People who know me know that I drink a lot of coffee.  I'll drink it hot.  I'll drink it cold.  I'll drink it from the pot, 9 days old.  OK, not 9 days old.  That's just gross.  One of the places I like to drink coffee is a diner.  9 out of 10 times, diner coffee is good.  It's simple, it's basic, and...did I say it was good?  Don't tell me it's organic, fertilized with bat guano from El Salvador.  I really don't care.  The other think I like?  It's usually $1 for endless refills, printed with pride on the menu. This post isn't about cheap coffee.  It's about a pet peeve of mine.  It applies to me ordering drinks at a restaurant.  Here comes the rant.

Today, my family and went out for lunch.  At the restaurant, I plainly saw the prices for everything on the menu but one thing.  Beverages.  Yes, drinks.  Where the hell are the prices for the drinks?  Is this some kind of trick or tactic? Am I to be embarrassed by the fact that I am unwilling to pay $3.00 for a fountain soda or $8 for a beer?  Chances are, if you don't post the prices for your drinks, I'm going to order plain old tap water.  Screw you and your clever lack of information.  It's not my job to ask you how much my drink is going to cost.  You are providing me with a service and that includes prices for the food and drink I'm willing to have with my meal.

If you leave the post at that, I think it stands on it's own.  If you want me to put a project management spin on it, here goes.  If you are a vendor, and you're doing contracted work, don't make your customer ask.  I hate the big reveal.  If you're going to do contracted work, and you fail to inform your customer what the cost is going to be, you should eat it.  Yep, eat the cost.  Why?  Did you promise to throw in a pair of Ginsu knives when you delivered that product?  I'm going to go out on a limb and say no.  Then why would you expect a customer to give you more money for services rendered or product delivered?

I know there are always exceptions.  What if you, as a vendor, don't know how much it's going to cost?  That's fine.  Communicate with your customer.  Treat them like the intelligent beings they are.  They were smart enough to hire you, right?  Then keep them informed and guide them through the options.  Don't sneak that $5 cup of coffee onto the final bill and expect a 20% tip.

Takeaway? Vendors:  Keep your customers informed and don't make them ask. Customers:  Don't let vendors get away with the big reveal.  It will just leave you feeling short-changed.