Simple Solution.

LAYNES !

Way better anyway.

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Not a big deal if you are dining in since the refills are free, but sucks for drive through orders.

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I always thought you had to pay the chicken a quarter for a refill?? Is this not the case at CS Chicken E locations??

I dont ever use straws, can I get a discount?

There is usually no fee for using the toilet, go drink from it.

Our 8-12oz styrofoam cups costs .02 cents, logo cups on the other hand not so cheap. .11/cup is about right.

All you need is a little experience owning/managing any kind of business and you learn that everything costs money. If you don't manage it you will lose money.

The best way I explain it to some who don't see a problem in taking one cup because "it's only one cup and this restaurant makes enough money" is the following. Imagine taking one cup a day for the next week. That adds up, so then add it up for a month and then add it up for a year. This is a basic example but it's very easy way to lose money.

Bunch of chicken apologists in this thread

Giveemhellbill, I'm outraged at you!!!

Email me at stoverboysburgersowner@gmail.com!

I always figured the cost of "free water" was built into the price of the tea. Tea is where the real ripoff is, especially for unsweet. That goes for any place not just ChickenExpress.

[This message has been edited by kyledr04 (edited 4/8/2010 5:00p).]

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Our 8-12oz styrofoam cups costs .02 cents, logo cups on the other hand not so cheap. .11/cup is about right.

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If logo cups cost more, and a place chooses to buy logo cups, the only reasonable conclusion is that they believe the extra cost is worth it due to advertising. So as a reward to the paying customer for carrying around a cup of water with the restaurant's logo on it, they charge the customer more than what the logo cup itself costs in the first place?

Please note that I eat at Chicken Express from time to time & I'm not trying to bash them. If charging for water keeps the chicken strips from going up in price, charge away!

charging for tap water is a little ridiculous.

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charging for tap water is a little ridiculous.

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Going against the charitable, local, re-giving ownership is as well... All I'll say...

I dont care what they give back. I would rather they didnt and not nickel and dime people over a cup of water. I wouldnt even care if they charged more for the chicken to offset giving away water.

Maybe they are preparing for the rainwater run-off tax.

I am surprised that it has taken this long to charge for water
1. Water is not free. I get a water bill every month from CSU.
2. There is a cost to have someone serve you the "free" water and the "free" cup.
3. Most of the people I know that order "free" water at restaurants are cheapskates. My friends included. 4. Business are usually in business to make a profit.
5. I eat at CE regularly and I apluad them for charging for the "free" water, the "free" cup and the "free" labor.

if they cant afford to give a cup to someone who ordered a meal, as a courtesy, maybe they should fail?

I call BS that people are "ok with passing prices on"! They are not. I promise. I get emails(or threads started) the day my prices change upward, and not one, when they go down.
CMac

some people just dont like to feel like they are getting "nickel and dimed"

if they get that feeling, they go elsewhere. nothing wrong with that.

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I wouldnt even care if they charged more for the chicken to offset giving away water.

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And how is it different if they charge $0.27 more for chicken and give free water?

I disagree with OP. I feel if you are getting a cup then you need to pay for it. The companies have to pay for that cup. Every other customer who orders a non water drink has to pay for his or her cup as well.

Anyway, you should get the tea it is to die for.

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It would be confusing if I started asking for a "large half and half with half."

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half & half easy ice is the best way to put that

I hope that I am never in a financial situation to where I have to complain about paying for water. Get a life. Do you think bottled water at the gas station should be free as well?

It amazes me to see so many people do not realize how much money goes in to a business. EVERYTHING costs money, even the "free" water! Yes individually, a cup of water or the cup itself is not expensive, but multiply that by the THOUSANDS of cups they purchase in a given year, that sheet gets expensive, and so does the water especially if you filter it further after it comes out of the tap.

I agree with a few people on here, if you hurt for a quarter, I'll give a dollar so you'll quit your beetch for at least four visits.

