Price gouging...presses penny machine

[KarenG]

I wonder when they last updated the prices, though? It must be quite costly to go round and reprogramme every machine. I think, but not sure, they were that price in 2002 so...

[choccielover]

There were some that still took the coins, but we saw quite a few that had been modified so suspect it’s being rolled out. As for cost, at 50c more a coin it won’t take long for the modification to pay for itself...

Also, I didn’t really look but I think it’s just $1 so the machine is possibly preloaded with bronze discs.

[choccielover]

Originally Posted by KarenG

I wonder when they last updated the prices, though? It must be quite costly to go round and reprogramme every machine. I think, but not sure, they were that price in 2002 so...

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But what’s the cost increase for them since then...the cost of the dies perhaps for the newer coins but as the customer provides the base (1c) and puts the effort into making them (turning it) then what’s the fixed costs for that machine going to be diffference since 2002, very little I’d say.

It’s greed and I have to say, I’m disappointed.

[KarenG]

Originally Posted by choccielover

But what’s the cost increase for them since then...the cost of the dies perhaps for the newer coins but as the customer provides the base (1c) and puts the effort into making them (turning it) then what’s the fixed costs for that machine going to be diffference since 2002, very little I’d say.

It’s greed and I have to say, I’m disappointed.

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I know what you’re saying but if they haven’t put the costs up for, say, 15 years (and I have absolutely no idea about that number by the way!) it would be reasonable to put the cost back in line with when they were last calibrated to meet (and continue to profit) from all other rising costs eg staff wages, ongoing maintenance, inflation etc. I’m not saying it is or isn’t value for money but another way of looking at it is, it’s a 50c increase over 15 years ie 3c per year; rather than a 100% increase compared to your last visit, which IS hair raising.

[baboons]

Originally Posted by KarenG

I know what you’re saying but if they haven’t put the costs up for, say, 15 years (and I have absolutely no idea about that number by the way!) it would be reasonable to put the cost back in line with when they were last calibrated to meet (and continue to profit) from all other rising costs eg staff wages, ongoing maintenance, inflation etc. I’m not saying it is or isn’t value for money but another way of looking at it is, it’s a 50c increase over 15 years ie 3c per year; rather than a 100% increase compared to your last visit, which IS hair raising.

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If you applied US inflation to 50c over 15 years, the current price would be $0.68.

[llamala]

They will be charging for character signatures next ( actually they already do, as the character meals are so expensive).When we first visited in 1989 the characters just showed up at normal restaurants like Electric Umbrella.

[neilhd]

Being somewhat nerdy I looked up the inflation statistics:

in2013dollars/us/infl...002?amount=0.5

That would imply that 75c would be a more appropriate figure.

[kellsbells]

I think it also takes the fun out of it somehow if it's just printed onto a disc rather than the penny you put in. I can't put my finger on why this matters but it seems a bit cold and impersonal and just less fun! I still like the older ones where you wind the handle!

[choccielover]

Originally Posted by kellsbells

I think it also takes the fun out of it somehow if it's just printed onto a disc rather than the penny you put in. I can't put my finger on why this matters but it seems a bit cold and impersonal and just less fun! I still like the older ones where you wind the handle!

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Yes me too - I always preferred them to the push button ones and have never done the 8 for $5 ones as they seem a “cheat”
It’s always been fun to try and complete a collection ourselves by finding the machines with the coins you need rather than buying a full set
It would be like buying a completed panini football sticker album rather than buying the cards and doing it yourself...pointless

Inflation or not - at 51c I don’t think Disney were exactly out of pocket with the machines...

[Tillyfloss]

I do remember when my daughter always asked for ‘20 sick cents to get a penny’