I have just noticed the above and I'm guessing this over-charging is to every customer. Do you take this to media or just email the franchise? I don't want to be famous/infamous or be in any limelight.
What Happens if You Have Found out That a Large Franchise Have Been over-Charging You for a While (Unknowingly Perhaps)?
Comments
Without more information it is hard to comment.
Similar to a big burger chain has been due to xyz, need details.Put it simply, Set A is $10.20 but when you pay, it's $10.30. Sometimes it is not obvious because you order multiple sets, and it's 10 cents extra here, 20 cents extra there for ever set!
Edit: So the total bill is $41.15 for example, instead of $40.65. You won't realise this unless to check item by item against their menu, which is typically just a small board or a changing screen.Provide all order information or its basically useless. Also, call them.
This happens all the time at McDonalds, even after they switched to digital menus and no longer have to update prices by hand. They don't care and neither does the ACCC or fair trading.
That's why I don't think going to them will do anything. I wonder if media is interested.
Email ACA. I'd be 99% sure they would have bigger stories in the pipeline, but you never know.
What happens at McDonald's, their point of sales system randomly adds 10 cents to certain items? Their menu board randomly adds 10 cents? Sounds unlikely.
Prices at McDonald's vary from store to store, and they don't have all the prices listed on boards like they used to.
If this is Maccas, I have no idea how OP can be sure they are overcharging everyone. Maybe there is a glitch with the price display of what he orders in that store.
@Luo18740: Aren't some McDonald's stores owned by corporate McDonald's, and others owned by individual franchisees? They will all look and feel basically the same, but there should be a little sign somewhere saying if it's a franchise or not. iirc most stores are franchises and only a few owned by McDonald's themselves. McDonald's usually owns the land in either case.
@AustriaBargain: Yeah I think that is true. But I think each store is still allowed to set their own prices.
@Luo18740: I guess I never really paid much attention to how much it costs. It costs what it costs. National offers like $2 big macs would still work anywhere you'd think. Maybe you've been using offers for so long that you're just used to things costing the same at all McDonaldses you go to.
@Luo18740: I wasn't aware different Maccas set different price to the same food. I would have thought they are like Subway where the price is the same.
@AustriaBargain: McDonalds lease nearly all of their buildings . https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/rare-mcdonalds-…
@Luo18740: Try this.. take note of the initial price displayed for Set A and follow thru the order. At the end, check the final price when you are required to pay for it. Is it the same?
@Luo18740: I have not. I didn't bother as in not concerned about my own 50 cents or whatever it was. I thought the manager might just refund me and do nothing. But that's just my bad assumption. I might check out another branch and then ask the manager about this, if it the same at another branch.
@1cent2much: Fair enough, just without any more info we can't know why it is happening.
Best of luck.
It's not even about tipping. When you tip, generally the workers get them. This is the establishment incorrectly charging every customer.
That wasn't my point. My point was that the dollar amount has a certain stress level attached to it. What you're referring to is like looking at the floor, seeing a 10/20c coin, and deciding if you pick it up or not, if it's worth the hassle.
Buying a $10+ combo, and feeling the need to post a forum post because you'd been overcharged by around 1%… well, methinks you need to better fill your time/worries.
@spackbace: I'm not bored, worried about this, nor concerned about the 1% over-charging.
Just having a public opinion about this matter.I'm not bored, worried about this, nor concerned about the 1% over-charging.
Well it's gotta be one of those things to want to discuss it!
Just having a public opinion about this matter.
Which means you're invested in the question posed. Comments like "fleecing public" prove you're invested in one side of the argument… Hence, you are concerned about it, enough to ask "I wonder if media is interested." Sounds pretty concerned to me.
Or is this one of those thinly veiled forum posts that are really based on a homework assignment?
@spackbace: Hahaha.. not a uni student.
Hey I thought this is OZB.. where every cent counts. If you guys are not even bothered, then I'm barking at the wrong tree. 😅where every cent counts.
I knew you'd try with that angle.. Except when buying a $10+ meal from a takeaway joint, everyone knows there's cheaper options. You've chosen the more expensive meal for reasons you can justify - burger of choice, or whatever. If you were really watching the cash, you'd go for a cheaper meal option or even cook at home.
Like someone buying a Ferrari and complaining about fuel use of the car…
There are times where you can choose the thrifty, save money argument, then there are times you can't. A $10+ combo and complaining on a public forum about a 10/20c price discrepancy? Gimme a break, money obviously isn't a huge issue for you.
@spackbace: You are right. I'm not rich but it's not a concern. But thanks for your opinion. You crack me up with you view.
It's my natural assumption that if it is money related discussion is OZB. If it is whining that I'm interested, then whirlpool. Or perhaps to get attention, then social media.
So you are right that the 1% matters. But not as much.
