Talk:The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000/@comment-27.32.135.96-20120130122231/@comment-121.220.36.127-20120227145954

Think of it this way - there are three options for the Apple family to deal with the shortage (and with no increase in production):

1) Not do anything - early/wealthier ponies get more, and cause festering of the un/undersupplied ponies, causing their 'brand' to be considered unreliable, and allowing any competitor easy access to a large slice of the population (and if production was ramped up to cover all ponies, then they'd get a large slice of the group that purchases, as they'd have felt the shortages before).

2) Increase the cost of the cider to restrict demand. This would be the worst option, as the Apple family relies on selling apple products of all kinds (the cider is only to cover over winter, and they'd probably have other operations that are more reliable as well, even if not as profitable individually) - not only would it really harm relations with customers (who could well refuse to purchase other Apple products), but it would open up their suppliers (of building materials and equipment) to raise their own costs against Sweet Apple Acres.

3) Ration the cider to one cup per pony (perhaps with vouchers being given to earlier/wealthier ponies, so they get first dibs after everyone has had a drink). This would be the best - it allows each customer to feel like their time was well spent, and prevents a large slice of their normal customers from being embittered. If there is more cide left after each pony gets their first, then the voucher system would reward the earlier/wealthier members.

This would also get them more money from their cider, if the voucher system used increased prices to throttle demand - it would allow more profit on the leftovers, whilst preventing the single-issue from being as annoyed (as they can say they at least had one, and the second/third-issue ponies were willign to slurge, instead of being considered hoarders).