Friday, July 7, 2006
Jucy's jacks up prices
Over the past couple of years, a group of us have been frequenting Jucy's, an out-of-the-way barbeque joint, about every Friday. They have great food in a really authentic and unpretentious atmosphere (They were actually featured in the local paper recently and praised as the best barbeque place in town).
Well, today, we noticed that the price of their food has been raised. The normal lunch that I get (chopped beef sandwich with 2 side items and a drink) is now $8.75 (up $1.28 from last week's $7.57). I love the food and all; however, $8.75 seems steep for what you get.
When questioned by one of my co-workers about the new prices, they blamed it on the price of gas. Come on! Gas has been around $3 per gallon here for months, wavering a few percentage points above and below.
And even if I were to accept that as a legitimate reason, how is $1.28 per customer a fair increase? That's 15%. Gas prices haven't shot up 15%. Next thing you know, they'll be blaming it on the North Korean missle tests.
While I love the food, I think I have made my last trip to Jucy's for a while. I'm already getting gauged by higher gas prices (WHEN I BUY GAS!). I'm not wiling to pay a 15% premium for it when I eat lunch.
Over the past couple of years, a group of us have been frequenting Jucy's, an out-of-the-way barbeque joint, about every Friday. They have great food in a really authentic and unpretentious atmosphere (They were actually featured in the local paper recently and praised as the best barbeque place in town).
Well, today, we noticed that the price of their food has been raised. The normal lunch that I get (chopped beef sandwich with 2 side items and a drink) is now $8.75 (up $1.28 from last week's $7.57). I love the food and all; however, $8.75 seems steep for what you get.
When questioned by one of my co-workers about the new prices, they blamed it on the price of gas. Come on! Gas has been around $3 per gallon here for months, wavering a few percentage points above and below.
And even if I were to accept that as a legitimate reason, how is $1.28 per customer a fair increase? That's 15%. Gas prices haven't shot up 15%. Next thing you know, they'll be blaming it on the North Korean missle tests.
While I love the food, I think I have made my last trip to Jucy's for a while. I'm already getting gauged by higher gas prices (WHEN I BUY GAS!). I'm not wiling to pay a 15% premium for it when I eat lunch.
¶ 5:12 PM 
Comments:
Shaun,
I love reading your blog. However, your recent diatribe regarding a regional eatery has me yawning here in San Diego. Yet, I am intrigued by your economic analysis regarding Jucy’s. Let’s review… You claim you have been eating at Jucy’s for a couple years. Today you noticed a price increase. I will assume this is the first price increase Jucy’s has implemented in the two years you have been a patron. You claim that fuel prices haven’t increased 15%. I don’t have a starting date on your claim so we will use two years ago as this is when you began your fetish with their “chopped beef sandwich”.
Two years ago fuel prices were $1.85. Today they are $3.25. That’s an increase of 75.68%. Fuel surcharges are passed along to the restaurant either as a line item charge or in the cost of goods. I’m not sure if Jucy’s offers health insurance but if they do it’s gone up over 30% in the past two years. What about raises for their employees? Let’s say they offer a 4% cost of living increase for each employee each year. These costs are climbing like your cholesterol and blood pressure……
I do agree with you that a 15% price increase is a bit much to swallow in one bit (pun intended for comedic relieve). It would have made more sense to raise prices at a measured rate over 12-18 months. Similar to what the Federal Reserve has done with interest rates. If they would have raised prices in this manner Jucy’s would have been able to determine the point that prices affected their business.
Your pal,
Bob
I love reading your blog. However, your recent diatribe regarding a regional eatery has me yawning here in San Diego. Yet, I am intrigued by your economic analysis regarding Jucy’s. Let’s review… You claim you have been eating at Jucy’s for a couple years. Today you noticed a price increase. I will assume this is the first price increase Jucy’s has implemented in the two years you have been a patron. You claim that fuel prices haven’t increased 15%. I don’t have a starting date on your claim so we will use two years ago as this is when you began your fetish with their “chopped beef sandwich”.
Two years ago fuel prices were $1.85. Today they are $3.25. That’s an increase of 75.68%. Fuel surcharges are passed along to the restaurant either as a line item charge or in the cost of goods. I’m not sure if Jucy’s offers health insurance but if they do it’s gone up over 30% in the past two years. What about raises for their employees? Let’s say they offer a 4% cost of living increase for each employee each year. These costs are climbing like your cholesterol and blood pressure……
I do agree with you that a 15% price increase is a bit much to swallow in one bit (pun intended for comedic relieve). It would have made more sense to raise prices at a measured rate over 12-18 months. Similar to what the Federal Reserve has done with interest rates. If they would have raised prices in this manner Jucy’s would have been able to determine the point that prices affected their business.
Your pal,
Bob
posted by 
Bob Hauseur : 12:19 PM
Bob Hauseur : 12:19 PM Damn, why you gotta and go and get all logical? You *do* raise a great point. I guess I can eat there again without guilt. :)
posted by sMoRTy71 : 1:06 PM
sMoRTy71 : 1:06 PMblog comments powered by Disqus
About Shawn Morton
Married father of 4, social media strategist at Nationwide, consumer electronics enthusiast, hair metal aficionado.
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I love reading your blog. However, your recent diatribe regarding a regional eatery has me yawning here in San Diego. Yet, I am intrigued by your economic analysis regarding Jucy’s. Let’s review… You claim you have been eating at Jucy’s for a couple years. Today you noticed a price increase. I will assume this is the first price increase Jucy’s has implemented in the two years you have been a patron. You claim that fuel prices haven’t increased 15%. I don’t have a starting date on your claim so we will use two years ago as this is when you began your fetish with their “chopped beef sandwich”.
Two years ago fuel prices were $1.85. Today they are $3.25. That’s an increase of 75.68%. Fuel surcharges are passed along to the restaurant either as a line item charge or in the cost of goods. I’m not sure if Jucy’s offers health insurance but if they do it’s gone up over 30% in the past two years. What about raises for their employees? Let’s say they offer a 4% cost of living increase for each employee each year. These costs are climbing like your cholesterol and blood pressure……
I do agree with you that a 15% price increase is a bit much to swallow in one bit (pun intended for comedic relieve). It would have made more sense to raise prices at a measured rate over 12-18 months. Similar to what the Federal Reserve has done with interest rates. If they would have raised prices in this manner Jucy’s would have been able to determine the point that prices affected their business.
Your pal,
Bob