Pay What You Want (PWYW)

Muse & Co offers a Pay What You Want option on select drinks as part of our community-first pricing model. This page explains how it works for customers and how staff should handle it.

What It Is

Pay What You Want lets customers set their own price for certain drinks. It's not a discount — it's a trust-based pricing model that says: "We trust you to pay what feels right."

How It Works for Customers

1. Look for the banner — When PWYW is active, a warm amber banner appears at the top of the menu and home page announcing which drinks are included
2. "Name Your Price" on menu cards — PWYW-eligible drinks show "Name Your Price" in amber instead of a dollar amount
3. Set your price in the drink modal — Tap a PWYW drink, scroll to the "YOUR PRICE" section, and enter any amount ($0 and up)
4. Sign-in required — PWYW is only available to logged-in members. Guests see a "Sign in to name your price" prompt and add drinks at regular price
5. Checkout shows your price — The amount you entered is what goes to Stripe for payment

Where Your Payment Goes

Every dollar supports:

• Ingredients for your drink
• A fair wage for your barista
• Keeping this creative space alive for the community

Tips are calculated on the drink's original menu price, not your custom price — so the barista is fairly compensated regardless of what you pay.

When PWYW Is Available

PWYW is managed through the Promotions system. The shop owner can:

• Enable it for specific drinks or entire categories (e.g., all Coffee, all Fruit Tea)
• Set date ranges (e.g., April 15-29)
• Set time windows (e.g., 2 PM - 5 PM only)
• Limit to specific days (e.g., Wednesdays only — "Wild Wednesday")
• Activate or deactivate instantly with quick presets ("Next 3 hours", "Rest of today", "This weekend")

For Staff: Handling PWYW Orders

• PWYW orders appear normally in the POS and kitchen display
• The order ticket shows the customer's chosen price
• Prepare the drink exactly the same regardless of price — full quality, every time
• If a customer asks about PWYW in the store, explain: "You can set your own price on select drinks through our app. Just sign in and look for the amber 'Name Your Price' label."
• Do NOT judge or comment on the price a customer chose. The whole point is trust.

FAQ

Can I pay $0? Yes. We trust our community. The drink is prepared the same way.

Do I still tip? The tip screen suggests amounts based on the drink's regular menu price, so your barista is always fairly tipped.

Why do I need to sign in? PWYW is a community feature for our members. Signing in lets us personalize your experience and track your preferences.

Can I use PWYW with rewards or discounts? PWYW sets the price directly — other discounts don't stack on top. If you have a reward, you can use it separately on your next order.

How do I know which drinks have PWYW? Look for the amber "Name Your Price" text on menu cards, or check the banner at the top of the page.