What does a restaurant charge for the cost increase in the price of a lift

Recently, the general level of prices in some areas of China has risen faster. Behind these "rising" voices, is the rising cost leading to higher prices? Or individual businesses follow the bandwagon and drive up prices?　　Reporter into the catering, consumer goods and other industries, in-depth analysis of the real reasons for price changes, to explore the practical means of price control and management of inflation expectations of an effective way. -Since the beginning of the year, more and more customers in the restaurant checkout, found that their own bill more than a "service charge", the amount of money charged for each of the 5 yuan, 10 yuan, a lot of the whole meal charge of 10% or even higher. When consumers ask questions, businesses often move out of "price increases", "rules", "internal regulations" and other excuses perfunctory. Does the service charge in the restaurant comply with the relevant requirements? What is the standard of collection?　　What does the general consumer think about this? -without permission to charge the service fee, is not raise prices openly? Beijing Chaoyang District Xinguang World Commercial building six floor of Ding Tai Fung restaurant outside, recently added a sign: "Our shop plus 10% service charge." It is understood that the restaurant is known for operating Taiwan's small cage bag, starting from February 1 to charge service fees.　　According to a survey of a consumer web site, the restaurant's per capita consumption of about hundred yuan, 10% of the service charge per meal, is not a small sum.　　Many of the old customers have a question: how to operate a snack restaurant how to learn star hotel, open a service charge? Ding Tai Fung Staff's explanation is: after the surcharge, the restaurant will start to provide free tea for customers, and before the tea is charged.　　But the fact is, before the service charge, consumers can choose to drink tea or do not drink tea, you can freely choose to dig or not to dig tea fee; In addition, Ding Tai Fung has previously introduced a stored value card, consumers can be stored in advance and obtain a certain amount of coupons. Many customers just put a lot of money in Cary for this offer. Now the sudden increase in service charges, so that the previous grant has actually become a merchant to the customer's stored value of the "Left hand down right" game, this makes some customers quite dissatisfied: "I deposit 3000 yuan, according to 10% percentage coupons that 300 yuan coupons, plus 10% service charge, equal to the 300 yuan coupons and back to the restaurant." Early know that the service charge now, would not have to do the card will not come to this restaurant, want to return the card and retreat, can only bite the bullet, feel their own consumption ' kidnapped '! "The price has not changed, but additional service charge, this is not raise prices openly or mandatory consumption?" When we asked this question, Ding Tai Fung staff said: "Now what does not price ah, it is not only our one service charge." "Ding Tai Fung next to an upscale Cantonese restaurant Jade restaurants, there has been a 10% service charge notice."　　In the face of our inquiries, the restaurant service staff gave the answer and Ding Tai Fung employees the same. The interview found that the restaurant charges a lot of services, random very strong. We are in the East Dongzhimen near a main restaurant of Sichuan cuisineDuring the meal, you are told to pay an additional 15% service charge for bringing your own drinks.　　However, according to the documents from the Beijing Development and Reform Commission website, the Beijing Municipal special catering enterprises can increase the service charge by 15%, and the other catering enterprises which have obtained the tourist spot qualification can increase the service charge by 10%, and the above few restaurants are excluded. "It is also unreasonable to accept that the service charge is a form of lift and forced consumption." But we always have to pay the bill Ah, even if we do not want to, can only be paid.　　"A consumer says reluctantly when he checks out." -Is rising costs a reason to charge a service charge? Many restaurants are citing "rising prices" as a reason for charging fees. Arguably, the price of food sold in restaurants should already contain all the costs of raw materials, labor, utilities, and waiters ' salaries. If the cost increases because of the rising price, why does the merchant not raise the price of the food directly, instead of taking the "circuitous" means of charging the service fee? Food and beverage practitioner Mr. Wang dissected the "mystery": "Some businesses receive service fees, that is, by the name of rising costs, hitchhiking to earn more consumer money." Mr Wang said that in the face of rising costs, some businesses would rather charge a surcharge than adjust the price of the food, mainly because of the worry that if the food price rises directly, it may reduce the consumption amount of the