Chipotle

[Transcensionist]

I am new to Mustachianism and it may indeed change my dining out ways. But nonetheless I have a couple Chipotle tips to share that I'll continue to use when I do go back to my favorite dining joint.

Dining solo
Order two tacos. Load them up with ALL the fixings you'd have on your burrito; mainly adding Rice + Beans. These two tacos will tower in size and undoubtedly be mistaken for the standard meal of three tacos (be sure they don't ring the standard price at the register!) Expect to pay $5.25 when pairing these with a cup of water at check out. Filling, satisfying, & so, so good.

With your spouse
Hello Burrito Bowl! Order one of these monstrosities. If you're especially hungry ask for extra rice & beans, add extra meat if your duo is truly famished. Add some chips and your meal will come in at under $10 (expect around $12 if you spring for the extra meat.) Don't forget to ask for an extra empty bowl too. Split the meal down the middle and go to town. This actually feeds three in our family (our two year old is a Chipotle fanatic!)

Maybe $5-6 per person isn't very Mustachian. But if you do find yourself frequenting this place perhaps these tips will save you a few dollars or more each time.

See more Chipotle tips here (Thanks Minimalist!)
"How To Get Huge Portions At Chipotle": http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-bigger-portions-at-chipotle-2013-10

[Another Reader]

And I thought I was the only one that knew the two taco with beans (and rice if you like their rice) trick.  I am not a restaurant person, but sometimes when traveling, convenience is worth the price.  I know all the Chipotles on my route from Silicon Valley to Phoenix.  Cheapest gas, cleanest bathrooms, and Chipotle!

[Transcensionist]

Cheers fellow Mustachian! I will say that straying from the usual ordering path is often foreign to the Chipotle workers. I must very clearly state TWO tacos because they may have never heard of such a thing before, or at least act that way. It's sometimes difficult to persuade them why I'm requesting a second (or third with little one in tow) bowl to divide the 1000 calorie (?) meal, but eventually they come around.

[OSUBearCub]

I try to eat at home as much as possible but still find myself in a bind more often than I'd like.  In addition to "hacking" the menu at typical fast food places, I always keep a few single servings of almonds at my desk and in my messenger bag.  I can either use these to tide me over until I can get home to eat or I can use them to kill my appetite before walking into a restaurant.  It's easier to order a tiny meal if you're not starving.

[Transcensionist]

Great tip. I need to get on board with having healthier snacks like this on hand. Thanks for your input!

[minimalist]

"How To Get Huge Portions At Chipotle": http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-bigger-portions-at-chipotle-2013-10

[Transcensionist]

Good tips, thank you! I agree that you get the service that you project. Smile at your server for a partial hookup. Get good at complimenting people for a huge one.

[Can't Wait]

I always ask for the free water cup, then fill it with the carbonated beverage of my choice.

[hdatontodo]

I always ask for the free water cup, then fill it with the carbonated beverage of my choice.

Dislike.

[iamadummy]

oh great. extra fat and lard and rice and beans

[okashira]

I always ask for the free water cup, then fill it with the carbonated beverage of my choice.

Someone needs to read the "cheap vs frugal" post.

[okashira]

this thread is relevant to my interests. chipotle is one of my anti mustacian vices

[mm1970]

I think this is good. I don't eat out much at all anymore...not so good, too expensive, too much of a pain with kids.  But when we travel and need to pick something, we often choose Chipotle if it's an option.

What's wrong with rice, beans, and fat?

Long long ago before kids, I worked for a company that had me renting cleanroom time at a university. I almost never ate out then, either, but would buy lunch on Fridays.  One of the grad students I knew gave me a tip - there was a burrito cart outside the cleanroom.  It was $5-7 for a burrito.  My friend (who is now a coworker 13 years later) told me that if I just get a plate of rice and beans and cheese, it's only $2.  Add cheese for another $1.

[Ricky]

This would work...but...I easily finish a bowl by myself.

[JoshuaSpodek]

"How To Get Huge Portions At Chipotle": http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-bigger-portions-at-chipotle-2013-10

That article has a serious mistake. It says "While you'll always pay more for guacamole..."

Vegetable burritos include guacamole. You can even get extra guacamole without paying more. Unless you get the Suffito, or whatever they call the meat-like vegetarian filling. Then you have to pay for the guacamole.

[AgileTurtle]

I always ask for the free water cup, then fill it with the carbonated beverage of my choice.

Instead of paying for anything I just take the burrito and run out the door.

