As I've said earlier, hotels are allowed to charge extra for bottled water, etc since they are charging consumers for establishment costs and the ambiance. There's a difference between service and retail sale. There is not a thing you can do about it, and it is legal.
Yesterday, the Delhi HC said the same thing in so many words. Read this article: Hotels can charge extra for bottled water, says HC.
5 comments:
That sucks.. but its understandable.. What about those shops at railways and bus depots?
I was once overcharged for a bottle of water, by a shop inside the KSTRC bus depot at Majestic. I protested but all he said was "Inside the bus stand, this is the price". I don't think this was legal, was it?
That definitely is not. He's not offering a service and the ambiance at the railway station/bus depot sucks like hell ;) He is a trader/retailer. Next time note down all details and try following up with the Dept of Legal Metrology...
How about the shops inside the multiplexes and malls?
-- Ravi
Ask the court ;)
I'm sure it cannot be called a service by any stretch of imagination. The court said "The nature of transaction and the intention of the parties when a hotelier receives a guest in his hotel is one essentially of service in the satisfaction of a human need or desire - ministry to a bodily want." If the mall/multiplex can prove that you are a "guest" and they are performing a "service", then nothing can be done about it. Still, this is worth taking up.
Well written article.
Post a Comment