Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 17:14:49 GMT

Better spots may be found 30-50 miles away. Don't wanna do that. also involves more County Licenses. Sadly, I'm on the State Line, which means I can't go South.
This town has no "foot traffic" areas. Uptown is dead. Good ol Boy network owns most of the property around here and ya gotta pay them if they think you make a buck.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Dennis_D)

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:42:06 GMT

Have you considered finding a new location in a more affluent area near you?

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Ice Cream Man)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:54:39 GMT

Don't despair, it took me 4 years to make it pay.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Ice Cream Man)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:50:34 GMT

No, I'm a B&M, 24 scooped flavours plus soft serve and Yogurt.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:42:22 GMT

Didn't make enough this summer to get me thru Winter. I'm 5 monthe's away from tapping my IRA and 401-k. Cash on hand sucks. Worked today in the cold and wind. Life is a bitch, then you die.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (BpCBlake)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:37:33 GMT

do you sell noveltys?
if so, what is the best cold plate cart to buy?

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Ice Cream Man)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 16:11:53 GMT

Winters tough, I sell Ice Cream, April 1st until Oct 1st. Not worth staying open in the winter. I can make enough to hibernate.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:31:32 GMT

The 2 fora buck thing is a promo they do to get people in the store.
Typical price at every corner store is between .89 and $1.25.
These are no-name dogs. My cheapos are a popular local brand. Cost me .15 each if I buy in bulk, or .20 at Walmart. $1.50 seems to be the tipping point.
I push the Nathan's and sausages and sell over 50% those.
I've tried different pricing strategies. For awhile it was $2.00 for any dog or sausage. Didn't push the good stuff. Many folks opted for the cheap one which "subsidized" the better stuff. That's where I ran into the po' folk that ran away when they saw 2 bucks. Those with taste and money saw the bargain with the better stuff.
At events it's $2.00 for the basic, $2.50 for the Nathan's and $3.00 for the Sausage. No problem, the line never stops. But it's winter and I don't wanna starve, or see others do it.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Ice Cream Man)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 00:25:06 GMT

Two for a buck, at one for a buck and a half you'll still be too much.
What the small guy should be after is the 3.00 dog people who want quality and will pay.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (BpCBlake)

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:36:16 GMT

yeah all beef.
beef nose, beef ears, beef lips, beef feet, beef tail.
course there is nothing like a good piece of tail thou.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:02:31 GMT

A cheap dog is not what I WANT to sell. I just don't want to not make a buck off all who pull in.Don't need them telling others "Don't stop there, he's too expensive!" without even tasting things. A taste of my awesome chili and slaw will bring them back.
Ads on TV right now....2 all beef dogs for $1.00 at Stop & Go. Lord knows what you can put on them.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (FiveAcreFoods)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:40:51 GMT

Hey, if a cheap dog works for you, and you are content with selling them, then go for it. It's your business. Try it and see if fifty cents makes a difference. Personally, I think if they are balking at $2.00, then they are probably expecting a two for a dollar deal like they get at the Stop & Go.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:49:44 GMT

OK, a Nathans on a decent bun costs me about .70...sell for $2.00
A cheap dog and bun costs me about .25.....sell for $1.50.
I can spare a nickel if it means selling more.
Smaller investment and less waste if I have leftovers.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Hepcat)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:44:09 GMT

FiveAcreFoods

I say if they think $2.00 is too much for a hot dog, then you don't want their business.... If you do offer a bargain dollar dog, then be prepared to sell mostly bargain dollar dogs, because most customers will buy the cheapest item on the menu. Why buy a $2.00 dog if there is a $1.00 dog right next to it? A hot dog is a hot dog to most people.

I agree.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (FiveAcreFoods)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:37:30 GMT

I say if they think $2.00 is too much for a hot dog, then you don't want their business. Let 'em buy the bargain weenies at the grocery store and fix them at home. What they are paying for by buying off your cart is the novelty and convenience of a good ready-made dog, right there, right then. If you do offer a bargain dollar dog, then be prepared to sell mostly bargain dollar dogs, because most customers will buy the cheapest item on the menu. Why buy a $2.00 dog if there is a $1.00 dog right next to it? A hot dog is a hot dog to most people.
And remember, it's takes the same effort on your part to prepare a $1.00 dog as it does for a $2.00 dog. Personally, I'd much rather sell fifty dogs at $2.00 than a hundred dogs for $1.00. Hadn't you? Price your dogs where you feel like they need to be. If you can't sell a hot dog for $2.00, maybe you need to find a more upscale spot where folks will think two bucks is a deal.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Ice Cream Man)

