I'm wondering how common this is around Melbourne. on the 27th of December we purchased three burritos and the total of 97 dollars seemed high to me, so I asked for an itemized paper receipt .
I've heard of a Sunday surcharge but a saturday/ Sunday surcharge seemed new. they also layered on a public holiday surchargeh, however the 27th isn't a holiday that I'm aware of. lastly it seemed odd to add those surcharges together for a total of 26%.
the guy at the register insisted that's the way it's done. I thought I'd take it up with the owner, but i hadn't been there for a few years and it seemed like a new ownership group took over.
Posted by PresentationIcy76
41 Comments
I’ve seen Sunday surcharges, but not seen Saturday ones before and charging a public holiday surcharge on the 27th is robbery.
No it isn’t. They can only charge the highest surcharge, as that’s the penalty that applies to wages.
Businesses then: “We should have the right to open on weekends!”
Businesses now: “We can’t afford to open on weekends!”
Can’t say if it’s normal but it isn’t right.
The fact there was a surcharge and the amount should have had it displayed.
Plus 27th Dec isn’t a public holiday. You should have only been charged the weekend rate.
https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/consumers-and-businesses/products-and-services/business-practices/advertising-and-promotions/pricing
Edit: listed 20% as the max surcharge which isn’t correct.
3 burritos for 100 dollars?
lol what?
Absolutely normal to wait a month and a half to post on Reddit.
Never seen a surcharge of weekend AND public holiday applied on top of it, such a rip off
No, this isn’t normal.
Lots of POS systems don’t automate surcharges, the staff need to turn them on & off.
I presume this is what’s happened & why they are stacked on your bill.
But rich to have both a public holiday surcharge plus a Saturday/Sunday surcharge.
At the very very least they should refund you the public holiday surcharge.
On a slightly related note, I noticed Lobbs Cafe had changed ownership because of their surcharges, reduced quality and reduced portion sizes. It cost me $7.12 for the smallest matcha. Literally the size of the palm of my hand, and I have very small hands, and over $40 for a few sides and a small coffee (because of the Sunday surcharge).
Weekend Surcharge OR Public Holiday Surcharge – both is scummy.
And you’re correct, the 27th is NOT a public holiday.
However, it’s far too late to be disputing this. The time has well and truly lapsed. Next time, pay attention.
post this pic on their google review
Those percentages stacked, so they actually charged you about 28%. Also they charged you 10% extra for your card charge because it was a Saturday. I guess the card machine wanted the christmas break as well.
The 27th isn’t even a public holiday! Bay City is overpriced even without a 26% surcharge. Imagine the margins on this. It’s mostly rice and beans!
You can’t charge a weekend surcharge plus a public holiday surcharge.
Message me if you like, I know the owner and can put you in contact, he’s a really nice guy. I’m sure this was a mistake due to poorly trained staff.
If you can’t pay your staff public holiday rates, then don’t open on public holidays. Simple. I fucking despise the surcharge.
Why did you pay the public holiday surcharge on a non-public holiday? I would’ve insisted it be removed and if need be they could’ve called police or whoever they wanted but I wouldn’t pay it. And as others say, just the one. It’s only one penalty rate they’re paying staff, not two, for working a weekend public holiday (even if it were one).
Surcharge on top of surcharge, this place sure knows how to carrot their customers.
What a horrible receipt to give to a customer. Imagine how it looks for a table of 6
Whatever the $3 misc sale is too. Can’t be extra cheese or guac as it seems to be already included.
Not normal. They can only charge one surcharge, not both. It can’t be public holiday AND weekend
They’ve double dipped and charged you both a weekend surcharge as well as the public holiday surcharge. No, that’s not the usual way it’s done, it’s either of the surcharges not both. Don’t go back.
Not sure but i never been charged for weekend and public. Its only ever been one or the other
They can’t charge public holiday AND sat/sun extra at the same time can they?? Public holidays dont tend to fall on the weekend…
You got bent over.
you cant be charged for weekend AND public holiday. It’s one or the other. This may be an error on their POS or they’re being sneaky. I would flag it with them anyway and see if you can get it back.
27DEC2025 was not a Public Holiday it is just Saturday.
Take it up with the Owner but they are no doubt loving the extra cash.
They are probably having to pay extra to get people to work that day so may feel like they need to boost.
If that is BAU for them, then its the red list.
Not that I go to St Kilda much anymore.
I would have taken it up with the manager when I was there. I think it’s more a case of that surcharge remaining from the Xmas period and if the store had one day or so closed it’s easy to forget if not switched on to the prices. Weekend surcharges can be automatic on the system.
The 27th was a Saturday, so not a public holiday. They screwed you on the public holiday surcharge. I’d be asking for that back
27th of Dec was not a public holiday, just a regular old Saturday.
Go talk to them if something that happened almost two months ago has affected you this much. Get a refund.
Glad ya named and shamed. If the economy slows down on top of cost of living (which is kinda expected), they’ll be wondering where all their customers went. Last weekend we sat down for breakfast and the cheapest item was a $17 ham and cheese croissant with coffees at $4.80. Eggs benny was $30 (not too surprising).
Got up and left. Fed both of us a hardy burger meal each at KFC for $23. Not the same I know but saved prob $40.
Surely pub hol and weekend surcharges can’t be combined lol
Personally, I’d order the same again and then walk away as it arrives.
Oh yea don’t forget tipping culture bad, surcharge culture much better
Charging the public holiday is objectively wrong.
Because it’s not a public holiday. What was their excuse?
This happened to me at Hawker Hall -but it was like $25 or more! they could have advised when seating instead poor waiter timidly pointed to a sign when paying- never going back there again.
You paid more in charges than you did for the first burrito.
Then the second two also have “Misc Sale” $3 on each.
$27+ on top of the actual item costs. That’s insane.
What public holiday is on the 27th of December ?
Surcharges are out of control i had a $400 bill at a restaurant for a birthday surcharge $72.00 on the weekend
Looks like this place has a weekend surcharge, not a Sunday surcharge, but as others have said, there is usually just the one surcharge and not a second extra one just because the public holiday falls on the weekend. Staff are typically not paid extra beyond the time and a half loading for weekend work.
I once visited a steak restaurant that had a minimum charge per person. Our party of 6 (3 adults and 3 kids) ordered enough entrees and mains to more than meet the minimum charge per person. Despite that, the waiter insisted we order a steak each. There was no kid-sized steaks. I asked why would that matter if the total cost of the meal worked out to be higher than their per person minimum multiplied by 6. I asked him to check with his boss. He came back 5 minutes later, said sorry that was the policy. We ordered an extra steak, ate and left without ordering dessert, which we would have done if the restaurant was more flexible.
I have never returned to that restaurant again. I suggest you do the same wrt Bay City Burrito.
Absolutely not right.
My hospitality experience with this venue has shown that he is cutting corners, diluting his tequila and mistreats his staff. Never visit this place.
Dodgiest joint ever – was stoked when they fucked off out of hawthorn