Arts block co-op

panda100

Blush_01 wrote:

If you want something, you have to pay for it. Yes, we're students, but we have a choice as to what we do.

Aye theres the rub!!You see we dont have a choice!!
Anyone who has lived on campus will know that hilpers is the only place opened at the weekend and during holidays.For international students,who are living on campus 24/7 it is the only place for them to go and have a coffee at the weekend.Also,anyone who studys till late at night will know that hilpers is the only place where you can relax and get a cofee after 8.Its also opened during the summer holidays for resit students.If they cut back hours to reduce prices then it would be a sore loss to campus life.

The grind,mick donnells and the retaurant all close early and arent opened at weekends, or if they are are only opened at lunch/dinner time for maximum profit.One things I like about Brady(i dont know why students dislike him ) is his slow progress in making belfield a 24 hour campus,but battaling against the su co-op is making this very hard for the college to do.I wish the people running the co-op had a bit more foresight with their mini hilpers protest.Why dont they rally the su shops,the grind,mick donnels to open later and longer.Then this will force hilpers to reduce prices and also make the student centre a more sociable place in the evening time,instead of the ghost building it turns into at 6 O'Clock.

The_Minister

panda100 wrote:

mick donnells.

We have a McDonalds??:eek:


The protest is an unfair comparison. They have to pay for labour, employee insurance, public access insurance etc (do they pay rent?). Thus it is an unfair comparison. Besides they have a right to make a profit.

arbeitsscheuer

tintinr35 wrote:

well grimes tbh i dont think he is there to make friends! i doubt any of us wud be happy bunnies if we were workin there!!

Then why is that South-east Asian bird always in a good mood whenever I'm in there?

She's nice enuff, why does the manager have to be a complete prat?

Red Alert

the SU shops could be much bigger if they tried. they're also really essential: we wouldn't know what to do without the one in Eng.

panda has it spot-on about the student centre: i definitely think it should be more hospitable until say 9pm. open the shop, the grind, turn the volume up and maybe have the odd live act in there for example one that mightn't pull a crowd to the student bar but wouldn't drive people away

m1ke

I think the quality in hilpers aka the arts cafe aka the cafe formerly know as finnegans break serves up muck quality food. I haven't bought an item of food there besides a chocolate bar in about two years now. Saying all this, i've been tanking about a litre of coffee a day back in the place. I think the coffee is fine - slightly on the pricey side but relatively speaking normal.

I would have supported the boycott, from the hours of 9.30am - 1pm and 2pm - 5.30pm. There is definitely room for better quality. Insomnia serves just about the minimum standard of edible food - everywhere else on campus serves buckets of radioactive slop - but you need to take out a small mortgage if you want to eat there everyday.

The_Minister

m1ke wrote:

I think the quality in hilpers aka the arts cafe aka the cafe formerly know as finnegans break serves up muck quality food. I haven't bought an item of food there besides a chocolate bar in about two years now.

So how the hell do you know??

arbeitsscheuer

Firespinner wrote:

So how the hell do you know??

The place is p*ss-easy to steal from, mate... And in fact, that's the only way you can be 100% sure of gettin your money's worth!:D

rain on

which one's the manager? is he the older irish guy? there's a younger irish guy who's been there for ages and is sound - gave me free stuff before when i got to the counter and realised i'd forgotten my wallet.
i don't mind hilper's, though i do see the points others are making about it being the only place open late or at weekends. i use it for pure convenience - i study in C218 and when i want my tea and flapjack i just run down the stairs, grab it and head back up to work, no leaving the arts block etc. other people who study in here make their tea up here, but that involves going to the su shop for a carton of milk which'll go off if it's not used (we don't have a fridge, strictly speaking we're not meant to have a kettle either because it's a fire hazard. but that's getting into the pain in the hole that the english dept admin are.. and that's a whole other story)

Mr.Nice Guy

Blush_01 wrote:

If you want something, you have to pay for it. Yes, we're students, but we have a choice as to what we do. If you want Hilper's coffee and tea at Hilper's prices, do that. If you don't, go to the SU, 911, Mick Donnells, Insomnia, one of the bars - nobody is forcing your hand.

If your friends are in there you're going to buy something to eat with them. It doesn't mean they have to bleed us dry.

Blush_01 wrote:

But for fúck sake, grow the hell up.

Eh? What's your problem? Work there do you? Don't be so hostile when students fight back against being ripped off. Maybe you should grow the fúck up?

Blush_01 wrote:

Just because we're students doesn't mean we're entitled to everything at cost price.

Doesn't mean we're entitled to sit idly by and take being ripped off either.

Blush_01 wrote:

If you were that serious about saving money, you'd bring a flask of tea or coffee in to college, or invest in your own kettle. You'd make your own sandwiches, bring in your own fruit, chocolate etc. So it's not about the money, it's about making a political issue out of something that's not really that big a deal. You don't like Hilper's? Don't bloody shop there! It really IS that simple.

