In a surprising turn of events, a woman recently went out to dinner with friends in Dallas, Texas, only to discover an unexpected charge on her bill. The woman, known as @blondeswhoeat on social media, typically doesn’t pay much attention to bills and simply pays without questioning. However, on this particular occasion, she couldn’t help but notice a “prep” charge on the bill that seemed out of place.
Confused and curious, she decided to share her bill on social media in search of some clarity. She wanted to know if this charge was normal or if she had been taken advantage of. After all, she had never heard of such a charge before. Upon further examination, she realized that the charge was related to the bartender shaking her cocktail.
The woman and her friend had ordered four skinny, spicy margaritas, each priced at $14. However, there was an additional $3 charge labeled as “prep” for each drink. When she inquired about this charge, the server explained that it was for the shaking of the margarita. As a result, the total cost of each drink became $17, which the woman believed should have been clearly stated on the menu.
To her surprise, another drink on the bill had a price tag of $32, with an additional $13 prep charge. The woman couldn’t help but question the logic behind a $13 charge for simply shaking a margarita. She went on to mention that another woman at her table had ordered three cocktails that incurred a $15 prep charge each. What seemed even more perplexing was that the prep charge varied depending on the amount of alcohol in the drink, such as when ordering a double shot.
In total, the woman discovered that there was an additional $80 in prep charges on all of their drinks. Feeling incredulous, she expressed her frustration, exclaiming, “What the F? This place charges to shake your margarita.” The server attempted to justify the charges by explaining that the prep fee was determined by the choice of tequila.
Naturally, social media users were equally shocked and appalled by the woman’s experience. One person, claiming to be a lifelong bartender and bar owner, expressed their outrage, stating that hidden fees for drinks were unacceptable. They believed that such charges should have been disclosed upfront. Another individual chimed in, suggesting that disputing the charges would be the appropriate course of action, especially if the fees were not clearly stated on the menu.
The confusion surrounding the prep charges extended beyond just the fact that they existed. Social media users were puzzled as to why the charges fluctuated based on the quality of tequila. They questioned whether the shaking technique differed between a $3 shake and a $20 shake. Some even proposed that if prep charges were to be implemented, they should be performed tableside for transparency.
Overall, this incident serves as a reminder to carefully examine restaurant bills and question any charges that seem unusual or unexpected. It highlights the importance of transparency in pricing and the need for establishments to clearly communicate any additional fees to their customers.