Post-Covid Rip-offs and Prices.
Discussion
Firstly, good people of PH, I understand that some things have gone up in price due to market forces and supply and demand issues due to the pandemic.
Used cars, bicycles, UK holidays, that kind of thing ...
However, I can't help but feel that "Because Covid" is now being used as a poor excuse for some blatant profiteering from some vendors.
I shall provide a few very recent examples;
A lowly OEM oil filter purchased from a main dealer yesterday. I paid £9 for one two years ago, it is now £13. "Because Covid" said the dealer with a straight face. " Everything has gone up" he continued ...
I suspect this particular filter had been sat on a shelf for years. I can't see demand outstripping availability here. I blame greed.
Two ice creams purchased in a Northern touristy type town. £9. A small cone and only one scoop !
I felt robbed. There was no price list. I think they were charging whatever they could get away with.
Two (small) hot chocolates in paper cups purchased from a van.
£9. Again, no pricelist on display. In view of my previous experience with the ice creams I told the vendor he could jog on and keep them (much to embarrassment of my wife).
You've got to draw the line somewhere though, right ?
Anyway, is this just me ? Do I need to readjust following the pandemic and realise that things are not as they were ? Are ice cream and hot chocolate sellers now allowed to weigh you up, take a guess at how much you will be prepared to pay and try their best to fleece you ? Obviously, they'll need to try harder with me but that isn't the point.
What say you ? Is it me or is this the new normal ?
Used cars, bicycles, UK holidays, that kind of thing ...
However, I can't help but feel that "Because Covid" is now being used as a poor excuse for some blatant profiteering from some vendors.
I shall provide a few very recent examples;
A lowly OEM oil filter purchased from a main dealer yesterday. I paid £9 for one two years ago, it is now £13. "Because Covid" said the dealer with a straight face. " Everything has gone up" he continued ...
I suspect this particular filter had been sat on a shelf for years. I can't see demand outstripping availability here. I blame greed.
Two ice creams purchased in a Northern touristy type town. £9. A small cone and only one scoop !
I felt robbed. There was no price list. I think they were charging whatever they could get away with.
Two (small) hot chocolates in paper cups purchased from a van.
£9. Again, no pricelist on display. In view of my previous experience with the ice creams I told the vendor he could jog on and keep them (much to embarrassment of my wife).
You've got to draw the line somewhere though, right ?
Anyway, is this just me ? Do I need to readjust following the pandemic and realise that things are not as they were ? Are ice cream and hot chocolate sellers now allowed to weigh you up, take a guess at how much you will be prepared to pay and try their best to fleece you ? Obviously, they'll need to try harder with me but that isn't the point.
What say you ? Is it me or is this the new normal ?
There's a couple of threads recently concerning labour shortages and problems with supply chain.
This affects everything but some people seem to be happy with the prospect of just raising wages for low-paid workers so they don't live in "poverty"
They may be right that it's a good thing but one thing is for absolute sure; if the current employment and supply chain market continues, there is an inflation tsunami coming and everything you buy from a loaf of bread upwards is about to get a lot, lot more expensive.
So get used to it.
This affects everything but some people seem to be happy with the prospect of just raising wages for low-paid workers so they don't live in "poverty"
They may be right that it's a good thing but one thing is for absolute sure; if the current employment and supply chain market continues, there is an inflation tsunami coming and everything you buy from a loaf of bread upwards is about to get a lot, lot more expensive.
So get used to it.
Lincsls1 said:
Maybe starting asking for a price before you buy, then walk if you're not happy with it.
No, they shouldn't be fleecing people like this. £9 is way too much for the ice creams IMO.
That is a fair point but I think they do not provide a pricelist for a reason.No, they shouldn't be fleecing people like this. £9 is way too much for the ice creams IMO.
They are hoping most people will just pay up and not argue, maybe out of embarrassment.
Cunning, eh ?
The way I see it, if I let them prepare the items and try it on but I say no way Jose then I am beating them at their own game.
I'm pretty sure they need to provide a pricelist by law so they can't really argue.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Thank you. I did just that (with the hot chocolate).My question really is has anybody else experienced this profiteering ?
Regarding the hyperinflation issue I'm not sure that will happen but if it does I can see some very tough times ahead because wages will, imo, be stagnant.
K87 said:
My barbers has increased their prices from a start price of £15 to £60. when I asked why the answer was simply 'Covid' and ' we have taken on an apprentice', who was stood outside the shop smoking and on her phone.
She is trading forex https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...Aicmfp
K87 said:
My barbers has increased their prices from a start price of £15 to £60. when I asked why the answer was simply 'Covid' and ' we have taken on an apprentice', who was stood outside the shop smoking and on her phone.
Seriously WTF. My barber charges me £5.50 for a haircut at OAP rate. £8.00 for under 65s..I believe the prices charged by ladies hairstylists doubled (or even trebled) during the pandemic. Supply and demand.
That does seem a ridiculous price to pay for a bloke's haircut though. I'm not sure that could be justified no matter what half-arsed excuses are provided.
I hope you went elsewhere.
That does seem a ridiculous price to pay for a bloke's haircut though. I'm not sure that could be justified no matter what half-arsed excuses are provided.
I hope you went elsewhere.
Spare tyre said:
A main dealer I use, used covid for the excuse for them not cleaning my car.
I looked blankly out the window at them cleaning other sales cars.
They also used it for double booking a courtesy car
Yes, this is what I am getting at. Covid appears to be the excuse for lots of things without justification.I looked blankly out the window at them cleaning other sales cars.
They also used it for double booking a courtesy car
Maximus Decimus Meridius said:
Spare tyre said:
A main dealer I use, used covid for the excuse for them not cleaning my car.
I looked blankly out the window at them cleaning other sales cars.
They also used it for double booking a courtesy car
Yes, this is what I am getting at. Covid appears to be the excuse for lots of things without justification.I looked blankly out the window at them cleaning other sales cars.
They also used it for double booking a courtesy car
Full of fecking s
tCan’t say I’ve noticed any profiteering, but I have noticed a significant increase in prices with most pubs seemingly now charging £15 for a burger as standard! It’s simple, though, I just don’t buy what I don’t think is good value.
What I have noticed is that Covid is just an excuse for st service and cutting back on simple stuff that you’d expect as standard - homemade tartare sauce now swapped for Heinz packets in most fish and chips restaurants as an example.
I’ve also noticed that young Brits who work in cafes and restaurants are bordering on fking useless. Why is it that none of them can think for themselves or provide a solution to even the most basic of problems? I always breathe a sigh of relief when it’s a young Eastern European who’s working our table or behind the counter. At least I know they’ll be competent and do a decent job.
What I have noticed is that Covid is just an excuse for s
t service and cutting back on simple stuff that you’d expect as standard - homemade tartare sauce now swapped for Heinz packets in most fish and chips restaurants as an example.I’ve also noticed that young Brits who work in cafes and restaurants are bordering on f
king useless. Why is it that none of them can think for themselves or provide a solution to even the most basic of problems? I always breathe a sigh of relief when it’s a young Eastern European who’s working our table or behind the counter. At least I know they’ll be competent and do a decent job. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff