A Melbourne sushi shop has been slammed for charging a weekend surcharge after a man spotted a sign inside its store.
The sign revealed the food court sushi shop – Sushi Jiro in Chadstone Shopping Centre — was charging 10 per cent extra on Sundays and 15 per cent more on public holidays.
“Saw this at Chadstone. Are surcharges a thing … at food courts now? I’ve seen them at dine-in restaurants and cafes, but not in a shopping centre,” the man posted on Reddit.
The post divided the community, with one person writing: “Don’t buy anything – save 100 per cent”.
“Turn around and walk away. Sorry, not sorry. At a goddamn food court?” another said.
However, others backed the move if it covered penalty rates for staff.
“Sure, the 10-15 per cent surcharge stings, but if it means I am paying someone liveable wage, I’ll cop it. At the end of the day, they are advertising it quite loudly, so I have the option to walk away if I want to,” one noted.
A spokesperson from Sushi Jiro said that the surcharge applies across all of its stores and is implemented on Sundays and public holidays to ensure staff are being paid fairly.
“During public holidays when the stores are open, we pay our team members a minimum of 225 per cent of their base hourly rate,” the spokesperson told 7 News.
It comes as anger over venues charging surcharges has started to rise among consumers.
Many believe the move could be a sign that establishments may be attempting to beef-up their bottom line.
Venues owned by dining group Pacific Concepts – previously part of Rockpool Dining Group – have begun stinging customers with a 6.5 per cent “venue surcharge”.
A customer who had one cocktail at El Camino Cantina, a Pacific Concepts business, on Friday evening has revealed his shock after checking an invoice.
One 700ml drink – a Cadillac Mango Margarita – set him back an astounding $34.54.
The price was bolstered by an unexpected $2.08 “venue surcharge” and additional 0.46 card processing fee.
Pacific Concepts confirmed all its restaurants required customers to pay a 6.5 per cent venue surcharge but claimed it was “commonplace” across the industry.
Another shopper took to Reddit to share their bewilderment upon spotting a sign advising an additional fee for cold drinks inside a convenience store.
Meanwhile, a popular restaurant chain landed in more hot water just months after its mystery five per cent “service fee” angered customers, with a fed-up diner accusing one of its outlets of concealing the service fee disclaimer on its door menu.
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