$3 soda = criminal

We were shocked by the price of sodas as well. Our group of four asked for water at least three times during the day, and it sounds like a lot of other people are doing the same. When free water distribution starts to exceed soda sales, something will have to change around there. Either the prices of soda will go down or they'll start charging for water.

I think it's a shame that people pay so much for parking and admission, and then are ripped off again as soon as they're through the gates. If drinks are still this expensive during the hottest part of the summer, a lot of people won't be able to afford them and CP will have a lot more cases of heat stroke on their hands.

The one time I asked for water Opening day the guy gave me this huge cup, I felt like I won a prize or something . Why can't they do this all the time? Especially when when you buy their overpriced food and ask for water.
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My CP and coaster pics

*** This post was edited by Joe E. 5/7/2002 9:15:17 AM ***

Simple high school economics will teach you that people purchase more when you charge LESS, not vice versa.

I just remembered how much extra stuff I purchased at MA--much of which I never even ate--simply because it was so very reasonable compared to other parks. Hey, lemme get another one of those, too...

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Coming 6/6/02--the CoastaPlaya 100! See CBuzz Club Calendar for more...

"On a hot day you are better off keeping a cooler in your car, spending the 5 or so dollars for a case of pop and be set for the whole day."

This is true to a certain extent. However, they are banking that when you get thirsty back near the Frontier Town Railroad Crossing that you're not going to blow ride-time to walk the length of the park, and the parking lot, when your cooler full of cold soda is in the trunk of a car parked out on the grass by the Chausee.

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Tim Bretz
The Alamo. The Maine. Pearl Harbor. The Trades.

Coastaplaya said..

Simple high school economics will teach you that people purchase more when you charge LESS, not vice versa.

Yup, not only will they purchase more buy revenue's will go up

At some unknown price is were people will buy a lot yet they will still be charging a price which will maximize profits. As the price moves up from this point people will buy less resulting in less revenue. AS the price goes from this point people may but more but profits will dwindle. They key is finding this price.

I would imagine they get their bottles for very cheap since Pepsi is a sponsor and they get such large quantities. I wouldn't doubt that each bottle cost them a total of 10 cents for everything including stocking and servicing the machines.

The should try lowering the price to like a dollar and how much revenue and profits jumps compared to when the prices were higher. I actually would buy 3 or 4 at that price instead of 0 right now.

I have to say my piece here speaking as an Employee of Cedar Point.I was as shocked as all of you to find that pop had risen to $3 a bottle.As well as parking had risen to $8.Now I love this park as much as the rest of you but that sort of price gouging is unacceptable.I myself don't have to worry about paying for these bottles of pop but I think that it is entirely unfair to all the guests that this is going on.We employees still have to pay for pop so please don't think otherwise.I sincerely hope that they change these outlandish prices.

$3 is criminal. $2 is criminal. Heck, I won't even pay $1 from a machine at a gas station. I just don't like the stuff enough to pay much for it.

I do the cooler in the car for lunch (food prices are also criminal) but I'm not about to trek out to the lot every time I get thirsty. Memorize the locations of the water fountains and don't be shy about asking for a cup of water at a stand.
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everything's better with a banjo

I'm sure that the plan is to get per capita spending up. I don't doubt that's exactly what they want to do, given relatively flat growth elsewhere. However, given the obvious market forces in this topic, I don't see this as the way to do it.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I think a better place to look when talking about per capita spending would be in merchandise. Some of the stuff they have is hideous and it really isn't surprising that they are still trying to get rid of 5 year old junk to employees in a flee market type of thing. Honestly, I think merchandise has improved in the last couple years, but they have some of the wierdest stuff that I say to myself, "who in the world would buy that?!" :)

To put the soda price into perspective: Six Flags Great Adventure, a park that is in the NYC market and considered by many to be one of the most overpriced parks in the land, charges $2.75 for soda from a vending machine.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

$3 dollar soda just pisses people off, not a good way to increase spending. Hopefully most people will feel that way, and when they see sales on a hot day are way off, the price will come down again.

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It's very hard to drink all day...
Unless you start first thing in the morning.

Please, everyone stop talking about free ice water! They're going to get ideas and start charging a buck for the cup!

To the Cedar Point folks who I know are reading this thread- You seem to have upset your biggest fans.

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- The Darling one
"Danger: Hgih Voltage" -The DT Queue
"Those weren't trims, that was a buzzcut" - A Mean Streak rider

All of the food places in the park,are high,not just the pop!pizza is $20.00 on the midway,last year it was $15.00! They went to all beef,hotdogs and hamburger and there high price,they have angus hamburger 1/3 of a pound $7.00 with chips! Silver dollar,has sandwich/chips starting at $6.00 if you want a plater it's $3.00 more!!!!! Last I got the Barbaque pulled pork platter for $6.95,this year it's $9.95 All the food prices are high not just the Pop!

Not gonna see this Sparty spending three dollars!

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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
Fear the Mullet!

Thats why I came home broke on Sunday... I guess I didn't realize how much money I had to put in the pop machine... :)

Three dollars is too much... you won't see me spending that. A family of four would be dropping 12 bucks just for a pop/water break! You will see me drinking alot of ice water this year...

- Andrew Hyde
http://www.experiencethepoint.com

I have to put in my 2 cents on this one. Sunday was the first time we left the park mid day to eat at a resturant. We walked around and looked at some of the prices. It hurt to read them. It was easier to get in the car drive to the end of the causeway get something for half the price.

I'm not sure most day trip people would leave to get something cheap. I think season passholders would consider it. I think we were out of the park for about 40 minutes. Saved me around $25 bucks. (Big family).

Then what about the 'hot' snacks? I think we paid something like $8.00 for a small load of cheese sticks. Cheese sticks for $8? I expected the best cheese sticks in the world. I got cheap pizza sticks that I pay under $4.00 for at home.

Now to be fair, WDW charges around $5.00 for a PB&J sandwich. I forgot they throw in a pickle with that. Pop is extra. Around $2 bucks or so. I think CP is in line with most other parks.

I do love CP. I won't ever buy the pop and most likely will never eat at a resturant there. Even with the JCC discounts.

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Get with it or die in the process.....

I think $3 pop is probably an experiment that will fail. I must say I don't know why people take such great offense to these business decisions. If you think it's too much, you'll exercise other options and your money will do all the talking a business like Cedar Point needs to hear. Go off-point, pack your own drinks & food, drink water... it's the best way to influence change on economic matters such as this.

Please note I'm not saying we shouldn't criticize the park... just that getting ticked off over things like this just confuses me.
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TPFKAV
MF Count - 32

On the topic of seeing Bill Spehn in Disaster Transport...HI BILL!

That's all I have to say for that one.

Now, about the pop...three words: Chet and Matt's.

Eat there instead, that's what we did. It's great pizza and nice local flavor. On Strub Rd. across from the National City bank and behind GFS.

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Natalie
Mine Ride '99
Thunder Canyon '00
Millennium Force '01

CoasterMonkey: I don't think anyone is "ticked off," but rather sending the message that they've gone too far. I doubt anyone here angrily stomped into park op to make a complaint.

Besides, I'm sure that the lack of sales is sending the message just fine.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

In the slightly altered words of Humphery Bogart:

"Of all the pops of all the parks in all the world, CP had to spike the price on theirs."

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Andrew L.
I love Waterville!
Cedar Point, the cure for the Summertime blues!

Man this is a violation of consumer protection laws. I think they should be fined for charging people $3 for a 20 oz bottle of Pepsi.

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Chris Knight
How many sea gulls is there at CP?