Comments on: Why Can’t I Have the Brownie Instead of the Muffin with My Box Lunch Special? http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/2009/12/10/why-cant-i-have-the-brownie/ Thoughts on how to use analytics to improve business Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:04:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Dr. Duru http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/2009/12/10/why-cant-i-have-the-brownie/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Dr. Duru Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:18:36 +0000 http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/?p=95#comment-31 Yes, Ms. Charts, I do consider the $1.99 brownie a unique steal...especially given how good it is! I will miss it as a part of the box lunch. Perhaps I can find the properly constructed combo in another country. :) Yes, Ms. Charts, I do consider the $1.99 brownie a unique steal…especially given how good it is! I will miss it as a part of the box lunch. Perhaps I can find the properly constructed combo in another country. :)

]]> By: Ms. Charts http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/2009/12/10/why-cant-i-have-the-brownie/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Ms. Charts Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:18:02 +0000 http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/?p=95#comment-30 Dr. Duru, Love your website. The key to your dilemma could be as simple as the lack of personnel to effectuate the change in your lunch box. Also, the compartmentalization of service jobs in America. Simply put, the boxes are probably prepared in a different establishment. The lady at the cash register: 1/knows nothing and doesn't care about the profit picture of her employer, 2/ only handles money and cannot touch the food because of hygenic reasons. So because there was nobody to make the substitution in an acceptable way it could not be done. If you have any way to contact the management, they would probably be interested in your ideas, but the cashier is too compartmentalized in her job to care about your needs. Anyway, it is amazing that in these infaltionary times one can still get a decent brownie for inly $1.99 :) Dr. Duru, Love your website. The key to your dilemma could be as simple as the lack of personnel to effectuate the change in your lunch box. Also, the compartmentalization of service jobs in America. Simply put, the boxes are probably prepared in a different establishment. The lady at the cash register: 1/knows nothing and doesn’t care about the profit picture of her employer, 2/ only handles money and cannot touch the food because of hygenic reasons. So because there was nobody to make the substitution in an acceptable way it could not be done. If you have any way to contact the management, they would probably be interested in your ideas, but the cashier is too compartmentalized in her job to care about your needs. Anyway, it is amazing that in these infaltionary times one can still get a decent brownie for inly $1.99 :)

]]> By: Dr. Duru http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/2009/12/10/why-cant-i-have-the-brownie/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Dr. Duru Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:28:04 +0000 http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/?p=95#comment-29 Ah ha, JD! You are too clever. Good thing Establishment X will never find out about your brilliant scheme! And yes, I am definitely extrapolating my prefernces onto the local population. I like to think my tastes are at least represetative, if not superb. Ah ha, JD! You are too clever. Good thing Establishment X will never find out about your brilliant scheme!
And yes, I am definitely extrapolating my prefernces onto the local population. I like to think my tastes are at least represetative, if not superb.

]]> By: jd long http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/2009/12/10/why-cant-i-have-the-brownie/comment-page-1/#comment-28 jd long Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:07:20 +0000 http://ahan-analytics.drduru.com/thoughtblog/?p=95#comment-28 I love this post and your marginal economics approach. But I wonder if prior pricing experience has shown them that the price elasticity of brownies results is less total profit if brownies are priced higher? Your point #2 assumes that consumers are price inelastic. It's clear that you are, but others may not be. Maybe they could take a page out of the airlines play book. They could figure out the hours you are most likely to dine and raise brownie prices during that window. Then the rest of the time charge the same. That would price discriminate in such a way to maximize the local phenomenon that is your personal price elasticity. ;) I love this post and your marginal economics approach. But I wonder if prior pricing experience has shown them that the price elasticity of brownies results is less total profit if brownies are priced higher? Your point #2 assumes that consumers are price inelastic. It’s clear that you are, but others may not be.

Maybe they could take a page out of the airlines play book. They could figure out the hours you are most likely to dine and raise brownie prices during that window. Then the rest of the time charge the same. That would price discriminate in such a way to maximize the local phenomenon that is your personal price elasticity. ;)

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