consumer when eating. "If you increase the price of each dish by 10%, the customer will be too expensive, and you will have to eat less." However, if this part of the rising price is included in the service charge, consumers will often not take into account the cost of service, look at the price of the food in front of them, or spend as much as before, but in the end they will have to pay an additional service charge. Mr Wang believes that despite the recent high cost of raw materials, but for the original profit margins in the high-end restaurants, the price of raw materials brought about by the pressure is not big. "Even if the cost rises, it is impossible to artificially, hydroelectric, vegetable cost of all aspects of the price is up 10%." Real because of the cost of the price changes, the business should be based on the cost of accounting, the related dishes targeted price adjustment, rather than adopt a ' one-size-fits-all ' uniform charging practice. "In fact, the cost increases, some companies have a completely different coping strategies." The manager of a submarine fishing chain hotpot shop in Chaoyang Road, Beijing, said: We will do some fine-tuning of the price of the dishes in due course, but we will not charge anything other than the cost of the food, because all the service costs have been halved to the price of the food, so even if the price of the food is higher, the customer will feel value for money.　　"And in a Beijing Quanjude roast Duck Restaurant, the lobby manager also said that although they will charge a service fee, but for members and regulars, the restaurant will not regularly in the form of coupons, holiday discounts to offset part of the service charge. -"Shichong" service fee can not ignore the service charge, the package fee, the bottle fee, tea place fee, minimum consumption ... What are the fees and charges for the restaurant, and what are the items that are prohibited by the state?How much water? This makes many diners have no bottom in their hearts.　　In a well-known consumer comments on the website, often can see consumers posted complaints: After dinner in the checkout was suddenly told to add a service charge. Many consumers in the interview said that they do not object to the merchant charges, but what enterprises can receive service fees, how much, should have a clear standard, to be worthy of the services provided to consumers, do not let service fees become a vehicle to raise money to increase the cost of the tool. The key to see the grade and service is not really more than the level of the General restaurant, so that consumers satisfied.　　If the business customers when Tang, free to lift prices, the ultimate injury or corporate reputation and interests. At the Beijing five crossing century tan Fu restaurant dining, Mr. Liu told us: "Relative to the actual quality of service, some restaurant service charges are not the same, not only to change the cutlery needs of the guests themselves, even the food, the bill must be urged several times, not to mention quality service, even basic services are not enjoy.　　"The Ministry of Commerce Research Institute of Consumer Economics, deputy director of Zhaoping, China has not at present the catering enterprises to charge the behavior of a clear provision, so there is a regulatory gap, to some enterprises to lift prices to provide an opportunity." Zhaoping said: "Businesses in the collection of service fees must be done to inform the obligation to ensure consumer choice and the right to know." According to the Ministry of Commerce issued in 2007, "catering business norms", the interbank fee, the minimum consumption, open bottle fees will be in the restaurant charges are expressed, if not in advance to inform the customer, in the bill only said to collect service fees, customers can complain to the relevant departments. "It is understood that the earlier due to the charges caused by the lawsuit, the merchant lost the reason is also due to not fulfill the obligation to inform consumers in advance."　　Now, some places have passed the introduction of local regulations and other measures to stop the charging of service fees and other acts. The former deputy Secretary-General of China Consumer Association, vice president of the China Institute of Commodities, Wugauhan, said that the hotel is not at liberty to charge service charges.　　Because the price of the hotel dishes should already include the service charge, the hotel in the name of the rising costs of additional service charges, suspected of repeated charges, mandatory consumption. Wugauhan said: "The restaurant is to provide food and beverage services, the way the service charges are included in the food prices, so should not charge a service charge." "For the business" Restaurant has been expressly expressed in advance the consumer charges service, payment service fee becomes the voluntary behavior of the consumer "the so-called" Express is reasonable ", Wugauhan not recognized, he said:" The "Overlord clause" is express, we can think it is reasonable? ”