[shotgunwilly]

Freebirds pwns Chipotle.

[surfhb]

Smile and tell the server if you can have a little extra meat.    They usually will add more without charging you.   Never seen them not do it for you

[4alpacas]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the coupons!  Every once in a while, we get Chipotle coupons in the mail.  My favorite one is for the free chips+guac with the purchase of a burrito (bowl).  There is also the buy one get one free burrito bowl option (2 meals for use to split). 

[OSUBearCub]

http://www.businessinsider.com/more-food-in-chipotle-burrito-bowl-2013-2

ZOMG! Almost half a pound more if you get the bowl.  Best (legal - I'm talkin' at you water-cup-soda burglars) hack EVAR! :-)

[Gerard]

Am I the only one who watched the video and thought the bowl had less of the "quality" ingredients and more rice?

[Can't Wait]

Instead of paying for anything I just take the burrito and run out the door.

Someone needs to read the "cheap vs frugal" post.

Dislike.

Don't act like you guys have never done something like that haha.

[OSUBearCub]

Instead of paying for anything I just take the burrito and run out the door.

Someone needs to read the "cheap vs frugal" post.

Dislike.

Don't act like you guys have never done something like that haha.

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

[okashira]

Instead of paying for anything I just take the burrito and run out the door.

Someone needs to read the "cheap vs frugal" post.

Dislike.

Don't act like you guys have never done something like that haha.

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

[Thegoblinchief]

I am proud to have never stepped in a Chipotle and never will.

[Jon_Snow]

Me neither. But probably only because they haven't come to Canada.

[dragoncar]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the coupons!  Every once in a while, we get Chipotle coupons in the mail.  My favorite one is for the free chips+guac with the purchase of a burrito (bowl).  There is also the buy one get one free burrito bowl option (2 meals for use to split).

A few years ago they had this promotion where you would get a free burrito if you bought $30 of gift cards.  You could get whatever you wanted on the burrito - triple meat, guac, basically a $15 value.  I bought hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards that year, but when I used them, I would get a side of meat and a side of guac - $4 lunch and filling.  Then, when my gift card dipped below $10, I cashed it out (mandatory in CA).  That's being cheap, but at least I never tried to just get 3 $10 cards and cash them out immediately!  I still can't really go to chipotle.... I'm way too sick of it.

[MandalayVA]

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

[Can't Wait]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

[Roland of Gilead]

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

Too bad you didn't eat in one 10 years ago then buy the stock right after.   You could then afford to eat steak and lobster every night if you so chose.

[arebelspy]

I am proud to have never stepped in a Chipotle and never will.

Okay,even though everyone else skipped the trolling, I'll take the bait: Why are you proud of that?  (Not why have you never, but why are you proud of it.)

[johnny847]

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

While Chipotle is fast food in the sense that it is served quickly, it doesn't conform to the general connotation of fast food - crappy food with tons of oil/fat/unhealthy crap.
Not to say that there aren't unhealthy aspects to a Chipotle burrito, there certainly are. But it's a step up from your run of of the mill fast food like McDonald's, Burger King, etc.

[dragoncar]

I am proud to have never stepped in a Chipotle and never will.

Okay,even though everyone else skipped the trolling, I'll take the bait: Why are you proud of that?  (Not why have you never, but why are you proud of it.)

Because corporate/fast food is the devil!  Just like that foosball

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

While Chipotle is fast food in the sense that it is served quickly, it doesn't conform to the general connotation of fast food - crappy food with tons of oil/fat/unhealthy crap.
Not to say that there aren't unhealthy aspects to a Chipotle burrito, there certainly are. But it's a step up from your run of of the mill fast food like McDonald's, Burger King, etc.

I don't actually like chipotle burritos that much.  I can get way better burritos in SF and for some reason there's a line out the door everyday at chipotle. First of all, they wrap them way too thick... You basically need a knife and fork.  Next, white rice?  Yuck, I want yellow Spanish rice!  The tortillas are nothing to write home about.  The steak is undercooked- they will cook it well if you ask but I don't like holding up said out the door line.  The chicken is not breast meat, it has weird bits that are chewy and gross. 

The beans are good though, pork yum.  Guac is good but cheaper to just bring in a fresh $1 avocado here in CA.  Also I love the fajita veggies.  But they fry them in vegetable oil, and I subscribe to the Anti-PUFA paleo FUD.

