Posted on 11/06/2012 5:03:21 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Being prepared for disaster is a way of life for many American preppers, but there are also many people throughout the Nation completely unprepared for the unthinkable.
Those who are unprepared become easy targets for victimization. Since Superstorm Sandy struck New York, there have been hundreds of reports of price gouging in the area as frantic city-dwellers rush about in search of basic supplies.
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday that he was in the process of investigating more than 400 possible cases of price gouging as prices on things like gasoline, food, bottled water, generators, batteries and flashlights have skyrocketed at some retailers. He said he was investigating supermarkets, hardware stores, bodegas, delis, hotels and taxis throughout the New York City region.
“We are actively investigating hundreds of complaints we’ve received from consumers of businesses preying on victims of Hurricane Sandy,” Schneiderman said. “Our office has zero tolerance for price gouging.”
One customer was shocked to be charged $10 for a box of matches at a neighborhood store. There were also reports of potatoes at one grocer going up from $3 to $7 and a loaf of bread costing $7.
New Yorkers have been getting gouged for years. They should be used it by now.
Price gouging needs to happen and run its course. It’s the fastest way to get goods where they are needed.
Price controls (i.e. anti-price gouging laws) will only create more shortages and lengthen the period of suffering.
Ignorance is so sad. It’s also deadly.
PING!
Price gouging laws are stupid. Prices are just a reflection of real value and supply and demand. If people were allowed to truck in supplies and make a profit, then in short order, supplies would increase and the high prices would start to fall. Price gouging laws are the same as price controls, and they cause shortages just as price controls do. Let the market work.
In Florida they arrested people who wanted to sell bottled water because of price gouging. They didn’t get any water.
The price of doing business if your a bent over sheeple in a nanny state.
After the Japan nuclear accident, people in Kansas were hoarding Potassium iodide yet lived nowhere near a nuclear plant.
High prices are the only way to see that goods get to the people who need them. One will only pay a high price if one REALLY needs it.
High prices serve a purpose in disasters.
As I was talking to people on the 2 hour gasoline line on Saturday, everyone would be happy if they gouged us and charged us $8 or $10 a gallon for a week or two, just get the effen gas here !
You are spot on and I would suggest the author read some Sowell.
It’s not price gouging.
It’s prices reflecting current value.
“Need a blanket, grandma? Need a light? $300!”
“But I don’t have $300.”
“Freeze in the dark, old woman!”
And HAS it. Which will be remembered a long time by those in such a spot.
For the record I’m against anti-”gouging” nannyness, but I am also not a kneeler before a god of untrammeled capitalism. People do remember and karma can be a female dog.
If someone believed he could sell a blanket for $300, he and many others would bring in truckloads of blankets, and the increased supply would drive prices back down in short order. Instead, with “anti-gouging” laws, no one is incentivized to bring in blankets and there will be no more blankets available.
“Price gouging” prevents a single person from hoarding it all.
Forget price gouging during disasters...will someone tell me how 5lbs of potatoes can be $2 and 10oz of potato chips are $4???
Forget price gouging during disasters...will someone tell me how 5lbs of potatoes can be $2 and 10oz of potato chips are $4???
I would ask if someone feels they can ask $10 for a box of matches with a reasonable possibility of receiving it there is not truck loads of matches on the way to sell at this price.
“Instead, with “anti-gouging” laws, no one is incentivized to bring in blankets and there will be no more blankets available.”
Somehow blankets were available pre-disaster in quantity.
A $10 box of matches is only available to the person with $10.
I am at the point where I say “Screw the a-holes in the blue states”. These fools told us how great the Kenyan was when he stopped in for a photo op and now they want to bitch?? F-them!
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