Cashless café faces backlash over 2% card-payment surcharge

A popular café in Chadstone, east Melbourne, is facing criticism for imposing a two per cent surcharge on all card payments while not accepting cash. Malibu Barbie Café lists its prices on menus but requires guests to pay an additional card-processing fee at the till, effectively raising the amount charged at checkout.

Customers have raised concerns online that the surcharge is not included in the advertised prices. One patron described the card-only policy as disappointing, and noted the added fee as part of the total cost, asking whether pricing should reflect the surcharge more clearly. "Barbie Café at Chadstone's social quarter is card-only, which I already dislike but they also charge a surcharge on top of the card payments which are the only option," the individual wrote in a post cited by local outlets. As surcharges become more common in hospitality, commenters questioned whether businesses should advertise the full price up front rather than add a separate fee.

The Malibu Barbie Café responded to the initial complaint by reaffirming that the venue is card-only and that a small surcharge applies to card transactions. The statement said the surcharge is clearly noted at the point of sale and that the displayed menu prices do not include it. It also stressed that the surcharge funds the costs of additional staffing and servicing required to deliver the Barbie Café experience, including immersive photo opportunities and themed hosts, and that no surcharge applies to retail or merchandise purchases.

The customer who raised the issue subsequently filed a compliance complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Inquiries from the Daily Mail to Bucket Lister, the owner of Malibu Barbie Café, and to the ACCC for comment were reported as outstanding at the time of publication.

In the broader industry, card-payment surcharges have grown more common as businesses shift to cashless models. Critics say such fees should be included in the advertised price to avoid misimpression of cost, while supporters argue they help cover processing costs and operating expenses. Regulatory guidance in Australia has emphasized the importance of transparency and disclosure when surcharges are applied, with customers increasingly pushing for visible pricing that reflects the total amount charged.

As the debate over price transparency and cashless policies continues, customers and consumer advocates are watching how Malibu Barbie Café handles pricing disclosures and whether regulators take further action. The café has not publicly indicated any change to its policy, and observers will be looking for updates from both the business and the ACCC regarding compliance considerations.