Restaurants have gotten so expensive……also recycling and phone apps (2 Viewers)

[General Malaise]

https://twitter.com/RussellFalcon/status/1676248595538870278?s=20

Is that somebody I should know?

 

[dickey moe]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

Because people who use the convenience of swiping to pay and don't think will pay it.

 

[General Malaise]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

Because people who use the convenience of swiping to pay and don't think will pay it.

It defaults to 20%, 22%, 25%, other or NO. You have to put some thought into this...

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

Because people who use the convenience of swiping to pay and don't think will pay it.

It defaults to 20%, 22%, 25%, other or NO. You have to put some thought into this...

These days, it’s nice to even get a “no tip” option. That saves the hassle of having to go through the “custom tip” option and enter zero.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

Because people who use the convenience of swiping to pay and don't think will pay it.

It defaults to 20%, 22%, 25%, other or NO. You have to put some thought into this...

These days, it’s nice to even get a “no tip” option. That saves the hassle of having to go through the “custom tip” option and enter zero.

I can deal with the no tip option. If I have to go through multiple screens to not leave a tip, I’m not coming back.

 

[need2know]

$22 avocado toast was on the brunch menu today

I would've offered $10 and see what they said.

That still seems like too much

 

[John123]

The size of their menu is a mistake in my opinion

Yes, but why?

Because what you have to do in order to maintain standards across that menu is expensive, and can be wasteful. Bad idea for almost any restaurant. How do you make that work? Who can pull of a huge menu?

Need to be doing massive volume, and have spectacular SOPs in place, and be willing to staff properly.

Welp, that's Cheesecake Factory.

They're just fine for their target customer. It's what they want. Do a search of their locations.

MI - Twelve Oaks Mall, Woodland Mall
OK - Woodlands Hills Mall, Penn Square Mall
CO - 16th St Mall, Park Meadows (mall), Southwest Plaza (mall)
MN - Ridgedale Center (mall), Southdale Center (mall)


There's a theme here.

Just to clarify, the 16th St Mall in Denver is not a traditional mall. It's one of the main streets that runs from one end of downtown Denver to the other end of downtown Denver. Private vehicles aren't allowed down this street. Denver runs free buses up and down it. Many of the buildings house other types of businesses as well as shopping at street level. The 16th street mall is simply a street with businesses on it.

 

[waiver wire]

Went out to a local Ethiopian place with the family yesterday for lunch. 50 bucks for the 4 of us with leftovers. Will gladly pay 50 for that deliciousness

Ethiopian food is so good, highly recommend it

 

[MAC_32]

To be fair Panera bagels are ok, but their sandwiches…I can find better stuff in the frozen food aisle

SWC’s comments are great schtick. Panera is so bad they should be out of business. Which they will be in a few years. Take that to the bank bromigos.

Will they though? I see no discernable difference between Panera, Cheesecake Facory, Cracker Barrel, or all the fast food restaurants that people frequent. The American public loves mediocre food chains, especially ones that have carved out a niche like Panera. What's the catalyst that puts them out of business?

Plenty of chains die. They may be a slow death. But many eventually die or become irrelevant. One man’s opinion, but Panera just puts out a ****ty, nondescript product. They aren’t good with even the basics. Soups, salads, sandwiches. Got a grilled cheese and tomato soup there. Inedible. They’ll be sold to other private equity in fire sales. But my bet is they will see a very steep decline.

Even subway is dying and it was more profitable than God while Jared wasn't into pedo stuff.

I think Subway is a great example of a mediocre product ultimately leading to their demise, even though it is slow. Jared aside Subway was great when $5 footlongs were the norm. It was still fine when it just became am every now and then thing or bogo. Now that those days appear over the market is telling them with their (lack of) buying behavior what that means. I get it- cheap and good generally can't co exist, but if it isn't either of those...

 

[Stoneworker]

They're just fine for their target customer. It's what they want. Do a search of their locations.

