Best Buy sells cases of water for $42.96 in Houston....

[sreyemj]

I now have a policy, I do not sell to any table holders.

I guess you can do what you want, but an economist would say that you're selling at less than market price and expecting people not to behave rationally and take advantage.

Shortages can make it expensive to buy something, price controls can make it impossible.

[bigzdawg]

There is the economic issue, and there is the morality issue.


In this example, the two cannot be divorced from each other.


I could see taking off the sale price and charging standard retail price.

But jacking it up 1000% or more? That is looter territory in a major disaster like Houston, IMO.



I really, really do NOT like looters. Looters need pain applied to them.

[hkcavalier]

There is the economic issue, and there is the morality issue.


In this example, the two cannot be divorced from each other.


I could see taking off the sale price and charging standard retail price.

But jacking it up 1000% or more? That is looter territory in a major disaster like Houston, IMO.



I really, really do NOT like looters. Looters need pain applied to them.

It's a slippery slope. Statists might claims that, in an emergency, the government should be able to confiscate needed supplies and reimburse at cost. That way, people get what they need and the store incurs no financial penalty (in a perfect world of course).

I think our current system of letting private businesses price however they like, with the knowledge that public shaming is now MUCH more effective in the age of the Internet and social media, works very well. Once you scream, "This isn't fair, something must be done" you're talking about rules and legislation.

[Duke EB]

There is the economic issue, and there is the morality issue.


In this example, the two cannot be divorced from each other.


I could see taking off the sale price and charging standard retail price.

But jacking it up 1000% or more? That is looter territory in a major disaster like Houston, IMO.



I really, really do NOT like looters. Looters need pain applied to them.

mark down the occasion, I totally agree!

[STED9R]

Vicious circle.
Take our sport of shooting. Some disaster comes along and within hours the prices are jacked up, people buying all they can carry and shortages everywhere.
We're our own worse enemy when we buy just because something may run out.
I've been guilty of buying primers, powder etc even if didn't need it, and only contributing to the price and shortages.

[PMB]

Why does it seem more likely to be intentional to some of you? They are a national chain with a LOT to lose by doing this intentionally.
I have been charged case price for an individual item once or twice, and the same thing the other way: I've been charged individual price when I bought a case. In both situations we caught it at the checkout.
The people setting the prices don't make the illicit profit, unless they are out and out thieves. So... My inclination is to assume an innocent error.

[L_O_G]

Why does it seem more likely to be intentional to some of you? They are a national chain with a LOT to lose by doing this intentionally.
I have been charged case price for an individual item once or twice, and the same thing the other way: I've been charged individual price when I bought a case. In both situations we caught it at the checkout.
The people setting the prices don't make the illicit profit, unless they are out and out thieves. So... My inclination is to assume an innocent error.

Why wouldn't they just write it off as donations and give it to those that need it?

If anyone at anytime regardless of the situation thinks $43 for a case of water is a good idea, then they need their head checked.

This smells like it was not intentional at the corporate level, but more at the store manager level. My guess is that the store manager took it upon themselves to try and squeeze as much money to line their profits as they could.

[PMB]

If anyone at anytime regardless of the situation thinks $43 for a case of water is a good idea, then they need their head checked.

I've seen boneheaded errors both directions many times. Sometimes even after pointing out an error that should require a head check, the bonehead doubles down on the boneheadedness.
But you're right- it would be interesting to find out if any cases were sold at that price, and if any customers asked for the store manager.

This smells like it was not intentional at the corporate level, but more at the store manager level. My guess is that the store manager took it upon themselves to try and squeeze as much money to line their profits as they could.

I didn't consider that... I have no experience in retail sales. Thanks for pointing out a possible motive as I couldn't see one.

[Nate]

I've seen boneheaded errors both directions many times. Sometimes even after pointing out an error that should require a head check, the bonehead doubles down on the boneheadedness.
But you're right- it would be interesting to find out if any cases were sold at that price, and if any customers asked for the store manager.

