Shops are reopening after COVID-19, and some are adding a new line to your bill to pay for it

BC Salon reopened with price gouging

COVID-19 Surcharge

9thGenCivicSi wrote: ↑ BC Salon reopened with price gouging

COVID-19 Surcharge

Because of this "The salon has a rigorous policy of using face masks, sanitizers and other cleaning products, and those all come at a cost."

9thGenCivicSi wrote: ↑ BC Salon reopened with price gouging

COVID-19 Surcharge

Yabbut this issue is much broader than salons or BC or even just PPE.

Imagine what the airlines will be able to do with a C-19 surcharge. You'll not only have to pay for PPE but also for all the empty seats around you that are needed to comply with physical distancing. And that will be on top of the "temporary" "fuel" surcharges that are still being charged even with record low oil prices.

So yeah, ISTM that this broader discussion does belong in the Shopping Discussion forum.

This is why having a bald cut is the best. DIY, zero cost, zero surcharge. Now if I can find a way to pay myself for 10 minutes. *welp* Saved myself $120 year from having a barber do it and that's el cheapo chinatown.

cgtlky wrote: ↑ Because of this "The salon has a rigorous policy of using face masks, sanitizers and other cleaning products, and those all come at a cost."

Question is does customer want to pay?

smartie wrote: ↑ Question is does customer want to pay?

If you have no one to cut your hair (you can not cut it yourself properly), Do you have any other option ?

Understandable that retailers need to raise prices because of increased costs, but they should just RAISE the PRICE, not advertise one price and then tack on extra charges afterwards. Imagine how far this might go if every type of business expense was tacked on afterwards instead of being built into the price:

Item advertised cost: $29.99
$2.00 COVID fee
$0.60 janitorial fee
$1.15 rent and property tax surcharge
$0.10 electricity and gas charges
$0.09 water bill
$0.47 employee benefit plan
$0.15 elevator inspection and maintenance fee
$0.10 fire safety equipment and maintenance costs
$0.90 insurance premium surcharge
$4.27 GST and PST

Total $39.82

This should all be illegal. In most of the world it's even illegal to tack on sales taxes afterwards, they must be included in the sticker price. Canada/USA are outliers with this.

jackrabbit000 wrote: ↑ Trudeau is paying for their rent and 75% of their wages and whatever else and these businesses/companies are still trying to screw you with this covid surcharge. Unreal.

No tip. The tip is the surcharge for keeping me "safe". Point blank.

Third thread started (in three different forums) on the same topic.

May 20th
bc-salon-reopened-price-gouging-2377201/

May 22nd
covid-19-surcharge-2377734/

Gotta laugh at those people that think a hair cut is an essential service and can be gauged. Like most prices, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

cgtlky wrote: ↑ If you have no one to cut your hair (you can not cut it yourself properly), Do you have any other option ?

You have several options:
1. Use a trimmer on a short setting for a crew cut.
2. Shave your head.
3. Let your hair grow.

Related question. Some men go to a barbershop to get their face shaved or their beard trimmed. How are barbers going to do that stuff while the customer is wearing a face mask?

These salon places were a rip off before the pandemic. They are just doing this for free advertising from the online "outrage".

Are they a car dealership? Why have an add on a fee when you're really just increasing your pricing? Total bs imo, there should be laws for stores to show all in pricing, (cell phones, cars, ticketmaster).

Kiraly wrote: ↑ Understandable that retailers need to raise prices because of increased costs, but they should just RAISE the PRICE, not advertise one price and then tack on extra charges afterwards. Imagine how far this might go if every type of business expense was tacked on afterwards instead of being built into the price:

Item advertised cost: $29.99
$2.00 COVID fee
$0.60 janitorial fee
$1.15 rent and property tax surcharge
$0.10 electricity and gas charges
$0.09 water bill
$0.47 employee benefit plan
$0.15 elevator inspection and maintenance fee
$0.10 fire safety equipment and maintenance costs
$0.90 insurance premium surcharge
$4.27 GST and PST

Total $39.82

This should all be illegal. In most of the world it's even illegal to tack on sales taxes afterwards, they must be included in the sticker price. Canada/USA are outliers with this.

