Recently a restaurant in Tennessee charged a woman to use the restroom who was not a customer. An employee as The Flood Zone in Erin, Tenn. was asked by Patricia Barnes if she could use the facilities.
She received a bill for $5. Barnes said she didn’t see the sign that says the business would charge anyone who wasn’t a customer.
One can’t blame the business. The $5 seems a little steep, but maybe they could have a graduated pricing for different jobs.
The restaurant has to pay someone to clean that restroom and pay for water and upkeep and maintenance as well as soap and paper towels.
In Europe, it is very common to have to pay to use the water closet.
Barnes said she did not see the sign warning her she would have to pay should have still warned her she would get a bill.
The restaurant should be clearly stating that non-customers have to pay, and employees should be informing the non-customers.
The restaurant has a right to set their own rules, and if the customers doesn’t like it, they can take their business elsewhere. There is an assumption that the restaurant is really a great restaurant or that they lack customer service skills or are in an extremely small town with a lack of other options.
Most adults have some choice about when and what they drink and when and where they have to go. It would have been cheaper to become a customer where by buying something to go. Plus, it would just be common courtesy to purchase something.
That said, charging somebody to use the bathroom is not very friendly. If the attitude carries throughout the business, it probably won’t be in business very long.
There could be some facts unknown, such as this woman did this 10 times a month and never purchases anything. That would definitely be abusing the kindness of others.
There is no such thing as a free lunch, ever, anywhere at any time-except maybe from one’s mother and that may even come with strings.
Karen La Pierre