price gouging?

[275RLTW]

Once again. Price gouging does not exist. It is a made up phrase by people who want to decide for me what I should sell my goods and services for. If you don't like the price DONT BUY IT. Find a price you like. If someone wants to buy it they will. If the item is listed higher then the market will stand then it won't sell and the seller will either not make a sale or will drop the price till they do make a sale.

Good idea in theory until it's YOUR medications, food,water, or any other substance you need to survive.

[centrarchidae]

Good idea in theory until it's YOUR medications, food,water, or any other substance you need to survive.

That doesn't invalidate TMLeader03's statement. "Gougers" or "speculators" may charge too much for something you want, in your opinion. But if they charge more than people are willing to pay, then people won't pay.
They're not setting their prices in a vacuum. A high price reflects a relatively low supply, relative to demand. Just look at generators in the aftermath of Katrina or Sandy: Everybody wanted them, but there were only so many to go around.

What makes this even worse is, there's no way to fix it that won't make things worse: if you restrict what a seller can charge, then you effectively guarantee that there won't BE any supply once the cost of providing that good/service rises above the politically-acceptable price.

Don't get me wrong: I would dearly love to buy myself a Magpulized Colt 6920 and 3000 rounds of Guatemalan M193 for a thousand bucks out the door. That does not obligate anybody with a rifle to sell one to me at that (or any other) price. It's his rifle to do with however he wants.

[Sharpienads]

Good idea in theory until it's YOUR medications, food,water, or any other substance you need to survive.

Your right. The selling price of a product should be assessed based on what the buyer can afford to pay. Somebody should really do something about this evil capitalism thing.

[tmleadr03]

Good idea in theory until it's YOUR medications, food,water, or any other substance you need to survive.

Why are my requirements for life the problems of the person selling the item? I buy my food, water and all the other substance I need to survive and to keep my family alive.


From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

[275RLTW]

Not saying that capitalism is wrong, I'm saying that your statement of "price gouging" not existing is false since you only applied it to things you don't consider life sustaining. The current rise in prices will continue as long as people continue to pay for them and will in time become the norm. Water, food, medications, fuel and many other items have all followed this rule. We know those items don't cost near what we pay for them yet we still buy them becuse we need them to survive or to fulfill a basic need.

[tmleadr03]

Not saying that capitalism is wrong, I'm saying that your statement of "price gouging" not existing is false since you only applied it to things you don't consider life sustaining. The current rise in prices will continue as long as people continue to pay for them and will in time become the norm. Water, food, medications, fuel and many other items have all followed this rule. We know those items don't cost near what we pay for them yet we still buy them becuse we need them to survive or to fulfill a basic need.

It is made up even when it is a requirement for life.

ETA:

[centrarchidae]

Not saying that capitalism is wrong, I'm saying that your statement of "price gouging" not existing is false since you only applied it to things you don't consider life sustaining. The current rise in prices will continue as long as people continue to pay for them and will in time become the norm. Water, food, medications, fuel and many other items have all followed this rule. We know those items don't cost near what we pay for them yet we still buy them becuse we need them to survive or to fulfill a basic need.

So, what should water, food, medications, fuel, etc. cost?

[hatidua]

[R&S]

it's funny, it wasn't until Barry stated he was going to do to curb the violence that I started getting calls from across the country asking if I had any AR15s, they started with "Hi Randy, do you remember me?". Then, hey can you get me a good deal on an AR15? My response was to check gunbroker and I will do the paperwork for $20.00. Funny how some folks won't give you the time of day until they want something that you can provide at a "good deal".

[kidicarus13]

There was a run on ammo after the 2008 elections, and for nearly all of 2009, if you didn't already have it, you weren't going to find it. That was a measly 47 months ago. Now, my memory is about as bad as anyone's in existence, and yet even I can recall that everything from .22 - .308 was out of stock, everywhere. For some reason, there is a collective amnesia and we are seeing it all over again and many of our dear cohorts here keep trying to eloquently articulate that "this time it's different" -and they should not have to pay more than they were paying three weeks ago.

For those of you that have used the term "gouging" in a derogatory way in the last few weeks... you need to reread above.

For those of you too moral to increase your prices during this time of great uncertainty and instability... good for you, you're doing better financially than me. What do you have for sale and when can I come pick it up?