MI - Twelve Oaks Mall, Woodland Mall
OK - Woodlands Hills Mall, Penn Square Mall
CO - 16th St Mall, Park Meadows (mall), Southwest Plaza (mall)
MN - Ridgedale Center (mall), Southdale Center (mall)


There's a theme here.

Just to clarify, the 16th St Mall in Denver is not a traditional mall. It's one of the main streets that runs from one end of downtown Denver to the other end of downtown Denver. Private vehicles aren't allowed down this street. Denver runs free buses up and down it. Many of the buildings house other types of businesses as well as shopping at street level. The 16th street mall is simply a street with businesses on it.

I live downtown. 16th street is meant to be a pedestrian "main street" concept, similar to Pearl Street in Boulder and Church St in Burlington, VT. Ground floor is almost entirely retail. The pedestrian traffic is filled with out-of-town visitors (conventioneers, visiting sports fans, etc) with much the same demographic as would visit a traditional covered mall. They are most likely the target market, much more so than locals working in an office or coming from the suburbs.

 

[John123]

They're just fine for their target customer. It's what they want. Do a search of their locations.

MI - Twelve Oaks Mall, Woodland Mall
OK - Woodlands Hills Mall, Penn Square Mall
CO - 16th St Mall, Park Meadows (mall), Southwest Plaza (mall)
MN - Ridgedale Center (mall), Southdale Center (mall)


There's a theme here.

Just to clarify, the 16th St Mall in Denver is not a traditional mall. It's one of the main streets that runs from one end of downtown Denver to the other end of downtown Denver. Private vehicles aren't allowed down this street. Denver runs free buses up and down it. Many of the buildings house other types of businesses as well as shopping at street level. The 16th street mall is simply a street with businesses on it.

I live downtown. 16th street is meant to be a pedestrian "main street" concept, similar to Pearl Street in Boulder and Church St in Burlington, VT. Ground floor is almost entirely retail. The pedestrian traffic is filled with out-of-town visitors (conventioneers, visiting sports fans, etc) with much the same demographic as would visit a traditional covered mall. They are most likely the target market, much more so than locals working in an office or coming from the suburbs.

I think the target market is anyone who wants to eat or shop. It's not just the businesses in the same buildings on 16th street; there are massive numbers of businesses up and down every street in downtown that use the 16th street mall. I worked downtown for years right on the 16th street mall. I'm not clueless on this subject. Regardless, putting that Cheesecake Factory in to the same class as the one at Southwest Plaza, especially to a bunch of people who aren't from Denver, is misleading.

 

[Stoneworker]

They're just fine for their target customer. It's what they want. Do a search of their locations.

MI - Twelve Oaks Mall, Woodland Mall
OK - Woodlands Hills Mall, Penn Square Mall
CO - 16th St Mall, Park Meadows (mall), Southwest Plaza (mall)
MN - Ridgedale Center (mall), Southdale Center (mall)


There's a theme here.

Just to clarify, the 16th St Mall in Denver is not a traditional mall. It's one of the main streets that runs from one end of downtown Denver to the other end of downtown Denver. Private vehicles aren't allowed down this street. Denver runs free buses up and down it. Many of the buildings house other types of businesses as well as shopping at street level. The 16th street mall is simply a street with businesses on it.

I live downtown. 16th street is meant to be a pedestrian "main street" concept, similar to Pearl Street in Boulder and Church St in Burlington, VT. Ground floor is almost entirely retail. The pedestrian traffic is filled with out-of-town visitors (conventioneers, visiting sports fans, etc) with much the same demographic as would visit a traditional covered mall. They are most likely the target market, much more so than locals working in an office or coming from the suburbs.

I think the target market is anyone who wants to eat or shop. It's not just the businesses in the same buildings on 16th street; there are massive numbers of businesses up and down every street in downtown that use the 16th street mall. I worked downtown for years right on the 16th street mall. I'm not clueless on this subject. Regardless, putting that Cheesecake Factory in to the same class as the one at Southwest Plaza, especially to a bunch of people who aren't from Denver, is misleading.

Misleading? Lol. Ok.