That's not simple, that's surrender. Prices are bad so just ignore it. That's your solution. Well I think it's pathetic.

I support those who took a stand against Hilpers. That place is a shambles.

The_Minister

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

If your friends are in there you're going to buy something to eat with them. It doesn't mean they have to bleed us dry.

If you want to use their facilities pay.

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Eh? What's your problem? Work there do you? Don't be so hostile when students fight back against being ripped off. Maybe you should grow the fúck up?.

Her **** was from frustration, yours was an insult. (just thought id mention it)

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Doesn't mean we're entitled to sit idly by and take being ripped off either..

Of course we are entitled. As the nice lady said go somewhere else.

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

That's not simple, that's surrender. Prices are bad so just ignore it. That's your solution. Well I think it's pathetic..

Surrender? Its not a battle its an election campaign for a certain SU person. If enough people ignore it and go elsewhere prices go down law of economics.

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

I support those who took a stand against Hilpers. That place is a shambles.

If its such a shambles why do so many people go there

Riamfada

I think its the fact that there is no reason to charge such prices and offer such a low quality service. Im sure people go there but many people would request a better service from UCD although the Arts Cafe is privatly run. And without some activisim by certain circle no positive change would ever arise in the college.

Mr.Nice Guy

Firespinner wrote:

If you want to use their facilities pay.

I don't pay to use their facilities. Do you think I should have to?

Firespinner wrote:

Her **** was from frustration, yours was an insult. (just thought id mention it)

I felt frustrated at being insulted. (just thought I'd mention it)

Firespinner wrote:

Of course we are entitled. As the nice lady said go somewhere else.

The nice lady suggested we do nothing about it. There's a difference between an organised boycott and ignoring the place altogether.

Firespinner wrote:

Surrender? Its not a battle its an election campaign for a certain SU person.

It is a battle. It's not an election campaign.

Firespinner wrote:

If enough people ignore it and go elsewhere prices go down law of economics.

So why the hostility towards those who called for a boycott?

Firespinner wrote:

If its such a shambles why do so many people go there

Because it's conveniently located.

Do you think the prices are fair there?

panda100

Firespinner wrote:

Surrender? Its not a battle its an election campaign for a certain SU person. If enough people ignore it and go elsewhere prices go down law of economics.

Exactly!!If he really wanted to make a difference then he would do what I proposed in my previous post about lobbying moss green to open the restaurant and grind for longer.But there is no glory that way,because no one can see you making a noise and kicking up a fuss about it.When your running an election campaign you want to be seen and noticed so of course the best way to do this is to stand outside of the arts block 'pretending' to help students.When actually it could have a negative impact on all of us,particularly foreign students on campus if hilpers reduce their prices by reducing hours.The best thing would be to get in touch with the managers of the grind and mick donnells privately and try and work something out.Just like world aid soc did with the fairtrade campaign which is full steam ahead but without all the glory.Unlike enda duffy's very vocal and obvious campaign with no apparent results.

scop

I am no socialist but it is obvious that coffee is not worth the prices charged in teh Arts cafe, it is simply absurd to expect students, often un waged to pay such prices. Not everybody can afford coffee at that price, it is easy in a place liek UCD to assume we are all fine and have money in our pockets but it is not always the case.

Only in Ireland and only in a Uni such as UCD would you find students of all people defending a shop with 4euro sandwiches, its is simply insane to believe sandwiches like the ones sold there are worth even remotely that price.

singingstranger

Simple and shameful fact, folks: they wouldn't be charging those prices if people weren't paying them. Clearly the problem is that we can afford them...

Riamfada

Exaclty why are people defending these prices? Its mind boggling.

humbert

singingstranger wrote:

Simple and shameful fact, folks: they wouldn't be charging those prices if people weren't paying them. Clearly the problem is that we can afford them...

'Enough' of us can afford them, in ucd some of the students are very well off but many aren't, so Hilpers simply caters for the ones that are well enough off not to be bothered about the over charging...

Vainglory

To me, the most scandalous thing about the Arts Café is that they charge
70c for a cup of hot tap water. Indefensible.

Mr.Nice Guy

Grimes wrote:

Exaclty why are people defending these prices? Its mind boggling.

I concur.

tintinr35

if there was decent competition on campus then they would soon change their prices, dcu have a starbucks!!!

John_C

Vainglory wrote:

To me, the most scandalous thing about the Arts Café is that they charge
70c for a cup of hot tap water. Indefensible.

May I propose a motion then that the SU shop in the library give out free cups of hot tap water. Students can bring their own coffee or buy a reasonably priced jar in the shop. That should solve the great coffee rip-off in one move.

tintinr35

but then the union would have nothing to moan about

larryone

Blush_01 wrote:

If you were that serious about saving money, you'd bring a flask of tea or coffee in to college, or invest in your own kettle. You'd make your own sandwiches, bring in your own fruit, chocolate etc. So it's not about the money, it's about making a political issue out of something that's not really that big a deal. You don't like Hilper's? Don't bloody shop there! It really IS that simple.

