Profiteering

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Was just looking at a photo album in another thread and saw an example of profiteering at Astrofest - hot water bottles $12 during daytime and $24 at night!!!!!

DT

LOL i argued that it was almost daylight when i got mine

[casstony]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

The local pubs and motels in Kilcoy have increased their room rates. Getting as much money as they can while they can.
Disgusting.

I dare say it would take very little public protest to get those rates back to normal. A few locals with placards and a TV camera crew?

[asimov (John)]

Yeah, thats bloody terrible. I have no doubt there are others pulling the same stunt elsewhere in the country. Karma will get them..

[astronut (John)]

These type of disasters bring out the BEST & WORST in humanity.
Thank goodness that the worst is in a minority.
Thank God for all the volunteers!!!!: thumbsup:

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I only paid $85 for a night at a motel in Kilcoy, the one with the with the cows on the roof, a couple of weeks ago. You know the one JJJ?


Adrian

I certainly do know that motel. I have their old phone number and am constantly getting calls from people looking for accomodation. I've often thought of starting a B&B using their client base.
But wouldn't because THAT would be unethical.

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Hi,

I feel it is a form of looting really.

(Not so much as usual) cheers

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I certainly do know that motel. I have their old phone number and am constantly getting calls from people looking for accomodation.

Know the feeling. We had the old number of a hairdressers', and were one digit different to a doctor's surgery.

After getting calls for both for a while, I complained politely, and was abruptly told to change our number.

So I started taking bookings.

"Perm and colour at 10am? That'll be fine madam."

"Yes, Doctor can fit you all in. Come at lunchtime."

The calls stopped !!

Cheers

[thunderchildobs]

There have been reports of some looters being caught by police in Ipswich. The mayor has suggested tying them to a pole and using them as flood indicators.

Brendan

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by thunderchildobs

There have been reports of some looters being caught by police in Ipswich. The mayor has suggested tying them to a pole and using them as flood indicators.

Brendan

I am not exactly sure where you are in ipswitch , is the observatory dry?

[renormalised (Carl)]

Easy way to stop this profiteering...enact a law...$250000 fine, have your business published in the papers and on radio/TV as being a bunch of thieves and/or 6-12 months in the slammer for your troubles.

Or worse still....same fines and jail time, plus also banned from owning and/or running a business for a period of 20 years.

[AdrianF (Adrian)]

One phone number I was given when I moved to rockhampton was a bit suss. 2-3 o'clock in the morning would have calls looking for Debbie, Susan, Denise etc etc and the caller would get very upset and ask if I had their new number.

Adrian

[AndrewJ]

Gotta say i find this thread interesting when read in parallel to the currently running "GST on internet purchases" thread.
When its a buyers market, its OK to go for the lowest price and screw the sellers.
When its a sellers market, its not OK for the seller to go for the best profit and screw the buyers???
Before anyone gets all narky, i disagree with profiteering in a case like this, but i also see the other side of the argument.
I guess thats what blind devotion to capitalism does for us.

Andrew

[erick (Eric)]

I wonder whether the costs of providing accommodation have increased? I cannot see where, but maybe?

I paid $15 more for the exact same motel room and identical service on my way north compared to my way south, some 10 days apart. (On the way up it was Christmas Day).

[casstony]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Gotta say i find this thread interesting when read in parallel to the currently running "GST on internet purchases" thread.
When its a buyers market, its OK to go for the lowest price and screw the sellers.
When its a sellers market, its not OK for the seller to go for the best profit and screw the buyers???
Before anyone gets all narky, i disagree with profiteering in a case like this, but i also see the other side of the argument.
I guess thats what blind devotion to capitalism does for us.

Andrew

I'm not sure the analogy is accurate Andrew due to the disaster accompanying these price rises - there are occasions when a sense of community should prevail.

However I think the hotel owners are within their rights to charge whatever they like - just as the people are within their rights to run a picket line out front of the establishment and to deny the hotel any local patronage after the disaster is over.

Our tax payer dollars will be funding a lot of accommadation for homeless people for months to come - I hope our govt's are a little choosy and avoid being gouged by ruthless business operators.

[joe_smith]

Originally Posted by asimov

Yeah, thats bloody terrible. I have no doubt there are others pulling the same stunt elsewhere in the country. Karma will get them..

I agree John !!!
and as usual we can all learn a lesson from nature on how to help each other in times of need

[astroron (Ron)]

It's been happening for a long time , I was in Darwin in 1977 when the Air Traffic Controllers strike was on , and had to leave my Hotel room as the owners wanted to put the price up as the city was filling up and they could charge more or less as much as they liked for the room
Finished up sleeping on the beach
Cheers

[thunderchildobs]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I am not exactly sure where you are in ipswitch , is the observatory dry?

h0ughy

The observatory is completely safe from the floods. Just a little bit of run off from the garden got under the walls.

Brendan

[AndrewJ]

Gday Tony

I'm not sure the analogy is accurate Andrew due to the disaster accompanying these price rises - there are occasions when a sense of community should prevail.

Dunno there.
Its just basic supply and demand.
Local Disaster gives local bricks and mortar enterprises the edge,
high dollar gives overseas low cost internet sellers the edge.

I guess my post was more to highlight some of the vitriol posted on the other thread against local bricks n mortar people trying to earn a "first world" wage ( read large markups relative to overseas suppliers ) retailing "goods".
Now, when people need "local" bricks n mortar and it costs more because of the conditions, more vitriol flows.

I just reckon Community flows both ways .

Maybe those needing accomodation should buy it on the net?????
( wonder how much the postage is for a hotel )

Andrew

[GeoffW1 (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Maybe those needing accomodation should buy it on the net?????

Andrew

You can of course, and do much better, ordinarily.

See what you are saying though.

However it will be hard to defend raising prices at a time when locals have been flooded out.

Cheers

[casstony]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Gday Tony
Dunno there.
Its just basic supply and demand.
Andrew

You might feel differently if you had been part of a large disaster experience Andrew - imagine the people in your community in fear of their lives, friends recounting how they soaked a blanket in the toilet in order to run through the flames engulfing their house (and losing track of loved ones in the smoke), burned or drowned pets and livestock (or children), whole communities in shock, etc.

The local businesses know how desperate and vulnerable affected people are and should restrain their pursuit of profit. Many in the community do put the $ in second place at times like this.