Price Gouging
 

Went into the Gilford Square Market & Deli yesterday to get some ice. I see red flags when nothing in a store is priced and sure enough, the clerk tells me $4.00 for a 5lb. bag of cubes. No thanks. I’m all for making a profit but there’s a difference between profit and gouging.

$1.99 at Cumberland's and I believe the Meredith McDonald's sells ice for a buck.

Everything in there is grossly overpriced... I know a few people that won’t go in there unless desperate!

I don't blame you for going elsewhere. They probably feel that their "Harvest Time" is June, July and August and want to take advantage of folks.

99 cents for a 5-pound bag of ice at Market Basket:)

6 bags for 5 bucks at Laconia ice!

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Ice
 

A buck a bag at Wal mart.

Location location location
 

Not making it right, but perhaps it's their location? An easy walk from Mountainview.

Might also be a better class of ice, guaranteed not to melt. ;):D

Dave

That is not a revelation !

That store has been like that for years ……….. I am actually quite surprised it hasn't changed ownership ….. as it does have a handy location.

I use to own a Mobil Station with a mini mart. When everyone else was charging 1.25 for a 12oz soda I was charging 1.75. Everyone would complain but I would tell them "I'll sell you a warm one from out back from out back for a 1.00. But everyone liked my gas prices. :D
My electric bill for keeping all those drinks ice cold was 1200 a month.

How were you able to allocate that amount of the bill to only the drinks given the fact that the power bill was for the power use of the entire store?

The Beetle's (Patrick's Pub) own the property. The current owners of the store bought it about 10 years ago from Steve Tremblay. He was excellent. Now.......................not so much.

That guy is the best...I walked in and got a juice and candy bar for my kid and had $5 in my hand also. I ask how much...he says "Five dollars"...:laugh:

I didn't say that was just for the drinks but those coolers use a lot of electricity. Anyone who has ever run a small convenience store knows what I'm talking about.

Ice at Mountain View is $1.50. I pull up to the gas dock, ask for ice and hold out my money. They hand me the ice. Don't even have to tie up.

What about a tip for the attendant? :liplick:

We are within walking distance to the store and we have stopped going due to the high prices and dirtiness of the store. We sure miss the days when you could walk down there and get a great sub to take out on the boat.

I went into that store during July 4th week and tried charging me $9.00 for a pack of hot dog rolls. The owners are complete crooks. It’s an absolute embarrassment, and Patrick’s should be ashamed of themselves leasing to owners that are clearly taking advantage of people.


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Wow! Outrageous! Not unlike Dunkins...when we stop in for thermoses of coffee they charge about $7 per thermos. Today we went to Cumberland Farms where we get ice near the channel and we filled them there. Went to the cashier and told her they take about 2 and a third large cups for each thermos and she shakes her head and said 99¢ each please! And Cumbies is open at 3:30am! (24/7) screw Dunkins.

Some how I knew this post was coming, but stunned by the identity of the poster.

:D:D:D all in good fun.

Confusing
 

Looks like Gilford Square Deli means Gilford Village Store? Or are we talking about the Airport Deli? Then someone is talking about the Mobil Store off of the bypass? Three different locations with three different clienteles.

Airport Deli is outrageous in season and rightly so. The convenience and everyone can opt to travel a little ways down the road to Wally World! That has changed ownership from Russ Dumais who retired.

Gilford Village Store Deli is really a gift store. Of course the prices will be high and people have to pay for the convenience as the village is far from other stores. Renovation of an 1800's building is not cheap!

The Mobil Store is known for cheap gas off season. The locals go there for gas. In season because of the convenience of getting off the bypass for basic supplies and gas, the owner opt to raise the prices in exchange for cheap gas for the locals. After all when tourists are on vacation so is their wallets!

There is always Walmart at the end of the bypass if your so stingy! And surprisingly the Mobil Station in front of Shaws is pretty damn competitive with the surrounding gas stations.

As for the locals, there is always Tilton Market Basket or Concord Aldi and Sam's for great prices during the gouging season!

Broadhopper -- we are talking about the Deli/ Convienance store next to Bay Gulls / Patricks / Liquor store . in that strip Mall.

That place is just plain nasty! Crazy prices, dirty inside, outdated food items... how it stays in business I'll never understand.

Dan

Broadhopper: I will respectfully disagree with much of your post.

First, as Phantom points out, all of the places you talk about are not the subject of this thread.

Second, I get sandwiches at Airport Deli often. Great to pick up and take out on the boat. Easy in, easy out and unlike WalMart you can park right at the door. They are glad to take telephone orders.

Third: I get most of my gasoline, and car washes too, at the Gilford Mobilmart. It is one of the stores owned by Dave DeVoy, a Belknap County Commissioner. I have never noticed price changes that seem to be aimed at the tourists.

