Discount For Bringing Own Hookah

[cotsi95]

[quote name='ih303' date='14 January 2010 - 11:00 AM' timestamp='1263492050' post='445308']
[quote name='Amn_sinclair' date='14 January 2010 - 10:48 AM' timestamp='1263491310' post='445303']
i really think if anything. i dont know if you do or not but if you have sale hookahs, offer a discount for anyone that bring in a hookah that they have purchased from you. i mean that in the end could pay for itself because ppl would be paying for a whole hookah. then they save 2 dollars or something exery time they smoke there. it would encourage ppl to come back to you if they want to smoke in the lounge i dont know if it makes sense... makes sense to me lol
[/quote]

Interestingly enough, that is exactly how we decided to do it. We offer a $2 discount if they bring in their own hookah that they bought from us. The only issue with that is trying to keep track of everyone who bought a hookah from us.

While I see the value in offering a discount on hookahs bought from us, I think I'd rather just nix the whole thing altogether and not allow outside hookahs at all. It just seems like the easiest thing to do. My partners' concern is that this might keep some people from coming in. I don't know if I believe that.
[/quote]

We do not allow any outside hookahs only hoses. Hoses are simple you just need to put a gasket on the hookah. Its a lot easier to not have people bring hookahs in. You dont know what has been smoked in the hookah previously and the libablity is too great to allow people to bring them in. I am the only one at the narg that uses their own hookah I just prefer using my own.

[quote name='FSUReligionMan' date='14 January 2010 - 11:44 AM' timestamp='1263494656' post='445323']
I have my own hookahs that I keep at the lounge but they own them, they just have them reserved for me only. Maybe do the same for regular customers?
[/quote]

We used to do a VIP program they paid 100 dollars a year and got there own hookah/hose, and when they ordered it went to the front of the line. In the end it was NOT worth doing it.

[MechEng]

Well, having been to your lounge too many times (I kid, I kid). Having brought my own hookah (purchased from you) I never actually realized I received any discount and really wouldn't need/expect one. If anything is really nice because 'cake' does a better job cleaning it than I ever will.

I know Eric brought up the quality and I must say this really doesn't apply to your lounge since most everything is KM other than the QT's which are still great quality (your solids might be Temsah?). And as far as bowls go I guess we always have a phunnel on everything we smoke there anyway and the hoses are all nice wide-gauge washable hoses (unless you have a QT in which case its a healthy hose which actually isn't too bad).

I think a membership of sorts would be quite nice - especially for retail purchases. No offense, but, I have made a whole-sale account (you might know who I am now) and seen the prices (won't post out of respect for the vendors) and the vast majority of me feels like you charge too much for shisha. I mean it may be the same as the cost for one bowl that you setup and tend but I think you order a lot of stuff from John - his prices (not even wholesale) are about half of what you charge for retail. I only bring this up because I was thinking about getting something retail there the other day and decided it would be far cheaper for me to just order it from John and wait a couple days. And I know that a lot of my friends share my feelings as well because the order I placed was for myself and five others. The one thing that does get me is the "box deal" on coals since they are $10 more than online and you only get a handful more than if you were to buy 5 bags of 20. I guess that is why we ordered a case together. Anyway, don't take any of this personal but these are the feelings that I share with quite a few other Tech students. It does seem like business is booming seeing as it was packed the other day. How is the beer sales going? You guys consider getting some AF solids in for retail?

[delSol_si]

[quote name='MechEng' date='15 January 2010 - 02:23 AM' timestamp='1263543824' post='445514']
Well, having been to your lounge too many times (I kid, I kid). Having brought my own hookah (purchased from you) I never actually realized I received any discount and really wouldn't need/expect one. If anything is really nice because 'cake' does a better job cleaning it than I ever will.
[/quote]

wait, if they bring their own hookah they purchased off you, you clean it for them? no wonder you are worried about breaking their hookahs, i would have them clean it themselves.

[no longer welcome]

when i go to lounges, which is rare, i tend to take my hose in hand, seriously, i take a narb and let them do their thing. it feels cleaner than a hose that has had so much usage. this is never the case when i go to tangiers though.

[Tyler]

I always bring my own hose and tongs, no matter what lounge I go to.

