Strawberries on the Floor, Doubling Prices for Pastries at 'Marush' Café: A Consumer Alert

A Facebook user, Elizabeth Fishenko, wrote: A story about a pastry.
"Dear friends, I must definitely write about this extraordinary incident so that you do not fall victim to deception: so that a 1000 dram pastry does not become 9000-10000 drams over your heads. And of course, to know what unpleasant situation you will find yourself in during your personal or business meetings, so as not to pay out of modesty and feel cheated.
Part 1
Today, my two colleagues and I visited the newly opened 'Marush' café located at the intersection of Republic and Vardanants streets to buy pastries (for those who don’t know, Marush is a chain of pastry-selling shops and cafés in Yerevan). We entered, and the first unpleasant surprise awaited us: the staff, 3-4 people standing in the pastry section, stared at us with frozen expressions on their faces. We asked for a pastry from this section. I should mention that a piece of pastry costs 1000 or 1500 drams, note the price as it is going to become the most ridiculous part of the story.
So, they give us the pastries and tell us to take a seat, but a minute later, they take the plates from our hands, saying they will bring them to us. We think, okay, maybe that’s how it works here. They approach us, and one of the workers says we cannot sit in the main room (I should note that the room is 90% empty, with about 9-10 free tables without reservation). You can only sit at a small table by the window. I can tell you that this is definitely not fit for three people.
A minute later, seeing our dissatisfaction and our surprised expressions regarding why we cannot sit in the main room, a man talking to all the staff and waiters says they can go sit in the main room. We go and sit, waiting for about 15 minutes for forks and knives to be brought to us, despite asking twice for them. Eventually, when they finally bring the pastries, we see that the strawberries on our colleague’s ordered pastry have fallen to the floor because the waiter acted carelessly and dropped them. With a calm expression, they pick the strawberries up from the floor and bring them to us. We politely and calmly asked to change them, as nobody will eat strawberries collected from the ground.
If this has not strange to you after all that, let’s move on to the next part. This is where the movie starts.
Part 2
They bring us the bill. We want to pay, but my colleague notices that there is a service charge and some unclear additional 3000 drams. We call the waiter to clarify what the extra charge is for. They say, ‘That's how it is with us; it’s a sitting fee. Sitting in the room costs 3000 drams.’ We look at each other in astonishment and say, ‘You know, there’s nothing posted anywhere, and nowhere does it indicate that sitting costs 3000 drams. It’s not included in the menu either.’ They start battling, ‘But that’s how it is at our restaurant!’ Suddenly, the pastry-selling Marush turns into a restaurant and remembers that they need to charge a service fee for 0 service and unpleasant attitude, and it’s also not small, 3000 drams just for sitting!
My colleague explains simply that there is no such thing anywhere to demand a sitting fee without warning and without posting this information anywhere. We say it’s a gross violation; bring us another bill which will only include our three pieces of pastry.
With a dismissive demeanor and reluctance, they bring us the same receipt, saying it’s a new one. We call the manager again, saying this is the same one. With a pleased expression, they say, ‘But this is a new receipt!’ We look, and in the check, our pastries are listed at double the value. We say, ‘Excuse us, but we know the price of the pastries. The price indicated in your room is also online. It’s impossible that each piece of pastry is charged at double the price.’ They say, ‘But that’s how it is; eating there costs double.’
To keep the story from getting too long, I’ll mention the inadequate manager’s behavior, their unpleasant tone, and that’s how it is at our restaurant. I must say that after a long struggle, we listed the most expensive cafes in Yerevan where there’s no sitting fee nor double-charging for pastries. Other people sitting next to us, seeing this unpleasant situation and understanding that they too will face the 3000 dram saga and double-check, leave and exit.
After a long struggle, we inform them that this will not remain a negative incident and that the wide public will know about all this. Finally, we were told rudely and dismissively, ‘Well, don’t pay then!’
Okay, we don’t pay and leave, feeling deep disgust for their behavior and deception. I’ll add that I will never again step into this café-restaurant-shop called Marush with such base behavior. It’s still unclear whether it’s a shop, café, or restaurant, as they prefer to be a restaurant when it suits them but a non-serving shop in other cases.
Dear consumers, stay informed! Let no individual get rich at your expense through tricks and deception. Also, I’d like to note that all famous large cafes in the city provide fantastic service: they know you, always greet you with a smile, and resolve even minor issues quickly to ensure the customer is never displeased. They do everything to make sure you wish to return with love and pleasure."