Customer complains about being charged 50 cents for glass of water, coffee shop owners explain why

One Serangoon coffee shop owner Mr Zhang, 60, responded to an online post from a customer who was charged 50 cents for a glass of water. The coffee shop owner told Shin Min Daily News that he used to charge 40 cents for water but has raised the price lately due to today’s high electric and water tariffs, adding that workers’ salaries also need to be paid.

Shin Min Daily News also heard from other coffee shop owners that some people take advantage of free water. “These people buy boiled water and brew their own tea, then occupy seats for hours, leaving no seats for other customers. It’s affecting our business,” Ms Li, a coffee shop owner, told the Chinese-language daily.

The customer Mr Richard Goh who was charged 50 cents for a glass of water, wrote on the popular COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page on Tuesday (Dec 13): “Kimly coffee shop Blk 237 Serangoon Avenue 3, #01-130, S’Pore 550237. Just plain water cost $0.50 cents. Your say ………expensive or not ?”

Responding to the post, the Serangoon coffee shop owner Mr Zhang explained:

“Prices have increased by a lot recently. Everybody knows that water and electricity bills are rising, and employees also need to be paid for their work, such as boiling water and washing cups.” 

There are also customers who bring their own tea bags to coffee shops and ask for hot water, then end up sitting for hours without paying anything else, other establishment owners explained.

Charging for water, therefore, serves a twofold purpose. It helps pay the bills and discourages non-paying loiterers so that tables can be made available for paying customers.

Rising prices, especially of food, have been in the news all year long. Food and beverage establishments, including hawkers and coffee shops, have had to balance between running a profitable business and not charging too much, as this would cause customers to complain. After all, negative word of mouth can easily affect someone’s business. /TISG

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