I should wear a dog barking deterrent collar and stop barking. 😅
@spackbace: Not sure when you last went to maccas but a $10 meal is about the cheapest you'll get, rather than being the burger of choice w/large fries+coke option.
Back in my day, a large meal was less than $5… until Howard screwed us with the GST.
@ssquid: Fast food prices have gone up almost doubled in the last 10 years. Property prices too.
On the other hand, mobile phone prices didn't take that long.
Frankly, the amounts you're talking aren't worth any form of stress
I think you're missing OP's point, I hardly doubt he's worrying over losing 20 cents. A huge conglomerate though has a duty to be at least correct with their charging.
A few cents here and there from every transaction amounts to a lot of misappropriated cash.
Thank you for understanding my intention.
Maybe their charging is correct but the one place OP has gone to doesn't have the correct price displayed?
Tell Gerry Harvey to stop doing it.
Well, what do you care?
If you want them to correct their charging, call them and they will likely be pleased you pointed out their error so it doesn't happen again.
If it continues to happen after you let them know (give them a bit of time to fix it) then they are behaving badly.Do this.
Like what ssquid mentioned, big franchise doesn't care about their mistake. So, they are behaving badly.
I just assume majority would come on hard with regards to big companies fleecing public. I guess at least the few people here doesn't.Coles and woolworths also have different prices for items in many stores and some have weekly specials some don't. What rabbit hole have you crawled out from?
That I can understand. Some specials are store dependant. That has always been the case and stated clearly.
How likely is there to be a Royal Commission into this industry?
Who knows, we might be getting small refunds like from the banks.
There was parliamentary inquiry! Into how franchisors ripped off franchisees.
Wouldn't surprise me what OP said. It is just trickle down of rip off economics. 10c here, 20c there before you know it you can get some Tesco biskets from Reject Shop.
@ihbh @netjock I don't think there will be any parlimentary inquiry into this.. I think it is too small and amount for ACCC to be bothered. At most, there will be a small fine to the franchise, which is not enough to justify ACCC's staff pay???
If I understand correctly, you are being charged a price that differs from the advertised price.
Report it to your state's department of fair trading (or equivalent), with evidence. Be warned they may ask you "what did the staff do when you pointed this out to them".
I always try to give a benefit of doubt to the accused.. but for big franchise, I don't know if they will bother to answer me. I might try to contact them. Who knows?
While I can't really decipher what you're actually talking about (just be specific in your posts), the probability is that there is a simple discrepancy between the "menu system" and the "POS system" … likely that a 10c increase has been applied to the latter and not the former due to, probably, human error. Point it out to someone and they'll likely have it resolved.
It is highly unlikely that a "large franchise" is systematically ripping off customers 10c at a time on combo meals or whatever it is that is in question.
The vast majority of stuff ups are just that … stuff ups. Rarely are business "trying to get you" by sneaking in a 10c price hike at the register.
Try out what I mentioned below on a self serve kiosk to order your food. Check the initial price vs actual/final price.
Where should I go? What should I try out? People have speculated this is McD, but is that what you're talking about?
Go ahead and try there. Please let me know if my observation is correct. I'm at 6147. I have yet to check at another place as I don't visit fast food often.
Shame them on their FB page, how else will the Karens get fuel for the fire?
Nahh.. not too keen to get into social media to get this blown out of proportion.
It's the easiest way to do something without actually doing anything, and it will get their attention.
I just want an extinguisher and not fuel.
Here's one I haven't been able to work out. Lotto tickets, ie OzLotto 1 game is $1.30, yet 2 games is $2.65, 10 games is $13.20 etc…
Perhaps that has to do with rounding up or down. So, 1 game is actually $1.32.. so rounded down to $1.30; 2 games is $2.64 so so rounded up to $2.65.. and so on.
What over-charging?
It could be an oversight.
It could be deliberate fraud.
Write an email seeking an explanation and inform you seek to be reimbursed…. or take to Tribunal
That's why I stated "perhaps done unknowingly". Most of these big chains run on centralised and computerised pricing.. so something updated to the menu screen but not the pricing screen or vice versa? I don't know.. just guessing.
For all who are interested, go to self serve kiosk and order a Set A, whatever set you like.. Next, take note of the first price stated.. Then, click/follow thru the order and don't change anything.. Finally check the final price that will be charged.
Guessing by context above this is McDonalds. It's probably not some conspiracy but an error somewhere. Just speak to a manager and let them know there's an error and that there might be elsewhere too. I'm sure they'll report it up the chain and get it fixed.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to be against McDonalds (health, environment, staff treatment, etc). But price deception? Nah, I don't buy it. This is either a misunderstanding by OP or a mistake that they will fix (and maybe give you a 30c soft serve as compensation).
I might just verify if this error/observation is occurring at another branch. Then ask the manager.
Explain.