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The $99 Coffee Mug

Written by Nickel - 13 Comments

I stopped in our local Bruegger’s for lunch the other day and was amazed to see that they’re selling ‘Bottomless Mugs’ for $99. These mugs entitle you to free refills of coffee, tea or soft drinks at participating locations through December 31, 2006. Apparently these mugs go for $125 in some locations, with $25 going to a local charity. I find it hard to believe that anyone would go for this deal, but then again I’m not a coffee drinker. I guess this could turn out to be a pretty good deal if you stop off at Bruegger’s for coffee on a regular basis. After all, buying coffee three times per week at (say) $2.50 a pop works out to $390 over the course of a year. Just be sure not to lose your mug!

Published on December 9th, 2005 - 13 Comments
Filed under: Miscellany

About the author: Nickel is the founder and editor-in-chief of this site. He's a thirty-something family man who has been writing about personal finance since 2005, and guess what? He's on Twitter!

13 Responses to “The $99 Coffee Mug”

1
Blaine Moore Says:
December 9th, 2005 at 8:16 am
I certainly wouldn’t purchase one. Of course, I drink a gallon plus of water a day, and never drink anything with caffeine.
2
Caitlin Says:
December 9th, 2005 at 11:46 am
wow…looks like the annual subscription model has even hit coffee.
3
mbhunter Says:
December 9th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Hmmmmm….that’s a really tough one. If it were really close to work or in the lobby of an office complex where I work, I might consider that. A little over $8/month is still more than I pay for my work’s coffee club, which is $2/month, with a couple of months free because there’s no need to buy more supplies.

They’d be smarter to offer it for $39.99 and make full markup on the bagels and other extras when people stop by. Even at 2 cups per workday they’d probably just about break even at that price. A single pot of coffee is easily paid for with the first 8-oz cup sold.
4
muckdog Says:
December 11th, 2005 at 8:53 pm
And their sun-dried tomato bagels with garlic cream cheese is mighty fine, too…
5
Blaine Moore Says:
December 12th, 2005 at 9:46 am
The bagel might be good, but I buy mine at a local outlet that gives me a half dozen for less than the cost of one at a bagel shop.
6
Seattle Simplicity Says:
December 12th, 2005 at 11:44 am
Holy cow! Is coffee really $2.50 at Bruggers? When I do indulge, I get a small drip coffee for $1.40 at Starbucks. I think Bruggers is taking advantage of those who want to contribute to charity. That’s a shame. I do like Bruggers bagels. Our local store closed down and now there are no decent bagels in Seattle.
7
Blaine Moore Says:
December 13th, 2005 at 8:22 am
$1.40 is still a rip-off. Says the non coffee (or anything caffeinated) drinker.
8
Jeremy Says:
December 23rd, 2005 at 11:13 am
How do we convince Starbucks to follow suit? I guess that would probably be the $999 cup of coffee.
9
Blaine Moore Says:
December 23rd, 2005 at 12:04 pm
Heh, I doubt Starbucks would lower the price of their coffee that much, Jeremy…
10
FMF Says:
December 23rd, 2005 at 2:02 pm
I’ve been in retail before, so I’m sure they’re hoping for:

1. You buy the mug and then forget about/stop using it

2. It makes you come in to get coffee and since the coffee is “free”, you buy a muffin (or whatever) at $2.50 and think nothing of it.

Retailers are tricky that way.
11
Frugal Momma Says:
December 24th, 2005 at 5:07 am
I wouldn’t buy it for myself. I am happy with my own homemade coffee but then again I work at home.

If it was a place like Dunkin Donuts I might buy it for my husband since he loves that coffee and usually goes there alot for coffee out of his blow money-so for him a great deal.

Theresa
12
FMF Says:
December 24th, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Yep, and he’d likely get a donut or two (who can refuse the creme filled eclairs?) everytime he went. See, I told you they were tricky.
13
Frank Says:
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Sounds like a good deal, if you like coffee. A place you can go to all year and have a cup of coffee.

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