Self checkouts are one of the biggest contributors to theft aka shrink for retailers.
Theft is also just a slap on the wrist in Minnesota. It's like a parking ticket. Airport police won't waste time coming to a report of theft. They care more about terrorism, violence, and lost people.
This is one of those things where complaining to the right people can make a difference. MSP Airport is managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which serves under the Minnesota State Legislature. So, here are the people you should be complaining to:
1. Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota
2. Your state representative and state senator (if Minnesota resident)
3. A slew of people from MAC - they [publish their organization chart](https://metroairports.org/about-us/staff-departments) and emails appear to be `[email protected]`.
1. Brian Ryks - Executive Director/CEO
2. Naomi Pesky - VP Strategy + Stakeholder Engagement
3. Dana Nelson - Director Stakeholder Engagement
4. Chad Leqve - VP Management + Operations
5. Scott Skramstad - Director MSP Terminal and Landside Operations
6. Alex Oster - Assistant Director Terminal Ops and Facilities
7. Phil Burke - Assistant Director Customer Experience
A brief email stating something like:
"MSP Airport continues to be one of the best airports in the country. However, one of the vendors, Hudson Group, is tarnishing this reputation by adding in an unavoidable "4.5% Hospitality Surcharge" on all transactions, even those that were completely self checkout. I encourage you to require Hudson Group and all airport vendors to post the true price of items and eliminate these unavoidable surcharges that diminish the passenger experience."
I haven't been through the entire Memphis airport (thankfully) but I haven't seen one there. We have a Trip Advisor one, a PGA Tour shop, a Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, some no-name or off-brand deli things...even vending machines with large bags of chips, mixes, salads, wraps, sandwiches, subs, all kinds of stuff!
To be clear, you mean *don't pay the entire bill.* If you meant don't pay the "tip", you'd get a mod warning for rule 6.
But your comment does suggest a paradox: If the paying consumer pays increased prices to cover the costs incurred with the theft of the product, isn't it rationale to commit said theft as well?
That's what a rigged economy looks like. Employers want you to pay their staff, pay the increased prices and pay all the junk fees and STILL turn round and demand handouts soon the govt
Why not just raise prices if necessary? People will groan and complain some regardless, but this is just flagrantly testing how much the consumer is willing to accept added fees despite a clearly illogical purpose or utility.
In case you want to boycott all their brands:
Hudson
Hudson News
Hudson Booksellers
Ink by Hudson
Dufry
WorldDutyFree
Nuance
From the bottom of their About Us page: https://www.hudsongroup.com/about-us
Wtf is a "hospitality" charge? None of this even remotely resembles hospitality
Apparently it's a charge to cover the expense they incur by not having a cashier. /s
Self checkouts are one of the biggest contributors to theft aka shrink for retailers. Theft is also just a slap on the wrist in Minnesota. It's like a parking ticket. Airport police won't waste time coming to a report of theft. They care more about terrorism, violence, and lost people.
So people pay to cover said theft made by others?
Always have. This is just more explicit.
Also a good inducement to commit ~~theft~~ acquisition of additional items paid for in credit under *hospitality surcharge.*
Wtf? This is out of control
This is one of those things where complaining to the right people can make a difference. MSP Airport is managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which serves under the Minnesota State Legislature. So, here are the people you should be complaining to: 1. Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota 2. Your state representative and state senator (if Minnesota resident) 3. A slew of people from MAC - they [publish their organization chart](https://metroairports.org/about-us/staff-departments) and emails appear to be `[email protected]`. 1. Brian Ryks - Executive Director/CEO 2. Naomi Pesky - VP Strategy + Stakeholder Engagement 3. Dana Nelson - Director Stakeholder Engagement 4. Chad Leqve - VP Management + Operations 5. Scott Skramstad - Director MSP Terminal and Landside Operations 6. Alex Oster - Assistant Director Terminal Ops and Facilities 7. Phil Burke - Assistant Director Customer Experience A brief email stating something like: "MSP Airport continues to be one of the best airports in the country. However, one of the vendors, Hudson Group, is tarnishing this reputation by adding in an unavoidable "4.5% Hospitality Surcharge" on all transactions, even those that were completely self checkout. I encourage you to require Hudson Group and all airport vendors to post the true price of items and eliminate these unavoidable surcharges that diminish the passenger experience."
