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re: What are your thoughts regarding laws against price gouging during states of emergency?
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:47 am to CatfishJohn
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:47 am to CatfishJohn
I'd say that beyond a thought experiment, it doesn't matter.
People will price gouge in circumstances like this. Makes no difference to get angry with them. They know what they're doing and no moral grandstanding will do any good.
Prepare yourself beforehand.
People will price gouge in circumstances like this. Makes no difference to get angry with them. They know what they're doing and no moral grandstanding will do any good.
Prepare yourself beforehand.
0
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:51 am to CatfishJohn
Of all the things the government does to subvert free market capitalism, this doesn't even move the dial. It is also one of the few things that should come under their purview, IMO.
If you recall the preamble of the constitution:
Anti-price-gouging laws during an emergency seem to at least fall within one of the bolded items, if not both, and would be part of the only reasons to have a government at all.
If you recall the preamble of the constitution:
quote:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Anti-price-gouging laws during an emergency seem to at least fall within one of the bolded items, if not both, and would be part of the only reasons to have a government at all.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:51 am to Earnest_P
Some of you people are thick as hell.
The logistics point has been made repeatedly, and yet you gloss over it.
Do you want a baw in lake Charles to load up a trailer full of generators he bought for $250 and drive them east to sell them for $500, or not? Tell him he can’t sell them for more than $275, and there will be zero generators heading to Florida.
Many of you don’t get that even truckers for evil businesses are competing for loads. I can drive refrigerators to Iowa and make $1k. Or I can drive chainsaws to Florida and make $3k. If it was $1k for both jobs, who is going to take the job to Florida?
The logistics point has been made repeatedly, and yet you gloss over it.
Do you want a baw in lake Charles to load up a trailer full of generators he bought for $250 and drive them east to sell them for $500, or not? Tell him he can’t sell them for more than $275, and there will be zero generators heading to Florida.
Many of you don’t get that even truckers for evil businesses are competing for loads. I can drive refrigerators to Iowa and make $1k. Or I can drive chainsaws to Florida and make $3k. If it was $1k for both jobs, who is going to take the job to Florida?
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:54 am to JohnnyKilroy
quote:
Charging 20 bucks for a bottle of water could mean that several people buy the minimum they need/can afford, whereas if they were still a dollar a pop or something one person may come in and just buy the whole lot and now only one person has all the water to themselves.
Meanwhile the seller gets to make 300% profit this quarter. Ethics are in play here.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:56 am to CatfishJohn
quote:
it is capitalism in a pretty pure form and supply and demand economics.
And there in lies the problem with capitalism. We can acknowledge all the good it’s brought us while also acknowledging the problems it has. Price gouging in emergency situations like in Florida is fricked up and evil no matter how you try to defend it.
quote:
should it be the government's place to price-regulate?
In certain situations absolutely, the government serves the people not corporations some people seem to have forgotten that act almost as if corporations are people. Keeping companies in line to where they didn’t frick over their customers or employees it’s part of the government’s job
Posted on 10/9/24 at 11:56 am to CatfishJohn
Haven't read this whole thread so I'm sure this has been mentioned.
But so called "price gouging" in emergencies can actually have the effect of making sure goods remain available and a small number people don't buy up/hoard all the necessary goods. Guy goes in and buys up the entire shelf of water, toilet paper, etc because its cheap so why the hell not? Maybe he doesn't do that if the price reflects the demand/scarcity of the product?
You could address that by laws limiting quantity of purchases, but that is very difficult to enforce.
But so called "price gouging" in emergencies can actually have the effect of making sure goods remain available and a small number people don't buy up/hoard all the necessary goods. Guy goes in and buys up the entire shelf of water, toilet paper, etc because its cheap so why the hell not? Maybe he doesn't do that if the price reflects the demand/scarcity of the product?
You could address that by laws limiting quantity of purchases, but that is very difficult to enforce.