When I ate there, I stuck with the salads mostly, or a side of meat which was a pretty good deal on a small amount of protein (was like $1.70 for a scoop of chicken?)

On the other hand, mcdonalds hamburgers are just ground beef salt and pepper.  I used to get a mcdouble plain and just eat the meat.  That ended up being $5/lb for ground beef but with the convenience of not having to cook it yourself.  Not a terrible markup... They were surely losing money with SF rent and minimum wage at $1 value menu.  Alas, the dollar menu is no more so I don't go there. These days I'm just sipping some California olive oil at my desk to hold me until dinner.

Don't worry, I eat plenty of healthy food for dinner

[johnny847]

I am proud to have never stepped in a Chipotle and never will.

Okay,even though everyone else skipped the trolling, I'll take the bait: Why are you proud of that?  (Not why have you never, but why are you proud of it.)

Because corporate/fast food is the devil!  Just like that foosball

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

While Chipotle is fast food in the sense that it is served quickly, it doesn't conform to the general connotation of fast food - crappy food with tons of oil/fat/unhealthy crap.
Not to say that there aren't unhealthy aspects to a Chipotle burrito, there certainly are. But it's a step up from your run of of the mill fast food like McDonald's, Burger King, etc.

I don't actually like chipotle burritos that much.  I can get way better burritos in SF and for some reason there's a line out the door everyday at chipotle. First of all, they wrap them way too thick... You basically need a knife and fork.  Next, white rice?  Yuck, I want yellow Spanish rice!  The tortillas are nothing to write home about.  The steak is undercooked- they will cook it well if you ask but I don't like holding up said out the door line.  The chicken is not breast meat, it has weird bits that are cheery and gross. 

The beans are good though, pork yum.  Guac is good but cheaper to just bring in a fresh $1 avocado here in CA.  Also I love the fajita veggies.  But they fry them in vegetable oil, and I subscribe to the Anti-PUFA paleo FUD.

When I ate there, I stuck with the salads mostly, or a side of meat which was a pretty good deal on a small amount of protein (was like $1.70 for a scoop of chicken?)

I haven't searched very hard but I have not found a better burrito than those served by Chipotle.
I always get a bowl, so I don't have any gripes against the tortilla.
They have brown rice if you'd prefer?
I've only ever gotten barbacoa. Never burnt because it is not cooked on a grill. I believe its boiled in water? Not sure exactly. But I've ate at Chipotle for years (cut down a lot since I've turned Mustachian) and never gotten burnt barbacoa.
Yea I like the beans too.
I actually don't like guac very much. I always expect it to be spicy, I don't know why.
I like the taste of fajita veggies, but my digestive system does not >.>

[dragoncar]

I am proud to have never stepped in a Chipotle and never will.

Okay,even though everyone else skipped the trolling, I'll take the bait: Why are you proud of that?  (Not why have you never, but why are you proud of it.)

Because corporate/fast food is the devil!  Just like that foosball

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

While Chipotle is fast food in the sense that it is served quickly, it doesn't conform to the general connotation of fast food - crappy food with tons of oil/fat/unhealthy crap.
Not to say that there aren't unhealthy aspects to a Chipotle burrito, there certainly are. But it's a step up from your run of of the mill fast food like McDonald's, Burger King, etc.

I don't actually like chipotle burritos that much.  I can get way better burritos in SF and for some reason there's a line out the door everyday at chipotle. First of all, they wrap them way too thick... You basically need a knife and fork.  Next, white rice?  Yuck, I want yellow Spanish rice!  The tortillas are nothing to write home about.  The steak is undercooked- they will cook it well if you ask but I don't like holding up said out the door line.  The chicken is not breast meat, it has weird bits that are cheery and gross. 

The beans are good though, pork yum.  Guac is good but cheaper to just bring in a fresh $1 avocado here in CA.  Also I love the fajita veggies.  But they fry them in vegetable oil, and I subscribe to the Anti-PUFA paleo FUD.

When I ate there, I stuck with the salads mostly, or a side of meat which was a pretty good deal on a small amount of protein (was like $1.70 for a scoop of chicken?)