[ih303]

[quote name='MechEng' date='15 January 2010 - 01:23 AM' timestamp='1263543824' post='445514']
Well, having been to your lounge too many times (I kid, I kid). Having brought my own hookah (purchased from you) I never actually realized I received any discount and really wouldn't need/expect one. If anything is really nice because 'cake' does a better job cleaning it than I ever will.

I know Eric brought up the quality and I must say this really doesn't apply to your lounge since most everything is KM other than the QT's which are still great quality (your solids might be Temsah?). And as far as bowls go I guess we always have a phunnel on everything we smoke there anyway and the hoses are all nice wide-gauge washable hoses (unless you have a QT in which case its a healthy hose which actually isn't too bad).

I think a membership of sorts would be quite nice - especially for retail purchases. No offense, but, I have made a whole-sale account (you might know who I am now) and seen the prices (won't post out of respect for the vendors) and the vast majority of me feels like you charge too much for shisha. I mean it may be the same as the cost for one bowl that you setup and tend but I think you order a lot of stuff from John - his prices (not even wholesale) are about half of what you charge for retail. I only bring this up because I was thinking about getting something retail there the other day and decided it would be far cheaper for me to just order it from John and wait a couple days. And I know that a lot of my friends share my feelings as well because the order I placed was for myself and five others. The one thing that does get me is the "box deal" on coals since they are $10 more than online and you only get a handful more than if you were to buy 5 bags of 20. I guess that is why we ordered a case together. Anyway, don't take any of this personal but these are the feelings that I share with quite a few other Tech students. It does seem like business is booming seeing as it was packed the other day. How is the beer sales going? You guys consider getting some AF solids in for retail?
[/quote]

Pricing is tricky. There are a lot of variables that come into play - and this is not unique to the lounge. In order to remain open, you have to make enough money every month to cover our overhead. If we were just running some hole-in-the-wall lounge with a couch, a boombox, and a lava lamp in someone's basement, we could afford to blow out our goods at 10% over cost. But we're not so we can't. (Check [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/www.myspace.com/ifrits_hookah_lounge"]here[/url] for pictures) Not trying to brag, but we have a beautiful, historic building in the middle of downtown. We have an interior that the original owners dropped $90k to create. We serve/sell only "top shelf" hookahs including KM, MZ, Temsah, and Mya. Our accessories include Tangiers phunnels and nammor/razan/narbish/km hoses. We serve/sell only Tangiers, AF, NK, and a bit 'o' SB for good measure. We offer 36 different kinds of beer - mostly microbrews. On top of that, we take pride in what we know about our products (unlike some lounges I've been to where they know nothing). These things don't come without cost.

When I was coming up with pricing, I took into consideration what our only competitor, Tinder Box, was doing as well as what other lounges in the US were charging. (Some of you may remember my pricing threads) What I discovered were there are some lounges who charge more than us and others that charge less. I was aiming at somewhere in the middle.

As for retail, I will agree our coal pricing needs to be revisited. But just like every other independent business, our prices will always be higher than online. Included in our pricing is the cost of shipping for us, and for tobacco, the 30% tobacco tax we have to pay every month. Most people are also willing to pay a higher price to have what they want "now" vs. having to wait three to four days.

John has fantastic prices. That's why he's one of the most popular vendors on the web. But keep in mind, his overhead is extremely low. He has no lounge and does most of the work himself. Comparing an online vendor to a lounge is like comparing apples to oranges.

My point is this. Our top priority is staying open so we may continue doing what we, you, and many others love. My partners and I have pocketed exactly zero dollars thus far so it's not like we're in the back room sitting on piles of cash laughing at all the stupid customers who will pay our prices. Our goal is to set prices high enough to stay in business, pay our employees, and make a bit of profit but low enough to keep people coming back.

If all you're interested in is retail and you're willing to wait for orders, shop online. It will always be cheaper. If you're after a chill place for a chat, a beer, and a smoke, come see us. That's our bread and butter, man. We sell more than just smoke and supplies - we sell an experience.