Hold on a sec. I just want to say that people that order water instead of tea or soda are not all cheapskates. what a rediculous arguement. Being in the restuarnat businss we love when people that are silly enough to increase the price of their $7 lunch by $2 just to have tea or soda. They are increasing the cost of their meal by almost 30% for something that has the least amount of value with the highest mark-up.

Honestly ask yourself this: Do you think Subway could pull off $5 footlongs if half the public wasn't silly enough to increase their bill 50% with high profit garbage like chips and and a drink? The answer is absolutely not.

I drink water when I go out and save my extra money for a glass of wine or a beer with a dinner. I don't waste it on sugar water or iced tea. Call me an alcoholic but don't call me a cheapskate!!!

Premium cups, ice, water, lids, straws, labor, insurance, electricity, advertising, etc, and you only paid a quarter for a cup of water? You're ripping them off!

A couple of explanations that don't hold up:
"Water costs money" - Agreed. However, please note that one penny's worth of water would fill about 27 cups (using 20oz cups). The cost of the water simply isn't significant.
"Labor costs money" - The exact same amount will be spent on labor whether the customer orders water or soda or nothing to drink with their food. They weren't forced to hire a water-server to cater to the hordes of people demanding water. Again, not a factor.

One that does hold up:
"A few cents for a cup may not sound like a lot, but when you multiply by x per month, 12 months per year, it adds up" - Sure. Unfortunately, by that rationale, you're in favor of charges for ketchup packets, napkins, and use of soap in the restroom (if you wash your hands). Everything costs money, after all. Oh you brought a vehicle? Parking fee - parking lots cost money, we had to re-stripe it just last year! Threw away your trash instead of taking it with you? Waste disposal fee - you think they haul away our garbage for free? It's only a quarter, what are you, some kind of cheapskate?!

But the fact that the 4 piece chicken strip meal always comes with 5 pieces makes me not care about any of that

Oh, and someone objecting to one small policy of a local business is not "Going against the charitable, local, re-giving ownership..."

It's a *discussion* board, ferchrissakes. No one is organizing a boycott.

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Ok, I will be at your house 20 times a day every day for the next year, to get a free cup, straw, and water. I'm sure you will be ok with this since it does not cost you anything.

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As long as you also buy something from me, you got a deal at my house. If this were the GB I'd suggest the [double entendre food item].

Lar, you can come to my house every day!

Nate, if it's with a meal, I see it, but when you have drive-thru, people just drive up and get free stuff. "ummm, I'll have your water, 7 ketchup packs, some napkins, a straw and a side of onions to go please"..
CMac

It doesn't take long to know in the restaurant business that money is made on nickles and pennies...NOT dollars. To remain a viable entity, a restaurant should have a set of cost numbers that must be hit. When cost numbers aren't hit then money is lost, the store suffers and the owners might eventually go bankrupt. It's really that simple. The market is very competitive. I have no idea how many patrons order water from CE, but it must be significant enough to warrant a charge. As most people know, drinks are among the most profitable items sold by any restaurant. If one forfeits even a small portion of that revenue then long-term viability is unlikely.

And Natedog pretty much just owned this thread...

Obviously the people who are outraged of being charged have never even WORKED in the restaurant industry, much less owned/managed. And if you say increase the price of chicken and give free water, your a moron.

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Obviously the people who are outraged of being charged have never even WORKED in the restaurant industry, much less owned/managed. And if you say increase the price of chicken and give free water, your a moron.

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good stuff

it's "you're"...sorry i am not a grammar nazi...the irony made me laugh

Oh, and I support charging for water. In business to make money.

Where is Chicken Express?

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Thanks for all the kind thoughts especially Slocum, as I said in the OP it is the first time this has happened to me, it was never the money, just the principle.

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kind thoughts? seriously? re your beetching about a cup of water?

and I can see restaurants charging for condiments like they do in Europe. Then people would take what they were going to use, not just grab a handful that ends up in the trash