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Re: Amtrak lost $800 million on soda and burger sales
Author: J Squared 58
Date: 08-02-2012 - 21:25
Michael Mahoney Wrote:
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> This is why the "free market" advocates so often
> fall off the boat, and why, on a warm day in
> Florida, Rep. Mica's IQ rises into the low double
> digits.
>
> The snack bar or diner on an Amtrak train is not
> like a stationary restaurant. It provides a
> necessary service. Travelers who would otherwise
> not take the train will do so if they know they
> don't have to carry all their own food. The snack
> bar is therefore a loss leader that serves to
> bring paying passengers aboard the train. If the
> price of the food were raised to cover the total
> cost (however calculated) of providing it, it
> would be so expensive no one would buy it.
>
> Any service added on for free is judged the same
> way. How about this? "Rep. Mica discovers that
> supermarkets are giving away free parking." Or,
> "Rep. Mica proposes that government office
> buildings charge for the use of elevators."
Mike. me lad, ye may be onta sumptin here. Imagine elevators with charge card readers. Rates something like Up 3 floors = $0.15, down 3 floors = $0.10. Maybe a variable speed control, too: 20 feet per second = $0.10, 30 fps = $0.25. Since there's a captive audience, there could be s charge for opening the door. And a charge for music-off.
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is why the "free market" advocates so often
> fall off the boat, and why, on a warm day in
> Florida, Rep. Mica's IQ rises into the low double
> digits.
>
> The snack bar or diner on an Amtrak train is not
> like a stationary restaurant. It provides a
> necessary service. Travelers who would otherwise
> not take the train will do so if they know they
> don't have to carry all their own food. The snack
> bar is therefore a loss leader that serves to
> bring paying passengers aboard the train. If the
> price of the food were raised to cover the total
> cost (however calculated) of providing it, it
> would be so expensive no one would buy it.
>
> Any service added on for free is judged the same
> way. How about this? "Rep. Mica discovers that
> supermarkets are giving away free parking." Or,
> "Rep. Mica proposes that government office
> buildings charge for the use of elevators."
Mike. me lad, ye may be onta sumptin here. Imagine elevators with charge card readers. Rates something like Up 3 floors = $0.15, down 3 floors = $0.10. Maybe a variable speed control, too: 20 feet per second = $0.10, 30 fps = $0.25. Since there's a captive audience, there could be s charge for opening the door. And a charge for music-off.
