CSULB convenience stores' prices are higher than off campus stores

A price comparison between outside convenience stores and the outpost convenience store

Which do you prefer to buy - a $0.69 banana from 7-Eleven or a $1.00 banana from the Outpost Convenience Store? Before you answer that, keep in mind you only have 10 minutes to walk from the UTC building to CBA. Now, which one are you most likely going to buy?

The 49er shops generally have higher prices on various foods than a convenience store off campus. According to the Daily 49er, the 49er shops tries to adjust their prices to be comparable to other convenience stores, says Rosa Hernandez-Henderson, director of Human Resources. However, in the end, the prices at off-campus convenience stores are cheaper than the prices on campus.

"I'm trying to eat healthy, but they want to charge me almost $2 for a banana," says 3rd year psychology major Nicole Ngo. "It's an outrage!"

Having fewer customers at on campus convenience stores makes it difficult for the 49er shops to gain revenue, thus making it difficult to lower the prices on their items.

"Revenues generated allow us to make contributions to the campus, including through capital investments like the recently renovated Outpost Grill and Convenience store," says Hernandez-Henderson.

49er shops, which manages all the convenience stores on campus, is a non-profit auxiliary of the Cal State University system and is a part of 90 public auxiliary organizations from all of the CSU campuses.

"They know we only have a small amount of time between classes, so they know we can go anywhere to get snacks. They're like Disneyland or Hotels; they want to jack up the prices because they KNOW it is an inconvenience for us to go out and buy at a grocery store. We're paying for convenience in the end," says Ngo.