I haven't searched very hard but I have not found a better burrito than those served by Chipotle.
I always get a bowl, so I don't have any gripes against the tortilla.
They have brown rice if you'd prefer?
I've only ever gotten barbacoa. Never burnt because it is not cooked on a grill. I believe its boiled in water? Not sure exactly. But I've ate at Chipotle for years (cut down a lot since I've turned Mustachian) and never gotten burnt barbacoa.
Yea I like the beans too.
I actually don't like guac very much. I always expect it to be spicy, I don't know why.
I like the taste of fajita veggies, but my digestive system does not >.>

Where are you located?  I totally forgot about Barbacoa, whichever is odd because that's my go to item.  When done right, I love it.  But 10% of the time I'll get a GIANT hunk of fat.  Not even tasty fat, more like stringy connective tissue.  Gross.

Brown rice???  I guess the issue is I'm comparing chipotle to actual Mexican food (well, really tex mex  or cal mex), which it is not

[johnny847]

I am proud to have never stepped in a Chipotle and never will.

Okay,even though everyone else skipped the trolling, I'll take the bait: Why are you proud of that?  (Not why have you never, but why are you proud of it.)

Because corporate/fast food is the devil!  Just like that foosball

I ate in one ten years ago--I didn't even know it was a chain.  It was good, but it really doesn't occur to me to eat fast food.

While Chipotle is fast food in the sense that it is served quickly, it doesn't conform to the general connotation of fast food - crappy food with tons of oil/fat/unhealthy crap.
Not to say that there aren't unhealthy aspects to a Chipotle burrito, there certainly are. But it's a step up from your run of of the mill fast food like McDonald's, Burger King, etc.

I don't actually like chipotle burritos that much.  I can get way better burritos in SF and for some reason there's a line out the door everyday at chipotle. First of all, they wrap them way too thick... You basically need a knife and fork.  Next, white rice?  Yuck, I want yellow Spanish rice!  The tortillas are nothing to write home about.  The steak is undercooked- they will cook it well if you ask but I don't like holding up said out the door line.  The chicken is not breast meat, it has weird bits that are cheery and gross. 

The beans are good though, pork yum.  Guac is good but cheaper to just bring in a fresh $1 avocado here in CA.  Also I love the fajita veggies.  But they fry them in vegetable oil, and I subscribe to the Anti-PUFA paleo FUD.

When I ate there, I stuck with the salads mostly, or a side of meat which was a pretty good deal on a small amount of protein (was like $1.70 for a scoop of chicken?)

I haven't searched very hard but I have not found a better burrito than those served by Chipotle.
I always get a bowl, so I don't have any gripes against the tortilla.
They have brown rice if you'd prefer?
I've only ever gotten barbacoa. Never burnt because it is not cooked on a grill. I believe its boiled in water? Not sure exactly. But I've ate at Chipotle for years (cut down a lot since I've turned Mustachian) and never gotten burnt barbacoa.
Yea I like the beans too.
I actually don't like guac very much. I always expect it to be spicy, I don't know why.
I like the taste of fajita veggies, but my digestive system does not >.>

Where are you located?  I totally forgot about Barbacoa, whichever is odd because that's my go to item.  When done right, I love it.  But 10% of the time I'll get a GIANT hunk of fat.  Not even tasty fat, more like stringy connective tissue.  Gross.

Brown rice???  I guess the issue is I'm comparing chipotle to actual Mexican food (well, really tex mex  or cal mex), which it is not

Interesting. I've gotten hunks of fat before, but nowhere near 10%. I've had most of my Chipotle in MD and NY, but now I'm in Atlanta.

Hahaha I guess it's all about expectations. I tried the brown rice, didn't like it. Which is funny because I eat brown rice at home. But it's sticky brown rice. And at home its eaten with food that is decidedly not Mexican.

[Primm]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

For real? Your suggestion is theft, pure and simple. What's so special about not being a petty thief?

[Dicey]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

[dragoncar]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

[Ricky]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

Well to be fair you can't break a rule that isn't there. There is nothing saying you can or can't sit in a restaurant or coffee shop for hours after you've already ate.

I see the order water to drink soda thing as a fine line. If you're the type that only drinks like a quarter of a cup and doesn't take a "to-go" drink anyway, I don't see it as an issue to order water, get a little soda, then finish with water. Otherwise, that's $2 going literally down the drain. Now, if you're drinking it by the cup and then taking it to go then that is definitely immoral.

[johnny847]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

Well to be fair you can't break a rule that isn't there. There is nothing saying you can or can't sit in a restaurant or coffee shop for hours after you've already ate.

I see the order water to drink soda thing as a fine line. If you're the type that only drinks like a quarter of a cup and doesn't take a "to-go" drink anyway, I don't see it as an issue to order water, get a little soda, then finish with water. Otherwise, that's $2 going literally down the drain. Now, if you're drinking it by the cup and then taking it to go then that is definitely immoral.

