Tang GO

Man, I wouldn't bet against Coca-Cola failing just like New York did when PepsiCo first rolled out their version...

The actual price tag is $0.33 way more than a bottle of water... even though the whole dispensing setup costs more than a standard bottle and cap combined...

The concept and the patent are brilliant, honestly, but it feels like they're trying to sell the tech rather than the drink itself. I still can't wrap my head around that $10-$ $4.00 price point...

electrictiger21 said:I remember watching this segment on TV where they interviewed some big shots from our most famous, household-name brands. If I recall correctly, they were talking about things like Nesquik, Gatorade, and a few other local staples—specifically asking why everything is so overpriced back home. This guy actually had the nerve to argue that because these massive corporations want to make a splash in the global market, they *have* to subsidize their exports. Basically, they slash prices abroad just to stay competitive and get recognized internationally, then they make up the difference right here at home since we're already hooked on buying them. Honestly, listening to him, I felt like I was losing my mind.
And believe me—the small mom-and-pop shops that I know personally (I can't speak for the giant retailers)—they simply can't afford those massive markups on big-name brands like Kraft Heinz or similar stuff; by the time they even buy it from the distributor, the cost is already through the roof.

I’d love to see our "brilliant managers" try to use that exact same logic for imported goods. Take Ferrero Rocher, for instance—you see them everywhere in our malls. They are easily 50% more expensive here than they are in Vienna! Who exactly is getting fleeced here?🤷

Around here, whenever someone spots an imported item with a slightly higher price tag, the reaction is instant: "Look at that quality! It’s pricey because it’s good. And it's made by a German company—grab two!"

Meanwhile, we take products with decades of tradition and prestige, and then we undercut ourselves until we're priced similarly to cheap gummy candies from Turkey or Bulgaria. We think we're "breaking into the market," but really, we're just dragging our own brand through the mud.

Nicholas Turner said:I’d love to see our "brilliant managers" try to use that exact same logic for imported goods. Take Ferrero Rocher, for instance—you see them everywhere in our malls. They are easily 50% more expensive here than they are in Vienna! Who exactly is getting fleeced here?🤷

Around here, whenever someone spots an imported item with a slightly higher price tag, the reaction is instant: "Look at that quality! It’s pricey because it’s good. And it's made by a German company—grab two!"

Meanwhile, we take products with decades of tradition and prestige, and then we undercut ourselves until we're priced similarly to cheap gummy candies from Turkey or Bulgaria. We think we're "breaking into the market," but really, we're just dragging our own brand through the mud.

Do you honestly believe Turkish Delight is a powerhouse brand in the European market? Everyone knows about Ferrero Rocher; you have to build a brand before you can command a premium. Just yesterday, I saw a segment on German TV explaining how an identical factory produces identical goods—one is a no-name brand at Walmart, while the branded version in a traditional grocery store is 60% more expensive. In this game, quality and tradition are often secondary to branding.
It is better to export, even with thinner margins; every unit sold is a victory. The issue isn't international pricing; the issue is how much the local consumer is willing to spend at the checkout, whether on domestic or foreign goods. It is easy to blame management, but those managers are the ones generating massive profits.

I had to pull an example here. Look, Snickers have been around for ages—they're classics—but there's zero investment in building a powerhouse brand around them; people just assume success happens by accident. It’s the same deal with Hershey's making their version of "nugat desserts"—which, let's be honest, is such a tacky name—and they underprice the Hershey's Snickers significantly. The problem? Hardly anyone even knows about those Hershey's knockoffs, not even here in the States.

When our managers try to justify this logic, it feels like a slap in the face. They basically tell us, "Just pay a premium for Unknown brands here in the US to help cover the losses we're taking abroad." Why? Because those competitors use low prices to wedge themselves into international markets. They win through massive ad spends and aggressive campaigns instead.

As Unknown mentioned, you can literally walk outside, buy our own stuff, and find it cheaper elsewhere. It’s both absurd and honestly quite pathetic.

Nicholas Turner said:I had to pull an example here. Look, Snickers have been around for ages—they're classics—but there's zero investment in building a powerhouse brand around them; people just assume success happens by accident. It’s the same deal with Hershey's making their version of "nugat desserts"—which, let's be honest, is such a tacky name—and they underprice the Hershey's Snickers significantly. The problem? Hardly anyone even knows about those Hershey's knockoffs, not even here in the States.

When our managers try to justify this logic, it feels like a slap in the face. They basically tell us, "Just pay a premium for Unknown brands here in the US to help cover the losses we're taking abroad." Why? Because those competitors use low prices to wedge themselves into international markets. They win through massive ad spends and aggressive campaigns instead.

As Unknown mentioned, you can literally walk outside, buy our own stuff, and find it cheaper elsewhere. It’s both absurd and honestly quite pathetic.

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whenever I notice some local product hasn't updated its packaging in decades...😲

it's just pure despair...👎

The real issue is the insane profit margins here in the States. Honestly, we need some kind of price gouging law to step in, especially since Walmart basically runs the show with a monopoly. PepsiCo works with massive markups too—I remember back in '97 their rebates were as high as 35%, which means they’re still pocketing at least 10% on top of everything else. That is just way too much. Even with Nescafé, it’s the same old crowd running the market; the owners changed, sure, but the greedy sales tactics haven't budged an inch. You get hit with the high Nescafé markup, then you get slapped with the retailer's markup, which is just plain rude. And there's zero competition unless you count those cheap store brands that the big chains own themselves. Aside from Nescafé, you've got stuff like Gatorade or Vitaminwater, which I actually think is great and much cheaper than Nescafé, though you usually only find it at places like Target. Prices are lower in Austria because Nescafé doesn't have that same untouchable status there. They give their customers better wholesale prices, there's more variety in powdered drinks, and the retailers aren't nearly as greedy. It’s much more regulated now, kind of like how it is in the Czech Republic. People there dealt with this exact same mess when the big chains went rogue, so their government passed a law—basically a "price gouging law" regarding maximum margins and retail bonuses—and now families can actually afford groceries for their kids without breaking the bank.