 

[Judge Smails]

To be fair Panera bagels are ok, but their sandwiches…I can find better stuff in the frozen food aisle

SWC’s comments are great schtick. Panera is so bad they should be out of business. Which they will be in a few years. Take that to the bank bromigos.

Will they though? I see no discernable difference between Panera, Cheesecake Facory, Cracker Barrel, or all the fast food restaurants that people frequent. The American public loves mediocre food chains, especially ones that have carved out a niche like Panera. What's the catalyst that puts them out of business?

Plenty of chains die. They may be a slow death. But many eventually die or become irrelevant. One man’s opinion, but Panera just puts out a ****ty, nondescript product. They aren’t good with even the basics. Soups, salads, sandwiches. Got a grilled cheese and tomato soup there. Inedible. They’ll be sold to other private equity in fire sales. But my bet is they will see a very steep decline.

Sold to a private equity firm in a fire sale? Doubtful.

In reality, Panera is preparing an IPO this summer.

Panera Bread parent announces CEO transition as it prepares for 'eventual IPO'

Panera Brands CEO Niren Chaudhary will be succeeded by Einstein Bros. Bagels CEO Jose Duenas, effective July 1.

www.cnbc.com

Buy their stock. I'll be shorting it.

 

[fruity pebbles]

To be fair Panera bagels are ok, but their sandwiches…I can find better stuff in the frozen food aisle

SWC’s comments are great schtick. Panera is so bad they should be out of business. Which they will be in a few years. Take that to the bank bromigos.

Will they though? I see no discernable difference between Panera, Cheesecake Facory, Cracker Barrel, or all the fast food restaurants that people frequent. The American public loves mediocre food chains, especially ones that have carved out a niche like Panera. What's the catalyst that puts them out of business?

Plenty of chains die. They may be a slow death. But many eventually die or become irrelevant. One man’s opinion, but Panera just puts out a ****ty, nondescript product. They aren’t good with even the basics. Soups, salads, sandwiches. Got a grilled cheese and tomato soup there. Inedible. They’ll be sold to other private equity in fire sales. But my bet is they will see a very steep decline.

Even subway is dying and it was more profitable than God while Jared wasn't into pedo stuff.

I think Subway is a great example of a mediocre product ultimately leading to their demise, even though it is slow. Jared aside Subway was great when $5 footlongs were the norm. It was still fine when it just became am every now and then thing or bogo. Now that those days appear over the market is telling them with their (lack of) buying behavior what that means. I get it- cheap and good generally can't co exist, but if it isn't either of those...

Yeah, a foot long is almost $10 now for a standard sandwich. Crazy considering it’s a 80% lettuce, nearly meatless piece of garbage.

 

[stbugs]

Went out to eat last night and thought of this thread

- 11.99 for 4 deviled egg halves

- 6.99 for banana pudding, which was served in what was essentially a little pudding cup. Maybe 5 tablespoons. Crazy price.

- 20% service charge, which was fine, but then only 15% went to the server so I had to tip more. So I was paying the restaurant 5% to support their staff which I thought I was doing through ordering the food. Oh well.

That’s not bad for deviled eggs. I’m looking at some prices on Publix and their deviled eggs are $29.99.

Although, it is a platter to feed 16-20 people.

 

[Stoneworker]

Plenty of chains die. They may be a slow death. But many eventually die or become irrelevant. One man’s opinion, but Panera just puts out a ****ty, nondescript product. They aren’t good with even the basics. Soups, salads, sandwiches. Got a grilled cheese and tomato soup there. Inedible. They’ll be sold to other private equity in fire sales. But my bet is they will see a very steep decline.

Sold to a private equity firm in a fire sale? Doubtful.

In reality, Panera is preparing an IPO this summer.

Panera Bread parent announces CEO transition as it prepares for 'eventual IPO'

Panera Brands CEO Niren Chaudhary will be succeeded by Einstein Bros. Bagels CEO Jose Duenas, effective July 1.

www.cnbc.com

Buy their stock. I'll be shorting it.

Shorting a stock because didn't like the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Solid investment strategy.

 

[Keerock]

The size of their menu is a mistake in my opinion

Yes, but why?

