Calis Bar and Reataurant Association News Article

[nellypledge]

I am the owner of a bar and restaurant in calis and i do not agree that some organization should tell me what to charge for alchol or food but what I do not agree is that whoever wrote the message in the aegean paper is wrong to say that we choose to close for 6 months and have a holiday therefore the staff have to leave and they need the work. If I could open in the winter I would but I tried it for 1 month 2 years ago and found it was not cost effective and to say that we rip people off is wrong I wish there was a name to the person who spoke out to the newspaper.

[stoop]

Piscoe

Price fixing will not stop bars going out of business. In fact it could mean more will fold as people who have their own houses will probably buy more from the supermarkets and drink at home. It's certainly happened in the UK as more and more pubs shut due to people drinking at home.

There isn't a bottomless pit of money to be spent on going out and enjoying oneself - even on holiday.

What will probably happen is that there will be some sort of price fixing agreement which will last a few weeks. Then some will break rank and offer 'Happy Hours' or whatever to drag in custom. Maybe even go down the route of a free drink with your meal or like they did in my local last saturday - a free meal with your drink!

Bottom line is there are far too many places chasing too few customers and the ones who do well will usually be the ones who offer the best overall experience. Cheap doesn't mean best but in some circumstances it will attract custom (not always the right type of custom though).

We had some cheap and chearful nights out last summer but unfortunatley the experience wasn't always good.

I am of the opinion that if they do fix prices then those doing so will have to fight even harder for my custom.

[Steve A]

Come lets name those involved in the Association and those not so we can make an informed choice.

[amca]

I have a cunning plan to thwart the cartel. If everyone one of us stopped drinking in bars for a week or two ..... just spotted first flaw in the plan.

[farmer]

In reply to Piscoe,  I actually do not believe the organisation is "well intentioned". I firmly believe it to be a self centered cabal who believe their own publicity that what they are doing is in the best interests of Calis, but have really a protectionist attitude towards the businesses owned or managed by many of their members.

Many of these are already charging the prices they suggest others should charge.

I too thought the plan by Amca was cunning until I realised the drawback. Now may I suggest a possible alternative?

If enough like minded souls could be minded to get together at the same time for a common purpose, we could probably register our feelings about the price fixing in the most friendly way.

Say by visiting the premises of one of the principal protagonists all at the same time during their busiest period of their season, and all order one of their 5 TL beers. And occupy all their service / consumption area spaces. And spend say all afternoon or evening over just the one beer each. After all, if their proclaimed superior service and ambience is so very good why on earth should we want to go elsewhere?

[stoop]

Good points Farmer. From my point of view though I think I know quite a few places that will not bow to this cartel pressure and I will no doubt spend most of my budget in those places. I am however well up for the one drink over a few hours idea - if only to have a chat ;-)

Place and time would be good but lets not make it public - maybe some discrete emails would be a good idea  

[Scunner]

It's all nonsense. Even if it was possible for each and every bar and restaurant in the area to sign up to this, which it isn't, one would see the rewards of breaking ranks and would do so. A domino effect across town in next to no time would follow. I see the need for businesses to make a decent return, sadly a lot of them can't distinguish between profit and turnover. There really is no story here.

[farmer]

Well Keith, I have to assume your last post on this topic was in response to my post at 21.43.  I did not ask each and every bar to participate in my suggestion. I said "like minded souls". As there have been few posts on this topic by persons identifying themselves as owners of bars and restaurants, but many self admitted users of such premises, I would have thought it self evident as to whom my idea was aimed.

And if you see, in regard to businesses here, that "sadly a lot of them can't distinguish between profit and turnover."  then I respectfully suggest that those businesses do not deserve to survive There really is a story here.

[Scunner]

Not actually in response to your post of 21.43, more in response to the initial proposal. Such a scheme can only work if every Efes outlet signs up - and that is not possible. Undercutting next door is a national sport be it Efes, handbags or chicken doners. The temptation to drop prices from 5 to 4 lira (not that anyone has mentioned a figure of 5 lira but just for illustration) will simply be too much for those who don't see any improvement to their trade under this scheme (and many won't of course).

I agree with your point that the businesses who can distinguish between profit and turnover deserve to go bust. Over the years many of them did just that.

[bewva]

The same thing actually happened in Hisaronu I think it was last year. Most bars fixed their prices to 4.5TL per effes.
It did not last too long if I remember correctly. Bars should be allowed to charge what they want so long as they publish their prices in my opinion.
Us as the customer can be the judge of wether you are getting value for money or not.