Sub Inflation

I get cheesesteaks at a place that used to be around 6.50. I think they are about $7-$8 now but they charge $.50 for any CC transaction. I went to a smaller place in the next town and got his cheesesteak (granted, it is a little more special with the bacon and hot sauce) but he charges over $15 and there is less meat. Once in a while, I will get it but, for the most part I have started to make my own albeit nowhere near as good as the others. And places now offering cash prices lower than CC prices is BS, in my opinion of course. All of these places took CCs for years and years and only now they want to charge more.

We also have a couple places here that only take one or the other. I get that prices go up, but paying a LOT more for the same thing doesn't sit well with me. A little more, OK I can get it but to pay 50% or more for the same thing. Nah, not for me.
I had a bacon cs. And I really didn't like it. I like it on burgers but not on cs.
Nobody here for the last 30 years knows how to make a cheesesteak.
All are rotten. Very simple to make too.
The mushroom cheesesteak is a complete fraud.. a local guy puts 20 minute chunks that can fit on your thumb...that's another $2...

Another place here I quit going to 3 years ago... I walked up to the counter and the owner was there and he asked if he could help me.
I calmy asked why do you offer cheesesteaks when I have never seen cheese on any of them...

The scam was over and he knew it.
 
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I read an article recently that restaurants are going out of business in record numbers...I guess the 40 year high inflation is taking away 'discretionary spending' for many Americans.
Just read that Outback Steakhouse is closing all location in Maine and New Hampshire.
Was quite surprised since there used to be a line out the door to get a seat.
 
Just read that Outback Steakhouse is closing all location in Maine and New Hampshire.
Was quite surprised since there used to be a line out the door to get a seat.
Here they were a college hangout and they closed during the covid days
 
Well I did get mayo on it that I didn't order...

How about the $28 pizza fellows?
Small pizzas around here have gone from 7 to 9 bucks to over $13 for one topping.
There is a little Greek joint nearby that has a small one topping for 10 bucks out the door - if you like the Greek semi deep dish style and just a ho hum pizza sauce.

If I wasn't rolling in the dough, I'd be rolling my own dough and making my own.

Yes I know - amateur night. But can't toss the dough - low ceilings in the kitchen, and wife doesn't want me throwing things in the air in the living room other than cat toys.
 
People have to make money especially these days. My prices for products are even cheaper now than in the late 80s.. I sort of went the volume root instead. So far it's working... But the food business is in serious trouble I suspect.
 
Fast food jobs use to be a stepping stone for high school or college kid to make some money. With all the manufacturing jobs shipped overseas they're the only jobs available. Certain states are raising the minimum wage to cover this which raises prices all around. By me a medium Dunkin coffee costs $3 with tax and half the time the $15+ worker makes it wrong.
 
Fast food jobs use to be a stepping stone for high school or college kid to make some money. With all the manufacturing jobs shipped overseas they're the only jobs available. Certain states are raising the minimum wage to cover this which raises prices all around. By me a medium Dunkin coffee costs $3 with tax and half the time the $15+ worker makes it wrong.
Right on !
In my day at least. Today it's a career path like a trade. Great synopsis.
 
When I worked at the theater back in mid to late 90s, a small soda (different than what a small is today) was $1.79 after tax and we were instructed to fill the cup with ice. The small popcorn (also smaller than what a small is today) was the same price. I think I was told that the small soda cost about $.01 and the popcorn was half a cent. Movies were also $3.50 for a matinee and I think regular night time pricing was maybe $5-7. Now, what is a movie? Min of $15? How much is a soda and popcorn? And that candy that was and still is extremely expensive, is always stale. I understand needing to make a profit but how much of a profit is enough? The answer is, it's never enough. As long as people keep paying these prices, they will continue to charge more and more. It's like streaming now. Prices keep going up. I have a few that I keep and I only sign up for others when they have a deal and when that deal is over, I cancel. The average consumer can't keep up with all these additional charges on everything.
 
Looking back, I noticed recently the workforce has been cut in half at this place.
Now I know why. Sadly, they have a stunningly beautiful young gal there that newly arrived from
California. She must have been kept for eye candy or she is kin folk :), but she is as hospitable as a wolverine with rabies.
In your face, rude and obnoxious... but I like my women that way. :love:
Recently, I had two waitresses get into a catfight over who would serve me my carbonara. My wife almost died laughing.
 
Went to a local sub shop.
Italian sub is $8.95
I give them a 10 spot and walk

I just went in and did the same and the owner said hold up... they are now $13.95...

Before I get beaten...yes I know they can charge whatever they want and I have no issue with that at all.

But whatever happened to incremental increases? Like a $1 at a time or two.

It was the owner and he acted like a worker shaking his head. But I know who he is and I pretty much know what he did.. he hasn't been working much this year and he got around and saw other places pricing. I see it too but he has a thriving business but those places don’t...

I think a $5 increase is nuts overnight. I think it will be a costly mistake. Who said inflation has flattened out?

Another local pizza place just sold to a guy with new signage saying authentic NJ pizza. . Three topping large regular pizza $28 + tax..
It ain't gonna fly here in backwoods country..
It's possible that he bumped up the price all at once so it's not a $1 here and there. It's also possible that if it's an independent sub shop he doesn't get the same buying power that a cha8n would
 
I used to eat at Subway quite often, several times a week, because it was a franchise on base, and I was busy.

While it was OK then, the quality has really dropped.

Last time I ate at a Subway, the bread and ingredients were stale. Flavorless meat, in skimpy portions, wrapped in old bread, with soggy lettuce on top. Served by a person that couldn’t make eye contact while they mumbled the questions.

Ugh.

Just awful.

They’ve lost me. I won’t set foot in a Subway, ever again.
 
I used to eat at Subway quite often, several times a week, because it was a franchise on base, and I was busy.

While it was OK then, the quality has really dropped.

Last time I ate at a Subway, the bread and ingredients were stale. Flavorless meat, in skimpy portions, wrapped in old bread, with soggy lettuce on top. Served by a person that couldn’t make eye contact while they mumbled the questions.

Ugh.

Just awful.

They’ve lost me. I won’t set foot in a Subway, ever again.
Yeah Subway is pretty nasty and get my order wrong half the time. I complained to corporate recently about not receiving what I paid for. They didn’t even offer me a coupon just said “sorry not sorry” in nicer words.
 
My absolute favorite sandwich in a large is now $25.95 - it's an 18" cheesesteak that I used to splurge on a few times a year (yes, even though I'm fat that feeds me twice)

5 years ago that large was $14

EDIT: - I could also make it double meat for another 6, which I usually did. So I was used to 20$ for a sandwich. I went and got one around Christmas. It was still good, but I'm almost positive it was still under 20$ for the regular whole. I know I'd never have paid 34.50 for a whole with double meat (today's price). I have a meat slicer, I have quite a few ribeyes and sirloins in the freezer. I can get bread that's almost as good and a lb of provolone and a jar of Whiz and make 3-4 for 34.50

It's just a matter of principal at this point. I just won't do it.

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I used to eat at Subway quite often, several times a week, because it was a franchise on base, and I was busy.

While it was OK then, the quality has really dropped.

Last time I ate at a Subway, the bread and ingredients were stale. Flavorless meat, in skimpy portions, wrapped in old bread, with soggy lettuce on top. Served by a person that couldn’t make eye contact while they mumbled the questions.

Ugh.

Just awful.

They’ve lost me. I won’t set foot in a Subway, ever again.

I don't know if it's the same in USA, but at least up here, they revamped the menu about six months ago. The meats are better quality, subs come standard with double cheese... Before that I would have agreed with you but they really stepped up their game.
 
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