When the Bill Is High, but the Standards Are Low: A Lesson in Value, Not Just Price

I walked into a local bar and grill expecting to spend about $30, max. I was just looking for a decent meal and a little downtime to catch up on business emails—not a $60 bill and a plate of over-marinated, overcooked chicken that tasted like charcoal. No exaggeration—there was nothing tender or tasteful about it. And definitely not $60 worth of quality and time.

When I politely addressed it with the manager, the response wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t healing either. I left hungry, disappointed, and honestly… inspired. Because in that moment, I remembered something:

👉🏽 As a business owner, I know value isn’t just in what you sell—it’s in how you make people feel.

And that experience didn’t feel like value. It felt like a warning.

I’m not sharing this to be petty. I’m sharing it because every business owner, especially in hospitality or service, needs to be reminded that customer experience is everything. You can’t charge premium prices and deliver careless service. You can’t burn your food and still expect people to swallow it—and that applies beyond the plate.

As an event planner and brand builder, I coach clients on showing up with excellence, consistency, and care. What happened that day reminded me of why that matters. People don’t just remember what they paid—they remember how you made them feel about paying it.

So no, I didn’t get my money back. But I got something more important:

📝 A blog post.

💼 A write-off.

🔥 A renewed commitment to deliver excellence in my business.

Here’s the real takeaway:

Every bad experience can be flipped into a business lesson, a branding moment, or even a tax-deductible blog—if you’re smart enough to see the opportunity.

Because I’m not just a customer—I’m a CEO.

And I don’t just eat the cost. I turn it into content.