Reduced gratuities and more transparent pricing in Quebec
** title: Streamlined shopping and reduced bills: Quebec's Bill 72 hits stores this week! 💸🏪**
Get ready for a more wallet-friendly shopping experience! Bill 72, the game-changer affecting Quebec consumers, is here from May 7, 2025. Whether you're dining out or getting groceries, say goodbye to hidden costs and procedural hassle.
🍽️ Change up your tipping game
Break up with the post-tax calculator foolery and enjoy substantial saving on those restaurant tabs. Pre-tax tipping is the new norm, meaning tips are computed on the subtotal before taxes. For instance, a $100 pre-tax bill with a 15% tip = $15 (previously $17.25 on a $115 post-tax bill) [🔗1].
No more guilt-inducing emotional emojis on payment terminals, either.tip_emoji15 tip_emoji20 Payment terminals must offer a uniform and neutral tip option selection, equalizing the playing field for tip-givers everywhere [🔗2].
But there's a catch: the new law does not specify which businesses can charge tips, leaving some consumers up the creek without a paddle at aesthetic clinics or funeral services [🔗2].🚮
🏪 Intuitive food labeling
Grocery shopping just got simpler with precise labeling standards. Grabbing your favorite goodies now comes with clear indications like the price per unit/measure (e.g., per 100g or 100ml) and whether a product is subject to GST/QST [🔗4]. Furthermore, exempt items like milk, eggs, and other staples get their due, being explicitly labeled as such [🔗4].
Look for specified sales items and don't let blown-out prices catch you off guard. If there's a discount for buying multiple items, you'll spot the adjusted regular price right on the label [🔗4].
Get your loyalty program on! Non-member customers must be shown the selling price, making it easier for everyone to save some coins [🔗4].
💰 Buyer beware: price accuracy
If the scanner messes up the cost of your item at checkout, you deserve compensation. The price accuracy policy revamp means you get a free item up to $15 or a $15 discount on items over $15 [🔗3]—an upgrade from the previous $10 threshold.
Not everyone finds a silver lining here, though. Retailers argue that revealing incorrect prices on flyers, websites, and apps, alongside the new in-store labeling requirements, might get a bit overbearing [🔗3].
Soaring expectations and daunting deadlines
The government might have intended to clarify information, but critics fear confusion instead. Some retailers fear that the overwhelming amount of information on labels might become overwhelming and difficult to navigate [🔗2].🛍️
Criticism also stems from the broad application of the new labeling rules, including flyers, websites, and apps—a controversial expansion, according to retailers [🔗3]. They argue that this unplanned expansion could exceed the May 7 deadline and leave some companies racing against the clock to adapt their labeling practices [🔗2].
What's next?
Navigate the new waters of consumer protection efforts, and remember: with great changes come increased watchfulness from the Office of Consumer Protection. Report any violations and enjoy a fair, transparent shopping experience in Quebec [🔗2].
Stay informed:
- Quebec takes a swing at tips & food prices
- Columns: Wise consumption reflections
- A grocery basket should still cost more in 2025
Extra reads:
- GameStop Canada transformed by Quebec toy manufacturer; EB Games arises
- Oregon's contested special bike tax: worth the investment?
- Up to 40 cm of snow expected in Quebec, starting Wednesday evening
📹 Also check out:
- Recharged: GameStop Canada's revival under Quebec's EB Games
- On the wrong side of the handlebars: Is Oregon's bike tax justified?
- Brace yourself: Heavy snowfall expected in Quebec, starting Wednesday (Video link)
- With the implementation of Bill 72, restaurant tabs will now show pre-tax totals, a significant change that results in lower taxed amounts for tipping.
- The shift to pre-tax tipping has left some businesses, like aesthetic clinics and funeral services, unsure about their ability to accept tips, creating a confusing situation for consumers.
- Grocery shopping is now easier due to strict labeling standards, featuring clear indications of price per unit, exempt items, and sales offers, providing consumers with more information about their purchases.
- If a scanner error leads to an incorrect price at checkout, consumers are now entitled to a free item up to $15 or a $15 discount on items over $15, thanks to the revamped price accuracy policy.
- The new labeling rules also apply to flyers, websites, and apps, causing some retailers to worry about missing the May 7 deadline due to the considerable overhaul required to comply with these rules, potentially leading to last-minute adjustments within the industry.
