topic Re: Price gouging - eclipse in Community Chat

Price gouging - eclipse

madzonie — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 11:00:13 GMT

We originally had plans here at home in AZ at the time of the solar eclipse (Aug.21), but they suddenly changed.

Since hubby & I are celebrating our 40th anniversary on Aug. 20 I got this crazy idea of looking into making a quick trip to an "ideal" location to see the eclipse.

I decided to look around the area from Idaho Falls ID to the West Yellowstone area. I knew the chance of finding something might be iffy. Many places are completely booked, but I was shocked to find those hotels with vacancies were charging from $600-700 PER NIGHT! These are rooms that usually go for around $150/night.

I guess that's the American way - gouge gouge gouge. We've decided to do something else for our anniversary.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

kaydee50 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 11:57:01 GMT

I would call it supply and demand, not so much price gouging. If you want to be in NYC for Thanksgiving or Christmas, the cost will be significantly higher than other times. Same for beach resorts or ski resorts. I'm sure there will be people willing to spend $600/night for the eclipse. You're smart not to be one of them!!

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

WenGirl42 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:09:06 GMT

I'm sorry you weren't able to make your anniversary plans work out. I don't think that's gouging though...it's supply and demand. Just like how Superbowl tickets are more expensive than tickets to regular football games. Similarly, if there isn't anyone willing to pay the $600-$700 a night the hotels are asking, those rates will go down, so you could keep an eye on it. They won't let those rooms go empty.

To me this is different from the story another poster had (sorry, I can't remember who!), where they already had reservations at a hotel for normal rates, and the hotel came in and cancelled those reservations to charge a higher rate for the room. That isn't right.

Edit to acknowledge @kaydee50 who, while I was typing, said what I wanted to say much more succicntly

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

millieshops — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:28:24 GMT

I like Atticus Finch's advice to his daughter Scout: You have to walk a mile in the other man's shoes to understand him.

So - if you owned that hotel, what would you charge on the night of the eclipse? Any partiular factors affecting that decision?

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Laura14 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:30:39 GMT

Don't make me put my home on AirBnB for the day. At those prices, I just might plus rent out the front and back lawns. Extra surcharge if you want to climb my tree for a better look and total premium for roof top.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

brandiwine — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:57:04 GMT

LOL!

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Susan Louise — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:30:23 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
Don't make me put my home on AirBnB for the day. At those prices, I just might plus rent out the front and back lawns. Extra surcharge if you want to climb my tree for a better look and total premium for roof top.

@Laura14 Hmmmm...considering the idea...

We are here in eastern NE and only have to set up lawn chairs since we are in the direct path. It certainly would help pay for the QVC CIJ purchases I made this month...LOL

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Plaid Pants2 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:39:13 GMT

One thing to keep in mind is, just because the eclipse will be going overhead, doesn't mean that one will be able to see it if they sky is cloudy/overcast.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Laura14 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:46:43 GMT

@Susan Louise wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
Don't make me put my home on AirBnB for the day. At those prices, I just might plus rent out the front and back lawns. Extra surcharge if you want to climb my tree for a better look and total premium for roof top.

@Laura14 Hmmmm...considering the idea...
We are here in eastern NE and only have to set up lawn chairs since we are in the direct path. It certainly would help pay for the QVC CIJ purchases I made this month...LOL

@Susan Louise More incentive! It's like a yard sale for the UPS man courtesy of Mother Nature.

I think my prices just went up. Baby needs some new shoes, a handbag, and lots more she'll pick up later. Need to find something with a full moon print and some stars....

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Laura14 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:51:02 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 wrote:
One thing to keep in mind is, just because the eclipse will be going overhead, doesn't mean that one will be able to see it if they sky is cloudy/overcast.

@Plaid Pants2 Absolutely NO refunds! BYOB. And you better pick up all your trash when you leave my driveway.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Cats3000 — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 21:19:04 GMT

It's NOT gouging. It's called "supply and demand". No one is forcing anyone to pay the price. If enough people don't, the prices will come down. Works every time.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Susan Louise — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 14:36:05 GMT

@Laura14 wrote:
@Susan Louise wrote:
@Laura14 wrote:
Don't make me put my home on AirBnB for the day. At those prices, I just might plus rent out the front and back lawns. Extra surcharge if you want to climb my tree for a better look and total premium for roof top.

