a very nice bottle of Pinot Noir there.

Leroy42

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Why are you making assumptions on what they are or are not doing having not made the booking yourself.

I know what I booked. It's a €33/€35 bottle of drink in order to make the booking.

I have to assume as I obviously don't know the full story and can only go on what you have told us. They want you to pay €33 for the wine in order to go ahead with the booking. The question you need to ask is what is the normal price for the wine, and would you normally drink it?

If yes to both then basically you have paid a deposit on your meal, maybe not normal practice but hardly a rip-off.

If you don't drink. don't drink this stuff then you either ask them to change it to something of equal value (so again a deposit) or cancel the booking.

the_syco

Lord Trollington wrote: »

I thought this kind of sh*t was finished in Ireland 3/4 years ago.

Nope. Fools are still easily parted from their money... and thus businesses will continue to take it.

osarusan

Leroy42 wrote: »

It is a booking deposit in all but name. Rather than asking for €30 up front they think that by linking it to a specific product it sounds a bit nicer. Would you be happier if it was a booking deposit?

It isn't FFS.

A deposit is something you get back.

This is a forced purchase. Now, if the OP had intended to buy a bottle of wine or champagne anyway. it's not such an issue.

But, as another poster asked, what if you don't drink?

Or what if he turns up tonight and says he's decided not to order any wine, and would like to have that 33 taken from his bill? If that's the case, why not just ask for a booking deposit?

Nuttzz

Ive booked a table for tonight, not sure how it will go though, she's sh1t at snooker

Lord Trollington

the_syco wrote: »

Nope. Fools are still easily parted from their money... and thus businesses will continue to take it.

Incidentally what are you doing tonight yourself?

josip

Heroditas wrote: »

I'm not "most people".
...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrCvgiQGh1o