Faunus Lucas, owner of Ain't Normal Cafe, was dismayed by a negative review criticizing a surcharge for a breve latte made with organic half-and-half. He publicly expressed his frustration on Instagram, highlighting the challenges small business owners face amidst rising costs and customer misunderstandings of pricing structures. Lucas defended the pricing strategy as necessary for sustainability, illustrating the tensions between quality service, increased operational costs, and customer perceptions. He argued that the customer was informed about the extra charge yet still left a low rating, reflecting broader issues in the restaurant industry regarding reviews.
If we made lattes with hh and didn't charge more we'd go out of business and you wouldn't have a nice sunny place to drink your coffee.
Negative reviews on Google or Yelp have long tormented Bay Area restaurant owners, who often feel powerless at the hands of review platforms.
Lucas said he found the two-star rating unfair, claiming that staff told the customer about the extra charge.
Amid price increases earlier this year on everyday goods such as eggs and dairy, business owners are facing additional hurdles.
Collection
[
|
...
]