Because what you have to do in order to maintain standards across that menu is expensive, and can be wasteful. Bad idea for almost any restaurant. How do you make that work? Who can pull of a huge menu?

Need to be doing massive volume, and have spectacular SOPs in place, and be willing to staff properly.

Welp, that's Cheesecake Factory.

They're just fine for their target customer. It's what they want. Do a search of their locations.

MI - Twelve Oaks Mall, Woodland Mall
OK - Woodlands Hills Mall, Penn Square Mall
CO - 16th St Mall, Park Meadows (mall), Southwest Plaza (mall)
MN - Ridgedale Center (mall), Southdale Center (mall)


There's a theme here.

I’m 5 miles from 12 Oaks. CF there routinely has 2 hour waits and the place is huge

 

[Grahamburn]

$22 avocado toast was on the brunch menu today

I swear I think some restaurants throw crazy numbers out there just to see if it sticks.

@Capella is ordering $12 deviled eggs and $7 banana pudding. It’s sticking.

 

[Joe Bryant]

An interesting article from 10 years ago from Texas Monthly (the authoritative source for BBQ Brisket writing) talking about the rising costs. And also the 50% loss from raw meat to finished product. https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/brisket-aint-cheap/

 

[Joe Bryant]

Looks like Truth BBQ in Houston, is at $34 a pound for brisket. https://feastio.com/truth-bbq-houston/

They are world-renowned so they'll have an easier time with that than my local BBQ in Knoxville selling at $32 a pound. I'm sure Truth is also buying at a much lower price than my guy so they're food cost / selling price is better. But still in line with normal business practice for restaurants.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I've eaten there once, enough to know it's not very good. The public is wrong often.

Which few of their 250 menu items weren't good?

I saw the opening of a new Cheescake factory on Lincoln Road last month and was impressed with the training. I believe the chefs had 2 months of on- site training and the waiters trained for a few weeks without real clients, memorizing the entire 21 page menu, and then they trained for about10 days, an invitation only, with family and friends as diners. They're doing something right, including the fettuccine Alfredo, which I bet would do well in a blind taste test. I haven't eaten there in 5 years but I recall my last meal there was a veggie burger and fries made to perfection.

It's popularity leads to good pay and quality staff.

Almost every restaurant is great the first few months. They have the best managers, trainers and a fully vetted staff all brought in before the fireworks hit. It’s a well oiled machine. After it’s all set up the bomb.com manager/team is sent off to a new restaurant and the decline begins.

 

[massraider]

Looks like Truth BBQ in Houston, is at $34 a pound for brisket. https://feastio.com/truth-bbq-houston/

They are world-renowned so they'll have an easier time with that than my local BBQ in Knoxville selling at $32 a pound. I'm sure Truth is also buying at a much lower price than my guy so they're food cost / selling price is better. But still in line with normal business practice for restaurants.

Regarding combo plate:

At Truth BBQ in Houston, you've got three options:

• 1 meat with 2 sides for $22
• 2 types of meat with 2 sides for $26
• 3 types of meat with 2 sides for $30

That seems very reasonable.

 

[Hawks64]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

That's why, you can't program a POS to only put a tip amount on certain things.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Went out to eat last night and thought of this thread

- 11.99 for 4 deviled egg halves

- 6.99 for banana pudding, which was served in what was essentially a little pudding cup. Maybe 5 tablespoons. Crazy price.

- 20% service charge, which was fine, but then only 15% went to the server so I had to tip more. So I was paying the restaurant 5% to support their staff which I thought I was doing through ordering the food. Oh well.

you don't have to tip more, i mean obviously you can if you want, but waitstaff normally tips out other employees when you leave a tip. I would assume they wouldn't need to do this w/ this structure.

The more likely scenario is the waiter is still tipping out the support staff. The mandatory “fees” are dispersed by management to wherever they see fit.

 

[General Malaise]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

That's why, you can't program a POS to only put a tip amount on certain things.

