A “small town” couple in North Dakota refurbished a decaying building in downtown Valley City to make a new self-serve coffee shop. With the Keurig brewing system, or K-Cups, the shop is entirely do-it-yourself — including the payments.
To cut down on costs, David Brekke, who works as a business consultant from home, and his wife run The Vault Coffee Shop and Bakery on the honor system, complete with a credit card swipe machine and a slot into which customers can drop cash or checks.
“Just keep track of your purchases and enter in the appropriate amount,” says a sign at the desk. “Exact change is not necessary, round down and give yourself a break or round up and help us stay in business.”
And, in the first 10 months of business, customers did just that — paying 15 percent above the asking price.
“Many people ask how we are not being robbed blind,” wrote the couple on their website. “A lessor factor is that we have cameras – though their primary purpose is to help provide a safe atmosphere.”
They believe the more important factor is the goodness of the people of Valley City which makes them “more generous than dishonest”.
(WATCH the NBC video below or READ the AP story via Kansas City Star) Story tip from Olivia Leyton
“To cut down on costs, David Brekke, who works as a business consultant from home, and his wife run The Vault Coffee Shop and Bakery on the honor system, complete with a credit card swipe machine and a slot into which customers can drop cash or checks.”
Translation: So we don’t have to hire anyone or god forbid pay wages, we run our coffee shop on the honor system.
Are all you minimum wage employees out there who are crying for $15.00 an hour or more paying attention to this? This is the future of your minimum wage jobs.
I’m sorry Geri, but this is not good news for anyone.
Not sure this website is for you J Scham. If you were looking to turn a good news article into a negative, mission accomplished. The rest of us will take it for face value. There are still a ton of honest people out there, and not only that, they see the positives of this business, and pay accordingly.
If you are looking for some negative articles, or need to discuss any negative issues regarding minimum wage, feel free to visit the big news sites like CNN/Fox. There are millions posting there.