The McGill News has a nice piece about The Word bookstore at 50.
Can I be cranky? I’m going to be cranky. The item uses a journalistic cliché that always makes me grit my teeth: “It all began…”. It’s second only to being ordered to forget things by headline writers.
Stopped at a Petite-Patrie café Sunday afternoon, ordered a double espresso. On the board, the price was a fairly standard $3.75. When the time came to pay, it was $4.60. Seemed a lot. Then the woman tells me a double espresso is $4.00 plus taxes.
I pointed out that the posted price was $3.75 and she tittered and said the owner hadn’t got around to changing the board yet. I didn’t want to be a Karen about 25¢ so I paid up, but isn’t it illegal to post one price then charge another?
I think they were obliged to give you the coffee for free.
Joey is correct. However, if they choose not to follow the law, your only recourse is to sue them in small claims court, which of course no one will ever do except for very expensive errors. You can file a complaint with the OPC, but they can only send a letter reminding the retailer of the law; they have no enforcement power.
I also think that you should have gotten it for free:
https://www.opc.gouv.qc.ca/commercant/pratique-commerce/prix-rabais/politique/
Wow, I always assumed that policy of “no charge” if the item is priced higher at the checkout than the posted price was just a company policy that retailers used to look nice. Turns out it’s the law! (If the item is under $15.) <- Via David S's link above.
Blork, years ago that was the case at some large stores that agreed to do this, partially to allay the fears of customers that they would be mischarged by newfangled scanners. But it has been the law for at least about 25 years in Quebec. I remember using it to get a six pack of beer for $2 from Metro, even though it doesn’t apply below minimum prices for items that have them and also we were all under-age.
Blork: yes, it’s the law but it used to be for items under $10 until, I believe, March of this year. Now it’s $15.
Doesn’t this rule only apply to stores that aren’t price ticketing items individually over ? I have no idea how that would apply to a coffee shop where you’re ordering items off a menu.
Would you return to this place over the 25¢? Name and shame!
I like to think I would have tried to pay the exact amount ($4.31 after taxes) and walked out with the coffee – but who carries around exact change anymore.
Steph, the link above explains how the law applies to stores that don’t have individual prices.
steph, I seldom pass by that café so it’s unlikely I’ll go there again. It’s a charming little place, but it’s not as if the area is short of coffee spots.
Oh I just reread the policy and it does not apply to items without a barcode. So I guess a coffee would not apply. It’s in the exceptions section.
I had no idea clothing and shoes were not included in this. I suspect there’s a different complaint you could make about menu prices being wrong, though, since that one seems to be about stores.
I once politely demanded to pay the posted price and the dep owner complied, then told me never to come back to their store. #CustomerService
Radio-Canada accompanies its report on a march for Nooran Rezayi on Sunday with photos showing a lot of armoured police accompanying the marchers.
Verdun borough had planned to demolish the Natatorium, but have decided they can restore it instead.
CBC has a brief video report on the difficulties in installing community mailboxes in densely populated parts of cities.
No deal has been struck, so the partial transit strike will continue on Monday.
Back to using the car then I guess.
We cannot get away from Trump. Chloé evoked Orwell with a view of the president after he declared Antifa terrorists, and Ygreck after he announced that Tylenol causes autism. Godin on Trump and Nobel prizes and visiting the United Nations. Chapleau on Trump and RFK Jr.
Godin draws one classic trope after the announcement of the end of postal home delivery and Ygreck draws a different one. Godin’s drawing of François Legault as part of a puppet show sent me to Wikipedia to look up Punch and Judy, Guignol and the commedia dell’arte. He also had commentary on the transit strike.
Ygreck comments on the Quebec government’s abandonment of inclusive writing with a sideswipe at the “woke”.
A modern rental offer from Côté rounds off the week.
Large sections of the South Shore are under a boil water advisory.
Ian 20:06 on 2025-09-29 Permalink
It was a dark and stormy night