California to regulate junk fees

[Axtremus]

https://www.npr.org/2024/05/10/1249930674/california-restaurants-fees

California says restaurants must bake all of their add-on fees into menu prices

Service charges; resort fees; "surcharge" add-ons: If you've been startled by unexpected fees when you pay your check at a restaurant — or book a hotel room or buy a ticket to a game, you're far from alone. But if you live in California, change is coming. A new state law requiring price transparency is set to take effect in July.
"The law is simple: the price you see is the price you pay," Attorney General Rob Bonta said on Wednesday, as his office issued long-awaited guidance about a law that applies to thousands of businesses in a wide range of sectors.
When it takes effect on July 1, the law promises to upend how many restaurants operate. Their menus will be required to list comprehensive prices for each item, with all mandatory charges baked into one figure. Only fees that are entirely optional — like leaving a tip for staff — can be left out of the posted price.

[Copper]

That will save consumers a bundle.

[jon-nyc]

I’m all for this. It used to be just resorts.

Two weeks ago I saw it at a regular old Marriott in downtown Seattle.

And then of course the mandatory service fee of 22%(!) at a fucking restaurant in DC.

Oh - and now do airlines.

[jon-nyc]

@Copper said in California to regulate junk fees:

That will save consumers a bundle.

Indeed it will.

[Jolly]

The question is whether this spreads...

[Doctor Phibes]

I'd like it if shops were obligated to include sales tax in their advertised price. It's a bloody stupid tradition to leave it off.

[jon-nyc]

Agreed but at least its consistent and everyone knows the amount.

The difference between the advertised price and true price of a hotel stay or a flight can be pretty ridiculous.

[Doctor Phibes]

@jon-nyc said in California to regulate junk fees:

Agreed but at least its consistent and everyone knows the amount.

I can never remember the different taxes for RI and MA. Also, some liquor stores include tax, and some don't. In Rhode Island, beer is taxed, but wine and spirits are not. I have no idea why.

And yes, the increasing restaurant behaviour is terrible - it's basically fraud.

[jon-nyc]

True what states tax and don’t tax can seem pretty arbitrary across product types but it’s consistent from vendor to vendor. I it’s annoying but it isn’t borderline fraudulent like hotels and flights increasingly are.

[Copper]

@jon-nyc said in California to regulate junk fees:

advertised price and true price

On a recent flight on Breeze airlines, the initial price was $68. I booked it for my wife, I upgraded the seat and paid for 1 checked bag and ended up paying around $250. And that was half the price of the flight on American.

She really liked Breeze. They have screwy schedules, they don't fly the same flights every day. If you can live with the schedule they are pretty good.

[taiwan_girl]

I agree with this plan. I know we have discussed this issue about concert tickets, etc. I think that @89th had some good comments on this.

I also agree with @Doctor-Phibes . With today's technology, cash registers are basically computers. Everything could be programmed to show the total price including tax. Not sure why it is not done this way. Many other countries, this is already the standard.