Charging non paying customers to use bathrooms

cantalopes24

This just popped up on my newsfeed and I thought it was interesting. I know a lot of places won't let non customers go to the bathroom and I wouldn't pay $5 to pee but I can see why restaurants are using it as a way to make a profit. When we were in Mexico I can remember having to buy squares of TP.

https://bites.today.com/_news/2013/02/27/17121375-restaurant-to-non-patron-you-must-pay-to-pee?lite 

jwls84

I remember in Europe some washrooms were coin operated and you had to put a certain amount of change in to unlock the door. These were public washrooms though an I am sure the money was used to maintain them, but changing non patrents to use them just to make money is kind of shady. Just say no

Fianschneid

Same as jwls84, I remember paying to use public bathrooms in Paris. It seemed fair to me - although I'll admit to sneaking out of one without paying.

I've been in situations (extreme code browns) before where I probably would have paid to use a restaurant bathroom, if they asked me to. I generally try to at least buy a soda on my way out. Kind of the same thing, I guess.

colliebabe

I do think tracking the person down using the police was a little extreme and agree about it being a waste of resources. 

I do think paying a few dollars would be ok, especially if it's in a touristy area where they might get a lot of people needing the restroom.

I have to say I am eternally thankful to the places that have allowed me to use their restrooms for free while out on a run. One small coffee shop on my running route is "known" for being nice to runners and allowing them to use their facilities, and in turn a lot of the people I know that run that route frequent that coffee shop.

cantalopes24

colleenb262:

I do think tracking the person down using the police was a little extreme and agree about it being a waste of resources. 

I do think paying a few dollars would be ok, especially if it's in a touristy area where they might get a lot of people needing the restroom.

I have to say I am eternally thankful to the places that have allowed me to use their restrooms for free while out on a run. One small coffee shop on my running route is "known" for being nice to runners and allowing them to use their facilities, and in turn a lot of the people I know that run that route frequent that coffee shop.

That makes sense and they are gaining business from it so they are still profiting from it even if it's indirectly.

 

blu-eyedwife

crystalbaby:

I don't know. It doesn't seem that weird to me. $5 is a little steep but I don't understand why people should get to use a service for free without supporting that business. We definitely take bathrooms for granted in the US. In other countries I've been to, (Russia and Mexico), I've had to pay to use the bathroom and that doesn't include hand washing facilities or toilet paper, just money to use the toilet and, at some places, it was just a hole in the ground.

I agree with the sentiment.  And I don't see the distinction between private and public bathrooms.  Both need money for upkeep, and the amount of use is going to determine the amount of upkeep. 

So if a coffee shop, for example, has more non-paying customers using their restroom that paying customers, then they have overhead that's not related to their sales and they're basically paying for the non-paying customer's resources.  

It's like the distinction between allowing your guests to use your toilet (because it's probably just a couple extra squares of toilet paper) and opening your front door and letting anyone walking by use your toilet (which means you're going to have to clean your bathroom more often, spend more on toilet paper, water bills, etc.)

LCass

Charging to use the bathroom was pretty common in Colombia and other South American countries that we visited (and I always had tissues in my purse because there often wasn't any tp).  But the cost was usually about 500 pesos, which is about a quarter.  I wouldn't pay more than a buck for the bathroom; I'd rather buy a drink I don't really want and be a "paying customer" to use it for free.  (Note: didn't read the article, just commenting on the topic in general)

[Deleted User]

I don't have a problem with the idea.  Most places just say no, but it would be nice to have the option of paying a few bucks if I REALLY had to go.

But also, like, just buy a coffee.  Then you get to use the bathroom and a coffee.