You know, I was kinda thinking that had to be the case. Same POS at the bar where you order tap beers and food is also what you have on the floor of the bottle shop. Makes sense, I just hope I'm not offending the register clerk by saying "NO" to a tip when I buy a six pack to go...

 

[Hawks64]

Thought of this thread yesterday - fancy new beer/bottle shop opened up with a small tap house and limited menu. Went in to buy my wife some hard seltzers that are tough to find. $5.75 per 16oz can. Took 4 to the register, swipe my debit card and get a tip screen next. Why? Why am I being asked to tip on a transaction that was no different than buying something at a supermarket or convenience store?

That's why, you can't program a POS to only put a tip amount on certain things.

You know, I was kinda thinking that had to be the case. Same POS at the bar where you order tap beers and food is also what you have on the floor of the bottle shop. Makes sense, I just hope I'm not offending the register clerk by saying "NO" to a tip when I buy a six pack to go...

I would doubt it. We have a place by us that is similar, and getting to-gos is never a problem without tipping. No drinking at the bar or eating is a different story.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Or a shopping center. The one closest to me is in the parking lot of an upscale outdoor shopping center.

Nothing to back this up, but I would not be surprised if they get sweetheart lease deals to open up new locations. Cheesecake Factory should pay less per sqf than TJ Maxx.

For sure. I worked with landrys for a bit and they have tremendous buying power. They get massive deals on food liquor, and just about any other cost associated with operating in restaurant.

 

[Joe Bryant]

At Truth BBQ in Houston, you've got three options:

• 1 meat with 2 sides for $22
• 2 types of meat with 2 sides for $26
• 3 types of meat with 2 sides for $30

That seems very reasonable.

Agreed. Truth is one of the best BBQ spots in Texas and therefore one of the best in the world. Their sides, unlike a lot of great BBQ places, are outstanding too.

So I think that's reasonable to charge $34 a pound for brisket. And they have lines out the door. But clearly some folks do think that's too much.

 

[Joe Bryant]

For sure. I worked with landrys for a bit and they have tremendous buying power. They get massive deals on food liquor, and just about any other cost associated with operating in restaurant.

Thanks. I've always wondered how much better a big place like that can buy. Do you have a sense of the difference?

If a one location restaurant the size of a single Landry's is paying $10 a pound for something. What would you guess Landry's is paying for the same item to distribute to their restaurants?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

For sure. I worked with landrys for a bit and they have tremendous buying power. They get massive deals on food liquor, and just about any other cost associated with operating in restaurant.

Thanks. I've always wondered how much better a big place like that can buy. Do you have a sense of the difference?

If a one location restaurant the size of a single Landry's is paying $10 a pound for something. What would you guess Landry's is paying for the same item to distribute to their restaurants?

Anywhere from 10 to 30% less. When landrys bought mastros, food cost went down 11% overnight.

 

[the moops]

Local liquor store also had the tip option when you check out. I am 100% certain they don’t give a **** when I enter zero for tip. They don’t expect it in the slightest but if they get an extra 20 bucks for a days shift they are stoked.

 

[Drunken knight]

For sure. I worked with landrys for a bit and they have tremendous buying power. They get massive deals on food liquor, and just about any other cost associated with operating in restaurant.

Thanks. I've always wondered how much better a big place like that can buy. Do you have a sense of the difference?

If a one location restaurant the size of a single Landry's is paying $10 a pound for something. What would you guess Landry's is paying for the same item to distribute to their restaurants?

The contracts often are contingent upon volume and % of spend (which can be audited). You can have them as X% over margin across the board, or have different % for different categories (ie: produce vs seafood vs poultry, etc), or you can see a flat case cost over distributor's cost. many factors go into contract pricing

 

[massraider]

Anywhere from 10 to 30% less. When landrys bought mastros, food cost went down 11% overnight.

And liquor has even more wiggle room. They probably negotiate that on a regional level.

Which is a bummer for the local Cheesecake Factory managers, LOL. No free trips or kickbacks for them.

 

[culdeus]

Anywhere from 10 to 30% less. When landrys bought mastros, food cost went down 11% overnight.

And liquor has even more wiggle room. They probably negotiate that on a regional level.