@Laura14 Hmmmm...considering the idea...
We are here in eastern NE and only have to set up lawn chairs since we are in the direct path. It certainly would help pay for the QVC CIJ purchases I made this month...LOL
@Susan Louise More incentive! It's like a yard sale for the UPS man courtesy of Mother Nature.

I think my prices just went up. Baby needs some new shoes, a handbag, and lots more she'll pick up later. Need to find something with a full moon print and some stars....

@Laura14 ...........as the saying goes...the sky is the limit!

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Cakers3 — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 15:03:52 GMT

@Cats3000 wrote:
It's NOT gouging. It's called "supply and demand". No one is forcing anyone to pay the price. If enough people don't, the prices will come down. Works every time.

@Cats3000 Not quite. "Gouging" is actually against the law in some juridictions in the United States, usually during emergencies and for such items, including housing, as food, clothing, medicine, etc.

Enough people cannot afford to not buy necessities in those situations-hence, the prices remain high. The same applied to before, during, and after an emergency.

This eclipse is a situation of apples to oranges.

"Gouging" is also not a term generally used in major economics.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

september — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 16:50:14 GMT

I'm surprised that there would be any rooms available in the prime viewing areas at this time. In Jackson Hole, everything sold out a year in advance.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

azgal — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 17:55:17 GMT

A relative of mine in Oregon is having a viewing party.

There are motels in central Oregon, where there is less chance of overcast skies, that have been sold out for 5 years!

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Cats3000 — Sat, 29 Jul 2017 18:15:12 GMT

Cakers: When we lived in FL, there were "price gouging" laws in effect to put a lid on prices during hurricanes and other emergencies.

While I understand "emergency situations", I am opposed to price controls because it inserts government between the business and the consumer. Government has never been a particularly good "businessman" on it's own. Why would we want it to control businesses?

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Evie2004 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 03:26:22 GMT

@madzonie wrote:
We originally had plans here at home in AZ at the time of the solar eclipse (Aug.21), but they suddenly changed.

Since hubby & I are celebrating our 40th anniversary on Aug. 20 I got this crazy idea of looking into making a quick trip to an "ideal" location to see the eclipse.

I decided to look around the area from Idaho Falls ID to the West Yellowstone area. I knew the chance of finding something might be iffy. Many places are completely booked, but I was shocked to find those hotels with vacancies were charging from $600-700 PER NIGHT! These are rooms that usually go for around $150/night.

I guess that's the American way - gouge gouge gouge. We've decided to do something else for our anniversary.

@madzonie Happy (early) Anniversary! Our 50th is on 8/19th..we will be in Williamsburg, Va, have to see if we will see any of the eclipse! Have fun, whatever you decide to do!

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Cakers3 — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 17:03:28 GMT

@Cats3000 wrote:
Cakers: When we lived in FL, there were "price gouging" laws in effect to put a lid on prices during hurricanes and other emergencies.

While I understand "emergency situations", I am opposed to price controls because it inserts government between the business and the consumer. Government has never been a particularly good "businessman" on it's own. Why would we want it to control businesses?

@Cats3000 Because not everyone in emergency situations can afford the jacked up prices. I'm not a big fan of anything gov't either but the price lids can and do protect those in less financial status.

I don't have a problem with these hotels; the customers have the choice to use them or not. I'm sure the people using them are not only rich.

However, when there is no food, water, decent shelter, etc. then there has to be some protection for the least fortunate. Those people have no choice.

Re: Price gouging - eclipse

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 14:34:05 GMT

I'm in Ohio and our news just did a story about the how much prices have gone up at the hotels in these areas.

It's really no different than how the price of hotels increased in my area when Cleveland hosted the RNC or how the price goes up during prime vacation season in many areas or they raise in Nashville during the week of the CMA's or country music fest, etc.