Bottom Line On Business Expenses: Are Montanans Responsible?

Businesses In Great Falls Charging Extra Fees

Great Falls is home to many businesses and those businesses have certain fees, expenses and other monetary items that come into play. Rumors circulated recently of a business charging an extra fee listed on the bill. So, my question is, is the business responsible for those expenses or does the cost fall onto the Montana customer to pay their fare share?

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Who Is Responsible For Extra Charges Like Delivery In Montana?

Businesses have the difficult task of pricing their items to make sure it is enough to cover costs like their electricity, paying employee wages, and the costs of running a business like licensing and inspection. Most places put some of that cost onto the customer. Lately however, there has been scrutiny on businesses charging an extra fee to the customers without it being part of their "price of the product." Is this something that businesses should be doing? Or are they supposed to "eat" the cost of doing business or bury it in the price of goods and services.

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In Montana Charge Breakdown Must Be Listed

Businesses have charged fees for credit card transactions for years and there is a Montana law that states they are allowed to do so [Found Here] as long as they disclose the fee prior to the completion of the transaction.

When it comes to other fees like when a business uses a delivery service like Door Dash, Uber Eats etc., should that cost be something the business is responsible for or are they allowed to put that cost onto the customer?

I could not find anything officially ruling one way or the other if delivery fees, convenience fees and that sort must be included, but my thoughts on the subject are if you are ordering or going to a specific place because you want their product, then you should probably pay what they are asking or go somewhere else.