A beef with some retail vendors.......

[FOMOGO]

Yep, depends a lot on your google fu. I'm slowly getting better at it, but it can be aggravating at times to get through all the "buy this cra!" to find what your looking for. Seems I recall a time when you would search something and actually find it in short order from several sources. Now virtually (pun intended) everything has been monetized. Last specialty gear I got was for my 39' Sydney 14/16" lathe carriage drive. Last year from Boston gear it ran around $100 shipped. Mike

 

[GrifterGuru]

Some of you failed economics. Selling a widget based on what you paid for it is a good way to go broke. For a retailer to remain viable their price must reflect their replacement cost. If they sell it to you for $10, but it costs them $12 to get the next one they are losing their operating capitol.

Now, about that (BS) inflation number. If you don't do your grocery shopping, go ask the person who does if they think inflation in the last 3 years is 8%... Lots of things have doubled or more.

I don't think it's any more predatory than the original pricing, just keeping up with the times.

GsT

So you think 33% inflation per annum is normal do you?

 

[woodchucker]

Some of you failed economics. Selling a widget based on what you paid for it is a good way to go broke. For a retailer to remain viable their price must reflect their replacement cost. If they sell it to you for $10, but it costs them $12 to get the next one they are losing their operating capitol.

Now, about that (BS) inflation number. If you don't do your grocery shopping, go ask the person who does if they think inflation in the last 3 years is 8%... Lots of things have doubled or more.

I don't think it's any more predatory than the original pricing, just keeping up with the times.

GsT

Look at the profits of the oil companies... historic highs, many times there previous profits. It all starts there.
Some of it is predatory.

 

[Larry$]

What the market will bear!
Personally, I'd make it. Spur gears aren't that hard to make. You don't even need to buy a gear cutter, grind your own.

 

[GeneT45]

So you think 33% inflation per annum is normal do you?

No, not normal, though it's been the "new normal" for a lot of everything. As with all things inflation, some prices rise rapidly, some don't. Lots of variables.

Look at the profits of the oil companies... historic highs, many times there previous profits. It all starts there.
Some of it is predatory.

I'll agree there are some people taking advantage (and some other factors besides), but I was specifically addressing the idea that a retailer (presumably) bought something before prices rose and should therefore sell it for a price based on that past cost. There is an awful lot of inflation here that is costing small businesses dearly.

GsT

 

[ozzie46]

Those gears in the posted links are external teeth gears the one he needs is an internal gear ,teeth on the inside, not very easily made in the home hobby shop. Think the outer gear in a sun and planet gear setup.

Ron

 

[starr256]

I can and do make external spur gears. No problem. Internal, that's another skill and equipment level that I do not possess. I have no problem with selling at market price regardless of what it costs. What I am having a hard time with is understanding what is driving that market price. Gasoline, one of the most purchased items has been "relatively" stable with moderate fluctuation over the last three years. Wages have not go up 8% each year. Why did yogurt double in price? No one ever explains the real reasons for a price increase other that "inflation". Why are rents increasing? Just want an honest explanation instead of the bull we get. I know that explanation will not be forthcoming, but.........

 

[woodchucker]

The price of gas multiplies as each process has to pay for their costs.
manufacturing, shipping, buying raw materials (shipping again)..
Look at the price of diesel that's worse.
Both are a commodity but the real winners in this are the oil companies. The real losers are the consumers.

 

[RJSakowski]

Last month, I was looking to replenish my supply of Eagle Claw #8 Aberdeen fish hooks. I went on line to find a supplier and found that they were running around around $7 for ten hooks. These hooks weigh in at 52 mg each which brings the cost to $383/oz. Some high priced steel! I had previously purchased the hooks for around $3/ hundred. The equipment which is used to make these hooks has more than likely been written off decades ago and the although imported steel products took a big jump in 2017 is certainly wouldn't account for a 2300% increase.

It has been my experience over the years, that when retailers are given an excuse to increase prices, they will do so in spades and they never seem to want to reduce prices when the initial reason disappears. I see this happening across virtually all business sectors, much to my dismay.

 

[Larry$]

It seems a course in economics may benefit some members to help them understand "Why".
Using GAAP & government figures: $100 in the year I was born (1942) and using average inflation rates, by 2024 that $100 would now be $1921 with an average inflation rate of 3.71%. In real $s gasoline is cheaper now than when I was in high school.