Recently, a woman posted online claiming that she was charged 176 yuan for two bottles of water at a restaurant in Shanghai, questioning the misleading consumption practices of the establishment.
According to a report by “Public Concern,” the woman stated that when she and her boyfriend dined at a restaurant called Frasca in Shanghai, as soon as they sat down, a waiter approached and asked, “What would you like to drink?” Her boyfriend responded, “Mineral water.” The waiter then brought a bottle of mineral water. After her boyfriend finished it, the waiter came back to ask if they wanted more water, and upon their agreement, another bottle of mineral water was brought.
At the time of payment, the woman noticed a charge of 176 yuan on the bill. As the receipt was in English, she translated it to find out that the two bottles of mineral water were of the Evian brand (imported from France), priced at 88 yuan per bottle.
The woman believed that the waiter may have used suggestive selling tactics when asking about the drink, and had not clearly indicated that the mineral water incurred a charge. Even if it was chargeable, she found the price of the water to be excessively high, and the fact that the waiter did not mention it was unacceptable to her.
In response, the restaurant stated that a drink menu was provided at the time of ordering, clearly indicating the price of the mineral water at 88 yuan per bottle.
However, as the restaurant also provided complimentary lemon water, the woman felt that it was intentional on the restaurant’s part to not clearly distinguish between the Evian mineral water and the free lemon water, using potentially misleading language. She questioned who would buy their 88 yuan per bottle of mineral water in such circumstances.
Ultimately, after the woman filed a complaint, the restaurant refunded the 176 yuan charged for the mineral water.
The topic of “2 Bottles of Mineral Water Charged 176 Yuan” has sparked discussions online.
Many netizens commented, “Typical trap consumption,” “Isn’t this considered price gouging?” “That’s a huge rip-off.”
A netizen from Shanghai remarked, “Even as someone living in Shanghai, I couldn’t imagine paying 176 yuan for two bottles of water while dining. At the very least, they should have informed us. But when it comes to high-end restaurants, I dare not say more.” “Sometimes you have to pay to learn a lesson.”
—
This news article is a translation of a recent incident where a woman voiced her concerns over being charged a hefty amount for two bottles of water at a restaurant in Shanghai. The incident stirred debates online and highlighted the importance of transparent pricing and clear communication between customers and businesses.