Monday, April 25, 2011
Mini Rant: Soda prices at restaurants
Let me admit something up front. I love pop, or soda or Coke. Whatever you want to call it. In it's various forms it is one of my absolute favorite things to drink. I know it's not healthy or good for you in the slightest, but dammit I like it. I've tried to cut back my overall consumption, but there are sometimes when the craving just hits and I can't help myself. When it comes to fountain drinks my obsession is even worse. My problem? Why is it that when I go to the gas station and get a large fountain drink it costs me a cool 69 cents or at McDonald's any size is a buck, but when I go to a restaurant and am served the exact same product it costs me almost 2 dollars more. It doesn't seem like much, but a couple of 3 dollars sodas can bump up the price of a tab in a hurry. If you say "Just drink water" I reject your premise out of hand because being that I like flavor and taste I don't always want water. If you say "Well, the places need that to make money" I call BS again. The cost per soda is pennies on the dollar. When you're charging me 3 bucks for a Coke you're gouging me plain and simple. There should be no difference in the price of a soda from one restaurant to the next if you're basing it on cost. It's the same product. There is no extra preparation or ingredients necessary. You're just charging me more for it at a sit down restaurant because you can. That's not right. Are things going to change for us soda lovers in the future? Probably not, but that doesn't mean I can't be pissy about the way things are today. That's what America's all about...well that and monster truck rallies I'm pretty sure.
Dude, I'm as far left as they come but you answered your own question: "because they can." If more folks ordered water (like me, cheap bastard that I am), the price of your soft drink would come down.
ReplyDeleteThis is funny to me because a frequent lunch companion of mine if happy when we go to a restaurant where the soda is $1.69 or less...so you're not alone!
All I want is a goddamn marshmallow coke! I am from kokomo, land of old school soda shops, and now I live in indianapolis AND I CAN'T FIND ONE!!!! *cries* End the madness!!!!
ReplyDelete@Leslie
ReplyDeleteGranted I've never spent much time in Kokomo, but I've never heard of a marshmallow Coke. Is it made with marshmallow fluff? Enlighten us.
Agreed - I thought the same thing when I worked in a restaurant back in the day and I still think it today! All agreed, all agreed on this end...
ReplyDelete@Brent. You got it right. You get a fountain Coke (WITH THE GOOD ICE!!! *twitch) and they put marshmallow fluff on top. Sooo good. *sugary coma*
ReplyDeleteI checked with Would I buy it again and Indy doesn't have soda shops. :-(
I like to read the article about soft drink prices in the market. Like to read more.
ReplyDeletedean graziosi
The economy still sucks and they are trying to eek out a profit anyway they can. If the place has fountain drinks, which is syrup bags attacked with large tanks of carbonated water, the fuel surcharges can be one reason for the increase in pop prices. Some states in the last few years have added the lovely pop tax. The fast food places get major price concessions when they order, most fast food only go thru their own suppliers. So, if you go to a mom and pop place, they can't get the discount like the national franchises. Family, has been in the business for generations, I am not a people person, so once I could get out I did!
ReplyDeleteCould be a combination of those things. I normally get ice tea, not sweet, because I now live in the south. Now, in the mid-west where I grew up, I would never order ice tea. My mom in law orders the ice water when we go out, but I am cheap but not that cheap! I like flavor when I eat a meal, water is fine to sip during non-eating times, but I want flavor.