Beach
Pride discount has limited success
By
Daniel Linck Savino
Daily Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
Beach Pride Tuesdays are back this semester, and there is a new incentive to
sport the black and gold. Any student wearing Beach attire or the newly-minted “Go
Beach” wristbands to any of the 49er Shops will get a 10 percent discount.
The discount days came out of the work of Associated Students, Inc., President
Jamie Pollock and her chief-of-staff, Robert Godina. The two collaborated with
the 49er Shops over the summer to create the incentive.
“Our hope in this new promotion is that it will encourage students, faculty
and staff to wear their Beach attire,” Pollock said. “We are also
hoping that the marketing and promotion of the discount will increase student
awareness of their on-campus dining options.”
Such student awareness, however, is limited. Inquiries up and down the lines
in the University Dining Plaza found that most students didn’t know about
the discount.
“I never really gave any thought to it,” said freshman Jeff Bruining. “It’s
at least worth it. Anything you can do to get a discount is good.”
Sophomore Adonis Bellezar also did not know about the discount. “I haven’t
bought any Beach stuff,” Bellezar said, “but I’d buy some
if [there was a discount].”
The efforts to promote the discount have also seen very little success.
Christi Phillips, a fourth-year student and cheerleader found out about the
discount at the Week of Welcome pep rally. Phillips, who ordered lunch at the
Great Steak and Potato, was wearing a Beach Patrol shirt, but did not receive
a discount.
“I’ll probably ask if they don’t offer [it next time],” Phillips
said.
Additional problems in the program stem from poor communication with the University
Dining Plaza.
Cashiers at both Surf City and Panda Express were unaware of the discount.
Both locations gave the option, once informed, of not paying the 8.25 percent
sales tax.
That tax, however, can be waived at the Nugget if the customer is a Cal State
Long Beach student.
Mike Stewart, University Dining Plaza manager, described the discount as an
ongoing effort.
“We’re in the process of getting it up and running,” he said.
The plaza employees had not been made aware of the discounts because of a rushed
effort to bring out the program.
“Suddenly today [Beach Pride] said they wanted to start it,” Stewart
said.
The promotion is currently in a month-long trial period. If successful, the
program will be continued for the rest of the year.
Participating 49er Shop locations include the Nugget, Outpost, Beach Hut, the
Bakery and Beach Walk Café. The University Bookstore is only discounting
logo gear.
The University Student Union is not currently offering the discount. |