How is there a fine line? When you purchase a soda, it doesn't matter if you fill up the entire cup or get a quarter cup, you're charged the same amount.
Stealing 10 cents worth of product is just as illegal as stealing $2 worth of product.

[dragoncar]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

Well to be fair you can't break a rule that isn't there. There is nothing saying you can or can't sit in a restaurant or coffee shop for hours after you've already ate.

I see the order water to drink soda thing as a fine line. If you're the type that only drinks like a quarter of a cup and doesn't take a "to-go" drink anyway, I don't see it as an issue to order water, get a little soda, then finish with water. Otherwise, that's $2 going literally down the drain. Now, if you're drinking it by the cup and then taking it to go then that is definitely immoral.

McDonalds, notably, sometimes has a sign limiting your stay to 30 min or an hour or whatever.  Never seen it enforced, so I'm guessing it's really for homeless people.

I agree with others that water to soda is not a fine line.  But I will often get the soda water instead of plain water.  Now, I ask for a cup for water, and I'm drinking water mixed with CO2, so I see that as more of a fine line.  The CO2 cost is so low, I don't think they care, and nobody has ever asked about it.  On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Chipoltle has a policy where they don't say anything if you steal soda.  I've seen plenty of people do it right in front of an employee and they say nothing.  It wouldn't really be good for business to hassle these thieves if you're already buying an $8 burrito.

[Ricky]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

Well to be fair you can't break a rule that isn't there. There is nothing saying you can or can't sit in a restaurant or coffee shop for hours after you've already ate.

I see the order water to drink soda thing as a fine line. If you're the type that only drinks like a quarter of a cup and doesn't take a "to-go" drink anyway, I don't see it as an issue to order water, get a little soda, then finish with water. Otherwise, that's $2 going literally down the drain. Now, if you're drinking it by the cup and then taking it to go then that is definitely immoral.

How is there a fine line? When you purchase a soda, it doesn't matter if you fill up the entire cup or get a quarter cup, you're charged the same amount.
Stealing 10 cents worth of product is just as illegal as stealing $2 worth of product.

I'm not saying you should do it, I'm just saying I wouldn't personally care if someone chose to do that.

McDonalds, notably, sometimes has a sign limiting your stay to 30 min or an hour or whatever.  Never seen it enforced, so I'm guessing it's really for homeless people.

I agree with others that water to soda is not a fine line.  But I will often get the soda water instead of plain water.  Now, I ask for a cup for water, and I'm drinking water mixed with CO2, so I see that as more of a fine line.  The CO2 cost is so low, I don't think they care, and nobody has ever asked about it.  On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Chipoltle has a policy where they don't say anything if you steal soda.  I've seen plenty of people do it right in front of an employee and they say nothing.  It wouldn't really be good for business to hassle these thieves if you're already buying an $8 burrito.

Yeah, McDonald's is the only place I've ever seen something like that and I was a little shocked.

To be fair, water also costs something so you're technically "stealing" water from them. Sure, they didn't charge you for it, but just saying.

[johnny847]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

Well to be fair you can't break a rule that isn't there. There is nothing saying you can or can't sit in a restaurant or coffee shop for hours after you've already ate.

I see the order water to drink soda thing as a fine line. If you're the type that only drinks like a quarter of a cup and doesn't take a "to-go" drink anyway, I don't see it as an issue to order water, get a little soda, then finish with water. Otherwise, that's $2 going literally down the drain. Now, if you're drinking it by the cup and then taking it to go then that is definitely immoral.

McDonalds, notably, sometimes has a sign limiting your stay to 30 min or an hour or whatever.  Never seen it enforced, so I'm guessing it's really for homeless people.

I agree with others that water to soda is not a fine line.  But I will often get the soda water instead of plain water.  Now, I ask for a cup for water, and I'm drinking water mixed with CO2, so I see that as more of a fine line.  The CO2 cost is so low, I don't think they care, and nobody has ever asked about it.  On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Chipoltle has a policy where they don't say anything if you steal soda.  I've seen plenty of people do it right in front of an employee and they say nothing.  It wouldn't really be good for business to hassle these thieves if you're already buying an $8 burrito.

I suppose. I'm inclined to agree with you because there isn't soda water priced on the menu.

