andyswan - Latest Comments in Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Mike Campbell — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:41:52 -0000

Great point. O'Charely's clearly knows their customers. As for me, I use the n+1 technique to acquire more rolls. I pick up the basket and offer the last roll to the guy next to me who I know wants it. This puts him in a social dilemma of either refusing a kind offer from a friend or eating the last roll.

O'Charley's still benefits. Now the restaurant has us begging for more of their scrumptious rolls, but we get the next batch just before the meal comes. This virtually guarantees that it will be the last basket. If they price each meal with consideration of two rolls per guest, they come out ahead with your scenario..

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

DMG — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:30:11 -0000

More importantly, white flour is evil (according to zee germanz)

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

tjgillies — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:29:21 -0000

WOW! brilliant!

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Dave Pinsen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:36:10 -0000

It's on 45th and 9th. If you decide to stop there, let me know and maybe I'll join you for a beer and a burger.

99designs might be a good option next time around, but I already gave my designer a 50% deposit on the blog logos. Plus, he did a nice job with the logo on my newly launched site for short sellers, which I think I've mentioned here once before, ShortScreen.com. I also like the work he did for the logo on my next site, which hasn't launched yet. Both took some time, and involved extensive feedback from me, but I liked the end results.

BTW, I opened my first short position using the screener on ShortScreen a couple of months ago (I like to eat my own cooking). Today I covered it, for a 27% gain. Not bad during a period when the broader market was approaching new highs.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:43:34 -0000

I'm going to need more info on this place so that I can make it a stop next week!

Check out 99designs.com for logo....you'll have 100 options and revisions in 3 days

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Dave Pinsen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:37:58 -0000

Thanks. I suppose I can register for disqus. I've been planning to add it to my new blog, but the launch of that has been delayed by my logo designer, who moves like molasses in January.

BTW, I actually saw Pappy's on a drink menu in NYC last night, at a place called Five Napkin Burger. For some reason, their desert menu has a whole page of bourbons on the back.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:41:27 -0000

Sorry I just missed them....will find and approve. Guess I need to turn disqus loose and you need to register with disqus (I have to approve all non-registered comments)

Sorry

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Dave Pinsen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:07:35 -0000

Your house, your rules, Andy, but I have to say that your moderating seems a little excessive if you wouldn't let my last comment through (or my comment in an earlier thread about Corzine). Maybe a little Pappy's might loosen you up a bit?

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

anand — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:54:52 -0000

Great observation! That happens when I'm out with friends. When I'm with family, we split the last roll. So they bring out more eventually.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Greg Gentschev — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:47:02 -0000

I thought you were going in a different direction with this. I would see the n+1 situation causing an almost subliminal level of tension at the table. Everyone wants the roll, but no one wants to be rude by taking it. Then the server brings another basket and relieves the tension, making everyone feel slightly grateful and indebted. People order more, tip better, and become repeat customers. All for 2n+2 or so cost. It's not really about the cost of the bread, anyway, it's about creating and sustaining good margins.

I realize that's apparently not what they actually do, but I like my version better.

Postscript: Eventually, the chain gets bought out. The PE guys cut the roll budget to improve margins and are puzzled as profits actually go down over time. (Just kidding, PE folks. Mostly.)

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

bankdraft/Leigh Scott — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:02:21 -0000

Saying you haven't heard of O'Charley's is like saying you haven't heard of rolls..... your table will now get n-1

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:18:59 -0000

Nice

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:18:25 -0000

Well that's just insulting

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Dave Pinsen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:03:11 -0000

I just hit cancel and post as a guest. I used to get these e-mails from Disqus anyway, asking me to confirm subscription to something or other. But maybe they just go in my spam file now. I use Firefox, btw.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Dave Pinsen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:01:45 -0000

Never heard of O'Charley's, but this is a clever strategy.

I noticed on vacation in Brazil that some of the fancier restaurants there took a different tack: they simply added a separate charge for bread to the bill (two exceptions -- incidentally, the two best restaurants we went to -- didn't serve bread at all, if memory serves).

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

david karapetyan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:01:59 -0000

Clever social engineering catch. Good job.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:35:43 -0000

Good point

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Douglas — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:33:55 -0000

Also: if the person most likely to order more bread eats the n+1th, perhaps he is less likely to order another round himself.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:58:15 -0000

Agreed....but in both events, n+1 is more likely to result in less bread given than n+1.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Tim — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:52:03 -0000

This technique probably doesn't work so well on a small party of guests who know each other well - I'd just split the bread with people who want more, then ask for another basket.

But I can see this working on larger parties.

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:48:54 -0000

Gotcha....probably one of your Ie5 settings :)

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:47:12 -0000

I like to preemptively ask for more, become the hero of the table, and wait for the hot ones to come out, letting the original "lucky roll" at least make it back to the kitchen as he had seen so many +1s before him...

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

JakeGint — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:45:29 -0000

Annoyance- mongering. I have to sign in every time I post a comment, no matter how many times I instruct it to "save."

And my plaint is not iBC inspired. Fly's urinal shadow's don't like it, that's his beef, I think

________

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

andyswan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:29:17 -0000

Even better....brilliant viral marketing. "we were at dinner and the rolls were so good a fight broke out over the last one!"

Re: Selfish generousity, or the value of n+1

Peter Renshaw — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:27:02 -0000

"... So while everyone (or even just one of you) at the table desires another roll, the lone soldier sits in the basket untouched. At this point, the server is not expected to offer more bread, and the company escapes with a bread cost of n+1. ..."

Or alternatively, there is a race to grab the last roll in the basket, a fight ensures and more rolls are ordered.