Petty! Econ! Grievances!
Episode
8 min
Read time
2 min
Topics
Sales & Revenue, Economics & Policy
AI-Generated Summary
Key Takeaways
- ✓Tableside payment devices: Handheld card readers from companies like Toast eliminate the four-step traditional checkout process. Over 170,000 U.S. locations had adopted them as of March, with servers reporting nearly half the time needed per table and easier bill splitting.
- ✓Menu pricing collective action problem: Restaurants omit tax from prices partly because any single restaurant displaying all-in prices appears more expensive than competitors showing pre-tax figures. All restaurants would need to change simultaneously, making unilateral action a competitive disadvantage.
- ✓U.S. tax complexity barrier: Unlike single-rate systems such as New Zealand's nationwide sales tax, U.S. restaurants navigate overlapping federal, state, county, and city tax rates. For printed menus especially, calculating and displaying accurate all-in prices across jurisdictions is operationally difficult.
- ✓Airport franchise loyalty gaps: Fast food loyalty programs frequently exclude airport locations because large concession operators run their own point-of-sale systems incompatible with individual chain loyalty tech. Participation in rewards programs is typically left to franchisee discretion, not mandated by the parent brand.
What It Covers
Waylon Wong, Darien Woods, and Steven Besaha examine three restaurant payment frustrations — slow card checkout, tax-exclusive menu pricing, and airport loyalty program exclusions — explaining the economic logic driving each practice.
Key Questions Answered
- •Tableside payment devices: Handheld card readers from companies like Toast eliminate the four-step traditional checkout process. Over 170,000 U.S. locations had adopted them as of March, with servers reporting nearly half the time needed per table and easier bill splitting.
- •Menu pricing collective action problem: Restaurants omit tax from prices partly because any single restaurant displaying all-in prices appears more expensive than competitors showing pre-tax figures. All restaurants would need to change simultaneously, making unilateral action a competitive disadvantage.
- •U.S. tax complexity barrier: Unlike single-rate systems such as New Zealand's nationwide sales tax, U.S. restaurants navigate overlapping federal, state, county, and city tax rates. For printed menus especially, calculating and displaying accurate all-in prices across jurisdictions is operationally difficult.
- •Airport franchise loyalty gaps: Fast food loyalty programs frequently exclude airport locations because large concession operators run their own point-of-sale systems incompatible with individual chain loyalty tech. Participation in rewards programs is typically left to franchisee discretion, not mandated by the parent brand.
Notable Moment
Dunkin' Donuts PR promised Waylon a detailed explanation of why airport locations skip rewards programs, then went silent despite repeated follow-up emails — leaving the original grievance entirely unresolved and unexplained.
Episode Transcript
NPR. A little while ago, I was at the airport getting coffee from Dunkin' Donuts. I tried to get credit for Dunkin's rewards program, but the Dunkin' powers that be said, no, not at this airport location. And it got me thinking, well, first, why? But also, does anyone else have a petty economic grievance to air? This is petty grievances of the week. Oh, you bet it is. Do Do you have one to share? I am full of petty grievances. I think we just need one more person. Over here. Over I have got a grievance, Waylon. Steven Passaha, a guest appearance from none other than NPR's personal finance reporter. Yeah. That's right, Darien. You know, instead, maybe today call me NPR's personal grievance reporter. It is a very important beat, and I think we have a quorum now. So let's start the show. This is The Indicator from Planet Money. I'm Waylon Wong. I'm Darien Woods. And I'm Steven Besaha. On today's show, three economic gripes, all involving paying for your food at restaurants. We'll tell you what they are and the economic logic behind why they exist. Support for this podcast and the following message come from Vanguard. Every day, shareholders meet to discuss important matters about the companies you invest in. Now you can make your voice heard too. Vanguard investor choice makes it easy to set your proxy voting preference eligible Vanguard index funds. Visit vanguard.com/investorchoice to learn more. Vanguard investors own shares of their index funds, and those funds own shares of the companies they invest in. Vanguard Marketing Corporation distributor. This message comes from Capella University. You know that feeling when there's a spark building inside you that you were meant for more? That's your own drive pushing you towards what's next. Capella University gets that. With their FlexPath learning format, you can set the pace and earn your degree without putting life on pause. You've built experience and know what you're capable of. Now this is your time to turn that momentum into more. The only real question is, what can't you do? Learn more at capella.edu. Alright. Petty restaurant grievances. Stephen Misaha, you're up first. Alright. So picture this. You have just finished a perfect meal at a restaurant. Filet mignon, caviar and champagne, quarter pounder and fries. Whatever it is, you are satisfied and ready to leave, but you can't. You need to pay your bill, which means, one, flagging down the server, probably busy with a dozen other tables. Two, wait for them to bring back the check. Three, wait again for them to come back to get your card. And four, wait for them to once again return with your card. This is so much waiting. It's true. Sometimes this part can take longer than the meal. Yeah. And you also need to have a lot of trust that nothing nefarious is happening with your card when it's taken away out of sight. And this checkout system …
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“Dunkin' Donuts PR promised Waylon a detailed explanation of why airport locations skip rewards programs, then went silent despite repeated follow-up emails.”
“Handheld card readers from companies like Toast eliminate the four-step traditional checkout process.”
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