Clip joint

Typically, clip joints suggest the possibility of sex, charge inflated prices for watered-down alcoholic drinks, and then throw out customers when they become unwilling or unable to spend more money.

Clip joints still operate openly in some areas of the world, such as Shanghai, Las Vegas, Soho and Kabukichō, where they prey on visiting tourists.

Bills are commonly hundreds of, if not over a thousand, dollars, listing items like a "hostess fee" or "service charge" that were not originally mentioned to the customer.

[1] The beautiful woman who originally lured the mark to the location often makes an excuse and leaves prior to the arrival of the bill.

[7] In a mid-2015 sweep by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, six hostess clubs were found to have charged as much as 2.6 Million yen (~US$26000) for one evening's visit by nine male customers.

[9] The 1937 crime film Marked Woman, starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, portrays a clip joint.

In Tennessee Williams' Streetcar Named Desire, in the opening scene, a sailor is warned against visiting the Four Deuces as it is a clip joint.