[ih303]

[quote name='delSol_si' date='15 January 2010 - 01:49 AM' timestamp='1263545374' post='445517']
[quote name='MechEng' date='15 January 2010 - 02:23 AM' timestamp='1263543824' post='445514']
Well, having been to your lounge too many times (I kid, I kid). Having brought my own hookah (purchased from you) I never actually realized I received any discount and really wouldn't need/expect one. If anything is really nice because 'cake' does a better job cleaning it than I ever will.
[/quote]

wait, if they bring their own hookah they purchased off you, you clean it for them? no wonder you are worried about breaking their hookahs, i would have them clean it themselves.
[/quote]

A couple things on this one. Our current policy allows anyone to bring any hookah in to smoke. When they're done smoking, we only empty the bowl and base. I told my employees to stop actually cleaning them long ago. It's way too much hassle.

Also, the way our lounge is set up is we have a thirty-something foot bar running down one side of the building and the dish washing station is behind the bar. We definately don't want customers coming behind the bar to clean their hookah.

[ih303]

I'm really split on this one. On one hand, I just want to not allow anymore outside hookahs in altogether. On the other, I see the advantage of letting people who bought hookahs from me bring them in to smoke at a discount.

[delSol_si]

[quote name='ih303' date='15 January 2010 - 09:43 AM' timestamp='1263570225' post='445557']
[quote name='delSol_si' date='15 January 2010 - 01:49 AM' timestamp='1263545374' post='445517']
[quote name='MechEng' date='15 January 2010 - 02:23 AM' timestamp='1263543824' post='445514']
Well, having been to your lounge too many times (I kid, I kid). Having brought my own hookah (purchased from you) I never actually realized I received any discount and really wouldn't need/expect one. If anything is really nice because 'cake' does a better job cleaning it than I ever will.
[/quote]

wait, if they bring their own hookah they purchased off you, you clean it for them? no wonder you are worried about breaking their hookahs, i would have them clean it themselves.
[/quote]

A couple things on this one. Our current policy allows anyone to bring any hookah in to smoke. When they're done smoking, we only empty the bowl and base. I told my employees to stop actually cleaning them long ago. It's way too much hassle.

Also, the way our lounge is set up is we have a thirty-something foot bar running down one side of the building and the dish washing station is behind the bar. We definately don't want customers coming behind the bar to clean their hookah.
[/quote]

tell them to take their hookah home with them to clean it. if they want the water out of the vase for transport, tell them to go to the bathroom and dump in in the sink or toilet.

[hookah hippie]

I definitley would not allow outside hookahs if I owned a lounge way too much liability. I do however like the idea of the frequent visitor card or whatever.

[Venger]

a bar i went to had a mug club.you bought the mug from them and the kept it for you on a shelf with the other "club members".when you came in you gave your name and the went to the shelf and got your mug.molsens at the time was about 3 bucks a pint.If you were in the mug club it was 1.75.would something liek that work for you? it would put you incharge of what they buy and there is the added prestige of saying to your buddy "hey lets go to my bar. I have my own hookah there." just a thought.your already storing hookahs and unless the customer is there no one touches it. If the customer decides to take his hookah home he is no longer in the club unless he buys another. .02 cents

[Remy]

most lounges i've been to dont allow you to bring your own hookah OR shish! soo bogus

[Pretender85]

I'd never bring my own, though sometimes I have to(as politely as I can) explain how to set up the bowl sometimes..but if I go to the hookah bar I pay to not have to clean up lol. If I wanted to bring my own hookah I would just assume plop down in my room on the computer and get it going at home.

[Sonthert]

rahl: San Diego, CA

One other point I made when I was talking to Ian, a discount isn't a favor, its something in trade for less work/liability on our part of the lounge. The problem with clubs, like the one Cotsi described is its trading more money for something more. The trick is giving people a discount for them doing more. They like it, I like it.

[Remy]

I just wish there was a hookah lounge around me that knew how to set up a good hookah.. then I wouldn't ever get the urge to bring my hookah

[ihcake]

This post makes my head hurt.

Thanks for the comment that I clean your hookah better than you yourself do. I take pride in my work I suppose.

Anyways, time to go smoke some of that good stuff Eric sent us! Yay! Thx Eric!

[hookah hippie]

The only way I can see it work is if there is some sort of no liability wavier on personal hookahs. You don't want to get yourself in trouble

[king_lunchb0x]

[quote name='ih303' date='15 January 2010 - 07:38 AM' timestamp='1263569915' post='445555']
[quote name='MechEng' date='15 January 2010 - 01:23 AM' timestamp='1263543824' post='445514']
Well, having been to your lounge too many times (I kid, I kid). Having brought my own hookah (purchased from you) I never actually realized I received any discount and really wouldn't need/expect one. If anything is really nice because 'cake' does a better job cleaning it than I ever will.

