Covid19 surcharge? Yes or No?

They can charge what they want but the way I see it is that it's a tax of sorts and like taxes it just keeps me even more away from their stores.

It's so collasally stupid the owners don't even know all they are harming is themselves

Add a tip jar for Covid. It's a much better idea

i buy most of my stuff online which shouldn't have a surcharge per se. i don't mind if there's a slight surcharge but i'll be more mindful in what i buy. things already went up a buck or two anyway

Personally, I get it
These are TOUGH TIMES all around cuz of Covid

Esp so for any small biz owners

So personally, I don’t have a problem if a place is up front about stuff costing them more
Tack on a Covid Fee
Just don’t surprise me with it
Hang up a sign

Covid Fee = $ X to be added to your bill ... Before Taxes

At least then I know what’s up

The $ 29.99 haircut is still $ 29.99 ... and will be $ 29.99 for the foreseeable future
It’s just now in the short term ... with everyone physical distancing, wearing PPE, and sanitizing like crazy
There will be $ X added to my bill to pay for all that necessary inconvenience
(Remember all these changes are MANDATED BY PUBLIC HEALTH ... not like a biz can skip out on them )

Soon as the coast is clear though
We go back to $ 29.99 ... a full salon, and how things were BC (Before Covid)

My worry is ...
No Clear Cut Covid Fee posted ... just that a haircut is $ 39.99
And well, we’ll never go back to seeing $ 29.99
Cuz the world will just accept this all as the new normal

If we are going to fight Covid together
Then we also need to fight any possibility of gouging or inflation together as well

* Note should operate the same way as a Fuel Surcharge does.
And yes, I expect it ... as Covid has impacted the way many / ALL bizs are going to operate
Plane holds 33% fewer pax ... I expect there’s a cost to that
Not gonna like that added cost ... but will appreciate we aren’t all slammed in like sardines
Air ticket or haircut ... reality is the same ... neither are ESSENTIALS ... I can choose to buy or travel
I assume many will choose not to
Same with Restaurants ... like we’ve already seen with take out. Many choose not to
Those that do ... May very well have to pay a premium cuz of the cost of doing biz / providing that service

sumtimw0ng wrote: ↑ i buy most of my stuff online which shouldn't have a surcharge per se. i don't mind if there's a slight surcharge but i'll be more mindful in what i buy. things already went up a buck or two anyway

Online stuff is just marked up. Look at Amazon, lots of stuff is much more expensive and you don't even get Prime shipping even though you've paid for it.

Personally adding a COVID19 fee is dumb. They should just increase they their prices as their costs have risen and their sales are down.

Wait until the Fiberals implement their COVID surcharge next year..

ferkel wrote: ↑ Wait until the Fiberals implement their COVID surcharge next year..

extra 5% gst and extra 5% income tax as covid surcharge?

divx wrote: ↑ extra 5% gst and extra 5% income tax as covid surcharge?

GST increase will never be 5% = 10% new rate
Public would never stand for that

Gonna go up a percent or two ... 3 at worst case scenario
Even that (8% ) I think won’t fly

Happy to pay a surcharge to support the small businesses I frequent. It's either that or they can put up their prices permanently. A lot of small businesses won't survive this and all we will be left with are companies likes pizza pizza and Walmart. So if you ever like eating out in nice places or getting your hair cut in the corner hairdresser, I wouldn't grumble too much about an extra % for a year to help them cover their costs. Fortunately this hasn't affected our business cost wise so we be adding it.

While many are strapped for cash these days I understand not liking it but accepting it is just reality.

Not only due to cleaning supplies and masks (if places can even find them!), but less customers in stores at a time or per day, potentially more staff in order to correctly sanitize etc., price hikes from the suppliers of their products due to various factors... It is a cascading effect and it's either pass on the costs or close shop for many businesses.

Karala wrote: ↑ While many are strapped for cash these days I understand not liking it but accepting it is just reality.

Not only due to cleaning supplies and masks (if places can even find them!), but less customers in stores at a time or per day, potentially more staff in order to correctly sanitize etc., price hikes from the suppliers of their products due to various factors... It is a cascading effect and it's either pass on the costs or close shop for many businesses.

The issue is that with every price increase you lose customers. If business passes to much of the cost onto consumers they'll shut down, especially smaller businesses. Business owners cannot charge customers more to keep their profits the same, losses will have to happen.

jacnel wrote: ↑ The issue is that with every price increase you lose customers. If business passes to much of the cost onto consumers they'll shut down, especially smaller businesses. Business owners cannot charge customers more to keep their profits the same, losses will have to happen.

They may not need to close if customers accept this is reality. I doubt a surcharge is going to make up for their losses, but maybe help to meet them half way to keeping them afloat.

Karala wrote: ↑ They may not need to close if customers accept this is reality. I doubt a surcharge is going to make up for their losses, but maybe help to meet them half way to keeping them afloat.

With smaller business I'm more willing to meet halfway but at the end of the day business is business and not all have to survive.

They should give us a %10 discount for being a customer.

lol. Are stores gonna start acting like they’re selling airfare tickets:

$2.99 Covid Surcharge
$1.76 Kitchen supply delivery fee
$2.26 handling fee
$5.39 restaurant opening fee
$9.78 mandatory customer charge.

secretalcoholic wrote: ↑ lol. Are stores gonna start acting like they’re selling airfare tickets:

$2.99 Covid Surcharge
$1.76 Kitchen supply delivery fee
$2.26 handling fee
$5.39 restaurant opening fee
$9.78 mandatory customer charge.

Disposal fee? Where does it end? Seriously ridiculous. These small businesses need to understand it's the cost of doing business.

secretalcoholic wrote: ↑lol. Are stores gonna start acting like they’re selling airfare tickets:

$2.99 Covid Surcharge
$1.76 Kitchen supply delivery fee
$2.26 handling fee
$5.39 restaurant opening fee
$9.78 mandatory customer charge.

carmaster wrote: ↑ Disposal fee? Where does it end? Seriously ridiculous. These small businesses need to understand it's the cost of doing business.

But then they will say,” we will have to close our company if we don’t charge these fees. Because of Covid19, we had to stay closed for several weeks with no income. We are getting less customers as usual. We have a family to feed.”

Thatdealguy wrote: ↑ But then they will say,” we will have to close our company if we don’t charge these fees. Because of Covid19, we had to stay closed for several weeks with no income. We are getting less customers as usual. We have a family to feed.”

There’s no winning. Soon restaurants will start charging in anticipation of the next pandemic.

$6.99 Next Pandemic Surcharge

Is this another case only in center of the universe? I don't see anything happening out here.

divx wrote: ↑ Is this another case only in center of the universe? I don't see anything happening out here.

No, will happen everywhere business are reopening.

Some businesses in Alberta and British Columbia are already implementing COVID-19 surcharges in businesses such as hair salons and dentist offices and it appears some Ontario proprietors are considering it.

A Winnipeg hair salon owner told CBC News she added a $2 surcharge to clients’ bills to help pay for supplies such as masks and sanitizer. Passing on some of those costs to consumers is reasonable as long as businesses are upfront about it, a marketing expert said.