Follows on from my previous post. read that first if you like.
I'm ranting tonight.

Meal deals, right?

On my way to the 'mall' this afternoon for the doughnuts [sic] I had to get some food.
Oh, the irony...

Chose Mange Tout round the corner because, well,erm... they advertise with us, so why not. Very average take-away sandwich bar. Choose your own baguette fillings etc, choose your own bread.
You know the kind of thing.

"Anything to go with that sir?"

"Yes actually, I think I'll have a packet of crisps"
(picks up packet of Walkers ready salted from strategically placed shiny bowl on the counter adjacent)

"You'll want a drink then, for the Meal Deal?"
(apparently 'free' with any sandwich and a bag of crisps. If I chose the crisps and the drink, then the sandwich would be free. You know the kind of thing.

"No thanks. Just these"

"You might as well have a drink. It's free with the Meal Deal. Choose something from the cabinet."

(I turn to the 'cabinet'. Let's see... er... Coke, Diet Coke. Caffeine free coke. Coke. Cherry coke. Sparkling water bottled and distributed by Coca Cola. Coke. Coke. And Oasis, in two flavours. The same two flavours in all the sandwich bars in all the shops in all the city.
Does Oasis only come in two flavours??
Oh, and J20. I chose a J20.

"That's not part of the meal deal, actually. You wanna choose something else?"

"Not really. I don't like fizzy drinks."

"Oh dear. that's a shame."

"You don't really seem to have a lot of choice?"

"Well,erm, no, I suppose not. The trouble is I can only put 20% of other drinks in the cabinet, see?"

(Notes that cabinet is branded in the familiar livery of Coca Cola.)

"I see. That's a pit of a bum deal then, isn't it? For you I mean?"

"Is that all then sir? Have a seat and we'll bring the baguette over in a minute."

Made me think. That kind of lease arrangement is such bollocks and explains so much. Like why every sandwich or coffee bar in the vicinity (and there are many) all serve the same drinks.

So why don't more owners of such establishments actually BUY chiller cabinets of their own, in a nice shade of white? And then get some of their own branding done, on vinyl, and decorate it.
And then stock a plentiful range of different drinks?
Surely in the long term that must have financial advantages.

Ah yes, but you see then they wouldn't be able to sell Coca Cola products, and that rules out half the market, and that's the drinks people want.

Not everyone, and they can always buy Coca Cola from any other shop on the HIgh Street

He can't take that risk. If people go elsewhere to buy Coke then they might also buy their sandwiches and crisps somewhere else.

True, but there are no doubt a lot of people who would seek out a shop that DIDN'T sell meal deals involving fizzy drinks and look for more variety and choice.

Ah yes, but you see that relies on people 'seeking out' another shop, like you said. And people aren't prepared to do that. It's about convenience. What's wrong with Coke anyway?

Oh, no, nothing. I like Coke. I just want to be able to choose NOT to buy it and have a range of alternatives

To me, 'Meal deals and two for ones, and have it, go on it's free' are one of the major causes of over-production and waste, and a big factor in over consumption. Back to the doughnuts again...

I'm such an inconvenience.
Why is it so difficult to buy what you WANT these days??

Seems we are not safe even here in the Deep South, for a tumorous growth has appeared in the city in the shape of the ubiquitous doughnut store.

For a few weeks now it seems as if EVERYONE has been going on about it, and I was given another "you have to..." prod by a friend at the weekend.
I'm notoriously hard to sell to, but with the office full of talk at the same and stress levels bursting through the roof today I felt it would be a good idea to visit this alien landing craft and see what all the fuss is about, as well as counter some of the negativity around the place.

How strange it is. Totally out of my comfort zone - I real did feel as if I was on another planet the minute I even set foot in the shopping centre, let along the doughnut store.
The 'mall' (see, I'm learning the lingo) is lined with clothing boutiques that all seem to be selling exactly the same thing as each other. Or cellphones.

Are there really that many people who still don't have a cellphone??

Anyway, to the doughnuts, and a soap box moment. Grumpy Old Men, look out.
Things I hate about modern society...

People trying to sell to me when I'm already in their shop.
And Meal deals. More on this one later.

The doughnuts look great, and tasted fantastic. Never mind all the nutritional hazards, this wasn't one of those moments. It was all in the name of research and helping staff cheer up.
Lots of flavours to choose from, all lined up lovingly beside the shiny counter with its high stools and chrome. And behind the counter, and in every corner, and all around the serving area, boxes and boxes and boxes of 'Dozen Deal' - 12 mixed doughnuts in a box.

"Hi there, sir. can I help you?"

"Sure yeah. thanks. I'll have... erm... two maple creme, two cinnamon... and

"How many are you having sir?"

"Six please. Two maple, two..."

"You should have twelve sir, it costs the same."

"How do you know? I haven't told you which flavours I want yet?"
(There are three different price ranges, depending on amount of glaze, filling etc)

"A Dozen Deal is only £7.85."

"But I only want six."

"Sure, but a Dozen Deal will give you another six for no extra cost."

"But I only want six."

"The other six in the box are more or less free. Cost you maybe 50 pence?"

"Can I have six doughnuts for 50 pence?"

"A Dozen Deal is only £7.85."

"Why can't I only have six?"

"You can have six, sir, but you can have a Dozen deal for the same price."
(Why am I still in the shop...?)

"Two maple please, two cinnamon, one custard and chocolate and … a vanilla ring"

Each doughnut picked up in tongs, placed carefully in a box, presented to me to 'look at' (to see what - if he's arranged them nicely in the box?) and then some umming and ahhing as he reads the cash till to find the right prices.

"That'll be £7.35 please. A Dozen Deal is only £7.85'

"No wonder you're all fat bastards. Why would I want something JUST BECAUSE its free?"

"Thank you for calling by today sir. £2.65 change. Enjoy your doughnuts. Whose next please?"

Grrrrr... I did consider that they must make even more profit if I buy the buggers individually like this. But of course they have to take the time to pick them up off the rack, put them in a box and ring them through the till. And then someone has to re-stack the shelf afterwards. heaven forbid it should look as if they have actually SOLD anything...

Spectacular lack of CUSTOMER FOCUS. The whole retailing policy seems to be based around selling the boxes of 12, rather than selling to the customers what they actually want.
I am such an inconvenience.