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:22:38 GMT

After 12 years of selling Ice Cream I now get very few complaints about the price. At first the complaints bothered me but I have to make a living, I know they can buy it cheaper at the store but I serve it on a cone. I found over the years every time I raise the price I got less complaints, I would have been a fool to try and satisfy the few who couldn't afford what I had to sell. If there's 15% out of work deal with the 85% who work, we're not a non profit company.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:01:14 GMT

Of course, I'll not compromise my quality Dogs. But I'll keep a pack of cheapo dogs and cook them to order. Also want to be known as compassionate, tho not a pushover.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Uncle Groucho)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:57:10 GMT

Jcheese stick with what you know. I work very hard for my money, at lunch time I would rather buy 2 quality hotdogs for 4 bucks than go to the gas station and get 2 mystery meat dogs with OLD toppings that have been scrounged over by the person in front of me. We call those cheap hotdogs "Home Wreckers!". If you do offer the cheap dogs, will you also carry a quality dog?
Good luck.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (BpCBlake)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:04:27 GMT

thats true too. you might have to stock low cost dogs for the poor people. am/pm dont deliver. now there is a advertising thing. a dog anyone can afford. but to make any good money you will have to sell a load of them.
hmm, contact some homeless groups and tell them you will feed the homeless for so and so amount of money. maybe the city will hire you to feed them.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:37:20 GMT

it the area is poor, let them go to the am/pm for 3 for a dollar dogs.
And I make money......How???

How's yer cart doing?

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:33:47 GMT

OK, I'm gonna try an Econo-dog. Cheap chicken dog on a cheap bun with Texas Pete Chili(kicked up) as an option. Slaw is cheap and I make it good, could make it what stands out.
Don't wanna be the guy with the cheap dogs....guess I need to use sales skills to up sell.
There is a mindset for these folks......how much is a regular Hot Dog? They wanna pay a buck for a "Plain ol Hot Dog"...I usually say I don't sell regular Hot Dogs, I sell exceptcianal Dog's.
Not gonna compromise on my quality stuff, but I'm thinking there may be a market for others.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Hepcat)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:54:55 GMT

Yeah, those look right. They woudn't be too much bun for the dog.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (jcheese)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:49:00 GMT

Hepcat

jcheese

Should I carry some cheap (.89 a pack) dogs and cheap buns and sell them for a buck...?

What kind of buns do you use now? I'm asking because ordinary down to earth Wonder Bread buns work the best with regular sized wieners. The bun should present the dog; it should not compete with the dog let alone overwhelm it.

I use Merita brand because they are not stuck together. I can grab them from the bag with my tongs. Between $2.00 and $2.78 a 12-pack, depending on sale. When dog's are flying, these work good. I guess when waiting on customers to show up I can break up buns.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (BpCBlake)

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 02:18:22 GMT

How about a jam sandwich?
take 2 pieces of bread, and jam them together.
oh stop it. you are making me hungry.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Tristan225)

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:56:49 GMT

If I were you (aren't you lucky you're not) I might try leaving the quality dog and sell some other low cost item. Tacos, fried bologna / spam lunch meat sammich.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Tristan225)

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 21:50:24 GMT

Thank for enlightening me. You do know the average daily allotment is $6.67 a day, right?.....Bonehead

Delta

There's no "poor" people in America now, just ask Obama, he'll tell ya.. Hell, take the govmnt food stamp card, you'll be good to go all day long...Since there is millions on it.

Waiting for the ban....

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (BpCBlake)

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:49:57 GMT

it's not the size of your meat. it's what you do with it.
you must make people want it.
it the area is poor, let them go to the am/pm for 3 for a dollar dogs.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Hepcat)

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 18:47:25 GMT

jcheese

Should I carry some cheap (.89 a pack) dogs and cheap buns and sell them for a buck...?

What kind of buns do you use now? I'm asking because ordinary down to earth Wonder Bread buns work the best with regular sized wieners. The bun should present the dog; it should not compete with the dog let alone overwhelm it.

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (Delta)

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 04:50:03 GMT

There's no "poor" people in America now, just ask Obama, he'll tell ya.. Hell, take the govmnt food stamp card, you'll be good to go all day long...Since there is millions on it.

Waiting for the ban....

Re:Vending in a "Poverty Stricken" area. (CCinNJ)

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 21:07:06 GMT

Corner stores in "good" neighborhoods don't make more $ vs. stores in "not-so-good" neighborhoods. They just make money in different ways...and they cater to all of the customers.

Got a headache? At store 2...here's a 2 pack. Need a cigarette? Here's a loosie.

You do what works for you...because it's business. Your business. It's easy enough to yada yada...don't sell cheap dogs. Do what works.