Hello everybody, I don't know about other schools but Northwestern students need to eat...Unfortunately though, it not only costs a bunch (around 10 bucks per meal) it does not taste as good as meals that can be bought at local restaurants at a cheaper price. So, what if somebody were to organize a new meal plan with a few of the local restaurants. Essentially it would be a quarterly meal book for NU students that gave a certain amount of meals to each restaurant after you book the meal plan at the beginning of the year. For NU, this plan would be organized independent of the school (because for the school it is negative profit) and although most beneficial for people living in the dorms, because of rules that say if you room on campus you must get the meal plan, it would be aimed at off-campus people.
How it works:
So let's make it really simple, say there are McDonald's and Burger King on the meal plan, if the quarter had 100 days, each would probably get 100 coupons (since each day had lunch and dinner). Now, this seems like a pretty bad deal, but throw in about 7-8 more restaurants and replace McDonald's with quality healthy restaurants such as "Sabai" or filling food like "Clark's" and the deal seems a little better. Each time you eat there, use your ticket and receive perhaps an entree plus a drink plus appetizer.
However, this is not all. Because the restaurants who are on the list will have more business than those around it, they must give something in return...such as a discount. Most restaurants make about 20-30% in pure profit and if they could offer back 2/3 of that, it would drop a meal plan meal of $10 to $8, saving students a massive amount of money (20%, for those who need stats...) on a year of food. This gives students incentive to use this restaurant meal plan, which keep in mind, is now not only better tasting and has more options, but is cheaper. Restaurants also profit from the increased business, which is not all at a discount. People on the meal plan will naturally look for friends to accompany them, who may not be on the meal plan. So the restaurants will benefit in the long run.
Further options:
Each day bagels and drinks can be provided in your local dorms by the door for those on this meal plan provided at a cheap price of perhaps $2 or so. Again, present a breakfast ticket and receive a convenient meal that is much cheaper than dorm food and much more convenient perhaps as well.
Any further suggestions?
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7 comments:
UIUC also has a mad expensive meal plan, but I suppose this also somewhat pays for the convenience of having the cafeteria right in your dorm.
It would be nice to get good food all the time at restaurants, but for me at least, it might become more of a pain to always have to walk to restaurants from the dorm or from my classes
or just come over and i'll cook :)
yea when you calculate the price of each meal (what you would pay the dining halls if you bought each meal), you're paying like $600 more in the meal plan... it goes to like administrative costs or something... cause it sure ain't going to the food.
I'm here to play devil's advocate (and add some rambling). That said, you are a dummy =P
Dude, you're silly. You can't feed yourself on Sabai for $10. Oh wait...actually you can. But you sure won't be tipping.
You know what's amazing? I think the price per meal went down...it's only $9.61 or $9.39 depending on whether you want to include points or not. Previously, it was $10.7
Did you mean 100 days = 200 coupons? I think I'm missing something here.
And why would Northwestern do this? Just to appease the students? Northwestern Admin hates their students. And this would definitely cut their profits and probably cut their dorm cafeteria's efficiency. We're only paying $50,000 a person a year, that's definitely not enough money for them. [that said, i think most students don't actually pay that much]
Some restaurants have enough business right now that they don't give a shit about you. For example Joy Yees. Service is apathetic at best. Clarkes doesn't need more business. Sabai probably does, haha. Panera does not. Chipotle, BK, and Taco Bell do not.
Wait, why do you want us to use coupons? It would probably be easier just to get restaurants to accept NU meal points. Like Norbucks and Einstein Bagel do.
Hmmm, that was a good deal of rambling. Yay.
i wonder why i don't get a picture next to my posts.... i uploaded one....
k, i guess a lil explanation is all that's necessary. It's an idea for me to make a little money while also helping NU students. So I organize it, not NU. Plus, remember, included in the prices of most restaurants is a high percentage of profit. So this would cut the percentage of profit down, but increase the number of customers...Price causing demand increase. Yup, unless i can work credit cards/plastic it's gonna have to be coupons. and no, i'm not targetting bk or panera's...
Duke has this thing where their meal plan is solely food points that can be used in a ton of participating local restaurants as well as in the cafeterias and other university sponsored dining establishment. I think that would probably work better than the coupon thing.
You never said this meal plan is for off-campus people. That makes a lot more sense.
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