Confirmed Suspicions

[hipower]

Had a doc's appointement this morning at Skyline and went across the street to Walmart afterwards, just hoping a I might get lucky and find some 22 there.

 

No luck of course, but I was close and thought I'd try. But while I was there, the young man beside me started a conversation. Asking what I was looking for.

 

I didn't think too much about it and said I was looking for some 22, maybe even some 9 or 45.

 

He then proceded to tell me he was looking as well, hoping to find some more for the weekend. Going shooting? No.

 

He's looking for it to resell.

 

Well....after a few seconds looking into his eyes I asked if he was going to take it to Hendersonville this weekend. Yes, he says.

 

So I believe I stunned him then.

 

I looked him right in the eyes and said "So you're the reason the rest of us can't find anything. You're buying it and feeding this mess by trying to make a profit from it

He looked shocked that I'd said that. So I continued.

 

"You will be selling it at Hendersonville tomorrow?"  He said yes rather quietly. I said thanks. "I'll be sure and tell my buddies to avoid you.""

 

Over reaction? I don't think so.

 

If I can resist trying to resell mags at inflated prices, or jack up rifle prices about retail and beyond; I'm not ashamed to say that I'm offended by someone doing that with ammo to me and others.

 

So if you see a early 20-something young man abou t5'10" and puxhing 300 lbs'  stop in and give him your money.  Or your thanks.

Edited January 18, 2013 by hipower

[Sam1]

It's just the market right now, people are only pissed off cause it impacts them. Doesn't matter what he does with the ammo he buys, just like it shouldn't matter to him what you would do if you were buying all the paint brushes to resell at a paint expo coming to town.

[maroonandwhite]

I'll give you 1 attaboy for that post! :up: :usa:

[charlessummers]

WTG!... I'm still pondering if I want to go there tomorrow or not. I aint looking for ammo.

[maroonandwhite]

I have skipped the past two in my area. I have been lucky enough to find a box or two of something I have each time I go to Walmart. I buy a box of some kind of shotgun ammo when they don't have pistol or rifle. Ammo is ammo when it comes down to it.

 

Just a random semi-related question. Say those paint brushes mentioned above were marked "Not for resale"; is it illegal to resale them or just frowned upon. I realize ammo isn't marked like that. I am more or less just wondering.

[Guest RevScottie]

I wish the industry would begin to regulate itself. This would all go away much more quickly if retail stores placed reasonable limits on ammo and gun sales. This is what Sportsmans Warehouse in Chattanooga is doing.

 

Gun shows are the only retail shows I know of where private indivduals can set up shop beside licensed businesses. A lot of cities require anyone doing retail business using a booth at a show to report their income for tax purposes. I'm surprised gun shows don't do this. I'm also surprised that vendors don't complain about individuals undercutting their prices by not charging tax.

[DaveTN]

Good for you. It gets old seeing those who are doing it call it free enterprise.

[LagerHead]

Overreaction? Yes. It's the free market. Supply and demand. If people didn't think it was worth the markup they wouldn't pay it, leaving him holding the bag. Since people are paying it, it's obviously worth whatever he is asking. 

 

Unless of course you prefer a planned economy? If so, there are plenty of Socialists out there who can help you with that. ;)

[mav]

Overreaction? Yes. It's the free market. Supply and demand. If people didn't think it was worth the markup they wouldn't pay it, leaving him holding the bag. Since people are paying it, it's obviously worth whatever he is asking. 

 

Unless of course you prefer a planned economy? If so, there are plenty of Socialists out there who can help you with that. ;)

 

Second.

[atlas3025]

I wish the industry would begin to regulate itself. This would all go away much more quickly if retail stores placed reasonable limits on ammo and gun sales.

 

The way "the industry" or "supply side" controls this is by raising prices to what they believe the market will bring.  Placing limits is just a form of central planning.  If wal-mart would raise its prices (I know...GASP) then people wouldn't hoard, and there would be ammo on the shelves. 

 

If the local Exxon lowered its price on gasoline to $1.00 a gallon, how long do you think it would be until it ran out?

[Steelharp]

Good on you, Larry.

[hipower]

While I do realize this is a free market economy, I equate this to the beany baby, barbie, and for us old fart comic guys, the action figure craze; I'm not advocating a planned marketplace or social economics. I just question the ethics of buying retail and doubling the price to the end consumer for the purpose of gouging as an individual, not as a brick and mortar store.

 

Yes, I do understand basic economics, and I have voiced opinions on "price" vs percieved "worth" in a shortage market, or in any market.

 

Aw, the heck with it. I just typed about a page on my viewpoint and some of the awnsers. While thinking and looking back at it,  I realize it's all a matter of percption and ethics, or morality if you will. And no amount of verbage is going to change one or the others opinion.

 

Some of us percieve it to be slightly less than ethical, others as an economics supply and demand issue.

 

I guess it's just that simple...perception

Edited January 18, 2013 by hipower

[mcurrier]

Happens every day on the stock market.  Buy low, sell high.  It is what it is.

[lowery100]

How many of us over the last couple of years have took gold in to sell for what is essentially inflated prices. As has been stated, free market economies dictate such price swings, the market will swing one way or another and will usually settle somewhere in the middle. Back to the gold reference, most would think you crazy to sell you old gold chain from high school for close to what you paid for it in 1981, I would guess that old chain is worth several times what was paid for it then. That is not gouging, its not immoral. Because some of us did not prepare for what was inevitable and others are profiting from it is not the profiteers problem or fault it is our for not being prepared. 

[Parrothead]

Overreaction? Yes. It's the free market. Supply and demand. If people didn't think it was worth the markup they wouldn't pay it, leaving him holding the bag. Since people are paying it, it's obviously worth whatever he is asking. 

 

Unless of course you prefer a planned economy? If so, there are plenty of Socialists out there who can help you with that. ;)

 

Yup--people take advantage of current events. Nothing new. How do you think the insurance companies stay in business........