[STED9R]

Why does it seem more likely to be intentional to some of you? They are a national chain with a LOT to lose by doing this intentionally.
I have been charged case price for an individual item once or twice, and the same thing the other way: I've been charged individual price when I bought a case. In both situations we caught it at the checkout.
The people setting the prices don't make the illicit profit, unless they are out and out thieves. So... My inclination is to assume an innocent error.

I don't see it as a direct and wilful gouging, but business as usual.
Bottled water in some place like Best Buy, probably sells the bottle individually for $2 or more.
Take a case using simple math, and the ridiculous price what you come up with.
They intentionally sell individual bottled water for a couple bucks. Tossing out a case and multiplying by whatever price, is taking advantage of a situation.
Johnny the door greeter didn't tell someone to drag however many cases of water out to sell, somebody above him made the decision to drag those cases out for sale, and made the decision to mark the price.
If they were so concerned about their neighbors and being a part of this, the water would have been free.

At least that's my thought.

[PMB]

Bottled water in some place like Best Buy, probably sells the bottle individually for $2 or more.
Take a case using simple math, and the ridiculous price what you come up with.
They intentionally sell individual bottled water for a couple bucks. Tossing out a case and multiplying by whatever price, is taking advantage of a situation.

That was another possibility that I had not thought of. Thanks.

If they were so concerned about their neighbors and being a part of this, the water would have been free.

I am opposed to any idea of a business being compelled (by public opinion) to giving away for free a product that they bought with the intention of selling.
I see where you and others are coming from, and it sounds like a nice thing to do.
As I was Driving Miss Princess the other day I heard a tearful wailing coming from the radio. It was the voice of a mother with 6 children under 6 years old (! That's what I remember) crying about how her children are hungry in light of the storm at Houston. Her house was not flooded nor damaged, IIRC.
Miss Princess and I looked at each other, curled our faces up in mutual surprise and confusion... The mother didn't know that there was a magnificent storm bearing down upon her and her family? They had no supplies?
So now she was on national radio crying about how her babies didn't have enough food and water.
I have compassion for the children, but not much for the mother.
We live in a welfare state by design. I believe that continuous rescue of those who make poor decisions makes for a weak populace and an overtaxed working class.

That was too long, and probably not on topic to Best Buy charging too much for water.

[wklink]

Big difference between a want with glasses and a need with water

Not my point. I agree there is a difference. My point was is that for every need there is someone wanting to exploit it.

Glad they called the BestBuy store on this. I'm sure it wasn't endorsed by the company but a manager needs to be fired.

[NWGunner]

I now have a policy, I do not sell to any table holders.

I guess you can do what you want, but an economist would say that you're selling at less than market price and expecting people not to behave rationally and take advantage.

Shortages can make it expensive to buy something, price controls can make it impossible.

"I guess you can do what you want"- you guess?!? Well, that's awfully nice of you...

First of all, no one cares what an economist would say....

Next thing is, in the gun community, which you seem to be a part of, other than total douche bags, most try not to screw each other over, whether it's leaving a box or two of ammo behind in short supply, or not gouging people.

At the gun shows, part of the reason table-holders get to browse early is so they don't lose out on good deals, and can help each other out. To try and take huge advantage of a fellow table-holder is just greedy, and bad form.

TinCan has found a way that works for him. And people still send folks from their table out to check prices and grab deals at other tables.

I liken it to someone going down the aisle of an airplane on crutches....no matter who is on the plane, or where it's from, if one were to reach out and trip them, nearly everyone would consider that wrong.

Whether an ethicist (or economist) does, no one cares. Bad form is bad form

[TechnoWeenie]

'Premium' water isn't cheap, usually runs $1.49 on up...

They were selling Dasani and Smartwater, aka 'premium' water.. This isn't your 36 pack from costco of filtered 16.9o bottles....


They had no SKU/case price of the water, so they took the retail price and x24, or whatever the case size was..

Individual retail packaged premium water is not the 10c a bottle crap you get in a case of 'drinking water'.....and businesses pay a premium for that water.... Usually making about 50c or so from each premium bottle...



This is a case of an idiot making waves in a kiddy pool....

[Sinus211]

They had no SKU/case price of the water, so they took the retail price and x24, or whatever the case size was..

$42.96/24= $1.79