i will win plonker of the year award here is how i lost 90 bucks!!!
By yanjiaren
@yanjiaren (9031)
April 30, 2007 6:02am CST
Well if there was a grand joke played on me it was done yesterday. I don't know whether to laugh or cry lol, but it is funny. But it wasn't funny for my bank balance!
I took my son and another friend to the West End, the centre of London as I had promised for a long time and my son was so excited because he was getting his first pair of Converse shoes, my goodness they are so comfortable and some other bits. He is a growing lad now and is getting into wanting to look smart. Anyway we decided to go to Chinatown to eat some great Chinese food. We all love Chinese food. We were looking at the carious menus outside of each restaurant and then a man out side of one said come, look, this one cheap cheap, only £12.5 for three people set menu. I thought by Golly that is cheap and better than going to McDonald's lol. Included in the menu was crispy duck and hoi sin sauce, we all love that, yummy. So we went inside and started eating our food merrily, I thought lovely £12.50 another 2.5 in tips, for a fiver each we will eat well.
Oh dear when the bill arrived it was a flaming £44.50!!!
I was shocked but begrudgingly paid the bill, I didn't want to question it. Even on the menu it said 12%0 set meal for three. It didn't stated 12% per head!!!
Their wording was very misleading.
I was a bit shocked but the food was really nice and we had had a great day and my Son was really happy so that was all that mattered. Now I will be eating noodles all week to economize lol.
Has any thing like this happened to you? I felt such a dunce man, really.
12 people like this
16 responses
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
30 Apr 07
This is strange.
If it is in Singapore, and the menu says £12.5 for three people set menu, it means exactly that. 3 people eat and pay £12.5 in all.
You should have clarified. And if they explain it in a very dishonest way, at least you know they are out to cheat you. Avoid that stall in future and caution any who would listen.
4 people like this
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
30 Apr 07
Tell me about it, I hardly ever go out and spend on a luxury, so this was an unwanted hole in my pocket!!
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (169590)
• United States
30 Apr 07
Oh, friend, I am glad you had a day out with your son and his friends. Those are priceless, but sorry you got shilled. I was afraid that perhaps you gave info to the wrong people. Enjoy your noodles. I wish all of my financial problems could be settled by eating noodles for awhile. LOL Have a great week.
3 people like this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
30 Apr 07
This happened to me alot when I was new at traveling. They immidiately spotted u as a tourist and did all the could to get you in, even lie.
Now I am alot more smart and I would never pay for something they told me would be free or another price.
Atleast your son was happy.. did he also get the shoes - or did you eat them as well *lol*
1 person likes this
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
30 Apr 07
he got his shoes and he is soo happy, he looked so cute in them.
1 person likes this
@raphael_volts (1131)
• India
30 Apr 07
Really funny...
Not just because what happened to you but because the same thing has happened to me a lot of times before when I used to eat out. Sometimes when I used to go to some shop thinking that I have a lot of money... you know shops and restaurents like Costa Coffee and Cafe Coffee day etc.. so it goes like I went there with 300 bucks in my hand and I saw the thing. It was a nice black choclate truffle cake and I just couldn't resist. I went and placed my order and while doing the same the boy standing there, who was taking the order, suggested me to add a scoop of vanila icecream with the truffle cake saying its just 25 more. The way he said just 25 it felt like its nothing and I though I have lot of money left and so I orderd for a smoothie as well and when I finished the bill came up to be 234 bucks and seeing that I was just awestruck. Man I did such a big blooper and I couldn't help myself any more so I had to stay broke the weak.
Any ways there a lot more same stories with me happening every no and then as I have this problem thta I can't manage money once I am out spending.
Take Care
May GOD Bless YOU YANI
@raphael_volts (1131)
• India
30 Apr 07
Ya surely after all these sales men just want to lure some more money... LOLZ hmm hmm
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
I haven't encountered such incident yet. When I dined in a restaurant, I make sure to check all the prices listed. I find your situation strange though. If I were you, I will questioned them right away. I need to know how they come up with the total bill. I will insist that they explain to me clearly. I hate this kind of set up. Misleading people only to pry us of our hard earned money.
