Peter Jankowski
2020-05-15 04:35:38 UTC
A $2.19 coronavirus surcharge from a restaurant in Missouri caused a
backlash on social media this month.
Scuse me what? A covid surcharge ? someone tweeted of a Kiko Japanese
Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge patron's receipt showing a covid 19 surcharge.
The tweet quickly went viral with people upset by the extra charge, The
New York Post reported.
Talia
@talialikeitis
Scuse me ... what? A covid surcharge...?
View image on Twitter
612
10:23 AM - May 11, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
542 people are talking about this
"If I ever see this on a bill I wld not pay it," one user wrote. "Im
tryin to recoup too. Who am I suppose to bill ??? Is this evn legal ?"
But the West Plains restaurant isnt the only establishment adding a
little to the bill. As restaurants struggle to keep their doors open amid
stay-at-home orders, some feel its a necessary addition.
In San Diego, a Mexican restaurant was charging $1 extra for carne asada
due to a meat shortage and in Michigan, a burger place is adding another
dollar to each meal because of foot traffic they've lost, according to FOX
17 in Grand Rapids and KFMB-TV in San Diego.
'COVID-19' SURCHARGE" WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY RESTAURANTS ARE CHARGING IT
And its not just restaurants. A dentists office in Jacksonville, Fla.
reportedly started charging a $10 per appointment fee for personal
protective equipment and in Texas, some hair salons have started adding a
$3 sanitation charge, KTRK-TV in Houston and WJAX-TV reported.
Kikos Steakhouse posted a message on Facebook defending the charge and
stressing it would only be temporary.
We are not trying to hide this surcharge, we choose this option rather
than changing our prices on our menu, this way we can adjust the surcharge
weekly...Weve been putting flyers in front of our restaurant & put the
surcharge on your receipt, today we put more signage. Please understand we
cant control the rising cost of meat,seafood,poultry & produce prices.
The restaurant's owner, Billy Yuzar, tells Fox News that the surcharge is
advertised online, on the restaurants front door, and at the register, so
customers are well aware of it.
We have been transparent about it. Right when you walk into our
restaurant, its there, he said. I made our notice so people read it,
making it bold. 'Please Read Me. And then I put some emoticon.
Yuzar told Fox News the Twitter user who posted the photo wasn't the
patron.
He said he's now worried for his employees and his restaurants
reputation, which he believes is being tarnished with negative reviews
from people in Canada and Texas, who had never even visited the location,
but merely saw the viral photo on Twitter.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
They dont have the facts, but are responding to this [picture on social
media], he said.
Fox News' Alexandra Deabler contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/missouri-restaurants-coronavirus-
surcharge-causes-social-media-backlash
backlash on social media this month.
Scuse me what? A covid surcharge ? someone tweeted of a Kiko Japanese
Steakhouse & Sushi Lounge patron's receipt showing a covid 19 surcharge.
The tweet quickly went viral with people upset by the extra charge, The
New York Post reported.
Talia
@talialikeitis
Scuse me ... what? A covid surcharge...?
View image on Twitter
612
10:23 AM - May 11, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
542 people are talking about this
"If I ever see this on a bill I wld not pay it," one user wrote. "Im
tryin to recoup too. Who am I suppose to bill ??? Is this evn legal ?"
But the West Plains restaurant isnt the only establishment adding a
little to the bill. As restaurants struggle to keep their doors open amid
stay-at-home orders, some feel its a necessary addition.
In San Diego, a Mexican restaurant was charging $1 extra for carne asada
due to a meat shortage and in Michigan, a burger place is adding another
dollar to each meal because of foot traffic they've lost, according to FOX
17 in Grand Rapids and KFMB-TV in San Diego.
'COVID-19' SURCHARGE" WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY RESTAURANTS ARE CHARGING IT
And its not just restaurants. A dentists office in Jacksonville, Fla.
reportedly started charging a $10 per appointment fee for personal
protective equipment and in Texas, some hair salons have started adding a
$3 sanitation charge, KTRK-TV in Houston and WJAX-TV reported.
Kikos Steakhouse posted a message on Facebook defending the charge and
stressing it would only be temporary.
We are not trying to hide this surcharge, we choose this option rather
than changing our prices on our menu, this way we can adjust the surcharge
weekly...Weve been putting flyers in front of our restaurant & put the
surcharge on your receipt, today we put more signage. Please understand we
cant control the rising cost of meat,seafood,poultry & produce prices.
The restaurant's owner, Billy Yuzar, tells Fox News that the surcharge is
advertised online, on the restaurants front door, and at the register, so
customers are well aware of it.
We have been transparent about it. Right when you walk into our
restaurant, its there, he said. I made our notice so people read it,
making it bold. 'Please Read Me. And then I put some emoticon.
Yuzar told Fox News the Twitter user who posted the photo wasn't the
patron.
He said he's now worried for his employees and his restaurants
reputation, which he believes is being tarnished with negative reviews
from people in Canada and Texas, who had never even visited the location,
but merely saw the viral photo on Twitter.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
They dont have the facts, but are responding to this [picture on social
media], he said.
Fox News' Alexandra Deabler contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/missouri-restaurants-coronavirus-
surcharge-causes-social-media-backlash