How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?
 

If you answered $3, and 99 of your like minded friends visited Terra Bite each day, it could be a going concern, and going contrary to conventional economic wisdom. I think I'll have lunch there today.
You may think this guy's off his rocker, but his "business" model does have precedent.

Kirkland may be one of the few places he can pull it off. :confused:

that's . . . very strange

I would pay $4 for a large coffee, if it was a really good coffee.
More for a good white chocolate soy mocha.

Homer takes Lisa to the museum and sees the sign: "Suggested donation: $4.50"

Homer: Eh, what do you mean by "suggested donation"?
Clerk: Pay any amount you wish, sir.
Homer: And uh, what if I wish to pay ... zero?
Clerk: That is up to you.
Homer: Ooh, so it's up to me, is it?
Clerk: Yes.
Homer: I see. And you think that people are going to pay you $4.50 even though they don't have to? Just out of the goodness of their... [laughs] Well, anything you say! Good luck, lady, you're gonna need it!

__________________

Actually the funniest part is right after that, when Lisa's substitute, Mr. Bergstrom, shows up and Homer tries to tell him that he doesn't have to pay. But the all the Simpsons quotes pages I looked at cut off just before that point.

This is from the episode "Lisa's Substitute" and I always thought Mr. Bergstrom was Dustin Hoffman, well apparently it was:

Who was Sam Etic? (29 Apr 91 USA TODAY)

If you saw Fox's `The Simpsons' Thursday, you may have noticed a new voice in the credits---Sam Enid [sic]. Enid's voice sure sounded familiar, almost like Dustin Hoffman. And gee, there sure were a lot of references in `The Simpsons' to Hoffman's first hit, `The Graduate', thrown into a story about Lisa falling into love with her substitute teacher. Shazam! It turns out Enid is none other than Hoffman, whose contract with `The Simpsons' stated that his real name could not be used on the credits or in publicity.

All this was from here, btw. Somewhere in there, something, I think, had something to do with this thread.

I'm curious where the start-up funds came from for this business. Though I have no knowledge of business loans, I can't imageing very mant banks that would lend to start a "pay what you can" business.

That being said, I think it's quite interesting, and would pay what I think the food/drink was worth, on any given day. Let's hope I'm in a good mood most days ;).

Doubt a place like this would make it in a college town.

Just think of all the people who just have 10s and 20s, and don't want to ask for change.

As far as I know, "change" is not an option, since in an effort to eliminate the social pressure of "I better pay something since all these people are looking" effect, he provides a locked metal box for you to slip your envelope into at the end of your stay. Also, he mentions enjoying the food drink and convenience all week and then dropping a $20 in the box. And there's a paypal link on the restaurant's homepage. I could pay from my desk, then drive over and eat and drink.

But today was McD's. :( High grub factor. taste*convenience/$

What is it with this new coffee fad?....I won`t pay more than a dollar fifty for any cup. You go into these these new age beatnik coffee houses and get a luke warm bad tasting cup served by some pimple faced birkenstocked wearing college student without even hearing a live band or even a poem (But they still got the beatnik chess dudes).

Haaaaaa....Haaaaaa..

Recently over here an immigrant with a very similar business plan was awarded the 'Local Hero' award. Here are the details.

I think it's a fantastic idea, and if some people don't pay what they can afford or should pay, then karma will bite them on the arse in the end anyway.

What no bongos or a Peter Paul And Mary lookalike?

Ronald, are you trying to be rude on purpose or was it an accident?

Humorous!

Our elementary school does yearbooks and t-shirts etc on a "suggested donation" basis. If people wnat to pay less or nothing, they can. We ask people to donate more than the suggested amount if they can, to cover the cost for those who want one but cannot afford ithe suggested donation. We never make a loss.

The (co-operative, non-profit) preschool switched from a set purchase price, no freebies to a pay-what-you-can policy and they sold more items and took more money in.

If you give people the freedom to choose not to pay, they rarely do -you take all they joy of "cheating" out of it and add an element of pride in honesty. imo.