NationStates Jolt Archive

With the huge influx of visitors for the Pope's funeral, price gouging has run amuck.

Apparently street vendors are now charging $6 dollars for a slice of Pizza. This is doubly reprehensible because many of the people who have come to pay their respects are from far poorer countries than Italy ( like poland ).

It's hardly very Christian, (not the church of course, it's not their fault, the price gougers).

With the huge influx of visitors for the Pope's funeral, price gouging has run amuck.

Apparently street vendors are now charging $6 dollars for a slice of Pizza. This is doubly reprehensible because many of the people who have come to pay their respects are from far poorer countries than Italy ( like poland ).

It's hardly very Christian, (not the church of course, it's not their fault, the price gougers).
Plus the Pizza's not that good from what I remember.

I bet they're selling souvenir mugs on the street corners as well. It's human nature, I'm afraid. Life goes on.

Plus the Pizza's not that good from what I remember.
Of course.. because Pizza is a purely American invention.. rofl...

Ein Deutscher']Of course.. because Pizza is a purely American invention.. rofl...

Actually, it's greek. But don't let facts bother you.

Ein Deutscher']Of course.. because Pizza is a purely American invention.. rofl...

Actually, it's greek. But don't let facts bother you.

And you are not funny. This is a thread about price gouging, take your pathetic need to define yourself as "not american" elsewhere. You are boring.

well, that's like what 4€? I've seen worse in Paris and in London

Besides I bet the Polish people will bring food with them

Ein Deutscher']Of course.. because Pizza is a purely American invention.. rofl...
Dude, I'm of Italian descent. I've had pizza in Italy, NY, and NJ. I know from experience that NY and NJ are the only places in the world to get decent pizza. Unless you're into that Chicago style stuff.

well, that's like what 4€? I've seen worse in Paris and in London

Besides I bet the Polish people will bring food with them

For a single slice of Pizza, not a whole pizza.

Actually, I'm sure you could find places in London to buy a slice of pizza for $6, or the equivalent. Yes, a slice. The best thing about the US when I was there was that eating out was so cheap. We did it all the time, it was great. And you get massive portions. London is not so generous.

For a single slice of Pizza, not a whole pizza.

I understood it the first time.

Go to Paris and in many places you will be charged 5€ for a slice, and I mean a tiny slice

even here at El Corte Ingles it's like 3€ for a medium sized slice.

On the Boardwalk at Seaside Hights NJ there's a bar called the Sawmill. You can get a huge slice of pretty good pizza for $1.

I understood it the first time.

Go to Paris and in many places you will be charged 5€ for a slice, and I mean a tiny slice

even here at El Corte Ingles it's like 3€ for a medium sized slice.

It's funny, because I was in london just in feb. And I don't recall it being that expensive. I didn't have any pizza though. Maybe that's just the really tourist areas.

On the Boardwalk at Seaside Hights NJ there's a bar called the Sawmill. You can get a huge slice of pretty good pizza for $1.

Is that near the Stone Pony? I don't really know the Jersey shore all that well.

It's funny, because I was in london just in feb. And I don't recall it being that expensive. I didn't have any pizza though. Maybe that's just the really tourist areas.

most likely, I've only been to london twice so...

but, for instance, nyc, I was there 2 years ago, I was staying at water st. near the south seaport and there was a place selling slices at $4 so as you can see $6 for a slice in Rome is not that outrageous

but yeah increasing the prices just because the Pope died is shameful

$6 per slice is going overboard. However, it's not going quite as far as $5 for a can of Coke in Paris. That's why my sister paid when she went.

Is that near the Stone Pony? I don't really know the Jersey shore all that well.
Stone Pony's in or near Asbury Park, North of Seaside.

I liked the different kinds of cheese on the pizzas I ate whilst in Italia...

although the first one, in Rome... lmao

i picked up a slice and it was SO THIN that it flopped over and all the toppings fell into my khaki'd lap.

$6 per slice is going overboard. However, it's not going quite as far as $5 for a can of Coke in Paris. That's why my sister paid when she went.

I haven't been to Paris for years and years. But I do remember that I found french pricing funny. Coke has always been super expensive (when compared to other goods) in france for some reason. Like more expensive than beer and wine.

What is the problem here?

There is a limited supply of something, there is a massive increase in demand, the price goes up.