This post was edited on 10/9/24 at 11:57 am
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:01 pm to elposter
quote:
But so called "price gouging" in emergencies can actually have the effect of making sure goods remain available and a small number people don't buy up/hoard all the necessary goods. Guy goes in and buys up the entire shelf of water, toilet paper, etc because it’s cheap so why the hell not? Maybe he doesn't do that if the price reflects the demand/scarcity of the product?
Ok but you’re also actively hurting poorer people who may not be able to afford the good at the marked up price. It’s opportunism at its worst. Taking advantage of a situation simply because you know people are desperate
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:11 pm to 0x15E
quote:That is certainly a factor to consider.
Meanwhile the seller gets to make 300% profit this quarter. Ethics are in play here.
Yes gouging could lead to a "better" distribution of scarce resources, but then there's a party (the seller) who likely gets a relatively unearned windfall. It's certainly not a perfect outcome.
This post was edited on 10/9/24 at 12:12 pm
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:16 pm to dawgfan24348
quote:
Ok but you’re also actively hurting poorer people who may not be able to afford the good at the marked up price.
Yes, but in reality the poor people are fricked anyway after a person buys much more water/food/supplies they need and hoards.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:18 pm to JohnnyKilroy
quote:
, but then there's a party (the seller) who likely gets a relatively unearned windfall. It's certainly not a perfect outcome.
Lmao
Who are you to judge?
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:18 pm to dawgfan24348
quote:
Ok but you’re also actively hurting poorer people who may not be able to afford the good at the marked up price. I
Let’s be clear. You want to solve the problem of poor people not having NECESSARY items during an emergency. Agreed?
Ok. You need to contend with the fact that there are many many ways of solving that problem that don’t WORSEN shortages during an emergency (as laws against gouging do).
This post was edited on 10/9/24 at 12:19 pm
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:22 pm to Earnest_P
If price gouging was allowed there would be plenty of gasoline for everyone.
FACT!
FACT!
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:25 pm to LittleJerrySeinfield
quote:
The cost to provide a hotel room outside of the storm area isn't more expensive.
Are you in the hotel business?
The entire industry is based on fluctuating pricing due to demand.
And evacuees cramming 10 people and their pets into a hotel room can definitely increase expenses.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:34 pm to dawgfan24348
quote:
Price gouging in emergency situations like in Florida is fricked up and evil no matter how you try to defend it.
The question was not whether it was good, but whether it should be illegal. There are lots of things that are evil and immoral that are legal.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:34 pm to CatfishJohn
Should be zero gouging and that if found true should see jail time and lose their business. Prices are set by the market, no reason to screw people in their biggest time of need.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:35 pm to JohnnyKilroy
quote:
Charging 20 bucks for a bottle of water could mean that several people buy the minimum they need/can afford, whereas if they were still a dollar a pop or something one person may come in and just buy the whole lot and now only one person has all the water to themselves.
THis /\
But for that sort of thing a limit on purchases could be just as effective.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:36 pm to mdomingue
quote:
Anti-price-gouging laws during an emergency seem to at least fall within one of the bolded items, if not both, and would be part of the only reasons to have a government at all.
As has been stated in this thread multiple times already, "demand based pricing" is actually a good thing, and no, the government would not "fix it" just like they can't fix anything else.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:37 pm to LittleJerrySeinfield
Do you think the hotel workers don’t want to evacuate too? You certainly have to pay them plenty of extra cash to show up for shifts. And since your hotel is probably at 97% occupancy, you have to bring in more people each shift. Increased food costs, increased electric costs, etc.
Or, you can just close the hotel for the week.
Or, you can just close the hotel for the week.
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:37 pm to CatfishJohn
"dabigfella" says there is no such thing as price gouging... 
Posted on 10/9/24 at 12:39 pm to back9Tiger
quote:
Should be zero gouging and that if found true should see jail time and lose their business.
quote:
Prices are set by the market
So which is it?
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