=20 If I may interject a bit, and I haven't really been following this thread closely,=20 but after reading the comments below, and using Olin's hypothetical example, it may be perfectly acceptable to the Home Depot (or whoever is performing the service) to lose money on the generators for the good of the community. After the tragedy is over, and things are starting to calm down a bit, and people are ready to fix, rebuild, etc.=20 the Home Depot can make up their losses on the higher volume of building materials that people are going to buy to get back to where they started before the tragedy. =20 I think the losses incurred in getting the generators quickly would be a small amount compared to the community goodwill that would be seen. And if I were the owner (Franchisee?) of Home Depot, I'd want to spread a little goodwill to the community because for one, it's the right thing to do. And also because I would better guarantee my continuing to be in=20 business in that community when the tragedy is over. I am not trying to argue here. This is just my take on the situation as described.=20 It is here to be taken or left. If you don't agree, that's fine. I won't be hurt. Regards, Jim > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: Re: [OT] Is using USPS ethical? was:Paranoid or just a > coincidence? > From: "Olin Lathrop" > Date: Mon, November 29, 2010 9:17 am > To: "Microcontroller discussion list - Public." >=20 >=20 > Michael Watterson wrote: > > There is also the option of an upper limit. Perhaps x2 isn't an > > unreasonable upper limit given perhaps higher transport costs, > > overtime, risks etc. > > > > Zero control and excessive or the wrong control both seem to lead to > > much evil. >=20 > What exactly is the evil in someone bringing a pile of generators into a > stricken area and charging whatever he wants for them? I don't see how t= his > makes things worse than having it banned. If everyone else agrees it's e= vil > he has no customers, loses money, and the situation is taken care of. If > some do buy his expensive generators, those people didn't think it was ev= il > and thought his alternative better than all the ones they would have had = if > the he had been banned. Why should this be disallowed because a third pa= rty > thinks it's "evil". >=20 > It seems to me one of the effects of the Florida law that was quoted here= is > to slow down getting resources into a stricken area. I'll make up a > hypthetical example with probably bogus numbers, but it still illustrates > the point. Let's say it costs $20 per generator to ship it into the area > normally. This is when it's done in bulk, lots of lead time, slow but ch= eap > ship method, using existing distrubution structure, etc. Let's say it co= sts > $200 each to bring a smaller number of generators into the area *now*. I= f > you were running Home Despot, how much incentive do you have to incurr th= e > higher cost to get supplies in now if you aren't allowed to charge more f= or > them? Let's say the extra $180 per generator wipes out most of your prof= it. >=20 > So you have a choice: Bust your butt to get a few generators in quickly a= nd > loose money in the process, or get a bunch in a week or two later and mak= e > money. Remember, you're in the stricken area, and your resources are > suddenly crimped too. >=20 >=20 > ******************************************************************** > Embed Inc, Littleton Massachusetts, http://www.embedinc.com/products > (978) 742-9014. Gold level PIC consultants since 2000. > --=20 > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .