And the reality is, at least according to Florida law, if they=20 helicopter in more generators at great expense, they can charge more for=20 the generators to ensure a profit: "Florida Statute 501.160 states that during a state of emergency, it is >> unlawful to sell, lease, offer to sell, or offer for lease essential >> commodities, dwelling units, or self-storage facilities for an amount th= at >> grossly exceeds the average price for that commodity during the 30 days >> before the declaration of the state of emergency, ***unless the seller c= an >> justifying the price by showing increases in its prices*** or market tre= nds. >> Examples of necessary commodities are food, ice, gas, and lumber." What they CAN'T do is change the price of candles on the shelf to $300 a=20 box. They CAN limit quantities to ensure that as many people as=20 possible are able to buy candles. Kerry jim@jpes.com wrote: > =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 > > =20 >> -------- 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." >> >> >> Michael Watterson wrote: >> =20 >>> 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 = this >> makes things worse than having it banned. If everyone else agrees it's = evil >> he has no customers, loses money, and the situation is taken care of. I= f >> some do buy his expensive generators, those people didn't think it was e= vil >> 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 p= arty >> thinks it's "evil". >> >> It seems to me one of the effects of the Florida law that was quoted her= e is >> to slow down getting resources into a stricken area. I'll make up a >> hypthetical example with probably bogus numbers, but it still illustrate= s >> the point. Let's say it costs $20 per generator to ship it into the are= a >> normally. This is when it's done in bulk, lots of lead time, slow but c= heap >> ship method, using existing distrubution structure, etc. Let's say it c= osts >> $200 each to bring a smaller number of generators into the area *now*. = If >> you were running Home Despot, how much incentive do you have to incurr t= he >> higher cost to get supplies in now if you aren't allowed to charge more = for >> them? Let's say the extra $180 per generator wipes out most of your pro= fit. >> >> So you have a choice: Bust your butt to get a few generators in quickly = and >> loose money in the process, or get a bunch in a week or two later and ma= ke >> money. Remember, you're in the stricken area, and your resources are >> suddenly crimped too. >> >> >> ******************************************************************** >> 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 > > > =20 --=20 Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.289 / Virus Database: 267.11.13 - Release Date: 10/6/05 --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .