Rip off Ireland Still alive and well?

Lord Trollington · 14-02-2014 02:14PM #1

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 · 14-02-2014 02:17PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

Booked a table for dinner tonight

That was your first mistake!

Heroditas · 14-02-2014 02:18PM

The Porterhouse pub? Which one?

bitemybanger · 14-02-2014 02:18PM

buuuut you still payed!!

Lord Trollington · 14-02-2014 02:19PM

Heroditas wrote: »

The Porterhouse pub? Which one?

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

Lombardo86 · 14-02-2014 02:19PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:20PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

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

They usually don't even take bookings.

josip · 14-02-2014 02:20PM

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

Fr_Dougal · 14-02-2014 02:21PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:21PM

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

Lord Trollington · 14-02-2014 02:21PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:22PM

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

SEPT 23 1989 · 14-02-2014 02:22PM

after tonight take your custom elsewhere

krudler · 14-02-2014 02:22PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:23PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:24PM

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

phasers · 14-02-2014 02:24PM

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

biko · 14-02-2014 02:25PM

Market economy at its finest.

the_syco · 14-02-2014 02:26PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

What if neither of us even drink?

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

MonkeyTennis · 14-02-2014 02:26PM

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

Legs.Eleven · 14-02-2014 02:26PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:27PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:27PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:28PM

€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 · 14-02-2014 02:28PM

As a regular, has this happened to you before?

Lord Trollington · 14-02-2014 02:29PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:30PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:30PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:31PM

€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 · 14-02-2014 02:32PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:32PM

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

Rip off Ireland Still alive and well?

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