Say ‘Please’ or This French Cafe Will Charge You Double the Cost

Sometimes (see: often) customers grabbing their morning coffee can be particularly fussy. Having worked at a coffee shop myself, I can sympathize with baristas who encounter customers enraged when their coffee isn’t the temperature of the sun or are upset when they realize an “Americano” doesn’t come with whip cream and unicorns.

Looking to encourage amicable behavior among customers and waitstaff, La Petite Syrah in Nice, France charges customers who order their coffee politely less than those who don’t. Tweeted by @tokai06, the cafe’s menu displays coffee prices according to a tiered pricing format. Customers who order coffee with both a “bonjour” ( hello) and “s’il vous plait” (please) pay only €1.40 ($1.93 US), while those who order sans hello but with a “s’il vous plait” are charged €4.25 ($5.85). However, curt customers who say neither must pony up  €7 ($9.63).

Fabrice Pepino, the manager at Petite Syrah, told The Local that he has seen a noticeable difference in customer interactions. “People are more relaxed now, and they’re smiling more. That’s the most important thing,” said Pepino.

H/T Eater