I know Eric brought up the quality and I must say this really doesn't apply to your lounge since most everything is KM other than the QT's which are still great quality (your solids might be Temsah?). And as far as bowls go I guess we always have a phunnel on everything we smoke there anyway and the hoses are all nice wide-gauge washable hoses (unless you have a QT in which case its a healthy hose which actually isn't too bad).

I think a membership of sorts would be quite nice - especially for retail purchases. No offense, but, I have made a whole-sale account (you might know who I am now) and seen the prices (won't post out of respect for the vendors) and the vast majority of me feels like you charge too much for shisha. I mean it may be the same as the cost for one bowl that you setup and tend but I think you order a lot of stuff from John - his prices (not even wholesale) are about half of what you charge for retail. I only bring this up because I was thinking about getting something retail there the other day and decided it would be far cheaper for me to just order it from John and wait a couple days. And I know that a lot of my friends share my feelings as well because the order I placed was for myself and five others. The one thing that does get me is the "box deal" on coals since they are $10 more than online and you only get a handful more than if you were to buy 5 bags of 20. I guess that is why we ordered a case together. Anyway, don't take any of this personal but these are the feelings that I share with quite a few other Tech students. It does seem like business is booming seeing as it was packed the other day. How is the beer sales going? You guys consider getting some AF solids in for retail?
[/quote]

Pricing is tricky. There are a lot of variables that come into play - and this is not unique to the lounge. In order to remain open, you have to make enough money every month to cover our overhead. If we were just running some hole-in-the-wall lounge with a couch, a boombox, and a lava lamp in someone's basement, we could afford to blow out our goods at 10% over cost. But we're not so we can't. (Check [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/www.myspace.com/ifrits_hookah_lounge"]here[/url] for pictures) Not trying to brag, but we have a beautiful, historic building in the middle of downtown. We have an interior that the original owners dropped $90k to create. We serve/sell only "top shelf" hookahs including KM, MZ, Temsah, and Mya. Our accessories include Tangiers phunnels and nammor/razan/narbish/km hoses. We serve/sell only Tangiers, AF, NK, and a bit 'o' SB for good measure. We offer 36 different kinds of beer - mostly microbrews. On top of that, we take pride in what we know about our products (unlike some lounges I've been to where they know nothing). These things don't come without cost.

When I was coming up with pricing, I took into consideration what our only competitor, Tinder Box, was doing as well as what other lounges in the US were charging. (Some of you may remember my pricing threads) What I discovered were there are some lounges who charge more than us and others that charge less. I was aiming at somewhere in the middle.

As for retail, I will agree our coal pricing needs to be revisited. But just like every other independent business, our prices will always be higher than online. Included in our pricing is the cost of shipping for us, and for tobacco, the 30% tobacco tax we have to pay every month. Most people are also willing to pay a higher price to have what they want "now" vs. having to wait three to four days.

John has fantastic prices. That's why he's one of the most popular vendors on the web. But keep in mind, his overhead is extremely low. He has no lounge and does most of the work himself. Comparing an online vendor to a lounge is like comparing apples to oranges.

My point is this. Our top priority is staying open so we may continue doing what we, you, and many others love. My partners and I have pocketed exactly zero dollars thus far so it's not like we're in the back room sitting on piles of cash laughing at all the stupid customers who will pay our prices. Our goal is to set prices high enough to stay in business, pay our employees, and make a bit of profit but low enough to keep people coming back.

If all you're interested in is retail and you're willing to wait for orders, shop online. It will always be cheaper. If you're after a chill place for a chat, a beer, and a smoke, come see us. That's our bread and butter, man. We sell more than just smoke and supplies - we sell an experience.
[/quote]

man i wish there was hookah lounge like that in my town
I guess the sooner you decide the better, that way less word travels about not being able to bring in your hookah.. I havent been to a lounge where they let you do your own. I would agree with the membership idea if your kinda wanting to get away from ur current plan.

[Sonthert]

San Diego, man. San Diego.

I don't agree with memberships and whatnot, I think everybody should get a square deal, whether they're "in" or a new customer. If they're getting a square deal, why the membership? Bear in mind, I also don't allow tipping. Thats where my head-space is.