Latest news with #servicefee
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Full Truck Alliance Hikes Service Fees, Warns of Short-Term Pain as JPMorgan Downgrades
Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YMM) is one of the best cheap growth stocks to buy according to analysts. On August 1, 2025, the company announced that it will increase service fee rates on its freight brokerage platform beginning in the third quarter. The move is aimed at reducing reliance on government grants, which the company described as uncertain. In its official press release, Full Truck Alliance stated that this decision is expected to result in a significant drop in transaction volumes, a decline in related revenue, and an increase in cost of revenue, all of which could negatively impact its profitability. The company did not provide specific projections, but said the effects would be noticeable starting in the current quarter ending September 30. Travel mania/ The pricing adjustment marks a strategic shift toward more self-sustaining operations, but it comes with short-term financial tradeoffs. While the company's relative strength rating recently climbed above 80, a common threshold for technically strong stocks, analyst sentiment remains mixed. JPMorgan downgraded the stock from Overweight to Neutral in early August and lowered its price target from $18 to $10, citing valuation concerns. Based in Guiyang, ChinaFull Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) operates a digital freight platform that connects shippers with truckers, often referred to as the "Uber for freight" in China. The company provides freight matching, digital transaction services, and other logistics solutions to streamline road transportation across the country. While we acknowledge the potential of YMM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and . Disclosure: None.
ABC News
31-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Leaked emails reveal National Trust SA's dispute with volunteers over 'service fee'
A group of South Australian National Trust branches is protesting a new "service fee" on their earnings, imposed by the heritage group's head office. Then-chief executive Simon Ambrose contacted the state's 45 volunteer-run branches in April, advising the organisation would invoice them for 10 per cent of their gross annual revenue. According to Mr Ambrose's email, the annual fee would "address the increasing demands of our operating environment", including auditing and tax compliance. However, an email obtained by the ABC between Kingston SE branch chair Alison Stilwell and her counterparts from other branches indicated a pushback from the volunteer base. On July 7, Ms Stilwell wrote that a meeting with the NTSA Council — its board of directors — "did not offer any change to the service fee arrangement". "I am disappointed and have expressed that to the president, vice-president and interim CEO," Ms Stilwell wrote. "I've spoken at length with [President] Millie Nicholls, and she is going to ring or visit branches to explain and discuss." Ms Stilwell, also a council member, is understood to be mediating between management and volunteers. She said she received feedback about the plan from 31 branches. It is not suggested all feedback was negative, but Ms Stilwell said it indicated there was "a lot of work to be done" and she was "continuing to push for a better outcome". "My feeling is that despite things not being as we'd have hoped now, there will be changes not far away," she concluded. Ms Stilwell referred questions to the NTSA head office. The National Trust maintains more than 100 heritage-listed properties across the state, including landmarks such as Ayers House, Stangate House and Z Ward Glenside. It is currently attempting to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for the Cornish mining sites in Moonta and Burra, and has campaigned to keep Mintaro's Martindale Hall in public ownership. In a statement, NTSA president Millie Nicholls said the service fee was "part of an internal effort to ensure the ongoing success of the trust by supporting essential functions such as consolidated auditing, insurance, and financial compliance". "While the fee has been issued, we are continuing open discussions with branches to address concerns and clarify the benefits of centralised support," Ms Nicholls said. "Feedback is being incorporated and further engagement is planned over the next few months." The ABC also became aware that the trust this year sold an empty parcel of land in Moonta and was in discussions about the future of the 19th-century National Australia Bank building in Burra. In response, Ms Nicholls said the charity was aiming to "strengthen its financial sustainability" by "reviewing under-utilised assets", as well as seeking income through events, accommodation and donations. The ABC spoke with volunteers from 10 National Trust branches, none of whom wished to be identified. Branches said their biggest costs were insurance, utilities bills and general maintenance, and the service fee invoices ranged between several hundred dollars and five digits. None reported any preliminary consultation, but Ms Nicholls said branch meet-ups and communications occurred several months prior. One volunteer said they believed the need for a new charge was not properly communicated. "We were willing to acknowledge that they might have to operate differently, but they haven't explained how they calculated this figure," they said. "That means that we can't explain it to our members … so that level of accountability is missing." Ms Nicholls said the overall amount was "tied to the workload for managing each branch's operations". Several volunteers said they were holding off on paying in anticipation of a compromise.
