What Will You Pay?

     Just how much are you willing to pay for a 20 ounce bottle of Diet Coke?  That seems to be the question I have been faced with on a daily basis while away from home.  I’ve been spoiled by being a "Coke Dealer." I receive better prices when I purchase 10 cases of 20 ounce bottles at a time.  It isn’t cheap by any means but at least it’s not more than $1.00.

     My name is Sue and I am a Diet Coke Addict.  Maybe it’s because of the easy access to it or the price but I am an addict.  I feel bad charging more than $1.25 for a 20 ounce bottle in our store but I’m beginning to think I need to charge more so I can support my own habit. 

     We live 56 miles from the nearest town and 160 miles from the nearest Coke Distributor.  We always end up with inventory left over at the end of the year and we can’t hold it over until the next season so it goes to waste.  I think we should be able to charge a little more for it for these reasons but have a difficult time understanding how places in big cities with Coke Distributors right in their own town can charge such outrageous prices.

     Let’s compare some prices here.  Let’s take a convenience store in San Diego where you can get a 20 ounce bottle for $1.59.  This seems expensive to me but the hotel we stayed at in San Diego charged $1.75 for the same bottle.  Then we went to Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, the airport and Sea World where we paid over $3.00 for a 20 ounce bottle of Diet Coke and if you can believe it we paid over $3.00 for a Diet Pepsi at Sea World!  I was desperate, what can I say?   I needed my caffeine.

     Highway robbery? I think so but I’m not sure.  It’s amazing what addicts will do for their hit isn’t it?  I will admit I have cut back on my consumption due to the outrageous prices.  I also have to admit our prices for pop will be increasing next year.  I don’t think we’ll charge $3.00 but don’t be surprised if it isn’t $1.25 anymore.