Which is a bummer for the local Cheesecake Factory managers, LOL. No free trips or kickbacks for them.

Liquor is a funky game at least in Texas, you buy into basically a A/B/C system and more or less everyone buys at the case level at something like $8/$12/$14 a bottle for the ones you know and then there are offers for super premiums that go up from there. Everything from a dive bar to a 5* hotel pays the same for a bottle of Smirnoff, or Goose. All negotiated at the TABC level with the disty with their taxes.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Liquor is a funky game at least in Texas, you buy into basically a A/B/C system and more or less everyone buys at the case level at something like $8/$12/$14 a bottle for the ones you know and then there are offers for super premiums that go up from there. Everything from a dive bar to a 5* hotel pays the same for a bottle of Smirnoff, or Goose. All negotiated at the TABC level with the disty with their taxes.

Interesting. So a Landry's in Texas pays exactly the same for handle of Tequila as the Mom and Pop restaurant?

 

[massraider]

Liquor is a funky game at least in Texas, you buy into basically a A/B/C system and more or less everyone buys at the case level at something like $8/$12/$14 a bottle for the ones you know and then there are offers for super premiums that go up from there. Everything from a dive bar to a 5* hotel pays the same for a bottle of Smirnoff, or Goose. All negotiated at the TABC level with the disty with their taxes.

Interesting. So a Landry's in Texas pays exactly the same for handle of Tequila as the Mom and Pop restaurant?

Maybe technically. But buying tequila is one transaction.

The liquor distributor booking a holiday party for 10 grand, paying for it, and not actually having a party, is another transaction. Free golf trips for the regional manager is another transaction.

Plenty of ways to reward your biggest customers. Those kind of laws are to protect the Mom n Pops from getting scammed by the liquor companies, not to protect the liquor companies from their biggest customers

 

[Dan Lambskin]

My local Chinese place won’t take a tip. Immediately bypass on card and crosses it off receipt
I seem someone try to give cash once and he refused

 

[massraider]

My local Chinese place won’t take a tip. Immediately bypass on card and crosses it off receipt
I seem someone try to give cash once and he refused

Opening a cannabis shop in NJ, and we are going to pay the staff higher than anyone else, and not have a tip option on the screen. I expect major consumer goodwill from this.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Local liquor store also had the tip option when you check out. I am 100% certain they don’t give a **** when I enter zero for tip. They don’t expect it in the slightest but if they get an extra 20 bucks for a days shift they are stoked.

But why is it even on there? Who’s leaving a tip to ring up your card unless you’re guilted into it.

 

[fantasy stud]

My son and I got some Chili's for lunch and it came to like $75 with tip. Kinda crazy imo. Especially surprising because I only got wings and a side salad.

Wings have become crazy expensive. Last summer in the Madera Beach area of Florida,about half the restaurants listed "market price" for their wings. My local hangout prices went from $8 for 12 to $12 for 8. Used to go to several places a month just to try their wings but now I'm priced out. I'll still try wings at a smoke house but at least those are whole wings and not frozen and then nuked or deep fried.

Avian flu is still reeking havoc on our poultry industry.

Unprecedented Avian Flu Outbreak Continues

In the midst of the worst outbreak in US history, here’s what you should know about avian flu.

www.sciencefriday.com

I just checked and I can get commodity wings for $1.35 per pound. Average 4.5 wings per pound or 30 cents each. I am sure a busy wing place/franchise could get a much better price. Anyone overcharging for wings right now is doing just that, over charging.

I've seen wings come down at some places and others staying high because I assume people are paying it? We have a local wing place that has been doing a $1 a wing for over a year now.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

My local Chinese place won’t take a tip. Immediately bypass on card and crosses it off receipt
I seem someone try to give cash once and he refused

Opening a cannabis shop in NJ, and we are going to pay the staff higher than anyone else, and not have a tip option on the screen. I expect major consumer goodwill from this.

