Paying to use the toilet.

I'm not sure how prevalent this is across the country but in Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin you have to part with 20cent in order to use the bathroom. Actually was the same down in Limerick* too in a small enough shopping centre that I visited a few months back. Does anyone know why this is? Is it to keep messers out? Is it ethical? Can you refuse to pay, or has anyone on here ever refused and just gone in without paying?





*ok maybe there's a pattern with Dublin and Limerick

Oh I figured it out. They're taking the p1ss.

whirlpool

It's the same in Eyre Square shopping centre in Galway.

I would guess it's to help prevent the place getting vandalised but also to make money.

is mise spartacus

I presume it's for maintenance. In Cork you have to pay to use them (can't remember if that's still the case) 20c I think but nobody paid it, you'd just knock on the door and somebody let you in

wazky

Your small contribution of 20 cent goes a long way in cleaning the sh1te off the walls of the cubicle.

mikemac1

The wise Galwegian who appreciates luxury knows you can walk though the Radisson carpark to the toilets for the lobby

You will not meet a single staff member

anncoates

Always have a life like doll wrapped in a blanket with you any time you visit the place in order to save 20c and use the jacks in the baby changing rooms.

Mongfinder General

wazky wrote: »

Your small contribution of 20 cent goes a long way in cleaning the sh1te off the walls of the cubicle.

Nice. A guiness spray job was it?

Lapin

Omackeral wrote: »

I'm not sure how prevalent this is across the country but in Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin you have to part with 20cent in order to use the bathroom. Actually was the same down in Limerick* too in a small enough shopping centre that I visited a few months back. Does anyone know why this is? Is it to keep messers out? Is it ethical? Can you refuse to pay, or has anyone on here ever refused and just gone in without paying?





*ok maybe there's a pattern with Dublin and Limerick

They have baths there ???

cournioni

Hotel toilets are your friend, for a posh poo head to the Westbury.

Trebor176

I need to spend a penny. Not 20 feckin' cent!

Nib

We'll be paying for water next.

Cool_CM

cournioni wrote: »

Hotel toilets are your friend, for a posh poo head to the Westbury.

I prefer the Westin

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Gone West

wazky wrote: »

Your small contribution of 20 cent goes a long way in cleaning the sh1te off the walls of the cubicle.

You think you are being sarcastic, but you missed the point.
Prevention is better than cure, and a homeless junkie who is ready to spraypaint the walls in excrement is probably going to use a free toilet, not one you pay for.
So yes, that 20cent saves them a lot of money. They would barely cover the cost of collecting the money at 20cent a go, never mind cleaning.
They should charge €2 instead of €0.20 IMO.

Lapin

Lapin wrote: »

They have baths there ???

I've no bath in my apartment yet still have a bathroom.

pharmaton

went to use the toilets in a local shopping center a while ago and was fumbling around for the 30c needed to unlock the door when a couple of young girls came up behind me and shouted NOOOOOOOOOoo, wait - don't put the money in!
she took a run at the door, shouldered it and then held it open with a smile.

ah the youth of today, so proud.

UCDVet

It's less about the cost and more about keeping non-customers from using it. I think it's pretty standard in Dublin for restaurants/shops to have restrooms that are 'for customers only'. A lot of places even have them locked, so you need to ask the staff to open it.

I swing by the Burger King on O'Connell street for lunch and I'm amazed at how many people walk in, try to enter the restroom, then walk out when they realize it is locked/for customers only. I don't like sit there and watch or anything, I just mean the time it takes for me to order and collect my meal, and I always see at least one person try it.

Imagine all day long, and especially at night when you've got drunks going from pub to pub. 10 seemingly normal people all use a public restroom and, inevitably, it will be left in a disgusting state of disorder. Imagine what it'll be like after a hundred people, then realize 80% of them weren't customers! And, you'll inevitably get some drug users and other such undesirables who cause a scene or otherwise cause problems for you.

Individual businesses can do the 'customers only' but at Saint Stephen's Green it's harder, it's a mall with lots of shops. So they do the 'Pay some nominal fee'.

It's pretty sad that businesses have to do this, but I can't blame them.

LiveIsLife

The ones in Stephens Green aren't even clean. Might sound miserly but there's been a few times when I've thought I'll use the toilet there only to remember about the charge and look for somewhere else

Mr. Talk

Omackeral wrote: »

I'm not sure how prevalent this is across the country but in Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin you have to part with 20cent in order to use the bathroom. Actually was the same down in Limerick* too in a small enough shopping centre that I visited a few months back. Does anyone know why this is? Is it to keep messers out? Is it ethical? Can you refuse to pay, or has anyone on here ever refused and just gone in without paying?





*ok maybe there's a pattern with Dublin and Limerick

Its to prevent vandalism maybe. I think every pub/restaurant should charge to use the toilet. Great way of boosting profits.

Sinister Kid

http://lovindublin.com/dublin/8-best-places-peaceful-poo-dublin

Snake

Fuzzy wrote: »

You think you are being sarcastic, but you missed the point.
Prevention is better than cure, and a homeless junkie who is ready to spraypaint the walls in excrement is probably going to use a free toilet, not one you pay for.
So yes, that 20cent saves them a lot of money. They would barely cover the cost of collecting the money at 20cent a go, never mind cleaning.
They should charge €2 instead of €0.20 IMO.

And if you have a young child who needs to use the toilet and you have no change? Or only a credit or debit card? It's a good idea in theory but a bad idea practically

Mr. Talk

Mr. Talk wrote: »

Its to prevent vandalism maybe. I think every pub/restaurant should charge to use the toilet. Great way of boosting profits.

I'd say the fact they are providing food and drink would legally force them to provide the facilities free of charge.

GLaDOS

It's pretty common in Train stations and other public areas in Germany and other counties on the continent. Given that Dublin city centre has a complete dearth of public toilets available, I don't think it's that bad a system. Maybe pushing it a bit on shopping centres though, but I'd images the likes of Stephen's green would have a bad problem with junkies etc wrecking the place.

spurious

ScienceNerd wrote: »

It's pretty common in Train stations and other public areas in Germany and other counties on the continent. Given that Dublin city centre has a complete dearth of public toilets available, I don't think it's that bad a system. Maybe pushing it a bit on shopping centres though, but I'd images the likes of Stephen's green would have a bad problem with junkies etc wrecking the place.

I noticed a development in Germany (certainly in Munich Hbf) is that you pay 1 euro to get into the toilet area, but then get a 50c voucher to use in the station's shops.

SaoirseRose

It's pretty ridiculous in Stephens Green because the toilets seats are constantly covered in pee anyway, so it's sure as hell not going towards maintenance/cleaning. I don't know what some women be at....

Steodonn

Ilac toilets have been grand anytime Ive used them ( although not often ) and they don't charge anything

GLaDOS

Steodonn wrote: »

Ilac toilets have been grand anytime Ive used them ( although not often ) and they don't charge anything

I've always found Jervis centre toilets to be well kept too

The cost of spending a penny has risen with inflation.

The Singing Beard

Refusing to pay to use a private toilet on private property??? Freeman bullšhīt.

Paid toilets are usually cleaner because they have an attendant.

It's the norm in Germany and The Netherlands.

dundalkfc10

Just walk into a busy pub/restaurant and use the toilet, why bother paying money when a free toilet will always be within walking distance