What is price gouging?

[michaelf3]

Here's the definition from California DOJ.

"Price gouging refers to sellers trying to take unfair advantage of consumers during an emergency or disaster by greatly increasing prices for essential consumer goods and services."

I guess the key words here are "greatly increasing" and "essential", because different people have different definitions for how much is too much and what is essential.

Is twice the normal price too much or four or ten times? I know air, water, food, medicines, and a few other items are considered essential to most. What about ammo and reloading supplies? I see many people are complaining about prices in Private Reloading Sales and elsewhere. For example, 5000 pieces of primers are selling for $1000 or more, where in normal times they are around $20-30/1000.

Let's leave moral or morality out of this discussion. What is your definition?

[71MUSTY]

If I want it it should be sold to me at a discount, if you want it I can charge what the market will bare. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay their price, if you don't like it don't buy.

But if you waited until a crisis to be prepared that is kind of on you.

[Master_Prestige]

Guns and ammo are non essential.

[559BearDown]

If I want it it should be sold to me at a discount, if you want it I can charge what the market will bare. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay their price, if you don't like it don't buy.

But if you waited until a crisis to be prepared that is kind of on you.

This is the only correct answer every time one of these threads pop up.

[nedro]

When the price gets high enough to rob the carpetbagger of his goods.

[1911RONIN]

What is price gouging?

Another attempt to complain about pricing from a different approach.

"What difference does it make?"


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[OCEquestrian]

If I want it it should be sold to me at a discount, if you want it I can charge what the market will bare. Nobody is forcing anyone to pay their price, if you don't like it don't buy.

But if you waited until a crisis to be prepared that is kind of on you.

^^^^ Statement above is the best answer I have seen.

[Anti Obama]

I’m exempt

[audiophil2]

I'm upset. I've been selling Trump Glocks for $750-800 until last November. Now they are selling for $1300-1500. I called all my buyers and told them to come back and pay me the difference but no one wants to do that. So unfair.

[Tarmy]

I love how the politicians always want to rewrite Econ 101.

What happens if...it costs a lot more to import or bring into stricken areas...or, the supply is limited nation wide...or, like ammo, it is something that government mandates have artificially made scarce?

Seems like our overlords are the only ones capable of rational thought.

[Joe Register]

For me the question has been "what is low balling?"

If someone is selling a $500 common plastic gun for $1300 and you offer $1000 are you low balling? You are still offering twice the normal price. Of course if you could get it at the normal price you wouldn't be offering twice that but are you a low baller at that point?

[TimRB]

Let's leave moral or morality out of this discussion.

You can't. In a true capitalistic system there is no such thing as price gouging. Sellers can ask anything they want for their wares, and if a buyer comes along and pays that price, the system has worked as it should. By definition, an item is worth what someone will pay for it--no more, no less.

It becomes "gouging" when someone decides that the price is so high that it's actually immoral (or at least "wrong" or "mean") to take such advantage of the situation.

Tim

[bohoki]

to me price gouging is intentionally raising prices during a shortage in attempt to make unreasonable profits

[ScottsBad]

Here's the definition from California DOJ.

"Price gouging refers to sellers trying to take unfair advantage of consumers during an emergency or disaster by greatly increasing prices for essential consumer goods and services."

I guess the key words here are "greatly increasing" and "essential", because different people have different definitions for how much is too much and what is essential.

Is twice the normal price too much or four or ten times? I know air, water, food, medicines, and a few other items are considered essential to most. What about ammo and reloading supplies? I see many people are complaining about prices in Private Reloading Sales and elsewhere. For example, 5000 pieces of primers are selling for $1000 or more, where in normal times they are around $20-30/1000.

Let's leave moral or morality out of this discussion. What is your definition?

That's idiotic, the discussion is irrelevant and pointless without the inclusion of a discussion of morality, because morality is what the anti-capitalists base their "gouging" claims on.

Besides the way you've framed it, you've made ammunition and bulk ammunition components "essential" when they are not.

The only people that could claim ammunition or ammunition components are "essential" would be people who cannot obtain ammunition used to feed themselves. Ding dong. At least your engrish is improving, if not your education and reasoning ability.

[Garv]

I have been stocked up on ammo since learning the hard way during the Rodney King riots.
(Police blockaded gun stores in my area.)

I had to wait in line for plinking ammo during the Obama shortage, but always had enough on hand to provide "essential services" to any looters.