Now here's a business model I'll bet you've never seen before.

[Brigid]

Panera Bread's "Pay What You Can" model a success

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2011-05-16-panera-pay-what-you-can_n.htm?csp=obinsite

[SDuderstadt]

1. Very nice n/t

[WCGreen]

2. My buddy manages one of their stores and he loves working

there. It's hard work but he makes a decent living and gets to go home and keep regular hours stuff most managers of chain restaurants can't always rely on...

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Can only work in places without a critical mass of desperate people...

...in a permanent state of extreme poverty.

But yeah, in places not like that, it can work.

[Sherman A1]

4. Love Panera or as we once called it before their name change

St. Louis Bread Company.

[Pooka Fey]

5. I loved Panera Bread even before I saw this article. Bravo!

[On the Road]

6. This is Very Nice

although I think that over time, voluntary payments would attract a greater proportion of freeloaders.

I have seen a similar approach in shoe shine vendors in tourist areas like Istanbul. I had a nice shoe shine and a nice conversation with a guy who refused to set a price, but said I should pay whatever I felt like. I think I gave him $4-5, which is more than he could have charged by stating a price.