Many fast food restaurants, buffet-style eateries, cafeterias, and other dining establishments where patrons are not waited on feature soft drink and soda fountains in or near the public dining area or lobby, instead of being placed in a staff area such as behind a counter. When ordering a soda, frozen, or other drink in these restaurants, the patron is simply handed an empty cup after purchase and expected to use the soda fountains to fill it with the desired drink or what had been paid for.
I would like to know what would and would not be considered appropriate, ethical, or legal when using the soda machine at self-serve restaurants to refill a drink cup. For example, is there a limit on the number of times a cup can be refilled? Do the same rules apply if two or more people are sharing the same drink? Why are different size drinks sold at these restaurants if the smaller cup can be refilled? Can an in-store cafeteria patron purchase a drink and return to refill it after shopping?
2006-07-14 16:13:01 · 20 answers · asked by Digital Squire 1 in Dining Out ➔ Other - Dining Out
SCREW THE RULES JUST FILL UP
2006-07-28 08:05:20 · answer #1 · answered by pepsikiss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The restaurants and businesses rely on customers to be honest and only refill their beverages during their visit.
The general rules are:
1. Gas Stations - Only one fill unless there is a promotion stating otherwise. Some gas stations sell discounted refillable cups which means that you buy the cup once and only pay a fraction each time you refill.
2. Buffets - Most buffets with self-serve machines will give you a color coded glass; say clear for water and colored for soda. The buffet relies on the honesty of the customers to only take soda if they paid for it. It's doubtful that an employee would make a huge deal if they saw you filling your water cup with pop. They may remind you that you did not pay for soda and leave it at that.
3. Fast Food Joints - Most fast food places I have been to have signs posted somewhere that free soda refills are during the same visit only. Again, these businesses are relying on your honesty not to bring in outside or previously purchased cups.
Bottom line: Due to the high mark up of soda, few if any businesses are going to make a big deal if someone abuses the rules of the free-refills. I personally think that a very small fraction of customers do this and everything balances out in the end. I personally do not do that. I am honest and usually drink water anyhow since too much caffeine is not good for you and I find that paying for a drink that doesn’t have any kick to it is just dumb.
2006-07-14 17:45:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once you leave the resturant you cant come back and refill your cup, it is only when dining in and only one person per cup. You can have as many refills as you want there is no limit. As far as the different sizes, most people are just thirsty and are not use to refilling or dont want to get up so they pay the most by buying the bigger cup, Why do this if you can refill as much as you want. If it is a paper cup you can refill it and take it with you.
2006-07-18 13:24:40 · answer #3 · answered by Mom 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The different size drink cups are for people who are taking their drink outside of the restaurant or for people who dont like to keep going back for refills. Refills are unlimited get as many as you need. If there is a limit the machine will say. If you are sharing a cup then you are very cheap what is a buck fifty for a drink come on.
2006-07-14 22:24:12 · answer #4 · answered by chris p 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the south, it seems to be the norm to drink until you are satisfied. That has to do with being dehydrated by the heat. I always buy the small drink, and refill to my need.
If in doubt, ask at the counter! If they say it is ok, then you may drink to the limits of you question. I think most places would not approve of refills for shared drinks.
Gluttony should be your ethical guide.
2006-07-23 01:55:23 · answer #5 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The are no rules per-say, but in general the restaurants allow one person to purchase a drink and refill as many times as they would like. It is their choose if they want to share, but they may only get one cup full at a time. Most restaurants do not allow you to bring a cup back in, but certain cafeterias may have a certain cup they allow you to buy and bring back each time.
2006-07-14 16:44:17 · answer #6 · answered by ekaty84 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the rules are posted. If not posted, then ask.
But common sense will help you a lot. Pretend for a few minutes that you owned that establishment and had to pay the bills, what would you want your customers to do.
Soda's are extremely bad for you anyway, why tank up on a sugar filled, chemical factory when water would be better for your health anyway.
2006-07-27 11:14:41 · answer #7 · answered by betterhealth@flash.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Refill it as much as you want. If u want to save some money then save the cup and when u come back again take the cup w/ you. :) yayyyy You paid money for it so it is ethical and legal. keep on refilling.
2006-07-14 16:29:17 · answer #8 · answered by xratedmami05 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say refill it until they remove the machine. Buy the smaller cup. The bigger one is just a marketing ploy.
2006-07-14 16:18:31 · answer #9 · answered by mom2babycolin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say do what you want because it doesn't cost the retailer much at all for this kind of beverage...about 5 cents each. When I worked in a cafeteria we could drink all the pop we wanted for free. There is a huge mark-up on pop.
2006-07-14 16:45:18 · answer #10 · answered by Dellajoy 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that you should get as many refills as you want and it doesn't matter if your sharing or not because you done paid for it.
2006-07-27 10:02:07 · answer #11 · answered by lleah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