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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£3.20 for a bowl of cereal - is there anything left out there that hasn't been wankified?

266 replies

Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 12/12/2014 21:39

So the new cereal cafe has opened in East London, with a bowl of cereal going for £3.20. Apparently there are over a hundred types of cereal and 30 different types of milk.

On the opening day the owner got a bit of stick from a channel 4 reporter who questioned whether they should be selling cereal at £3.20 a bowl, considering they were in one of Londons poorest boroughs
www.channel4.com/news/cereal-cafe-opens-in-london-but-can-it-survive

Now I actually thought that that reporter was quite unfair because there are tonnes of places in that area selling overpriced shit that are 'not accessible to the poor' so I don't think these guys are doing anything different to anyone else in that respect. However the owner handled it terribly, especially when he said 'this isnt one of Londons poorest boroughs is it?' and when asked why the cereal was so expensive he said 'its imported from America' as if that justified it? He just epitomised the 'out of touch hipster'.

But AIBU to think that £3.20 for one bowl of cereal is just a hilarious rip off, regardless of whether you can afford it or not? Yes I know, people who go there are total mugs can spend their money how they choose and its 'an experience' or whatever.

But it's.........breakfast cereal Confused

Plus they keep using the word 'source' when talking about the cereals (if we can source it, we will sell it) which automatically puts them into wankdom anyway.

I guess time will tell on this one...

OP posts:
Wiifitmama · 12/12/2014 21:42

You are definelty being unreasonable. But only because I want to take the kids there! It's hugely overpriced but to such an in idea as a one off treat!

RedSoloCup · 12/12/2014 21:43

Lol well it is but it's not that much for breakfast, I don't really eat breakfast but have been charged about £12 - £20 in hotels in the past on work expenses for a cup of coffee and a croissant as that's all I wanted and it was in with the 'breakfast' price.

Also a full fry up would be at least £10 in that area I'm guessing so it's a cheaper, healthier option?

It's probably not unusual to get charged more than that for a piece of cake?

WendyBloomers · 12/12/2014 21:45

So? If people are happy to pay what's the problem.

Also, isn't the whole point of a business, you know, to make a profit on what you sell? Why should he have to justify the cost of his products? If you don't want to pay it you really don't have to. Good luck to him I say.

Southeastdweller · 12/12/2014 21:46

Of course it's a rip-off but so much is, isn't it? Supply and demand - people are going to want it, especially at the moment and in London, so I don't see why the owner shouldn't coin it in.

TapDancingPimp · 12/12/2014 21:46

I don't understand the fuss with this...it's a treat, just like the hundreds of other cafés and restaurants in London. People choose to go there. If they don't want to pay £3.20 then they leave. If they do, they can obviously afford it and choose to stay.

What's big deal?

LaurieFairyCake · 12/12/2014 21:48

I like a bit of wank.

I've no idea what the reporter is going on about - I'm sure there are parts of that area that are in poverty but there's still not more than one flat on Brick Lane under 400k.

And the one that is under 400k is a one bed and not very big.

I'm guessing there's a massive estate up the road that's really poor in Tower Hamlets?

My sister in law is from there and says it used to be incredibly poor and her slum terrace is now 800k a pop

Ohmygrood · 12/12/2014 21:48

There's always a mark up.
I hate buying wine in the pub because a glass usually costs about the same price as a bottle! Same with deserts in restaurants. I can't see that this is any different.

Ohmygrood · 12/12/2014 21:48

desserts

MrsPiggie · 12/12/2014 21:49

Yanbu. But well, it's in Shoreditch, home of the overpriced hipster tat. There will be other hipsters with more money than sense who will think it's really cool paying £3.20 for a bowl of cereal especially sourced for them from Guatemala. But then, what do I know, I'm missing the coolness gene.

SirChenjin · 12/12/2014 21:50

I'm with you OP, it's the cereal equivalent of Harry Enfield's I Saw You Coming shop - but teenage DS1 thinks it's a brilliant idea. I'm guessing I'm not the incredibly irritating bearded twin owners' target demographic Grin

Bulbasaur · 12/12/2014 21:50

American here, our cereal is not worth that much a bowl. Grin

Doing the money exchange, £3.20 is about $5 here. You could buy a box of cereal for that price. In fact, if you came on the right day, you could buy two boxes.

But if people are willing to pay that much for processed crap in a country with much fewer FDA regulations, more power to them. :)

MollyMaDurga · 12/12/2014 21:50

I thought that porridge was only 4p? That's quite a mark up, good for them!
MollymaLady

YANBU. You are right, it's totally wankified.

Wilf83 · 12/12/2014 21:51

More fool the people that will pay that price

CheeseBuster · 12/12/2014 21:51

People pay the same for a coffee which costs far less than a bowl of cereal to make.

I think its cool, because they do have lots of US cereals that cost about a tenner a box to get over here.

GoofyIsACow · 12/12/2014 21:51

I think... They will have invested a lot of time, emotion and money into that shop, to slate a new business when they are just trying to make a living in this current climate is so fucking low imo.
What is people believe the negetive press and never set foot through the door because of sheep mentality, then they will be forced to close despite it being popular with the few who chose to say 'do you know what, i am going to try it' and subsequently loved it.
People are too quick to shoot people down and it winds me the fuck up...

Angry
Alconleigh · 12/12/2014 21:51

Cereal isn't healthier than bacon and eggs. Although ideally grilled, scrambled etc rather than fried. Cereal is a hopeless meal it keeps you full for about 30 minutes. I actually live in East London and I think this is utter wankery, so YANBU. Having said that, as the other posters have said, the market will decide its fate. If people judge it worth their money, then so be it.

mummybare · 12/12/2014 21:53

Least appealing eatery ever.

When I go out for a meal, I prefer to order something I can't make at home in less than 10 seconds Confused

GoofyIsACow · 12/12/2014 21:53

Typos galore... Soz!

iamthenewgirl · 12/12/2014 21:54

Well, even if they are in one of the poorest boroughs their rent will still be sky high probably.

You need to add overheads in when you set your price point, don't forget... Costa do it for a cup of milk and a spoon of coffee.

PrimalLass · 12/12/2014 21:54

The beards and the slicked back hair would stop me spending any money there.

Original poster
Neverbuyheliumbalonz · 12/12/2014 21:54

Yes, it's not even so much the rip off price, its just the idea of 'sourcing' cereal and making it 'an experience' thats funny. A bit like when you can go into 'a little deli in Stokey' and buy overpriced 'artisan cheese', also known as.....cheese.

OP posts:
RoganJosh · 12/12/2014 21:56

You could also say a cheese sandwich from tesco is 'a hilarious ripoff' when you look at the price of a loaf of bread and a bit of cheese.

TurnOverTheTv · 12/12/2014 21:56

This has pissed me right off today. Loads of people moaning about it being 'just cereal' etc, well it's not, it's imported, they have bowls/milk/spoons/etc. Staff to pay, rent et al. If people are willing to pay, fine. All these people moaning about £3 will get me a box of cereal, it's not the point is it?

SomethingOnce · 12/12/2014 21:58

Oh no, now I'm having a flare-up of my Hipster Hate.

bigTillyMint · 12/12/2014 21:59

I quite fancied that café. And my teens would like it tooSmile