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I am curious about how much a coffee machine really costs. I don't think it can be that much to merit getting rid of it. People that try to save a few pennies u

by umsm 13y ago

I am curious about how much a coffee machine really costs. I don't think it can be that much to merit getting rid of it. People that try to save a few pennies usually waste much more elsewhere...

gaius 13y ago
Exactly. The Coke that costs $1 in the store probably actually costs <10c if you buy in bulk! Let alone the $4 coffee from Starbucks!
- mgkimsal 13y ago
  Typically not that little in bulk, unless you stock your own entire soda machines with syrups and carbonation systems and such. If you had people stocking up from sam's club or a similar 'bulk' store, you'd be looking at per unit costs of 25-60 cents per bottled/canned drink, depending on size. Coffee - not as familiar with the economics of coffee, but of course dedicated machines will end up costing somewhat less than going directly to starbucks. And most Cokes in a convenience store are now $1.50 or more, at least where I live.
  - nitrogen 13y ago
    It's amusing, because a 2L from a supermarket is the same price as a 20oz from a convenience store. Clearly the price is not driven by the cost of the soda.
    - NickNameNick 13y ago
      In the case of Coke, I think the cost of packaging is bigger than the cost of the product, but either way its almost irrelevant to the price - they charge what people are willing to pay. I wouldn't buy a big bottle from a convenience store, a small bottle is more convenient for walking around with. I wouldn't buy a small bottle from a supermarket, I want a big bottle to put in the fridge at home.
      - gchpaco 13y ago
        Typically the smaller ones are also refrigerated whereas the 2L aren't, precisely because you're expected to grab the former when you're on your way from A to B and are busy.
  - mason55 13y ago
    Let's say 50c per soda. Even if everyone drinks 6 sodas a day you're looking at an increase of $900/year/employee. Call it $100k/year for an engineer and you're talking less than 1%. And that's 6 sodas a day, every day. I bet even with free sodas you average maybe 2 a day.
    - mgkimsal 13y ago
      And if you have an entire team of engineers drinking 6 sodas per day each, your health insurances will balloon (as will their waistlines) in the next couple years.

by umsm 13y ago

I am curious about how much a coffee machine really costs. I don't think it can be that much to merit getting rid of it. People that try to save a few pennies usually waste much more elsewhere...

gaius 13y ago

Exactly. The Coke that costs $1 in the store probably actually costs <10c if you buy in bulk! Let alone the $4 coffee from Starbucks!

mgkimsal 13y ago
Typically not that little in bulk, unless you stock your own entire soda machines with syrups and carbonation systems and such. If you had people stocking up from sam's club or a similar 'bulk' store, you'd be looking at per unit costs of 25-60 cents per bottled/canned drink, depending on size. Coffee - not as familiar with the economics of coffee, but of course dedicated machines will end up costing somewhat less than going directly to starbucks. And most Cokes in a convenience store are now $1.50 or more, at least where I live.
- nitrogen 13y ago
  It's amusing, because a 2L from a supermarket is the same price as a 20oz from a convenience store. Clearly the price is not driven by the cost of the soda.
  - NickNameNick 13y ago
    In the case of Coke, I think the cost of packaging is bigger than the cost of the product, but either way its almost irrelevant to the price - they charge what people are willing to pay. I wouldn't buy a big bottle from a convenience store, a small bottle is more convenient for walking around with. I wouldn't buy a small bottle from a supermarket, I want a big bottle to put in the fridge at home.
    - gchpaco 13y ago
      Typically the smaller ones are also refrigerated whereas the 2L aren't, precisely because you're expected to grab the former when you're on your way from A to B and are busy.
- mason55 13y ago
  Let's say 50c per soda. Even if everyone drinks 6 sodas a day you're looking at an increase of $900/year/employee. Call it $100k/year for an engineer and you're talking less than 1%. And that's 6 sodas a day, every day. I bet even with free sodas you average maybe 2 a day.
  - mgkimsal 13y ago
    And if you have an entire team of engineers drinking 6 sodas per day each, your health insurances will balloon (as will their waistlines) in the next couple years.