a call to arms: "Brace yourself: Beer prices are going up"

Julian, wrote:
You truly are the stupidest piece of shit ever to stink up this place.

Considering some of the stupid turds that have been through this cyber toilet, that, my friends, is a serious statement.

Julian, wrote:

hutch wrote:
OH gee Sweetcell thinks I've never heard of price elasticity! Wow! Thanks Sweetcell for the tip!

I guess it comes down to how inelastic one thinks beer sales at the 930 are… At some point where you hike prices on beer you may have less gross sales revenue. Or maybe people will keep consuming the same regardless of price?.. WHy not $20 beers then?

You truly are the stupidest piece of shit ever to stink up this place.

Increasing a beer's price from $6 to $7 is a marginal increase in most people's mind, despite increasing the cost by over 16%. Do you think such an increase is going to drop liquor sales by 16%? Probably not. OTOH, increasing the price by $14 on an originally $6 beer passes a certain tipping point, upon which only the most alcoholic of patrons would partake.

The fact, ASSHOLE,  is that beer consumption is price elastic. I'm not sure- and I'll leave determining the exact elasticity to the experts- but alcohol sales might decrease 16%. People might balk at paying $6 for a bottle of Budweiser. WHo knows?

can we get a cat pic drinking a beer  ;D

hutch wrote:
People might balk at paying $6 for a bottle of Budweiser. WHo knows?

Beer is already at 5 a bottle. Increasing it another dollar is not going to stretch things so badly that 1 out of 5 people don't buy another beer. Simple conventional wisdom can tell you that; people love their alcohol, yo.

Julian, wrote:

hutch wrote:
People might balk at paying $6 for a bottle of Budweiser. WHo knows?

Beer is already at 5 a bottle. Increasing it another dollar is not going to stretch things so badly that 1 out of 5 people don't buy another beer. Simple conventional wisdom can tell you that; people love their alcohol, yo.

First of all Julian a big mandatory FUCK YOU ASSHOLE.

Thats opinion not conventional wisdom. People may love their alcohol but many love their money more. 1 out of 5 people may not buy that beer and people might think twice before getting that extra beer. People may decrease their average number of beers per show. Instead of having 4 beers people might have 3. Why not? Remember its not really $5 for a beer right now.. when you add the tip in its $6….

if it were so that increasing the price of bottle of bud by one dollar would result in increased gross sales why wouldn't it already cost $6?

Really the only person with the answer about the exact elasticity of beer consumption at the 930 is Seth/whoever runs concessions… and even they may not know exactly how the market would respond to increasing the price.

I will note that Live Nation is trying to increase beer sales by selling bigger beers at better (per ounce) prices.

Seth's statement on this issue every time anyone's brought it up has been something to the effect of: he's a businessman and will charge as much as we're willing to pay, because he'd be stupid to do otherwise.

a bottle of bud already costs $6, doesn't it? i'll never get more than one and it makes me more likely to skip the opening bands.

hutch wrote:
Really the only person with the answer about the exact elasticity of beer consumption at the 930 is Seth/whoever runs concessions… and even they may not know exactly how the market would respond to increasing the price.

BTW, you make my point for me. When the powers-that-be are following through with the increased price model (as the article predicating this thread indicates), gee, there must be something to that. Unless now the person who knows the most about price elasticity isn't beer companies and promoters but they guy who thinks Baltimore venues are propped up by DC residents.

Hutch and Julian should meet up for a beer summit soon.

wml7 wrote:
can we get a cat pic drinking a beer  ;D

there are some great beer-related LOLs out there… i couldn't choose just one:

I'm guessing Hutch learned his economic theory from Argentinian newspapers.  I've heard similar ridiculous policy arguments from their officials….

i'm just bummed hutch hasnt started a thread about lady gaga's wang

Julian, wrote:
Seth's statement on this issue every time anyone's brought it up has been something to the effect of: he's a businessman and will charge as much as we're willing to pay, because he'd be stupid to do otherwise.

And because of the cost, and his reaction, I don't drink at the club anymore. And I don't know too many people who do. I recognize i'm in the minority, but you have to wonder if the minority is having any impact.

I think the "regulars" who see shows frequently at the club fall more in the minority, drinking a beer or less on average. But the "irregulars", people who attend 5 shows a year or less, drop a boat load on alcohol as it is part of the experience. They are the same people who often end up talking their way through an entire show. I usually call them Iota'ers. I'm betting it is the irregulars who make up the difference and keep Seth and co happy. And rich.

yeah I go on benders everytime I see a show there hence my tab being couple g's  ;D

redsock wrote:
I'm betting it is the irregulars who make up the difference and keep Seth and co happy. And rich.

i would have thought it was people like me - who go to a lot of shows AND drink regularly (and, as proven last night @ NIN, occasionally excessively…)

redsock wrote:

Julian, wrote:
Seth's statement on this issue every time anyone's brought it up has been something to the effect of: he's a businessman and will charge as much as we're willing to pay, because he'd be stupid to do otherwise.