Couldnt agree more. I eat breakfast in college everyday. For 87c I buy a pint of milk from the shop and a cup of hot water from the science canteen. A jar of Kenco and a box of Weetabix sits in my locker. If you're so concerned about the prices in hilpers, then go elsewhere. They're expensife because they're convenient. The fools who buy coffee there are just paying for convenience. I dont know why people are complaining.

panda100

tintinr35 wrote:

but then the union would have nothing to moan about

Exactly,i say it could be quite easy to solve the rip off problem.Try and get a coffee machine,lodsa nice cookies and sandwiches into the grind and lobby to get it opened at weekends and till 10 at night.Then hilpers will have to be forced to do something,cos il certainly go someplace cheaper but at the mo when Im studying hilpers is my only option,so no wonder there getting away with their rip off prices.

This thread was started not because I didnt think the arts cafe was a rip off-of course it is!I was asking do you really think the co-op is a really feasible way to end the rip off.
For example,when we were changing the outlets to fair trade I'm sure it would have been a lot easier to stand outside the arts block for 2 hours each week selling a fairtrade option.But realisstically we knew this wouldnt really threaten hilpers buisness.So we applied massive pressure on all the managers,letters,phonecalls and meetings so in the end they had to change.All I can see that the co-op does is to get Enda Duffy publicity so he can say that even though he lost last years vice presidency he can say that he still stood by his manifesto by doing something about rip off campus.But he hasnt.

larryone

I've heard some people complain that hot water in the science canteen is 30c. I really dont mind paying it because I use their bowls for my cereal...
but if you're really that concerned about the price of hot water:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PIFCO-TRAVEL-ONE-CUP-MINI-BOILER_W0QQitemZ6605113203QQcategoryZ19315QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4612080593&category=36798
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12v-TRAVEL-WATER-HEATER-BOILER-12-v-volt-cup-kettle_W0QQitemZ6595112704QQcategoryZ98973QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CUP-WATER-HEATER-FITTED-WITH-13Amp-PLUG-TRAVEL_W0QQitemZ6604421629QQcategoryZ19315QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


yeknow?

rainbow kirby

The only time I've eaten food from Hilpers in the time I've been in UCD is five-finger discounted food, when I was in 1st year it was insanely easy to steal from. The prices they charge are extortionate.

Blush_01

MNG, did you see Hilpers between 1 and 2 yesterday? It was just as full as ever. So fantastic, hundreds of euro worth of student money were forked out for posters and stickers that made no bloody difference. If everyone made the decision to boycott on their own terms, there'd be the exact same effect - yet with less cost to the student body. How about putting the wasted money from the boycott posters into the student hardship fund instead? That never occurred to anyone. You're b!tching about something that's ridiculous. Now, before you think I'm posting this as a personal insult or slight, believe me, I 'm just directing it towards you because it's easier to post something addressed to someone specific, but the same applies to everyone who agrees with you, ok? What's more, if you're meeting friends in Hilpers, you don't have to buy something. I've often brought bottles of water and lunchboxes full of pasta into Hilpers and eaten them openly while my friends and I talked. I've even gone to 911 in the past (distant past!) and brought my coffee and sandwich, complete with 911-covered wrappings into Hilpers and eaten them there. Nobody has ever said anything to me. People need to get over their mental block or chip on the shoulder about Hilpers. It's a business. It's there to make profit. You can bet it pays a handsome rent to the college for the privelege of being located where it is. It's simple business that you charge more than it costs to run the place in order to make profit. I'm an Arts student and I get it, so surely it's not too difficult a notion to grasp.

Panda, the last saturday I was here, which would have been in early february, 911 was open all afternoon. I also doubt that Centra on campus is closed all weekend. Yes, it's a bit of a trek, but if you're on a study break some exercise is also good for you, so a walk to the shop won't kill you. Hilpers is convenient, but it's not the be all and end all.

This is so pointless!

singingstranger

You could argue that the boycott wasn't all that effective because not all that many people go into Hilper's/Arts Cafe/Finnegan's Break/Newman Café (give it 'til September...) just to get tea or coffee alone; the co-op wasn't selling sandwiches or anything like that so what can you do? They weren't really in competition with each other, at least to a sizeable chunk of the everyday Hilpers custom...

arbeitsscheuer

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Because it's conveniently located.

Bingo.

Swap the SU shop at the library with Hilpers, purely in terms of location, and I very much f**king doubt that they could keep up selling sh*t coffee and manky sandwiches at such bonkers prices tbh...

Riamfada

ah they could. My own personal opinion is that they probably make profits on their overheads. Who thinks they pay their staff min wage. They make around €97 per brew of black coffee. The Expresso makes itself and the food is all cheap packaged and a extreme prices. I wonder what their rent is?