candy store problem

plural candy store problems

1. figurativelyThe problem of having too many options available.

   I tell the guy: Stop crying, this is a candy store problem, 'cause our money is just as green as theirs, and all you gotta do is find the right palm to grease. Give the local rack-jobber his blood money.

   2002, Stephen J. Cannell, The Viking Funeral, page 33

   2 more examples

   One engineering-group manager reported that his first attempt at designing a C++ implementation of his application resulted in a "candy store" problem. His people tried to use too many features of C++, and the project had to be restarted.

   1994, UNIX Review, volume 12

   The Production Candy Store Problem: The money we spend on video effects in TV production is obscene. It astounds me, and scares me, to see otherwise levelheaded ad people spend such big bucks so casually.

   1997, Communication Arts, numbers 270-272, page 40