should you pay extra for no ice in your beverage?

[Robin Garr]

According to the customer, "the manager's excuse for charging me .40 for NO ICE was because since it's HAPPY HOUR, we are getting twice the amount of product with no ice, so they HAVE to charge extra."

This makes sense to me. It would take a real inflated sense of entitlement to demand otherwise. Of course, they could always give the customer a glass with no ice, half-full of liquid. That would be fair, too.

It's 40 cents! Seriously, it's not like they're charging her for another full beverage. I think it's fair because they're putting more product in the glass. (The ice at sonic is 3/4 the reason I ever go there..easy to crunch without killing my teeth!)

This is a hard one to me - half the time at fast food places it seems like they try to screw you by packing those cups as full of ice as possible leaving very little room for the actual drink.

But in the end... It's 40 cents. Honestly the customer probably got MORE than twice the drink. I'd likely be a little miffed if i was charged unexpectedly but all this person bought was the drink so they knew what they were paying before they took the item and accepted that price. I'd say they likely got their money's worth and they willingly paid the price so I'm having a hard time seeing the problem here.

Sonic's not on my list of places to frequent, so I just don't know: are refills free? If they are, the guy was out of line to charge more. If not, it should be disclosed prior to sale, but then fine (his choice to charge; my choice whether to come back or not).

In many restaurants I've been charged more for a drink "on the rocks" or "straight" rather than with a mixer, and usually it does have more actual alcohol (making it worthwhile), but don't want to revisit the long thread of a year or so ago . . .

No. Even at half price fountain sodas more than pay for themselves. This guy is cutting off his nose to spite his face. I wouldn't go there, and I like my sodas with ice.

Given the incredibly low cost of soda syrup, it is actually quite likely that the ice costs more per volume than the soda itself. Even if it doesn't, the cost difference is a matter of pennies, and if you gain 40 cents to lose a repeat customer, you have made a bad move.

Given the incredibly low cost of soda syrup, it is actually quite likely that the ice costs more per volume than the soda itself. Even if it doesn't, the cost difference is a matter of pennies, and if you gain 40 cents to lose a repeat customer, you have made a bad move.

Yep. That's what I was trying to say!

It doesn't seem like it costs pennies, when you get a $320 invoice along with the delivery!!

Given the incredibly low cost of soda syrup, it is actually quite likely that the ice costs more per volume than the soda itself. Even if it doesn't, the cost difference is a matter of pennies, and if you gain 40 cents to lose a repeat customer, you have made a bad move.

Yep. That's what I was trying to say!

[Robin Garr]

... if you gain 40 cents to lose a repeat customer, you have made a bad move.

Even if the customer is known to you to be picky and a pain?

... if you gain 40 cents to lose a repeat customer, you have made a bad move.

Even if the customer is known to you to be picky and a pain?

I don't follow... ...Please elaborate.

It doesn't seem like it costs pennies, when you get a $320 invoice along with the delivery!!

Given the incredibly low cost of soda syrup, it is actually quite likely that the ice costs more per volume than the soda itself. Even if it doesn't, the cost difference is a matter of pennies, and if you gain 40 cents to lose a repeat customer, you have made a bad move.

Yep. That's what I was trying to say!

Well, see, you have to add up what you make from it, minus what you pay for it. If you're not making more than you're paying for it, you must raise your prices. But all across the board, not just for people who don't want ice. (imo)

http://forums.louisvillehotbytes.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11289&hilit=ice+beverage+no

Didn't we already do this once?

The percentage of customers who ask for no ice versus the cost really makes the point moot to me...

[Robin Garr]

I don't follow... ...Please elaborate.

Seems pretty clear to me, Steve. The customer is usually right, but in specific cases, I could understand a restaurateur's decision to tell a particular customer to move on down the road without deeply mourning the loss.

Seems pretty clear to me, Steve. The customer is usually right, but in specific cases, I could understand a restaurateur's decision to tell a particular customer to move on down the road without deeply mourning the loss.

It's always a two-way street. Even though the bulk of my working life was in manufacturing and we broke our backs to please, sometimes there was a customer that was not worth encouraging to stay after extreme effort. I recall more than one occasion when X Corp had decided to move their business to a rival and we actually celebrated as we knew they'd be such a millstone around their necks that it would help us and hurt the competitor's bottom line. The poor suckers just didn't realize what a black hole the clueless sales staff had saddled them with. In manufacturing this was not a casual 'go here today, go here tomorrow' deal but more a long term commitment of resources. Live & learn. Case by case. The business is not always right. Nor is the customer. And sometimes it's better they just part ways. Still, it's good to hear the details particularly if both sides chime in so the public can make an informed decision about what is or is not on a comfort level for the customer.

I also prefer ice-free non-alcoholic beverages, though for breakfast it isn't usually an issue (coffee, thanks) and for dinner never is. Beer never has ice so dinner isn't a problem, only lunch. Luckily a lot of 'quicky' places like Subway, etc., allow you to pay for a beverage and "have it your way" by doing it yourself. Definitely if 'no ice' is a priority, guys, head for the self-serve beverage places! Sometimes I mix caffeine-free Diet Coke with regular caffeinated Diet Coke for lunch. Hasn't caused the universe to implode yet.

Has nobody introduced you to the Polar Pop at Circle K's? any size 69 cents plus tax and you have like 14 choices. Thortons has icees for 89 cents any size. Goes great with 99 cent taco bell bean burritos.