News.com.au
19-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Insanity': Wild restaurant fee shocks the internet
A disgruntled patron posted a receipt from a recent trip to a restaurant that charged its guests a mandatory 'living wage fee' on Instagram threads — and the internet was incensed. Tipping culture has long been a point of contention for Americans, and as prices continue to rise, the practice has become an even more controversial topic. But now it seems that businesses are taking things too far by tacking on extra fees such as this one — and people aren't happy about it. 'Price increase without having to update the menu,' claimed one reply on the post. '[This] means I'm never eating at that restaurant again,' said another. Meanwhile, another commenter proposed an entirely separate issue of debate: the pooling of tips. 'If I wanna tip a person, I wanna tip that individual, not the entire team. This is unfair to the server and to me.' However, a few lonely restaurantgoers cut the restaurant, which remained unnamed in the post — and the growing industry trend — some slack, and fired back at fellow commenters. 'Y'all have been asking for no tipping, this is what it looks like. It could reflect in drink/food prices, but then you all would say the place was too expensive. No one is trying to trick you — if they were transparent about the service fee, STFU,' one impassioned viewer responded. 'Just include [the fee] in the cost of the food and drinks, like the rest of the world is doing, and pay the workers properly. Sincerely, a guy from Europe,' one aggrieved commenter suggested under the post. This response was the sole sentiment that united incensed restaurant patrons on both sides of the debate. 'Mind your European business,' advised one reply, while another said: 'Hey, stay out of our insanity!' For some small, family-owned restaurants, implementing charges like this living wage fee might allow the business to stay afloat and support their employees — especially amid a cost-of-living crisis. Durham, North Carolina-based Lula & Sadie's is one spot that charges a living wage fee to combat 'rising overhead costs, slim industry profit margins and a minimum wage that won't budge,' per the family-operated restaurant's website. 'The fee is transparently listed on our menus, website and posted around the restaurant.' Though local laws vary greatly in terms of tipping and charging policies in restaurants, New York City Consumer and Worker Protection rules, state that 'restaurants cannot charge a surcharge or other fee in addition to listed food or beverage prices,' but they can 'charge a bona fide service charge, but only if the charge is conspicuously disclosed to consumers before food is ordered.' Examples of 'bona fide service charges' include splitting a meal on multiple plates, minimums per person and mandatory gratuity for large dining parties. That being said, 'living wage fees' are often considered service charges, depending on how they're disclosed and absorbed by the business. 'There is no law in New York State that specifically prohibits automatic gratuities. However, it is incumbent upon any restaurant including an automatic gratuity charge to provide — in advance — clear and conspicuous notice that an automatic gratuity charge will be levied and all terms associated with the automatic charge. If consumers are not provided advanced notice, [they] may have a claim under the NYS Deceptive Acts & Practices law,' New York State's Division of Consumer Protection told News10NBC.
Washington Post
30-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
D.C. has too many restaurants. It's time for some to go.
The debate about the elimination of the special minimum tipped wage, as was noted in Marc Fisher's May 23 op-ed, 'In D.C.'s new world of eating out, when is a service fee a tip?,' ignores an inconvenient truth: D.C. has too many restaurants. I live in the Palisades. In my neighborhood, within three blocks of my house, there are six restaurants. If I extend that range to a still-doable 15-minute walk, there are four more. But I don't have a drugstore within that three-block radius, or a hardware store, or a bookstore, or a full-service grocery store. Restaurants make so much money that they can afford to pay higher rents than other kinds of stores, and the result is less variety in the local commercial market.
