Sushi Train wanted to charge 50c for a glass of tap water

Ughhh on 16/05/2013 - 14:02

I went to Sushi Train the other day for lunch and after being seated, I was asked if I would like a drink. I hadn't decided what I felt like having so I just said a glass of water for now. The waitress then said I would be charged 50cents for just a glass of tap water! Wtf!

I remember Sushi Train selling alcohol beverages, it even states so on their website, and because do they, if I am correct, they legally have to provide drinking water free of charge.

I must say this is the first time Ive been told I would be charged for just a glass of water.

Outrageous imo!

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Comments

      • Twodogs on 21/05/2013 - 17:29

        Well i certainly wouldnt pay for water even at 50c , but i can understand the charge as they have to get the water pour it in a glass and serve it to you and when your finished pick glass up and wash it etc etc ……. i would have just said 50c for water ? phuq it gimme a beer :-)

  • bpdoz on 19/05/2013 - 14:46

    Maybe they are expecting to get a $0.50 tips..

    • Ughhh on 19/05/2013 - 15:09

      At that moment, I hadnt even been in the store for 5 mins. Ive been to this particular Sushi Train before, as well as other ST stores in Adelaide, Ive never been asked or hinted for tips, especially this early in my visit. Plus, I dont think tipping is usually expected in Australia, unless the service was superb and even then tipping is usually at the end of the visit when you pay.

  • LSGH on 19/05/2013 - 16:22

    from what I have read elsewhere, tipping is not expected in restaurants since the servers are compensated fairly compared to the US in which I believe the pay structure is something like US$2.50/hour so tipping is expected if service is good….

  • ironplus on 19/05/2013 - 22:59

    Every time I go to sushi train I always get free tap water. Maybe she wasn't properly trained nor informed.

  • frozenkuku on 20/05/2013 - 00:15

    if you've been to japan, you will never go to eat this sushi fake train again.

    50c for a glass of tap water not bad
    some chinese restaurants try to charge $2 for tap water

    • djkizz on 20/05/2013 - 18:40

      I've been to Japan a few times and I love Sushi Train. True, it doesn't taste as good as the sushi in Japan but I'm also not able to fly out to Japan everytime I get the sushi urge.

    • sama on 24/05/2013 - 15:11

      Really? Many Chinese restaurants even serve hot tea for free.

  • Zondor on 20/05/2013 - 10:08
    +7

    Living in adelaide myself I have never seen anyone have to pay for tap water.

    Having to do so is riducious, they should have to pay YOU to drink adelaide tap water. (It truly is aweful)

  • Icedvovo on 20/05/2013 - 12:14
    +5

    Think of it this way.

    The water is free, you rent the glass.

    :)

  • drfuzzy on 20/05/2013 - 13:07

    They may be well within their rights, despite how I personally feel about it. A Night Club I frequent refused to serve free water then with the change in legislation did so unhappily from only one bar self service style. now they have removed this and installed a drinking fountain that looks pretty gross. You are not allowed a glass for your free water and are rudely told to buy a bottle. At least you are getting service and a glass for your 50c

    • Wade on 20/05/2013 - 13:12
      +1

      What club is that?

      I know the club at the Berkely Hotel once tried to charge me a 'Service Fee' of $2 for their free water.
      Never been back.

      Wade

  • Gino on 20/05/2013 - 17:20

    ATOMIC IN CLAREMONT QUARTER CHARGES $1 FOR A GLASS OF HOT WATER

    Three of us went to have coffee at Atomic.

    I usually order some hot water to get rid of the coffee after taste. Other cafes would offer it to me free of charge.
    When I order at the register, she did not mention about the price at all for hot water.
    When I finish ordering I ask her to print me a receipt from the till. Guess what! $3 extra for a cup of water!

    The coffee arrived tasteless and bad! not worth $3.90 and cup was one of the smallest size I've ever seen!