I have to agree with TiltonBB

Not to take this thread off topic, but I can fully understand & APPRECIATE that a local store pricing may be a little higher than the Super Market or Walmart --BUT that's why they are call "Convenience" Stores.

Personally, I use the Airport Deli/Convivence Store quite often for that always needed pack of hot dog bun's, unannounced visitors and the 18 pack of beer needed or mixers needed for the cocktails, 1/2 gal. of milk ….. so on, so on.

I am actually quite amazed at the variety (albeit not in large quantity) of items they stock & carry.

Personally, I think they could drop the wines & use that space for other items …….. after all- there's wine right down the street.

Thanks for the clarification
 

Completely forgot about this store mainly because it is outrageous year round!
I rest my case. How it stays in business? Because of the tourists!
I had a conversation with someone from Maryland the other day. He thinks everything even the lakeside property is cheap! My God, I'm glad I don't live in Maryland!

They also have quite a selection and great prices on K cup coffee! They have excellent broasted chicken too!! It's a great year round "convenience" store!

Dan

The store that is the subject of this thread is the little “convenience” store next to the laundromat and Patrick’s and the state liquor store—NOT the Gilford Airport Deli!


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In my best Homer Simpson voice...”mmmmmm...broasted chicken!”

The older I get the more I am will to pay for convenience but draw the line at being taken advantage of. On the other hand it's only gouging if you are forced to buy something.

Fifty years ago there weren't nearly the amount of convenience stores that you see today; now they are everywhere.

Gas stations used to be just for car repairs and gasoline. Today, most every gas station's old repair facility has been converted into selling area for high profit convenience items (chips, soda, cigs, lottery tickets, etc.). Of course Lottery Tickets are only a high profit item if the store sells a winning ticket, lol. And Lottery Tickets really didn't have a big existence 50 years ago.

Most (if not all) gas stations built today have much larger convenience type stores associated with these new builds.

I'm not in the business, but I would guess these establishments make more money on the convenience items then they do on the gasoline.....

It used to be that way and I'm sure it still is. Many years ago I worked at the gas station across from the Meredith docks, it was Tulsa back then. The owner made something like 3 cents per gallon on the gas but cigarettes, drinks, chips and ice were most of the profits.

No price = no sale.

What year was that? 3 cents a gallon back then is like making 20 cent a gallon today. And I can tell you that most stations don't make more than 10 cents a gallon today. They have to make their money on volume to make any kind of money on gas.

1975 ish. I could be wrong on the exact amount but I know it was darn little.

This is interesting that you bring up the name "TULSA". This brings me to thinking of the old gasoline brands that used to exist 50 years ago.

A few I can think of; Flying A, Cities Service (now Citgo), Sinclair, Jenny, Tulsa, Esso (now Mobil-Exxon), Atlantic Richfield (now ARCO), Phillips.

I'm confident I have missed some. Does anyone have some more to add ?

Amoco...they use to have “white gas” you could use in Coleman stoves and lanterns...

Is Getty still around? Gulf? Sinclair?

Gulf still hear in New York but have not seen Getty in years

That was right after the oil embargo, 1973, when we had gas rationing and long lines. I actually worked pumping gas at that time and years later after I saw my old boss, he told me he made more money then than he ever made in the gas business.

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I worked during that too. We got deliveries of less than half what we would normally sell and tried limiting amounts, odd and even, closing some days but in the end everyone got mad so when we got gas we sold as much as anyone wanted til we ran out and that was that aside from dipping the tank 10 times a day to prove we were really out of gas.

No more price gouging?
 

As long as we've been set adrift from the price gouging issue, I can't help[ but remember when, as teern boys we got Jobs pumping Jenny and ethel. Then Citgo and no-lead came along and ruined the joke.

Think this is now getting WAY "Off Topic"

Every thread goes off topic at some point. [emoji23][emoji23]


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Gouging is correct. We are walking distance and love to support business in our back yard. I have been in this store twice first time paid $4 for a not so fresh head of iceberg lettuce. The second time $3 for a .79 cents package of cough drops. Yup nothing is priced so it’s a mystery until you get to the register. Never again. I guess the up side is there is never a line. Lol

Are you familiar with Virginia Pipeline?

The only " line" is the one they cross when they tell you a small loaf of generic white bread is 6 bucks! Fool me once...shame on you, fool me twice...shame on me! Once is enough for me...I'll make the drive to the big stores!

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Those poor guys
 

10 Men Killed...

Maybe it's time for a joke thread, but I don't know how to keep it "Lakes Region".

I support local businesses 97% of the time. It may cost a bit more but I can afford it.

It is stores like this that move my 3% of business elsewhere.

