How do you feel about small mom and pop stores price gouging?

[Nocturnal]

Do you feel that is fair and that it's a capitalistic market therefore, it's perfectly fine for a small business to price gouge or do you think that they should play fair just like how Best Buy and CompUSA have done so by honoring the actual MSRP and not uppping the price to insane amounts.

I'm not talking about bundles either, I'm talking about just the consoles itself, be it the PS3 20GB or the PS3 60GB, being marked up to $1200-$1500.00 each just for the console alone.

How do you feel about something like this happening?

 

[Andyb23]

I don't think its small mom and pop stores charging 1000+ for consoles idiot.

 

[mugs]

I think the stores should be allowed to sell it for however much they want, but I assume Sony prohibits that. Are Mom and Pop stores even getting the new systems in yet? I'd think most or all of them went to chains.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Andyb23
I don't think its small mom and pop stores charging 1000+ for consoles idiot.

I'm not talking about eBay.com. I'm talking about seeing them in person. If you were to have seen it, how would you feel? Why the harsh words?

There are a few shops where I live that are actually charging $1200-$1500 for the console itself. I believe one store is actually selling the imported version as opposed to the USDM version.

 

[glutenberg]

Originally posted by: Andyb23
I don't think its small mom and pop stores charging 1000+ for consoles idiot.

Obviously, you've been to every Mom and Pop store in the country to be able to so boldy call someone an idiot. I congratulate you on being well traveled.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Why not? 90% of the people buying at MSRP are just flipping them on eBay.

Sony should have allowed the chains to boost the price by $100+ for the first batch too, since they normally make next to nothing on the console itself.

 

[sandorski]

It should be their choice. With the amount of Flipping that goes on with Consoles these days I don't see why they shouldn't try to get the cream for themselves. Where I get all choked up about Price Gouging is when it's for essentials during a coming crises(Hurricane and other Emergencies), but a Console is not an essential and as such let them price away.

 

[Andyb23]

Originally posted by: glutenberg

Originally posted by: Andyb23
I don't think its small mom and pop stores charging 1000+ for consoles idiot.

Obviously, you've been to every Mom and Pop store in the country to be able to so boldy call someone an idiot. I congratulate you on being well traveled.

Dude they are being closed in on all sides by franchises.

Now its not that I don't support free enterprise, I'm just saying that this is a good way for these small stores to make up all that money they lost during the year.

Don't like the prices... don't buy em.

Simple as that.

 

[sixone]

If they can find some fool willing to pay that price, I say more power to them, and I don't care if it's a small store or a big one. If stores like Best Buy want to stick with the MSRP, that's their choice. Unless they've voluntarily entered into a contract with Sony to not raise the price higher, there's no good reason for them to milk the hype for all it's worth.

 

[imported_Mike]

MSRP is what it is, a SUGGESTED retail price. Don't like it? Don't shop there.

 

[olds]

I don't care what they charge.

 

[Nocturnal]

I never said I didn't like it. I'm just asking for everyone's opinion. I definitely did not state that I don't like it and I hate mom and pop stores that price gouge. I'm just asking for some input. Hope you are all not taking it that I am against this. I never said I was.

 

[shoRunner]

if i owned a store and had them i sure as heck would...i don't understand why BB, CC, Walmart and the rest don'y, i mean if people are dumb enough to pay $1000+ then why not sell them at that price til the demand goes back down to normal levels.

 

[BooGiMaN]

price gouging to me is when someone sets an outrageous price for an ESSENTIAL product..such as water, medicine and food after a disaster or shortage.....not for a luxury product whose price has been raised and that some dumbass is WILLING let me repeat WILLING to pay for it.

 

[episodic]

I'm with boogiman. . . I wonder why AT does not allow people to sell them. This is not gouging - it is capitalism - at it's best.

 

[Skeeedunt]

Fine by me, as long as BB and the rest are allowed to do the same. Mom and pop stores have crappy prices anyway.

What I want to know is why the hell Sony isn't selling these for more. Aren't they losing $200/unit or something?

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: episodic
I'm with boogiman. . . I wonder why AT does not allow people to sell them. This is not gouging - it is capitalism - at it's best.

Because this is a community, not ebay.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I don't care what they charge.

 

[mrrman]

if they can do it on Ebay...why not there to

 

[SlitheryDee]

Doesn't bother me a bit. A large percentage of launch PS3s (maybe the majority?) will be resold to their end users at inflated prices anyway. I see no problem with small stores that actually need the money raising prices in accordance to the apparently high demand.

 

[imported_wicka]

Price gouging only works if it is the only place you can buy them...

 

[waggy]

shrug. don't bother me. if the price is not what i think is fair i won't buy the product. Almost all the little "mom & pop" stores around here are very expensive. i have no need to waste money shopping at there store.

and i know a few other that feel the same.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Do you feel that is fair and that it's a capitalistic market therefore, it's perfectly fine for a small business to price gouge or do you think that they should play fair just like how Best Buy and CompUSA have done so by honoring the actual MSRP and not uppping the price to insane amounts.

Do they have a contract w/the manufacturer to only sell at MSRP? If so, then I'm against it because I'm for honoring contracts

However, if there is no contract, then I'm all for it. More precisely, I'm indifferent to it. In a non-communist economy, they can charge whatever price they want. If you, the consumer, don't want to pay that price, then take your business elsewhere.

[Edit] And I'm sure they're finding some customers...Some feel the utility of not having to deal with the lotteries and lines and occasional riot trying to get it at the stores is greater than the several-hundred dollars extra they'll pay.

 

[everman]

I bet you'd flip if you knew how much retail markup is on a lot of the stuff you buy...

 

[doze]

As long as they do not purchase directly from Sony I don't think there is any restriction on price. The large chain stores usually purchase direct and have restrictions. I'm sure that Sony's largest customers get together with Sony to discuss pricing in advance too.