Don't forget the tip on top of all that

Honestly ...
I get these are crazy times
Covid has definitely changed the way things need to operate

So I am ok ... with an added fee due to the circumstances
And I much prefer it added on as an extra
Haircut $ 29.99
Covid Fed = $ 10.00 (to cover PPE, Physical Distancing / Less Staff + Less Customers etc)
Total = $ 39.99

As long as AFTER this all is over ... the place goes back to charging $ 29.99 for the haircut

Much better, than the guy who jumps up his price now to $ 39+ and never ever brings it back down in the future
Cuz he never had any intention to give up that 33% price increase ... and THATS THE DEFINITION OF PRICE GOUGING

Truth is ... these are unprecedented times
People need to make decisions on what they will pay for anything under a new light

Would I pay $ 39+ for a haircut (vs $ 29.99 )

Depends how much I feel I need one.
Maybe yes now ... 10 weeks since shutdown
But maybe not a month from now

So maybe I look around for a new barber ... or what other places are charging
Or I just decide to go less often ... Than I used to
Afterall, I managed to survive 10 weeks so far

So as @engineered said as Consumers ... we all have choices on how we spend our money
And what we deem important / essential to spend it on

engineered wrote: ↑ Gotta laugh at those people that think a hair cut is an essential service and can be gauged. Like most prices, if you don't like it, don't buy it.

I may pay more for groceries to eat right now ... cuz of the Covid Craziness factor

But a hair cut ... ya probably not

bylo wrote: ↑ You have several options:
1. Use a trimmer on a short setting for a crew cut.
2. Shave your head.
3. Let your hair grow.

Related question. Some men go to a barbershop to get their face shaved or their beard trimmed. How are barbers going to do that stuff while the customer is wearing a face mask?

Basically, I am just talking about "JUST HAIRCUT", so I don't have a problem with wearing a mask and the barber/hairdresser wearing a mask and a pair of gloves while cutting my hair.

Only the rich and lazy people go to barber shop to have their beard/face hair shaved/trimmed. I can do those using the old fashion razor.

This is complete BS these places should be lucky they are allowed to reopen and not screw customers by charging bogus COVID19 fees. They need to understand this is the new norm and it's the cost of doing business.

cgtlky wrote: ↑ If you have no one to cut your hair (you can not cut it yourself properly), Do you have any other option ?

Of course you have. Like coffee, you used to pay espresso and now you just pay regular coffee like tall dark. You still go to shop but inly buy less expensive one. Same for other services

And you can go less often .

There are always options.

carmaster wrote: ↑ This is complete BS these places should be lucky they are allowed to reopen and not screw customers by charging bogus COVID19 fees. They need to understand this is the new norm and it's the cost of doing business.

Let me ask you, if the barbers and the customer will not wear mask then both of you will have the risk of contacting the virus. Assuming you really need a hair cut, are you willing to go in the barber shop without a mask (or you have mask and the barber do not have mask ?) , are you willing to seat on the chair without being disinfect/clean after a previous customer seat there already?

cgtlky wrote: ↑ Let me ask you, if the barbers and the customer will not wear mask then both of you will have the risk of contacting the virus. Assuming you really need a hair cut, are you willing to go in the barber shop without a mask (or you have mask and the barber do not have mask ?) , are you willing to seat on the chair without being disinfect/clean after a previous customer seat there already?

First of all I wouldn't go to the barber during this time. It's just stupid, simple as that. It's the cost of doing business for them. If they don't follow protocols you can report them and they will be forced to close. It's like saying they are going to add an electricity cost, supplies cost, materials cost. Just increase the price but don't add a stupid surcharge to the bill. Now is not the time to piss off customers because they are struggling as is and not doing any favors to themselves.