Budtender is one I don’t mind tipping

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Another good one is buying concert shirts…thanks for pulling it out of a box for me…here’s a extra $10

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Liquor is a funky game at least in Texas, you buy into basically a A/B/C system and more or less everyone buys at the case level at something like $8/$12/$14 a bottle for the ones you know and then there are offers for super premiums that go up from there. Everything from a dive bar to a 5* hotel pays the same for a bottle of Smirnoff, or Goose. All negotiated at the TABC level with the disty with their taxes.

Interesting. So a Landry's in Texas pays exactly the same for handle of Tequila as the Mom and Pop restaurant?

Doubtful. Tillman always wants a deal

 

[massraider]

Budtender is one I don’t mind tipping

That won't last.

Eventually it will be like a convenience store.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Anywhere from 10 to 30% less. When landrys bought mastros, food cost went down 11% overnight.

And liquor has even more wiggle room. They probably negotiate that on a regional level.

Which is a bummer for the local Cheesecake Factory managers, LOL. No free trips or kickbacks for them.

They definitely do regional if not national. Landry's owns 1000’s of restaurants. Their buying power is beyond the scope of any similar restaurants

 

[General Malaise]

Budtender is one I don’t mind tipping

That won't last.

Eventually it will be like a convenience store.

I don't know about that. You still have to interface with a budtender to get you what you want. At least here, you can't just pick bud off the shelf and take it to a register. The budtenders sherpa you from the greeting to the close and while many folks know precisely what they want, there are others that want to smell different strains, ask a bunch of questions, etc. Unless things change completely, the service provided is certainly tippable.

 

[massraider]

They definitely do regional if not national.

The ONLY reason they might not do national is because of the different liquor territories, not every company in every state, etc.

Once you have that buying power, you get to double dip. So the guys from Tao nightclubs get hookups from whoever sells them Casamigos, then hookups from Casamigos. Same with Grey Goose, and on and on

 

[Joe Bryant]

Those kind of laws are to protect the Mom n Pops from getting scammed by the liquor companies,

The law is that the liquor company has to sell their product at the same price, regardless of how much the customer buys? Am I understanding that right?

How might the Mom and Pop store be scammed by the liquor company?

 

[Joe Bryant]

I don't know about that. You still have to interface with a budtender to get you what you want. At least here, you can't just pick bud off the shelf and take it to a register. The budtenders sherpa you from the greeting to the close and while many folks know precisely what they want, there are others that want to smell different strains, ask a bunch of questions, etc. Unless things change completely, the service provided is certainly tippable.

Would this be comparable to someone working at a nice liquor store?

You might well know what you want but if it's a good store, you might also ask the store person for their opinion.

Maybe this is more a topic for the tipping culture thread but do you tip the person at the liquor store?

 

[General Malaise]

I don't know about that. You still have to interface with a budtender to get you what you want. At least here, you can't just pick bud off the shelf and take it to a register. The budtenders sherpa you from the greeting to the close and while many folks know precisely what they want, there are others that want to smell different strains, ask a bunch of questions, etc. Unless things change completely, the service provided is certainly tippable.

Would this be comparable to someone working at a nice liquor store?

You might well know what you want but if it's a good store, you might also ask the store person for their opinion.

Maybe this is more a topic for the tipping culture thread but do you tip the person at the liquor store?

That's a good question. I don't consume a lot of liquor so when I do buy, I don't hesitate to ask a clerk's opinion about a good deal on tequila if we're making margaritas or bourbon if I'm getting a bottle for a gift. Never thought to tip and never been asked. I have seen an occasional cash tip jar at counters and will sometimes leave change or a buck or two. But again, I'm in a liquor store maybe 4-5 x a year. They're state owned and operated out here too, so they're not exactly the most hospitable spot on earth.

When you enter a dispensary in Oregon, you're basically given a point of contact to work with. They will be the ones who grab the product you want, look at your ID before and during the purchase, will let customers smell the different flower strains by holding a 'bud' in a pair of tweezers so the customer can't just make off with a jar, etc. And while we've had legal weed here for 5 or so years, there are still some very new customers who have a lot of questions whereas I feel like many liquor store customers are quite familiar with what they're after.