And because of the cost, and his reaction, I don't drink at the club anymore. And I don't know too many people who do. I recognize i'm in the minority, but you have to wonder if the minority is having any impact.

I think the "regulars" who see shows frequently at the club fall more in the minority, drinking a beer or less on average. But the "irregulars", people who attend 5 shows a year or less, drop a boat load on alcohol as it is part of the experience. They are the same people who often end up talking their way through an entire show. I usually call them Iota'ers. I'm betting it is the irregulars who make up the difference and keep Seth and co happy. And rich.

I agree with you, on both counts. I stopped drinking at 930 Club when I was charged $16 for a double Stoli, and I agree that those of us on this messageboard are not indicative of the average 930 Club denizen who becomes an alcoholic every time they attend a concert.

Julian, wrote:

hutch wrote:
Really the only person with the answer about the exact elasticity of beer consumption at the 930 is Seth/whoever runs concessions… and even they may not know exactly how the market would respond to increasing the price.

BTW, you make my point for me. When the powers-that-be are following through with the increased price model (as the article predicating this thread indicates), gee, there must be something to that. Unless now the person who knows the most about price elasticity isn't beer companies and promoters but they guy who thinks Baltimore venues are propped up by DC residents.

Companies always do the right thing? This is crazy. there are dozens of examples of companies that have made mistakes in pricing. Perhaps Inbev will have more gross sales but that does not mean that the 930 will if they pass on the hike to the consumer. There is a difference. Also, why not look at it the opposite way: what if the 930 reduced beer prices! Might they not sell more beer and make more money (even after paying for the cost)?.. At the recent shows (surely not all) I've been to I've noticed hardly anyone drinking.. Its anecdotal but thats not the way I remember it.

By the way I said that certain shows in Baltimore were propped up by DC residents when these shows weren't an option in DC. I stand by that. I'm sorry you wish to keep distorting…

Look you want to insult and be rude go for it. You're just an asshole on an internet forum.. not the first and not the last.

vansmack wrote:
I'm guessing Hutch learned his economic theory from Argentinian newspapers.  I've heard similar ridiculous policy arguments from their officials….

Gee thanks man.

Julian, wrote:
I agree with you, on both counts. I stopped drinking at 930 Club when I was charged $16 for a double Stoli, and I agree that those of us on this messageboard are not indicative of the average 930 Club denizen who becomes an alcoholic every time they attend a concert.

This reminded me of a Caps game a friend of mine went to last year.  We were getting well hammered and I was waiting in line at one of the liquor stands.  I offered to pick up the next round and my friend ran to can while I waited in the line.  I ordered two double vokas  and they told me I couldn't get that many by myself..but just then my friend came back so the lady served them up and and said "that will be $32" (and bet your ass they weren't serving Stoli).  My jaw nearly hit the ground..luckily my bud kindly intervened and pitched in on the drinks with me.

Hockey games may not be quite as much fun next year when i'm not pounding beers the whole time, but it will sure be less expensive.  Or maybe I'll be able to concentrate on the game more and enjoy it even more.  Who knows.  One thing is for sure - substances hate me, so I'm counting on all of you to drink an extra one for me.

chaz wrote:

Julian, wrote:
I agree with you, on both counts. I stopped drinking at 930 Club when I was charged $16 for a double Stoli, and I agree that those of us on this messageboard are not indicative of the average 930 Club denizen who becomes an alcoholic every time they attend a concert.

This reminded me of a Caps game a friend of mine went to last year.  We were getting well hammered and I was waiting in line at one of the liquor stands.  I offered to pick up the next round and my friend ran to can while I waited in the line.  I ordered two double vokas  and they told me I couldn't get that many by myself..but just then my friend came back so the lady served them up and and said "that will be $32" (and bet your ass they weren't serving Stoli).  My jaw nearly hit the ground..luckily my bud kindly intervened and pitched in on the drinks with me.

That's wild.

I'm a reasonable guy, I understand they have to make money on the liquor sales, but those prices were just too much. If it was Jean Marc XO or maybe even Grey Goose, then OK at $8/per. But Stoli? On the vodka cost scale, it's in the lower half. In Virginia, a fifth of Stoli is $20, and we're expensive because we have a mandatory 20% liquor tax built-in to our prices. So in DC (which is typically less for liquor anyay), I'm going to guess about $16-17 for a fifth of Stoli? Does that sound right to anyone? Charging me the fifth price for a double cocktail of it? Insane.

I will give them, as Econo pointed out when I first posted this, that to the club's credit, it was a true "double" and fairly strong. Just not $16 strong.