Midtown Hot Dog Vendor Admits to Charging Based on Looks
Yesterday, Grub Street pointed out a really interesting essay about a Hot Dog Vendor in Midtown. It’s part of a new anthology of New York Stories from the website Mr. Beller’s Neighborhood, and a hot dog vendor parked on 34th street who spends the day charging different prices to different people. It’s like I’ve always said, the price of things at carts (especially drinks) is always negotiable. (I’ve had vendors try to charge me $2+ for water, and $3+ for Snapple.) This is especially the case in Midtown, if a vendor suspects you are tourist. Of course when you hear the vendor talk about how hard the streets have made him, with daily harassment from the cops that result in $250-$300 tickets, it kind of makes me want to pay the $3. (Although I still probably won’t.) [Uncle Ayman’s Hot Dog Stand via Grub Street]
Posted by Zach Brooks at 1:15 pm, July 24th, 2009 under Street Vendor Issues.
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Hot dog vendors are always up to bargain. I’ve walked away from many only to be seduced back by a lowered price. The best is when I’m walking around late at night: free dogs. Nice!