What is the alternative. Arm wrestling to see who gets a slice? Lottery draw, Roll up folks, get your lucky pizza lottery ticket here! First come first served leading to major violence as hungry pilgrims riot over cheap pizza.

Of course the price went up, and I think everyone expected it to. (Apart from those who have no understanding of economics whatsoever.)

What is the problem here?

There is a limited supply of something, there is a massive increase in demand, the price goes up.

What is the alternative. Arm wrestling to see who gets a slice? Lottery draw, Roll up folks, get your lucky pizza lottery ticket here! First come first served leading to major violence as hungry pilgrims riot over cheap pizza.

Of course the price went up, and I think everyone expected it to. (Apart from those who have no understanding of economics whatsoever.)

Gouging is illegal in most countries.

Gouging is illegal in most countries.

Define gouging. If the demand exceeds the supply, the price goes up. If this is a pre arranged price hike amongst the local vendors, then it could be considered gouging, if not, then it is simple plain market forces. They are not illegal.

They do have Big pieces but thats Crazy!
Mind you the Euro is Supperior so EH?

Some people seem to think that Italy is still a cheap place to visit. You learn something new everyday...

Define gouging. If the demand exceeds the supply, the price goes up. If this is a pre arranged price hike amongst the local vendors, then it could be considered gouging, if not, then it is simple plain market forces. They are not illegal.

IIRC, gouging doesn't have to be pre-arranged. I can't, for example, wait until there is a big hurricane the load up a U-haul truck with bottled water, drive it to florida and sell the water for $10 a bottle.

IIRC, gouging doesn't have to be pre-arranged. I can't, for example, wait until there is a big hurricane the load up a U-haul truck with bottled water, drive it to florida and sell the water for $10 a bottle.

Why not? The people there want the water, if they are willing to pay $10 a bottle then it should not be illegal to charge that. The problem only arises when there is collusion between vendors to artificially raise the price.

If taking advantage of a situation to make a profit is gouging, and this is illegal, then the USA itself should be prosecuted for this practice due to its arms sales. As should every single farmer in the world.

It may be that it is illegal, but I think that there is more to it than you are presenting. I don't know as it is not a term I have ever encountered in either the UK, nor here.

EDIT: I think your assertion that it is illegal in most countries is wrong. What I have found on price gouging is this essay (http://www.edlotterman.com/PriceGouging.htm) concerning the law in the USA

EDIT2: Noun: price gouging

1. Pricing above the market when no alternative retailer is available
source (http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/PRICEGOUGING)

This is just meaningless. If there is no competition, there is no possibility of you pricing abover the market, you are the market.

...( like poland )...

You remembered Poland!

Some people seem to think that Italy is still a cheap place to visit. You learn something new everyday...

it is, just not Rome ;)

Well of course pizza is expensive in $. The $ is worthless compared to the Euro.

it is, just not Rome ;)
or Milan, Venice, Torino and anywhere near lake Garda...
I guess smaller places especially in the south can be much cheaper.

You remembered Poland!

There's nothing funny about that. The Pope was Polish.

$6 per slice is going overboard. However, it's not going quite as far as $5 for a can of Coke in Paris. That's why my sister paid when she went.

LMAO, no kidding!

My sister and I went to this little cafe in Paris.

I ordered a chicken sub sandwich and fries... this cost about 40 Francs (about $6 back then).

I ordered a Coke -- and it was a good-sized Coke -- but it cost ALSO about 40 Francs.

I asked the waiter, "Is this from DeGaulle's personal Coke cellar or...?"

(no, i've not the nerve to ask a question like that in a foreign country, but i've thought I should have ever since)

With the huge influx of visitors for the Pope's funeral, price gouging has run amuck.

Apparently street vendors are now charging $6 dollars for a slice of Pizza. This is doubly reprehensible because many of the people who have come to pay their respects are from far poorer countries than Italy ( like poland ).

It's hardly very Christian, (not the church of course, it's not their fault, the price gougers).It's not price gouging, it's supply and demand.

Go do any 100 level economics paper.

The market price is called equilibrium; the price where the quantity demanded by consumers equals the quantity supplied by producers.

If the price was $200 dollars a slice no-one would buy it. If the price was $0.10 a slice no-one would sell it. The equilibrium is the price where these interests meet.

Because of the huge influx of people, the rise demand for pizza is huge also. If they were forced to continue to sell if for cheap, the demand would exceed supply and you'd have a big shortage.