Ice
 

Back to price gouging. McDonald's has 8 lbs bags of ice for $1.00, thats 3 more lbs than any where else for less and while your there you can pick up breakfast.

That's a bargain. Which McD's? ALL?

yes -- all

We use them here in MA when having a party.

ice
 

I have only purchased ice at the McD's on Union Ave next to Taco Bell.

Also the one on 140 in Tilton ...

I forgot to mention $14 for a six pack of Sammy Summer. UGH

Not quite strip joint prices but still...

The Beauty of Capitalism...
 

Why all the griping? This is capitalism at its finest!

The store owner asks an outrageous price, some people pay it some do not. If enough people pay, he stays in business. If too many people walk out he doesn't! Don't begrudge the guy for asking too much!

For the record... I walked out 2 weeks ago!

Live by sword, Die by the sword!

Woodsy

Yeah, price gouging is when stores are charging $10 for water when a natural disaster comes through and people have no other means of getting water (as an example). This is good ol' fashioned capitalism and if the prices are too high the market will dictate that.

I sometimes have to venture to JoJos for beer or other items that I know I can get cheaper elsewhere but I make that choice because I don't want to drive further, going off Moultonborough Neck on the weekend is not a smart choice and it's my own fault for poor alcohol planning.

The prices at Jo Jo's are far more inline than the place in question...you simply cannot compare the two...

JoJo's is a CLEAN well run convenience store that serves great food and sells quality convenience items at a fair price. The place in question does none of that! You really need to see it for yourself to understand...

Dan

Agreed on JoJo's--their prices are always reasonable given the location, which I'm sure is why it's always so busy.

In fact, we got meatball subs for dinner on the boat yesterday, and I was reminded what a deal they are at $7.49. Two days ago, friends bought subs at Sub Crazy on the way to camp and a large chicken parm--not nearly as filling as JoJo's meatball--was over $10. That place is borderline criminal.

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JoJos
 

+1
Subs are great. Actually a great value too. Great bread choices allow 'sub' or 'sandwich'. Crusty sub roll is a fave.
Prices otherwise a bit high but not extreme as long as you stay out of the butcher case section. Looks great but spendy.
Glad I dont have a grill on the boat 'cus I'd be dropping even more $ at JoJos than I do now.

Since Jojos has been taken over by Heaths the prices have moderated some. Yes, still a bit high but worth the convenience.

Ice
 

No more ice at Union Ave McD's. Ice machines can't keep up.

Kawishiwi
 

Your lyrics at the bottom of your post is from my favorite band. Saw what's left of Yes in June at Meadowbrook. Steve Howe can still play.

No sign anymore in Tilton as well.

For Sale
 

During a couple of my (now rare) early morning commutes, I noticed that the electronic sign outside of Patrick's has a message up about the Market and Deli being for sale. I first noticed it around October or November of last year, and saw it again this week.

Seems like the business practices discussed here may have caught up with them? COVID may be a contributor, but we certainly had a busy year with visitors/vacationers.

Never ever been in there, myself, not even once?

From 3-years ago, someone's review comment: " $5.99 for half gallon of O.J. I will never shop there ever again!"

The Google review for the Gilford Square Market & Deli convenience store has 28 different reviews. It gets a rating of 1.1 out of possibly rating it from 1 to 5, so a 1.1 is definitely a hugely BAD reason why it has closed up the business.

When buying a business, there is a value for "goodwill". It's a subjective value but is supported by a businesses established good reputation.

Never on a balance sheet is "badwill". Buying a business with a bad reputation may be very hard to overcome. It's probably easier to ruin a good business, than to rebuild a bad one. However, rebuilding a bad one can be more rewarding and perhaps more profitable.

You would be surprised.
Hang a banner out that says "under new management" and people will return but after that it's up to the new owner to get them coming back.

Almost 12 years ago I purchased a then abandon golf course. It went abandon because of the poor guest experience it featured. I worked diligently for over a decade to improve conditions however to this day people still come by and tell me how terrible of an experience they had and they would never play here again. Fortunately at the same time we built what became a popular restaurant. That restaurant ended up carrying the golf course financially for a decade. Then the pandemic hit. The restaurant has been dormant for a little over 300 days and the golf course has paid all the bills. You just never know.

I remember playing that course over 20 years ago with my son and one his friends. We had a ball laughing about how bad the course was but I'm not a very good golfer and the kids were just beginners at the time.
I'm still a lousy golfer but my son is a pretty good avid golfer.:D

Restaurant/golf course
 

Baygo--Thanks for sharing, and thanks for all your valued postings on the Forum.

If you have fun golfing, and your son has fun golfing, regardless what either one of you shoot, I believe you are a better golfer than someone who shoots a very low number and is aggravated by it. It’s just a game.