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Message
re: The exploiters are starting to come out in full force
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:28 am to Cash
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:28 am to Cash
quote:I kige as well.
quote:
As someone else already mentioned, the "going rate" is what people are willing to pay to get the job done. This is how the free market works. If contractors did the work at the pre-flood rates, shite would take years to finish because the supply would never respond. If you want a licensed contractor in your home less than a week after the flooding started, you're going to pay out the arse, but you don't HAVE to do that. You can wait until the supply catches up and get relatively reasonable prices in time.
Spinning it as "taking advantage" of people when were discussing services or non-essential products is wrong. Baton Rouge is going to be a perfect example of the free market at work.
:kige:
0
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:29 am to Ole War Skule
quote:
've never understood the animosity toward people asking market price for their services. Increasing prices draws in more workers and goods, which allows the work to get done. If you don't allow 'gouging', you just won't get enough workers to deal with situations like this.
The only thing restricting pricing ever accomplished is causing shortages. Which is far worse than high prices.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:30 am to theunknownknight
quote:
What I disagree with is these guys coming in and buying up all the supplies/tools forcing the "do it yourselfers" and "volunteers" to pay triple.
What sort of supplies and tools are we discussing? If someone wants to try to corner the market on hammers and crowbars, be my guest. If we're discussing bigger tools that are already in limited supply, the lack of stock was going to happen regardless.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:30 am to theunknownknight
quote:
Nah, a lot of these guys are coming in from out of state and setting up temporary shop
Which will automatically make their work more expensive
You have to cover per diem costs and ask people to leave their homes to do the work. It's going to cost more.
It sucks, but the economic reality is you're not going to be able to get much accomplished with "regular" prices.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:32 am to cgrand
quote:
Thank you
there is only so much we can do
if you want someone in your building today, pay the price of do it yourself
by the way, if you can work, we need you
it wont be glamorous but the iron is hot
after next week we will be on to renovations and skilled labor
anyone needing cash can have a shovel in their hand right now
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:35 am to slackster
quote:
What sort of supplies and tools are we discussing? If someone wants to try to corner the market on hammers and crowbars, be my guest. If we're discussing bigger tools that are already in limited supply, the lack of stock was going to happen regardless.
hammers, crow bars, floor scrapers, floor removal bars - all being bought up as soon as the trucks unload by some of these goons. I've been trying to buy what I can for those around me so we can gut their houses easier but am unable. (I have tools, just not enough).
And then I hear why - because of the bulk buying. Look, I get "the market" argument. But the real "market" consists of many people willing to do the work for free atm but are unable to because of these fruits moving in trying to triple their lines.
This post was edited on 8/18/16 at 10:37 am
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:36 am to rocket31
quote:
Ya that "southern hospitality" sure is some bulshit ain't it?
It's really not.
Go frick yourself.
This post was edited on 8/18/16 at 10:38 am
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:37 am to Cash
quote:
The only thing restricting pricing ever accomplished is causing shortages. Which is far worse than high prices.
I understand this is an emotional topic for many people on this board, so I get the backlash, but there is no reasonable argument for maintain pre-flood prices on general labor.
If we were discussing people price gouging on basic goods, like milk and water, I'd be more sympathetic because their is a moral aspect to that argument. The discussion about labor prices is entirely different, particularly because the contractors and laborers are not the ones to blame IMO. Blame the people that are paying them. If I was a general laborer and available for work, I'm going to work for the person who pays the most. That decision is the same today as it would have ben a week ago. They're not artificially inflating their rates through collusion, they're saying you have to pay me $50 an hour or I'll go to the guy who is already willing to pay $49/hr.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:39 am to slackster
There is a moral aspect to this argument. What do you not get about Livingston Parish suffering a 75% total loss. These people need homes and are willing to work to salvage their own but are NOW waiting in line to be boned by those controlling the supply.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:40 am to theunknownknight
Damien Callais has an interesting rap sheet
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:40 am to theunknownknight
quote:
hammers, crow bars, floor scrapers, floor removal bars - all being bought up as soon as the trucks unload by some of these goons. I've been trying to buy what I can for those around me so we can gut their houses easier but am unable. (I have tools, just not enough).
Buying them up and reselling them is a risky proposition with how quickly stock will be flowing through hardware stores. I can also imagine many "legitimate" reasons why someone would buy 30 hammers at once given the scope of the disaster, so I don't believe shady reasons are the only reasons.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:41 am to slackster
That's just it. Many aren't reselling. They are holding them - it's more profitable that way.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:45 am to theunknownknight
quote:
There is a moral aspect to this argument. What do you not get about Livingston Parish suffering a 75% total loss. These people need homes and are willing to work to salvage their own but are NOW waiting in line to be boned by those controlling the supply.
I'm sympathetic to the issue, I promise, but I don't see the moral issue with having to wait a day or two for a hammer because they were out of stock when you arrived. I promise you there will be more construction tools at your disposal in the near future than you ever thought imaginable.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:45 am to theunknownknight
quote:
These people need homes and are willing to work to salvage their own but are NOW waiting in line to be boned by those controlling the supply.
That's the biggest thing. Most of the people in these rural areas are tradesmen or have some type of construction experience. Not everyone needs an outside contractor.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:46 am to theunknownknight
quote:
That's just it. Many aren't reselling. They are holding them - it's more profitable that way.
What's the point of that? They're hammers, not nuclear reactors. They'll just send more hammers. Do these people just expect to be able to buy hammers in perpetuity?
Step 1: collect hammers
Step 2: ?????
Step 3: Profit!
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:46 am to theunknownknight
quote:
That's just it. Many aren't reselling. They are holding them - it's more profitable that way.
Who is "many"? I think the majority of stock are being purchased for completely legitimate reasons.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:47 am to theunknownknight
Tree cutting prices went sky high because of price gouging after Katrina
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:50 am to theunknownknight
quote:
That's just it. Many aren't reselling. They are holding them - it's more profitable that way.
Holding them for how long? Because the price of hammers is about to crash.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:54 am to slackster
quote:
but I don't see the moral issue with having to wait a day or two for a hammer because they were out of stock when you arrived.
You don't see an issue with people having to work/wait longer to remove moisture from their homes right now? Mold sets in and the damage becomes worse - making more monetary opportunity for others.
For those with only 2-10 inches of water in their houses, every hour counts.
Posted on 8/18/16 at 10:54 am to Topwater Trout
quote:
probably a bunch of Yankees trying to make $ of our misfortune
Its the same people that show up in Florida after hurricanes and in Midwest when a Tornado or flood hits.
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