The ‘UnAustralian’ price of a sausage sizzle at Vivid Sydney has sparked an intense debate on social media.
Sharing on Reddit, one Sydneysider posted a photo showing one vendor was charging $8.50 for a sausage sizzle with onions.
The basic snack generally retails for just $3.50 at Bunnings.
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“So I’ve seen everyone talking about the crowds, lack of installations, and not being able to see the drone show this year,” the Reddit user said.
“But can we please talk about the price of a sausage in bread without enough onion on it?
“I don’t care what the reason is, but when you can buy sausages for about $6kg, onions for $3kg, and a loaf of bread for $3 (retail, so cheaper buying wholesale bulk for an event like Vivid), $8.50 is disgusting.”
Many were quick to slam the high price, agreeing it was outrageous.
“That’s just unAustralian,” one said.
Another responded: “For that price you can buy sausages, bread and sauce yourself and have multiple sausage sandwiches.”
A third wrote: “Almost triple the price of Bunnings … pure scums.”
One more said: “I’d maybe fork out $5 if I was hungry enough, but I would never be that hungry at $8.50 for a sausage on a roll.
Others, however, were sympathetic to the plight of the vendors, suggesting that high overheads may have led to the steep price.
“If OP wants to get floored by a dollar amount, just ask the vendor his weekly rent the city is charging him to park his sausage shack there,” one said.
Another added: “It’s a captive audience. I don’t know what you expected. Also the vendors get charged crazy fees by the event runners.”
A third said: “This is the cheapest meal I’ve seen in all of Vivid! Did you walk around?”
One more wrote: “People mentioning the overhead costs, permits, location etc.
“Vivid is a government-run event now, why are they charging such exorbitant costs to food trucks for this event. Thus forcing them into this pricing which we end up having to choose to pay.”
Another, meanwhile, said they’d be happy to pay $8.50 for a sausage sizzle – if it was good quality.
“Depends. If it’s a crappy sausage and a slice of white bread like Bunnings, then I’m with you,”
“But if it’s a decent sausage on a decent bun, then it’s worth it.
“Keeping in mind Bunnings sausage sizzle labour and rent is free.”