Buffalo Wild Wings is dropping a 99-cent takeout fee for customers who pick up their food.
The fee has been in some locations for at least a year and applies to all pickup orders, even those placed in person or over the phone. The chain says the fee helps it operate its takeout business. It has drawn a wave of customer complaints as well as a class-action lawsuit.
A spokesperson said “several” Buffalo Wild Wings locations have “tested” the fee. “However, we are ending the test and will have the fee removed by the end of this summer,” the spokesperson said.
Buffalo Wild Wings' takeout fee appears when a customer checks out.
The withdrawal comes as more restaurants are adding service fees and other charges to customers’ bills in an effort to cover rising costs. Last August, 16% of operators told the National Restaurant Association they planned to add a surcharge.
The trend has been met with a growing outcry from consumers, who have been dealing with rising expenses themselves. And while people are familiar with having to pay extra for food delivery, an added charge for pickup is unusual.
“That's right, it's a fee for driving there, walking in, grabbing your food, walking out, driving home, and eating it at home using your own dishes, sink, drinks and silverware,” a Reddit user wrote of the takeout fee.
Nonetheless, there are some extra costs associated with pickup orders. There is packaging to pay for, and some restaurants have employees dedicated to managing to-go orders. Buffalo Wild Wings did not comment on what exactly its fee covers.
Other consumers have taken issue with how the fee is presented. Last July, Buffalo Wild Wings customer Divane Pittman filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the chain, claiming the takeout fee deceives customers about the true cost of their food because it doesn’t appear until the end of the transaction.
The case was apparently still active, though there have been no updates to the docket since January.
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