University Cafe a total ripoff!!!

Acc72

Why is it a "rip off" ? - just becuase you want to pay less for their products ?

I guess that the facility is run on a commercial basis (or at least a brteak-even basis), and it would not make commercial sense to charge "rip off" prices when the students (ie. their customers) could easily shop elsewhere and pay less.

Why do most students feel that they should pay less for goods and services than non-students ?

JimmyTheWig

I wouldn't expect the university to provide free hot water.
But I do think that it is something you could speak to the student union about providing.
Does the union have facilities on campus? I think there are all sorts of problems (as has been discussed) with providing such a large number of people free access to kettles and microwaves. But the union bar / cafe should be able to provide hot water for a very small fee.

one-non-blonde

porgie1985 wrote: »

I'm at Salford Uni!

Reading this has made me all nostalgic for Peel Cafe, c1990.

orangeslimes

I think it is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask for, and it is something available at some unis. Student Union probably the first people to ask. You could also try the Chaplaincy.

Here are some examples from my experience:

When I was at university first time I used the kitchen in the Chaplaincy students- which was available for use of all students (of any faith or none). It was sometimes booked out by groups but if it wasn't in use you were welcome to sit and use it (I revised for my final exams there, as it was much quieter than the library and there was a kettle). I can't remember if there was a microwave but there was definitely an oven.

More recently I was a pg at another University. It also has a Chaplaincy with a kitchen which I believe can be used by anyone.
The Student Union shop has a microwave - although I think intended for use for heating up food bought in the shop.
My department also had a common room with a microwave (but that was for postgrads and staff only), but there was also space designed as communal areas throughout the department including some mini kitchens with kettles etc which could be used by anyone (no microwaves that I recall though). The University Cafe and Student Union cafes also have space where you can bring in your own food (although no microwaves I am aware of)

I am sure you can find plenty of examples of facilities offered at other universities, and it probably wouldn't make a dent in the profits of the cafe. Good luck!

time2save

jjblondie wrote: »

A bit of a long shot, but does your university chaplaincy have a kitchen? We have one here at Warwick which anyone is free to come in and use, with a microwave, tea, coffee, oven and hobs.

Cov here

Wow i wanna change unis now

But seriously i cant add anything that others haven't suggested sos OP

though the issue at my uni is that, some of the store (rented from the Uni) is owned by X company. Some of these stores sell hot choc med for example @ £1.35 whilst others at around £1.50 - every penny counts


As some stores are further and more difficult to get to than others - so can I or SU make them provide the hot choc at the reduced price or somewhere in the middle as some disabled students [and others] may not be able to go to the other stores due to distance, arangments of set store etc Could this form as part of Reasonable Adjustments or as the stores are rented from the Uni - could Section 139 Equality Act 2010 (Public Sector Equality Duty apply) - as in the Uni (in-directly) may still need to give due regard to those with a particular characteristic (disability, age [mature students ], those who are pregnant etc) in this case?


Sorry for the long response and not being of more use to OP.




Any advice guys?

Loanranger

No, take your hot choc in a flask.

Helix

If they are all independent and just rent retail space from the university. I don't see how it is any different from having a Starbucks on the high street that is easier to get to that the Costa which costs less, you wouldn't expect Starbucks to match Costa's prices just because they are easier to get to.

time2save

I was going more along the lines that if it is harder to get to Store A than Store B (both owned by company X and space rented from Uni) due to disability then would it be Reasoanble to ask Store A for the hot choc @ the lower price?

custardy

time2save wrote: »

I was going more along the lines that if it is harder to get to Store A than Store B (both owned by company X and space rented from Uni) due to disability then would it be Reasoanble to ask Store A for the hot choc @ the lower price?

ask,yes


..............

time2save

custardy wrote: »

ask,yes

Never ask never get