    • marty64 on 21/05/2013 - 09:39
      +1

      That what happens when you shop in an affluent suburb :P

  • Briefcase Mong on 20/05/2013 - 17:31
    -6

    its only $0.50 mate relax don't be stingy businesses need to make money

    • chiefbodge on 21/05/2013 - 15:59

      Maybe only 50 cents but it's against the law…

  • [Deactivated] on 20/05/2013 - 17:34

    My previous comment is presumably floating around the ether.

    I have to ask - if it was such an issue that you got on a forum to whinge about it why didn't you walk out? Every consumer has the right to vote with their feet and wallets. Not enough do.

  • [Deactivated] on 20/05/2013 - 18:38

    From now on you better take your own glass of water lol

  • djkizz on 20/05/2013 - 18:41

    I've been to all of the Sushi Trains around Brisbane and I've never once been told to pay for tap water. They always provide it completely free. I would say that this reflects more on that one particular store or server than it does on Sushi Train as a whole.

  • ironplus on 20/05/2013 - 23:14
    +2

    Key for a successful business, never charge for tap water.

  • nubzy on 21/05/2013 - 12:08
    +1

    I always ask for water when eating out, never been charged. It is a recipe for failure to start charging for a glass of tap water..

  • timcc02081981 on 21/05/2013 - 12:21
    -8

    Mate, I think 50c for water service is reasonable in restaurant.

  • lplau on 21/05/2013 - 13:50

    Bright side, at least they told you. Quite alot of places, ask you if you want water or tea, and then secretly charge you later. LOL

  • ISTJ on 21/05/2013 - 14:56

    Lol you think 50c is bad? Come to switzerland which is the rip off capital of the world.

    Almost every restaurant and bar here charges for tap water, and a lot more than 50c. I was once charged $3 for a glass of tap water - not chilled and no ice. I'd hate to think how much he would have charged if I asked for ice!

    Ahh I miss the days of free tap water in Australia when out, what a luxury!!

    • jv on 22/05/2013 - 22:04
      -2

      Come to switzerland which is the rip off capital of the world.

      They get paid about twice as much as us though, so they can afford it…

    • wtfnodeal on 23/05/2013 - 02:23

      Ice? Can you legally ask for Ice in the public in Switzerland?

  • zoecot on 21/05/2013 - 15:42

    Such a ripe off….and I thought this is breaking the law too. I once heard from my friend saying that all sit in restaurant need to provide tap water for free….not sure if it is true or not~!

    Mod: Removed comment signature

  • bajillionaire on 22/05/2013 - 09:29

    Personally, I don't think there's any wrong with charging for tap water, as long as they were upfront about the charges and don't also sell alcohol. But since they do sell alcohol, they should definitely be supplying some sort of water for free.

    The "Sushi Train" franchise has a reputation for being a bit dodgy. There was a story how they chronically underpay their staff and have many that work for cash-in-hand, so charging for tap water (while wrong) seems par-for-the-course for these guys.

  • jv on 22/05/2013 - 22:03
    -3

    How much do they charge for ice cubes ???

  • neil on 23/05/2013 - 11:50
    +2

    Lifehacker just picked up the story.

    We contacted Sushi Train about the ‘Watergate’ incident and asked them whether they normally charge customers for tap water. The representative we spoke to claimed that this isn’t one of their company policies but admitted that there were no guidelines in place either way.

    In other words, the tap water fee seems to have been introduced by an individual store manager. We contacted the Grenfell store in question and are waiting for them to get back to us (we’ll update the story with their response).

    • chiefbodge on 24/05/2013 - 14:33

      Pretty silly how they didn't do the research to figure out that the sushi train is indeed licenced!

    • sama on 24/05/2013 - 15:14

      Nice to see Ozbargain forum posts are actually making a difference!

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 23/05/2013 - 13:38

    Did they at least have a toilet where you could get a free drink? It would especially suck if they charged you another 50 cents to use the toilet, but at least you could get 2 services for the price of one :)

    I haven't visited a sushi train in probably 10 years or more when I realised I should avoid pay-as-you-go eating and other forms of gambling.

  • sauce2k6 on 24/05/2013 - 12:14
    +2

    Dental plan! …Lisa needs braces

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