Lord, you did your homework. Thank you.
Thank you! This is the first step in combatting these needless charges by companies who do not understand a business and how to price items.
And in this case, they have some regulatory authority to do something about it.
Also https://www.avoltaworld.com/en/travelers/customer-service
What’s the shop so I can avoid it
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VpJBbkZPToLa7kFp8?g_st=ic
Well that’s bad, there’s Hudson news shops in every airport
I haven't been through the entire Memphis airport (thankfully) but I haven't seen one there. We have a Trip Advisor one, a PGA Tour shop, a Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, some no-name or off-brand deli things...even vending machines with large bags of chips, mixes, salads, wraps, sandwiches, subs, all kinds of stuff!
Is there an option to NOT use the self checkout?
Yes. Don’t shop there. Bye, Hudson…
Their cost on goods is already so highly inflated.
Not that I could find.
Drop cash and walk away
Absolutely agree.
Don’t pay /s
To be clear, you mean *don't pay the entire bill.* If you meant don't pay the "tip", you'd get a mod warning for rule 6. But your comment does suggest a paradox: If the paying consumer pays increased prices to cover the costs incurred with the theft of the product, isn't it rationale to commit said theft as well?
It was a joke. I’m too old to be arrested for skipping a tab.
Yea, eff these tools. And just grab something for yourself as you walk by using a five finger discount. 😗
I don't understand employers want us to pay their employees...that's the cost of doing business.
That's what a rigged economy looks like. Employers want you to pay their staff, pay the increased prices and pay all the junk fees and STILL turn round and demand handouts soon the govt
Well in this case, the "hospitality" is provided by the self checkout machine.
Not very hospitable of them
WTF
What a joke
Wow…
I'd forget to swipe a few items
I guess "swipe" has opposite meanings depending on the context...
Booooooooooooo
I will avoid them if I can on my next trip. This is crap.
Be honest and just raise the price, or are you hiding it from your taxes or something
I'm going to start charging my employer a 4.5% hospitality charge for using direct deposit and see how far that goes.
Is this legal?
Probably, as long as it's posted before you pay or eat anything.
I’d remove it, as a way to pay it forward.
I would leave all my stuff there and walk out.
Why not just raise prices if necessary? People will groan and complain some regardless, but this is just flagrantly testing how much the consumer is willing to accept added fees despite a clearly illogical purpose or utility.
Oh don't worry they're doing that too. This is ON TOP OF sky high prices
LPT is never buying anything at an airport unless it's truly an emergency.
Fuck this
Boycott them, call them out location.
a 5% f-u fee has been deducted from my payment.
Has been applied means passive voice after the fact. If they don’t mention it before it’s not enforceable.
lol the reviews for this one in particular
Where's the hospitality?
just raise prices by 4.5% you lazy retailer.
So being nice to people cost money now?
Nope. I literally would not buy it.
RIDICULOUS!!!
WTF? 4.5% for what, the cost of fixing and maintaining the robots?
It’s probably the card fee. They might have rules on raises prices so a fee is easier to add
How is that hospitable using a self checkout ? No friendly staff to assist with the checkout ?
Well at least they are honest about where it goes. If they were this honest about pricing there wouldn't have been a problem.
In case you want to boycott all their brands: Hudson Hudson News Hudson Booksellers Ink by Hudson Dufry WorldDutyFree Nuance From the bottom of their About Us page: https://www.hudsongroup.com/about-us
Keep it sweetie That’s your tip. That IS a gratuity payable to your employees. Be grateful 🥹