2 people like this
@rusty2rusty (6771)
• Defiance, Ohio
1 May 07
Yes, I have had this done to me while I went grocery shopping at the local Wal-mart. They would have something listed as a certain price. i would double check to make sure I was getting the right item. Than it would ring up a different higher price all together. Most times I watch and pay attention. Than go to customer service and have them either take the item back or give me the sale price listed. resulting in me getting my money back. But of course they caught me on a day that my bad leg was bothering me pretty bad and I had to be somewhere at a certain time. By time I realized it I was over charged by 20 bucks....so not cool.
1 person likes this
@mkup30 (494)
• United States
1 May 07
geez that's really unfair and im sorry that happened to you. it seems really dishonest and unfair and I would turn them in. I mean they are in a sense stealing good people's money. I am glad u and your son enjoyed it though, at least there is that. Fortunately something like this has never happened to me eyt and hopefully it wont but who knows? It might! I mean there are many people out there just trying to steal money from innocent folks so BUT I hope we do not fall prey to them....
1 person likes this
@aidonia (4209)
• Greece
30 Apr 07
Sorry my friend to hear what happened to you but.....I really will kill to be there and see your face when you first saw the bill.After all you was lucky to have the 90 bucks with you lol:Just forget the bill and keep at your memory only the happy day you spend with your son...
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
30 Apr 07
It was a great day, and the food was good..pesane ta mutra mu lol..
2 people like this
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
1 May 07
I hate this when stores take customer's money by doing tricks like that. Not only restaurant, but other stores and credit card company also do tricks like this that at first time you will think like you are getting a good deal. But actually there are some hidden things which will cost you way more. I am sorry that that happens to you.
No, till now I have not fallen in that kind of trcks. But yes, we get lots of offer of that kind from online stores as well as ofline what looks very nice at the first look.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
30 Apr 07
I wouldn't have paid it, from the way you tell it the man led you to believe it was one price when it was another and if it says that on the menu that is an offer of contract and legally enforceable. At least it is here in UK and I am sure it is too in most civilised countries
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
1 May 07
There's a wonderful old phrase that comes to mind here
"There's no such thing as a free lunch"
I used to live in London so I know just how expensive it can be, but I'm sorry the day was soured for you by such a huge rip off.
@romel_ece (1290)
• Philippines
4 May 07
Oops sorry to hear that.But on the other hand I thin your experience is very funny and it's worth learning experience though.I think the only reason why you paid that much was that the wording was so misleading to the costumers.lol
1 person likes this
@kming52 (280)
• China
1 May 07
yes,my friends have met something like this before,but i havn't met those odd things myself.My cousin sister bought some candies by the road for 600RMB for half a kilogram at last the first day she came to Shanghai for college but she was told to pay it for only 60RMB .And she was somewhat irrated ,it almost came into a qurral.But she had to pay for it.The words was very misleading as well.Some body can easily be irritated.
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26770)
• United Kingdom
30 Apr 07
You are certainly NOT a dunce, it is their fault that their menu was misleading and they gave you the wrong information, obviously purposely to lure you in afterwards under false pretences. I would have challenged them afterwards, never when you've still go food to eat or to come because you don't know what they do to the meal. Although they probably plead ignorance and say it was your fault, so you may be right, most people only get caught once but you do feel 'stupid' afterwards and a lot of us have been in that situation. At least the food was good and there's nothing worse than creating a scene especially if you are with your son or relatives!
1 person likes this
@Gmens91 (389)
• Philippines
30 Apr 07
I went to the mall last week and went inside one of the stalls. The stall had a sale going on, and I particularly liked a shirt. It was 50% off, and I was so happy for my good luck. I immediately grabbed it, since there many people in the store and got in line. When it was my turn to pay, the sales clerk asked me for the full payment. Confused, I told her that it was on sale. She told me that only shirts with red tags on them were on sale, and mine didnt have it. I was holding up the line and the clerk had already punched in the shirt and removed the tag. So I had no choice but to pay for the full price. Now get this: I went in the store today, and the shirt IS now on sale!!
1 person likes this
