It started off as a joke, but The Petite Syrah café in the south of France, charges extra for customers who are rude when ordering their coffee.
The extra charges are outlined on a board behind the counter—those who barge in and ask for a coffee pay €7, customers who order coffee using the word “please” pay €4.25, and those who bother to greet the barista pay €1.40.
Fabrice Pepino, the manager of the café, stated that many customers who came in during lunchtime were rude to the staff, which made him introduce the scheme.
Although many people think that French wait staff are impolite, he rationalizes that customers can be abrasive as well, especially if they are busy or stressed.
Some good-humored customers see the funny side of the situation, and make it a point to exaggerate their politeness just to get a discount.
It looks like this scheme has worked as well—he has never had to enforce the prices, and the customers pay what the barista asks.
What do you think—is this a good way to get customers to be more polite?
[via Daily Mail]