[johnny847]

Yes. When I was a kid.  Then I was scolded so I wouldn't grow up into a sociopath.  That's generally how the process works so that we can keep a well-ordered, civil society. :-)

Actually, no, I haven't. Well, maybe when I was a kid like the other poster.

Well pin a rose on both of your noses. Aren't you guys just sooooooooooo special..

Pretty damn sassy for a noob, GovtWorker. Your attitude needs an adjustment if you want to last around here. The point of getting to FIRE is to do it by being smarter, not by being a cheat.

Right, we do things like purchase 1 drink and sit there all day drinking refills while we work on our laptop with free wifi.  I mean, they lose money on that too, but it's playing within the rules. :-)

Well to be fair you can't break a rule that isn't there. There is nothing saying you can or can't sit in a restaurant or coffee shop for hours after you've already ate.

I see the order water to drink soda thing as a fine line. If you're the type that only drinks like a quarter of a cup and doesn't take a "to-go" drink anyway, I don't see it as an issue to order water, get a little soda, then finish with water. Otherwise, that's $2 going literally down the drain. Now, if you're drinking it by the cup and then taking it to go then that is definitely immoral.

How is there a fine line? When you purchase a soda, it doesn't matter if you fill up the entire cup or get a quarter cup, you're charged the same amount.
Stealing 10 cents worth of product is just as illegal as stealing $2 worth of product.

I'm not saying you should do it, I'm just saying I wouldn't personally care if someone chose to do that.

McDonalds, notably, sometimes has a sign limiting your stay to 30 min or an hour or whatever.  Never seen it enforced, so I'm guessing it's really for homeless people.

I agree with others that water to soda is not a fine line.  But I will often get the soda water instead of plain water.  Now, I ask for a cup for water, and I'm drinking water mixed with CO2, so I see that as more of a fine line.  The CO2 cost is so low, I don't think they care, and nobody has ever asked about it.  On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Chipoltle has a policy where they don't say anything if you steal soda.  I've seen plenty of people do it right in front of an employee and they say nothing.  It wouldn't really be good for business to hassle these thieves if you're already buying an $8 burrito.

Yeah, McDonald's is the only place I've ever seen something like that and I was a little shocked.

To be fair, water also costs something so you're technically "stealing" water from them. Sure, they didn't charge you for it, but just saying.

How is it stealing if they are literally giving it to you for free? It's not about how much it costs them. It's about how much they charge you.

[juuustin]

Fun fact:  I ate Chipotle two days ago and there is now a sign on the drink tower that says (paraphrasing): "Please don't fill your water cup with soda, you jackass"

GovtWorker must live near me....

[juuustin]

To be fair, water also costs something so you're technically "stealing" water from them. Sure, they didn't charge you for it, but just saying.

Is it stealing if you ask me for a piece of gum and I give it to you?  The gum cost me something.  Your argument is "technically" asinine.

[Ricky]

To be fair, water also costs something so you're technically "stealing" water from them. Sure, they didn't charge you for it, but just saying.

Is it stealing if you ask me for a piece of gum and I give it to you?  The gum cost me something.  Your argument is "technically" asinine.

You're right. I'm just saying, not everything legal is moral and vice-versa.

Sure they gave you the water for free - but are you going to back your truck up and load 100 gallons of water up since they "gave" it to you?

[juuustin]

To be fair, water also costs something so you're technically "stealing" water from them. Sure, they didn't charge you for it, but just saying.

Is it stealing if you ask me for a piece of gum and I give it to you?  The gum cost me something.  Your argument is "technically" asinine.

You're right. I'm just saying, not everything legal is moral and vice-versa.

Sure they gave you the water for free - but are you going to back your truck up and load 100 gallons of water up since they "gave" it to you?

False equivalency alert!

If you ask for a cup of water, and fill it only with water, it is not technically "stealing" as you purported in the original quoted post.  Chipotle giving you a cup for water is not implicit permission to "back my truck up" (which wouldn't even work, btw... trucks don't fit into Chipotles, fyi) and fill it.

[johnny847]

To be fair, water also costs something so you're technically "stealing" water from them. Sure, they didn't charge you for it, but just saying.

Is it stealing if you ask me for a piece of gum and I give it to you?  The gum cost me something.  Your argument is "technically" asinine.

You're right. I'm just saying, not everything legal is moral and vice-versa.

Sure they gave you the water for free - but are you going to back your truck up and load 100 gallons of water up since they "gave" it to you?

EDIT: totally misunderstood your post. But as juuustin said, your argument is completely flawed