^^^ I guess you'd be happier if someone bought all of the ice at $2 a pop right before you arrived, right? That would mean no ice for you. At $20 a pop, you'd be able to get some for your purple drink.
Which one of you is this?
- Thread starter Kiopa_Matt
- Start date
My belief is simply this: no need to flashmob him and stole his precious ice. The ice is his to price however he wants. I think it's completely ethical to be able to place what ever price point you want on things you own. What's amoral, since you're arguing he isn't, is stealing or encouraging to steal another man's possessions.
In any case, it's a dick move on his part but you can't go all vigilante justice on his ass, that's why we put laws in place.
I highly doubt it.
People talk about how evil Walmart is all the time and those are the same retards we see herpin and derpin on peopleofwalmart.com
Money talks baby and this ain't Salvation Army ya dig?
If he keeps his prices for ice at $2 a bag during a shortage, I'm going in and buying it all. Then I'm selling it for $25 bag because fuck him and his altruism, and fuck anyone that doesn't want to pay me $25 for my ice.
Now what?
I'd login to Facebook, and look for one of the dozens of messages I've seen posted from people in Calgary offering to open their homes to total strangers in their time of need. Both of my sister-in-laws also did this. I'd take someone up on the offer, and once things returned to normalcy, would make sure they're paid back for their generosity.
This is why Canada doesn't go bat shit insane, like oh... say New Orleans.
Yeah, I'm aware of that. I was making a case for a type of commerce that would place reasonable value on these things, taking a long term perspective. And by long term, I mean hundreds of years. If you have some ideas about how to make that happen, I'm all ears.
Back to the theme of this thread, I think if you capitalize on a natural disaster, and ask people to pay $20 for a $2 bag of ice so they can keep what little food they had on hand fresh, then you're a cunt, plain and simple. This really has nothing to do with economic theory. I has to do with being a cunt, or not. That's my take on it.
Yeah, I'm aware of that. I was making a case for a type of commerce that would place reasonable value on these things, taking a long term perspective. And by long term, I mean hundreds of years. If you have some ideas about how to make that happen, I'm all ears.
Back to the theme of this thread, I think if you capitalize on a natural disaster, and ask people to pay $20 for a $2 bag of ice so they can keep what little food they had on hand fresh, then you're a cunt, plain and simple. This really has nothing to do with economic theory. I has to do with being a cunt, or not. That's my take on it.
How about if the store owner put a big sign in his window, "In this time of crisis we are offering FREE ICE to help the community, 1 bag per person, while quantities last"
What is the cost of a bag of ice 50¢ - $1.00? Place a couple hundred bags of ice on display. Next to the cashier place other emergency items (at regular price); batteries, flashlights, fuses etc. (loss leader effect), there's a good chance there will be other purchases made to pick up the slack. If not its only a couple hundred investment to help everyone out.
The customers walk away super happy, tell all their friends to do their convenience shopping with you. Who knows maybe even the local newspaper writes up a small article about it all. That's some free positive promotion.
Long term vs. short term gouging.
Downtown Calgary, plus a good amount of the surrounding areas / towns are currently flooded. So this guy decides to jack up the price of a bag of ice to $20.
What a prick. Should organize a flash mob -- have 200 people walk in at the same time, and each grab a bag of ice for free. Treat people how you want to be treated.
One bag of price gouged ice: $20.00
One smashed storefront window: Priceless
Any of you socialists understand that when prices shoot up during a shortage like this it encourages people from outside the area to bring more of the shortage items? At $20 a bag, if I lived near the area I'd haul in bags and sell them for $15 a pop. I'm sure others would follow suit and the prices would drop. The supply of ice would increase significantly.
Overall, more people would be able to get ice than just a handful who ran to the stores instantly and bought out the supply (which I'm sure some of you humanitarians would do) or those who waited hours in line for their one bag of complimentary ice.
Overall, more people would be able to get ice than just a handful who ran to the stores instantly and bought out the supply (which I'm sure some of you humanitarians would do) or those who waited hours in line for their one bag of complimentary ice.
You realize it's his ice, right? And that he can do whatever he wants with it?
Where the hell do you get off thinking he has an obligation to sell you his ice?
Thats a great point.
RE: The free ice scenario. Not socialism man.
We're talking about a one time emergency situation only. Direct to his local area which I'm sure are regular customers. A little "thank you" for supporting my business all these years buying chocolate bars at $2.50 (when they can be bought for 95 cents a few blocks away), that bought me my house; a little "giving back".
In addition, the loss leader tactic is used by companies large and small, because it works.
And its not bad to feel a little human from time to time.
Facebook should charge $20 to open an account (or do they get you in other ways) .
(not arguing with ya, just clarifying)
^^ I wasn't saying the ice should be given away for free. The higher price encourages people to increase the supply of ice. I'd rather have some ice at $20 a pop than no ice for $2. That store owner is a hero for adjusting his price to the market rate. If a similar situation happened in my area, I'd be trucking in ice at higher rates if I could.
BTW, I hate the "giving back" idea. It implies some sort of taking or unfairness. The store owner gives them candy or whatever and the customer voluntarily gives them money. Both benefit ex ante. There is no need to give back.
BTW, I hate the "giving back" idea. It implies some sort of taking or unfairness. The store owner gives them candy or whatever and the customer voluntarily gives them money. Both benefit ex ante. There is no need to give back.
The guy is just short sighted.
A business owner can charge what he likes; but when it is all said and done, good and/or bad will of the people who are his customers will end up determining the long term viability of his business. Make $xxxx now, loose $xxxxxx over a lifetime. Seems stupid to me.
And there are laws, but laws are nothing more than leverage. Abuse that leverage and people will use the leverage of mobs to rectify the situation. If you bring morality into power structures you are an idiot. Power is all about leverage. And leverage is amoral. Morality is that which is preached to the peasantry so they accept being an de-leveraged positions. Stealing is just a term used for leverage that is not socially accepted.
This does not apply to those who are in a monopoly/cartel.
A business owner can charge what he likes; but when it is all said and done, good and/or bad will of the people who are his customers will end up determining the long term viability of his business. Make $xxxx now, loose $xxxxxx over a lifetime. Seems stupid to me.
And there are laws, but laws are nothing more than leverage. Abuse that leverage and people will use the leverage of mobs to rectify the situation. If you bring morality into power structures you are an idiot. Power is all about leverage. And leverage is amoral. Morality is that which is preached to the peasantry so they accept being an de-leveraged positions. Stealing is just a term used for leverage that is not socially accepted.
This does not apply to those who are in a monopoly/cartel.
Home Depot apologizes for pricey water goof in Calgary during flood crisis | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
Most people aren't going to consider the deeper economics of raising the price, in this disaster situation. They're most likely going to view it as greed.
Guys you are all looking at it wrong from trying to measure each others economic dicks you have gone blind, open those little minds and view a situation from multiple perspectives if you are complaining about the ice make your own fucking ice don't be retarded and ask how. :zzwhip:
Maybe this badass could parachute in. Then they'd have all the ice they need!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE]Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE]Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby - YouTube[/ame]
Good old fashioned profiteering but unless you have a monopoly, and live where you're immune from prosecution, it's not a sensible business practice in the long term. It's a time to look after your customers, not shaft them.
Calgary flood victims angered by alleged price-gouging - British Columbia - CBC News
Calgary flood victims angered by alleged price-gouging - British Columbia - CBC News