Panera Bread - pay as you wish

MrsJuliD · May 2010

Panera is testing a system (in one location only) where they don't charge for food. You place your order, they have suggested prices for the food, but you only pay as much as you want - you don't even have to pay at all.

Here's an mlive article on it.

What do you think - would you pay the suggested price? Do you think that a restaurant could successfully turn a profit under this model?

Desmond&MollyJones* · May 2010

MrsJuliD:

Panera is testing a system (in one location only) where they don't charge for food. You place your order, they have suggested prices for the food, but you only pay as much as you want - you don't even have to pay at all.

Here's an mlive article on it.

What do you think - would you pay the suggested price? Do you think that a restaurant could successfully turn a profit under this model?

That is so strange. I don't think it would work at all. Well...I suppose it depends on their margins. But I can see people not paying anything. Do you think it would be a magnet for low income or homeless people?

Kasa · May 2010

Whaaaaat?! That's so un-American! (I mean that in a good way, like Panera is thinking more about their customers than their bottom line, which totally goes against the American capitalism machine.)

I think that's an amazing idea and I give Panera a ton of credit for giving it a try.

That said, I'm skeptical that it will work for the reasons that this guy in the aticle mentioned:

"The pay-what-you-want model won't work for two main reasons: We don't have a realistic concept of what our food should cost in America, and restaurants are too focused on the individual dining experience. Americans want a have-it-your-way kind of dining experience, not a help-pay-someone-else's-way. Besides, the prevalence of dollar and value menus means that we've come to expect our chain food to be cheap."

GRKaters · May 2010

Very interesting.

I think their food is overpriced, so I wouldn't mind paying less, but like one of the commenters, I'd feel guilty cheaping out.

A lot of high school/college kids would totally take advantage, I think.

freeburger16 · May 2010

GRKaters:
Very interesting.
I think their food is overpriced, so I wouldn't mind paying less, but like one of the commenters, I'd feel guilty cheaping out.
A lot of high school/college kids would totally take advantage, I think.

I agree with this - now instead of hot lunching it and being sneaky, they can basically do it out in the open lol.

jkmcnamara · May 2010

I think that's stupid. Yes, they may charge too much, but if I don't agree with the prices of a place, I either suck it up or don't go.

This "plan" has bad idea written all over it!

MissyNa · May 2010

I like this idea! There's actually a cafe in Colorado that does this (the name of it escapes me). That cafe also has the option that if you want to give something but don't have money you can work for your food too (doing dishes, bussing tables, ect). The cafe is booming and has a TON of community support.

MissyNa · May 2010

The cafe I referred to is called SAME Cafe. Check it out here. It's a little different in that it's run on donations but the concept is similar.

jillianmb · May 2010

I hope this doesn't catch on. I am a straight forward person, so I like knowing the price and paying it. It would make me uncomfortable to have to decide what to pay- I'd always be wondering if I gave too much, too little etc. I'd probably stop going.

jkmcnamara · May 2010

jillianmb:
I hope this doesn't catch on. I am a straight forward person, so I like knowing the price and paying it. It would make me uncomfortable to have to decide what to pay- I'd always be wondering if I gave too much, too little etc. I'd probably stop going.

This. I always feel weird tipping, too...did I tip too little? Too much?

MissyNa · May 2010

jillianmb:
I hope this doesn't catch on. I am a straight forward person, so I like knowing the price and paying it. It would make me uncomfortable to have to decide what to pay- I'd always be wondering if I gave too much, too little etc. I'd probably stop going.

But you don't have to decide what to pay if you don't want to. You can pay the suggested amount. Just think of it as a firm price for you.

)

jillianmb · May 2010

MissyNa:
jillianmb:
I hope this doesn't catch on. I am a straight forward person, so I like knowing the price and paying it. It would make me uncomfortable to have to decide what to pay- I'd always be wondering if I gave too much, too little etc. I'd probably stop going.
But you don't have to decide what to pay if you don't want to. You can pay the suggested amount. Just think of it as a firm price for you. )

Well that is true. Still hits me the wrong way though- can't quite put my finger on it.

jillianmb · May 2010

jkmcnamara:
jillianmb:
I hope this doesn't catch on. I am a straight forward person, so I like knowing the price and paying it. It would make me uncomfortable to have to decide what to pay- I'd always be wondering if I gave too much, too little etc. I'd probably stop going.
This. I always feel weird tipping, too...did I tip too little? Too much?

Haha- I know what you mean. DH is a part time server, so I always let him decide the tip b/c he knows what to leave. He's pretty generous

Panera Bread - pay as you wish

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