Economy, boating. and fishing gear.

[MrSplitshot]

Not ALL companies lay the pipe to people but some do. Some because of Unions and fat cats, some because they choose to so they can pay there upper management millions of dollars every year. Q, you and Jason make good points and you are correct, but there are those that are just plain sinful greedy and here in America some of this downfall can be directly linked to it in my opinion. I work for a small company and we have to sell products in today's terms at cost and sometimes below to keep the doors open, so I know exactly where you are coming from.
Ask yourself this....... 20 years ago a guy could buy a brand new truck, a nice one for about 8 to 10 thousand dollars. That same truck today was over 31 thousand dollars, was greed and decadence on a large corperate scale any part of that at all?????????

Good points there too Mhall...especially about companies paying millions to their management. We deal with one company that has passed down more than one across-the-board price increase this year, yet we hear tales of the upper management getting bigger bonuses this year...and they don't make small change to start with. That is also a "cost of doing business" to some of these companies, and I think it's one that is TOO HIGH in many cases. To "manage expenses" they look to cut jobs, they look to cut benefits to workers, they look to a foreign country for cheap labor, they beat suppliers to death for the best possible skinny margin they can give them on raw materials...but they never can seem to make any cuts to salaries and perks for the big boys up top can they? That's a crock, really.

There are so many things that have played into this mess we're in, you could write all day and never get it all spit out...it's a shame really.

Here's something else to think about: Look at how many companies started charging "fuel surcharges" for deliveries, freight, or service calls back when gas was unreal...my company did it...but how many of them have stopped charging the surcharge now that gas has come down to lower levels than it was when they started? Greed, or just a way to conveniently make a few more bucks to help the bottom line as long as nobody yells about it?

[DJD]

Here's something else to think about: Look at how many companies started charging "fuel surcharges" for deliveries, freight, or service calls back when gas was unreal...my company did it...but how many of them have stopped charging the surcharge now that gas has come down to lower levels than it was when they started? Greed, or just a way to conveniently make a few more bucks to help the bottom line as long as nobody yells about it?

We did add the fuel trip surcharge to all of our service calls 2 years ago and actually raised it this year. We don't plan on lowering it anytime soon but we have been waving it for local (fayette county) calls. Sending a tech to Bell or Pike County is 6 hours windshield time and alot of gas so we have kept that charge. Some of our calls are a 30 minute fix but the customer still pays for our time there and back. Your right on, if we get an irate customer we will work with them on the charges.

[zx150]

We have been getting like tied goats for years.

[GeoFisher]

WE Pay what the MARKET DEMANDS.......PERIOD.

If you want a NEW truck bad enough, you're going to pay WHATEVER to get that new truck. Supply and DEMAND. Supply is SUPER HIGH now, and they need to dump the supply, so prices drop sometimes so they LOSE money, but losing money on a 30K truck is STILL better than NOT selling it at all.

It is all a game.........some play it better than others.

I'll GUARANTEE you this........if EVERYONE who wanted a RANGER bassboat this year decided to NOT buy one this year.......later this year, you'd be able to buy it at a HUGE discount..........that is how it works.

Simple Economics here guys.

Later,

Geo

[mhall]

Geo thanks for the economy lesson, understanding simple supply and demand is fine, but taking advantage of the countries people just because you can is still wrong. Always has been and always will be. I guess I'm stupid because I've never sold anything personally in my entire life that I thought was overprised. I just don't agree with taking advantage of good folks, there is a word for it...........ready.......... HONESTY. Unfortunately this country and it's people feel like they should just lay the smack on everybody and that's justifiable because that's just good business to make it while you can. I'll go to my grave thinking the way I do, right or wrong. I think the mentality of what we are talking about is the reason America is now reaping what it has sowed.

[DJD]

Geo thanks for the economy lesson, understanding simple supply and demand is fine, but taking advantage of the countries people just because you can is still wrong. Always has been and always will be. I guess I'm stupid because I've never sold anything personally in my entire life that I thought was overprised. I just don't agree with taking advantage of good folks, there is a word for it...........ready.......... HONESTY. Unfortunately this country and it's people feel like they should just lay the smack on everybody and that's justifiable because that's just good business to make it while you can. I'll go to my grave thinking the way I do, right or wrong. I think the mentality of what we are talking about is the reason America is now reaping what it has sowed.

Mark,
Greed is easy (especially in business)....integrity and honesty are more tough. I have always believed that the real test of integrity or honesty is when noone is watching.

Funny thing that word "economics"....almost sounds like an excuse more than a reason.

[MsgMills]

I agree 100% about the big discounts at the Stores during Christmas time for buyers.... I've now come up with a plan when needing clothes to wear...I will only shop for them during X-Mas time...Unless I really need something fast. But I went out with the wife and when we entered into such & such Store. She was attracted to a rack of clothes that were 80% off the marked price. I actually found a pair of Lee Jeans for $ 4.99 that fit me....Can you believe that price... We searched the racks top to bottom and found several good deals from 80 to 70% off.... So now I got my plan and I'm sticking to it....