Meat Liquor "Optional Charity Donation"

[Dulwich61]

Went to ML this afternoon. Decent food, but when the bill arrived noticed it included (already charged) an "Optional Charity Donation" of ?1.00 in addition to the 10% service charge. No charity identified, and I had to call the server across to question the add-on. Happy to give to charity if I'm asked to opt in and the donee is identified, but strikes me as wrong to include it automatically in a bill without prior notice and say nothing about where the money is going. Any views?

[ED_moots]

Agreed. I go as far to say it's both presumptious and rude. Puts the customer in the position of having to ask to take it off. They should ask before bringing you the bill and tell about their chosen charity.

[Lowlander]

Totally agree - only ?1, but what is the charity? The MeatLiquor Director's Benevolent Fund?

[Siduhe]

Here you go Lowlander.

If you google "MeatLiquor charity" you will see all the other stuff they have done and continue to do over the years, especially their work with Meningitis Now. Lots you can say about these guys, but not that they rip off charities. No connection other than I've met them a few times over the years.

[Dulwich61]

Siduhe, they may well be good charity donors but that's not the point I'm making and you seem to be missing it

[Siduhe]

Understood. I was replying to Lowlander's post. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[Lowlander]

Siduhe Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Here you go Lowlander.

>

> 0750424621056

>

> If you google "MeatLiquor charity" you will see

> all the other stuff they have done and continue to

> do over the years, especially their work with

> Meningitis Now. Lots you can say about these guys,

> but not that they rip off charities. No connection

> other than I've met them a few times over the

> years.

Yes but where does that ?1 go to? Into a general charity kitty or to a specific one?

My point being it puts me off either going to MeatLiquor or paying the ?1. Just include it in the overall pricing rather than having it as an extra.

What is the point?

[kbabes]

Lowlander Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Siduhe Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Here you go Lowlander.

> >

>

>

> > 0750424621056

> >

> > If you google "MeatLiquor charity" you will see

> > all the other stuff they have done and continue

> to

> > do over the years, especially their work with

> > Meningitis Now. Lots you can say about these

> guys,

> > but not that they rip off charities. No

> connection

> > other than I've met them a few times over the

> > years.

>

> Yes but where does that ?1 go to? Into a general

> charity kitty or to a specific one?

>

> My point being it puts me off either going to

> MeatLiquor or paying the ?1. Just include it in

> the overall pricing rather than having it as an

> extra.

>

> What is the point?

i'm pretty sure there will be a commercial reason not to include in the overall price.. or is that me just being cynical?

[Siduhe]

I think the point about it being an extra rather than included in the price is that it's optional - a way for customers to donate to the particular charity if they choose to. If it was included in the price, it would be taking that decision away from the individual customer and forcing them to donate.

As Dulwich61 points out - that's a separate issue from how they go about it - and I can see why adding it in and then making people ask to take it off winds some people up. But it's standard practice for restaurants suppporting Street Smart in November/December or Action for Hunger in September/October (which is what the ML donations are currently going to).

[ED_moots]

If they meant to give you a choice there would be a collection box by the till. Instead - and like when 'service' started being automtically added on - they rely on your awkwardness at asking for it to be taken off in order to raise more money. Or you could just let the customer decide where they want to donate money. Its chugging. Any mention of this practice in the menu I wonder

[Penguin68]

The 'better' way to do this would be for the waiter to advise, when your order is being taken - 'we are collecting for such-and-such charity this month' (with a proper briefing available about the charity if asked) 'and are asking customers whether we could add ?1 onto the bill for this charity'. [Actually, a card at the table with the same information would probably be OK - but doing it at the order time allows the money to be left off the bill if required]

As someone who does give to charity I give only in circumstances (normally) when gift-aid can be triggered - of direct benefit to the charity - so this type of giving is something I try to avoid. But I probably wouldn't mind for a quid.

The way it's being done now is something which I don't like or approve of. (I also only pay service charges on a bill when I am assured that the staff get all the money - ideally through a 'tronc' system - otherwise I leave cash at the table).