There was some talk on this site about what can be called ‘news’ since I was interviewed on local CBC radio about the Northern Exposure petition. Well, I’ve been completely outdone.
Listen to this absolutely hilarious CBC PEI interview with a disgruntled hot dog vendor (RealAudio).
A few key quotes:
Interviewer: “What did you expect when you came here?”
Hotdog Man: “We expected, like, well, what we read in the paper.”
Interviewer: “Did you do any kind of market research before you came out here?”
Hotdog Man: “Not one iota.”
Interviewer: “So just basically going on rumour alone?”
Hotdog Man: “Crapshoot.”Hotdog Man: “Can you imagine a hot dog cart with no umbrella? Like, how ridiculous.”
Wow. I, uh… jeez; that’s really sad. Perhaps we should take the situation in hand and actually make some news that has meaning…
A friend and I went to the beach today and made a 4-foot tower out of stones; would that be considered interesting and life-changing news on PEI in the future? I certainly hope not.
I awoke at ~8:30’ish and that interview was on the radio,.. I found his complaining to be a rather annoying way to start the day.
This guy had big dreams for a little city.
I bet he’ll be wearing red pigtails and a country dress by the end of the summer, and Mr. and Mrs. tourist will be buying “Maud Dogs” by the cartload. Well, perhaps not.
Had a couple Dewey dogs before I headed to Halifax and I will say that they were quite tasty. He had great rolls that he toasted and a nice garlic butter to go on them if you so pleased. One funny note, the guy next to cows is operating out of a beat up looking chevette. If you trek down the block to where his bother is setup you will no doubt spot the white Cadillac that he is operating out of. It’s an interesting contrast when listening to the interview.
I was reading more about the street vendor hoopla on the Guardian website. My only question: how can a hot dog cart be a serious threat to mall businesses! It’s hot dogs! And while we’re on the topic of banning umbrellas, can I request that pedestrians who use golf umbrellas instead of regular umbrellas also be banned? I really hate that.
I couldn’t believe the antagonistic tone of the hotdog guy during the interview. Does he think that he might actually increase his sales by venting his baseless frustrations on public radio? What kind of a business person moves across the country to start a business without conducting any market research? I’ve actually bought a couple of hotdogs from this guy, but I doubt that I’ll be buying any more.
Let me answer a question for you Tim: The kind of business person that moves across the country to start a business without conducting and market research is the kind of person who would attempt to boost his sales by venting his baseless frustrations on public radio. Market Research? The man is selling hotdogs. Hotdogs.
For me, the interview really took off into an orbit of the absurd when the guy got into the social distinction between the HotDog Street Vendor Class and Sarong Clothing Street Vendor Class, with him firmly believing the HotDog Vendor is the elite of the various types of street vendors.
Unfortunately, the item never went anywhere, other than to show this guy as a rather lame and bitter business man. Seems to me there’s more under this story than simply displaying an oddball for us to be amused at. It could have (should have) explored the idea of why aren’t there more businesses like this throughout the city? Why do they keep failing? Does the city discourage these types of entrepreneurs?
I bet his hotdogs contain no filler or by-products too.
I can’t get over how hilarious that is. You just can’t make stuff like that up.
I probably shouldn’t say stuff like this but I wonder if CIBC will allow him to clean their windows for some extra cash. Sounds like he has some experience with that.
He is right about islanders being backwords. Most islanders are bitter about change. And we wonder why the rest of Canada makes fun of us?
It’s to bad for this guy…
While this guys did himself no favours by not understanding his market and then my bitching about it publicly, these guys do make a killing in other cities. When I worked in Ottawa, there would always be a line-up at noon at these vendors. I don’t think the problem is changing islander’s habits – unless it is the populating habit. Charlottetown can only be compared with places like Owen Sound and North Bay with the greatest of generosity from the point of view of population and wealth. This goes against the “Capital City” idea but it is just reality. I don’t think I would move to either Owen Sound or New Brunswick to make my fortune with a hot dog cart.
Andrew said: “He is right about islanders being backwords. Most islanders are bitter about change. And we wonder why the rest of Canada makes fun of us?”
I don’t think it has to do with residents of Prince Edward Island being resistant to change. Rather, people everywhere are resistant to change – it’s human nature. Maybe it’s more apparent on PEI because we have less exposure to different experience.
However, are we resistant to hotdogs? Maybe we should be.
I’m still laughing at the umbrella comment.
The guy’s clearly a nut…$4.50?!? You can buy a package of spicy Italian suasages for less than that at the Superstore. Or you can go a block away and get a huge slice and a coke at Capone’s for $4.25.
All I know is that the vendors here in Ottawa charge $3.50 for a sausage and people don’t even like paying that unless they’re good and loaded.
And do you know what? Not all of them have umbrellas. I swear…it’s true. It’s damn true.
Ben:
I just took a walk up Bank Street towards Wellington Street. There are five vendors, all with umbrellas. Throughout my time here, I don’t recall seeing a hotdog vendor without an umbrella.
I concurr with the Hotdog Man, I can’t imagine a hotdog vendor without an umbrella. Honestly!
A matter of fact, I just ate at the hotdog vendor for lunch.
Hotdog (Scheinders)- $1.50
Coke- $.75
Total- $2.25
I don’t understand how the hotdog man expects to make money by charging $4.00 a hotdog! He claims it to be a complete meal???
Jarret,
There’s a vendor by the LCBO on Rideau that doesn’t have an umbrella, and I’m pretty sure the guy I bought an awesome Polish sausage from (for $4.25, including a can of Coke, and peppers and tomatoes on the sausage) at Bank and Sparks didn’t have an umbrella. He had one of those fancy metal wagons with a bit of a roof though. Maybe there’s an important distinction that needs to be made betwen hot dog and sausage vendors…I’m not about to be the guy that makes it though.