Rip off Ireland Still alive and well?

osarusan · 14-02-2014 02:33PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:34PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:34PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:35PM

syklops wrote: »

Bollox.

Great contribution. Have you evidence to prove other wise?

Leroy42 · 14-02-2014 02:35PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:36PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:37PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:38PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:38PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

... after working all week...

Life is tough

ronjo · 14-02-2014 02:38PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:39PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:39PM

josip wrote: »

Life is tough

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

darkpagandeath · 14-02-2014 02:39PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:43PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:43PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:44PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:44PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:44PM

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

Lord Trollington · 14-02-2014 02:45PM

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 · 14-02-2014 02:46PM

Heroditas wrote: »

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

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

Legs.Eleven · 14-02-2014 02:48PM

ronjo wrote: »

Is there many countries that is like this though?

Certainly not in Central Europe.

I waitressed in the States and increasing prices on holidays is very standard practice. Wouldn't happen here in Spain either but it's not a big holiday here, so no one would fork out that money.

Leroy42 · 14-02-2014 02:48PM

osarusan wrote: »

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?

Most (I don't have any stats) people would order wine with their meal. Being as its Val Day I'm sure champagne sales also increase.

He is getting the money back, he won't have to pay for the wine again!

As I mentioned, the OP as a regular I am sure that the restaurant will be happy to take the amount off the bill if he doesn't take the wine. If not then he won't be going back.

Apart from the price of the wine, I fail to see how its a rip off (I personally think €33 for the wine is a rip off)

The One Doctor · 14-02-2014 02:50PM

You could have gone somewhere else, you weren't forced to pay. Nothing to complain about.

Femme_Fatale · 14-02-2014 02:50PM

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

On Valentine's? Ah come on now.

It's a standard business practice to mark up the cost of something when there is extra demand for it. This is universal, it is not "Ireland" or "rip-off Ireland" (a phrase that should be consigned to Liveline only).

I don't agree that you are "as bad as" or "worse than" the restaurant for paying for it. But you didn't have to. There is choice here.

Merkin · 14-02-2014 02:51PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

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.

You are actually paying into a commercial event. If you normally go out twice a month and knew that this particular Friday coincided with the prospect of the restaurant being chock full with the terminally dull and derivative thinking masses that buy into a holiday created by the card companies then surely you could have just decided to go for dinner tomorrow night instead to avoid such an occurrence?

Legs.Eleven · 14-02-2014 02:52PM

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

It DEFINITELY happens in the States (waitressed in the States and also read a book called "The Waiter" recently which talked about huge price increases on holidays) and the UK (lived there for 3 years).

osarusan · 14-02-2014 02:54PM

Leroy42 wrote: »

As I mentioned, the OP as a regular I am sure that the restaurant will be happy to take the amount off the bill if he doesn't take the wine. If not then he won't be going back.

You mentioned this as a way to ensure that customers who've booked actually turn up?

In fact, you asked a question along the lines of "would you prefer a booking deposit?"

I don't understand the logic of this at all. Would you prefer to be asked to pay a booking deposit, which is by definition refundable upon fulfilling the booking, or would you prefer to be asked to order and pay for a bottle of alcohol, 4 days (in the OP's case) in advance?

I honestly can't imagine how it's good business to adopt the latter strategy. Although, there are bond to be some who want the reservation enough to order something they might not otherwise have ordered, and then not think about looking to get the money back on the night.

Triangla · 14-02-2014 02:55PM

Lord Trollington wrote: »

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.

Why not wait until next Friday instead of going out one of the busiest Friday nights of the year?

Valentines night is notorious for paying over the odds for lesser service.

Ivaniayo · 14-02-2014 03:03PM

I find the Rep. of Ireland very expensive compared to N.I.

darkpagandeath · 14-02-2014 03:03PM

Triangla wrote: »

Why not wait until next Friday instead of going out one of the busiest Friday nights of the year?

Valentines night is notorious for paying over the odds for lesser service.

You know the Celtic tiger is over right ... ? The capitals restaurants to people ratio should put them in competition with each other as lack of business normally during the week after the crash. Maybe if the OP had shopped around he may well have got a way better deal.

Rip off Ireland Still alive and well?

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