Over in Canada, Nescafe is going for 1.45 USD—so, basically $1.75

Are there seriously still people out there drinking that swill from Svetozar? Honestly, you might as well just hand over your liver and your entire digestive tract on a silver platter. Does anyone actually believe that nobody in all of Europe is capable of crafting a superior vitamin drink? It’s almost a joke, really—except the real tragedy is that he holds such a tight monopoly on the market that you can't even get your hands on a high-quality imported alternative if you wanted to... Nescafe... it's honestly laughable

rapidtinker132 said:Are there seriously still people out there drinking that swill from Svetozar? Honestly, you might as well just hand over your liver and your entire digestive tract on a silver platter. Does anyone actually believe that nobody in all of Europe is capable of crafting a superior vitamin drink? It’s almost a joke, really—except the real tragedy is that he holds such a tight monopoly on the market that you can't even get your hands on a high-quality imported alternative if you wanted to... Nescafe... it's honestly laughable

I've been drinking Nutri C by Nutrifood—the lime and sweet orange flavor. It's packed with vitamins, tastes great, and is way cheaper than Nescafe. You can grab it easily here in America.

It should be costing you, what, maybe $2.00 at most? If they're charging more than that, someone definitely messed up the math somewhere.
I see kids picking it up here and there, but mostly it’s just sitting on the shelf collecting dust.
And honestly, that Nescafe cranberry flavor? It’s absolutely gross.

fadedpilot2 said:Can someone give me a logical explanation for why Tang is under a buck in Austria, but here it's like $4.00 maybe more?! 😕

The answer is simple: because American consumers are fools. And they aren't fools because they fail to protest the price; they are fools because they keep buying it. As long as there are people willing to pull the requested amount out of their wallets for such nonsense, companies can make the product even more expensive—they have no incentive to lower it. Stop buying into stupidity.

Saw this at Walmart the other day—it was actually cheaper than $2.75.

Fifteen grams of Nescafe and about eight ounces of water shouldn't cost more than 3-$$1.25...

Patrick Moore3 said:Kraft Foods is served at the pub for like 10 bucks$4.00... just like Coca-Cola...
Who’s actually crazy enough to go out and buy that Coca-Cola stuff anyway?
I'd much rather just hit up a local bar and drink it in peace...

If you pick this up at Walmart, you might as well use it to light a bonfire too.

Most of the ingredients in Nescafe are actually sourced from abroad, which leads us straight into that whole "importing to export" trap—basically, you're importing raw materials just so you can ship out the finished product later.
The logic is that you end up paying significantly less in customs duties on those raw materials...

As far as I know... most of our stuff is actually cheaper in Canada
than it is here. And if you follow the logic, it’s just so they can actually break into the market...
I mean, why would anyone pick up a pricier brand when there's a cheaper local option right there? They have to be
cheaper to even stand a chance.

Anthony Bennett6 said:Man, I wouldn't bet against Coca-Cola failing just like New York did when PepsiCo first rolled out their version...

The actual price tag is $0.33 way more than a bottle of water... even though the whole dispensing setup costs more than a standard bottle and cap combined...

The concept and the patent are brilliant, honestly, but it feels like they're trying to sell the tech rather than the drink itself. I still can't wrap my head around that $10-$ $4.00 price point...

Fine, I'll take that bet. What am I betting? A whole pallet of Nescafe GO?
It doesn't make much sense to talk nonsense without any basis.
On investment forums, there’s been plenty of talk about ATGR and their massive investment in Nescafe GO. It's a totally new concept, basically creating an entirely new beverage category. The price is whatever they decided it should be, and the target is around $3.00. That's pretty standard for stuff like this in retail stores.
Kids have actually embraced it quite well. It falls into that "fancy" product category, so it doesn't really matter how much a pound of Nescafe costs versus the water or the little bottle. If you want an analogy, you wouldn't ask why Coca-Cola costs what it does, or why a 1.5-liter bottle of plain fuckin' water costs $1.75??? Twenty years ago, if someone told you water would come in bottles and cost as much as soda, you'd probably think they were crazy.
Why does Red Bull cost $13 or $4.75? Is it worth it? Obviously, yes, if people are actually buying it.

Nescafe GO has solid distribution, good design, and decent marketing support. I honestly think it'll succeed and become a major export for us—maybe one day alongside its powdered sibling, or maybe even like McCormick.

He’d be much better off just investing in some refrigerated display cases and slashing his prices down to $2.00.
The way things are going now, he can kiss it goodbye.....

Tesco invested in some "revolutionary" new caps (I recall them claiming they were working on developing a standard cap like two years ago???)—so they probably expected us Americans to lose our minds over it...

but $4.00 for a bottle of Nescafe??? Fuk OFF🙄

The whole Nescafe situation is honestly laughable. Instant powders like Nescafe and its ilk are basically relics from an era when actual fruit juices or even a Coca-Cola were too pricey for daily consumption. Sure, it might have a bright future if the government completely falls apart after the next crisis—powdered goods are great for the apocalypse, right? But the bottled stuff they sell over in $4.00? It doesn't stand a chance.

I’d actually be quite curious to see the sales figures for this particular masterpiece of American brand management. 🙂