What A Bagel Cafe — Restaurant in City of White Plains

I visited What A Bagel Cafe in White Plains, NY to purchase a bagel. My total came to $4.95, and I attempted to pay with my debit card.

The owner pointed to a handmade sign posted by the register that read: • “Credit card minimum $15” • “Debit card minimum $10”

He informed me I could not use my card unless I either spent more money or paid in cash. Reluctantly, I purchased two orange juices I did not want, raising my total to $13, just to be able to pay.

For clarity: • Under federal law, merchants may set a credit card minimum purchase, but it cannot exceed $10. • For debit cards, no minimum purchase is permitted at all. This store’s policies are therefore illegal and in violation of Visa/Mastercard rules.

After paying, I politely told the owner: “This is ridiculous, I know your processing fees are not $5 per transaction.” Instead of addressing my concern, he responded by telling me to “shut up” in front of two other customers.

I asked, “That is how you’re going to talk to your customers?” His reply again was: “Shut up.” At that point, I stated I would not be returning and left the establishment.

This experience was both unfair and humiliating: The cafe is enforcing illegal debit/credit minimums that force customers to overspend or use cash. The owner’s unprofessional conduct, telling a paying customer to “shut up” repeatedly, is unacceptable for any business.

I am filing this complaint with the Better Business Bureau and sharing my experience publicly so other consumers are aware. I will also be reporting this violation to Visa/Mastercard, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the New York Attorney General’s office.

No customer should be forced into illegal payment practices or treated with...

Yikes... I went there today for a couple egg & Swiss sandwiches and coffee... it’s the second time I’ve been there (first time Dec 2018). This visit was awkward, to say the least... awkward enough that another customer and I exchanged disapproving glances at one another at the treatment the workers were receiving from the owner right in front of us. The owner was incessantly reprimanding the man making sandwiches telling him repeatedly to go in the back. The customer next to me then turned to me after the berating went on and on and said to me “I would walk if an employer treated me like that”. Then the owner, while making tasteless coffee, was overbearingly questioning another employee as my order was rung up. One of the employees said to us “i don’t let anyone make me feel unhappy”... the whole situation felt uncomfortable and without love and respect. The sandwich was subpar (the cheese didn’t look like Swiss cheese) and the coffee was terrible, I reckon cheap ingredients plus nasty treatment of employees is a recipe for mediocrity. I will not be...

• With respect to below response from owner - I wish the time used to pull up a three month old receipt (re: the swiss cheese) was spent addressing commentary in a professional manner. What a Shame. One star.

Original Review (two stars):

Overpriced mediocrity. This is my second time coming to this establishment. First time I got a standard turkey sandwich on rye - I was charged for lettuce ($1), raw onion ($1) and mayo ($1), amounting to a $16 sandwich that in a normal capacity would cost about $11. Fair enough, we're on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, paying Park Place prices is to be expected.

Today, I ordered a toasted poppy bagel with vegetable cream cheese and bacon. The bacon was actually fairly decent and the $3 upcharge felt fair in light of a $1 charge for mayo - but the bagel was hollow and bland, and the minimal amount of vegetable cream cheese they put made me feel like I was in an Oliver Twist film. "Can I have more, sir?" From this place, I will...