[Misc] price gouging

[virtual22]

Hence my very first line is there are global shortages.

But then you go on to try to say that the rest of the world can ride it out but the UK cannot as it's not in the EU anymore (if I am reading what you posted correctly). This is not the case, the rest of the world is struggling just as much as the UK, whether in or out of Europe.

 

[The Clamp]

But then you go on to try to say that the rest of the world can ride it out but the UK cannot as it's not in the EU anymore (if I am reading what you posted correctly). This is not the case, the rest of the world is struggling just as much as the UK, whether in or out of Europe.

There is some truth in what you say.

 

[nicko31]

But then you go on to try to say that the rest of the world can ride it out but the UK cannot as it's not in the EU anymore (if I am reading what you posted correctly). This is not the case, the rest of the world is struggling just as much as the UK, whether in or out of Europe.

Any empty supermarket shelves in Europe (apart from produits de grande-bretagne)

You are right on semi-conductors though, major shortage. Should ease though next year..

 

[Official Old Man]

Not so much prices as shortages.
Shelves at Aldi in Lewes were emptier today than at 5:00 pm on Xmas Eve. Plenty of beer but little else.

 

[The Clamp]

It’s down to lack of HGV drivers in the case of food shortages. These shortages are due in part to Brexit.

 

[Jim Van Winkle]

Thought Price Gouging was going to be some out of contract MLS striker we were interested in.

Yep, we signed him and loaned him to Skonto Riga.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

You make it sound like this is a bad thing!....

Is it price gouging, not really, it's capitalism at work.

Okay... your opinions are your own, but please admit that living standards have raised immeasurably since the 1950's, when it was mostly British labour.

Owning a car was a luxury, now it's normal. Having a TV was a luxury, now a large flat screen is normal. Having a warm and dry house is expected, and having money to buy takeaways and so on is pretty much the norm - even for the lowest earners. Capitalism has enabled us to buy cheap goods, cheap cars, eat cheap food, and go on cheap holidays - so don't knock it.

The last time we got all up ourselves and demanded top dollar wages for low skilled jobs was the 1970's. Then we had three day week, power outages, and a biting recession.

Of course, there's middle ground - but once our country becomes grossly uncompetitive on the world stage, people will stop buying what we make. They'll buy it from a country which makes it just as well, but for less. That's capitalism. We'll tank as an economy, London will stop being a powerhouse (and is doing already), the house price ripple will stop, house prices will fall, interest rates will eventually rise, then people will be in negative equity and the turds will hit the spinner.

For all those getting red in the face now who shop at Lidl, Aldi and so on - you're also playing the game, going to whoever is cheapest. The Co-op are the most 'ethical' chain - but they're more expensive, and you want to save money.

Capitalism is a tune we all have to dance to. It will not change. Communism is the other option, where everyone is equal... but some people are more equal than others - which is in essence, capitalism.

I'll probably get flamed for this, but I'm a realist.

 

[beorhthelm]

...For all those getting red in the face now who shop at Lidl, Aldi and so on - you're also playing the game, going to whoever is cheapest. The Co-op are the most 'ethical' chain - but they're more expensive, and you want to save money.

weird isnt it? they had a very dodgy time running a bank too.

 

[Saunders]

Not sure I agree with that. The company we use for my disabled father (although we pay privately) pay their carers £14.95 per hour and 20 pence per mile, and they are desperately short of employees. I know £15 an hour is still pretty shit to most of us but it seems us Brits just don't want to work in this sector.

Well actually talk to a carer instead of a company owner. My friend didnt even get her last pay check until threatened with legal action. That is always the fall back answer when companys are paying less than minimum wage, Brits dont want to do the job. You are right though she doesnt want to do that job anymore even though caring for people was what she loved and wanted to do. I know her company paid petrol which sounds like your 20p per mile but they didnt include the travel time as working hours in between her visits which put her under minimum wage effectively.

 

[Saunders]

Well with all due respect we do pay for travel and waiting time and still are struggling to recruit, shows how bad its got!

The mirror is not a great source for a balanced view but I think the practice that is being referred to is where providers advertise a higher hourly rate and hope that it’s sufficiently high enough that when the travel time is factored in a carers wage is still above the NMW. However If a carers wage does fall below the NMW in any one month then they should receive a top up.

The problem for providers that are on local authority contracts is that local authorities often don’t pay enough to cover the true cost of an hour of care, and this includes travel time. Providers are therefore often forced to cut things fine in order to make ends meet.

Sorry a late reply but my friend who was a carer is a great source and that was to prove i wasnt talking BS.I am aware of what she could do in practice but that doesnt fly when you are fighting for it. Even when taking advice from her partner and me. I am glad that there is at least one company doing the right thing in the area. But many like my friend have been put off working in that line of work and it isnt because they are workshy or that British people dont want work in care. It is going to take a bit of time to undo the damage of some of your less scrupulous competitors.