The New Topper for Tacoma by MAXLINER

[DENNISD]

You do have some reading comprehension skills don't you? Or did you go a socialist school? I addressed the inflation issue at several points in my post. I assumed adults would read what I said and understand that I was comparing income vs inflation and the strange relationship between companies that co-ordinate the same price regardless of manufacturing costs. We can see that everywhere when we pick up an item that has less product but costs three times as much as more product a few years ago. That's not inflation. That's price gouging. In your comparisons you also disregard that most manufacturing processes actually cost less from 40 years ago (also adjusted for inflation since it needs to be spelled out) due to process improvements, not to mention far, far fewer US content and mostly cheap labor and foreign parts content. So your comparisons meet the apples/oranges test because manufacturing and sourcing are completely different and much more economical today.

“Did you go a socialist school?” You left out “to.” If you’re going to question someone’s education, proofreading your insult would help. Explaining what socialism has to do with truck toppers would help even more.



The “socialist school” comment has nothing to do with whether your economic argument holds up.

Your concern about prices outpacing incomes is fair to raise, but similar prices among competitors don’t establish that they’re coordinating. Companies with different production costs can charge similar prices because they compete for the same customers. The lower-cost producer may simply earn a larger margin. In a market economy, prices aren’t determined solely by manufacturing costs.

Likewise, improved manufacturing efficiency can reduce some costs without proving that the total cost of designing, producing, shipping, selling, and supporting a particular product has fallen. That requires evidence specific to the product.

A smaller package at a higher price is a price increase per unit, often called shrinkflation. It can contribute to inflation; calling it “price gouging” doesn’t explain what caused it or establish excessive profits.

You’re entitled to conclude that this topper isn’t worth the asking price. But claims of coordinated pricing and unjustified margins need more evidence than a comparison with what you paid for a different topper in 1985.

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[MJB4450]

“Did you go a socialist school?” You left out “to.” If you’re going to question someone’s education, proofreading your insult would help. Explaining what socialism has to do with truck toppers would help even more.



The “socialist school” comment has nothing to do with whether your economic argument holds up.

Your concern about prices outpacing incomes is fair to raise, but similar prices among competitors don’t establish that they’re coordinating. Companies with different production costs can charge similar prices because they compete for the same customers. The lower-cost producer may simply earn a larger margin. In a market economy, prices aren’t determined solely by manufacturing costs.

Likewise, improved manufacturing efficiency can reduce some costs without proving that the total cost of designing, producing, shipping, selling, and supporting a particular product has fallen. That requires evidence specific to the product.

A smaller package at a higher price is a price increase per unit, often called shrinkflation. It can contribute to inflation; calling it “price gouging” doesn’t explain what caused it or establish excessive profits.

You’re entitled to conclude that this topper isn’t worth the asking price. But claims of coordinated pricing and unjustified margins need more evidence than a comparison with what you paid for a different topper in 1985.

Again in the realm of reading comprehension, I never said the socialist school comment had anything to do with the economic argument. The comment was related to his lack of understanding that I had already brought up the inflation angle in that and a prior post. And thanks for the compliment on my writing ability. Having just had surgery the day before, typing too fast and leaving out the word "to" being all you could find wrong, is pretty good.

I agree with some of your economic points above. I used just a couple examples so as not to bog down the thread too far in my replies. I also never accused this particular product of coordinated pricing or price gouging. The discussion had turned to a generalization of many products at that point. Why that hit the butt hurt button so badly for some is baffling given economic conditions for a long while. I though what I was saying was common knowledge. Maybe it was some of my points regarding money spent on mods that hit a nerve with some.

Next, someone else brought up that all toppers are the same price when yet another poster brought up the price and I responded to that. Concerning the word coordinated, I did not mean in the conspiratorial sense. Company "A", "B" and "C" make a like item and charge "X" then company "D" starts making the same item and says, well if A,B, and C are charging "X", then we will too. Regardless of what term is used, you say that prices are not coordinated, then in the very next sentence you agree with me that the prices for like items among different companies are the same simply because the more efficient manufacturer wants a higher profit and that was exactly my point. Saying it's just because they all are vying for the same customer and that justifies the same pricing makes no business sense to me. To get more customers and hopefully even greater profits by volume sales, if I had the same quality product and lower production and marketing costs, I'd stand out and lure in more buyers with a lower price.

So, all I previously opined regarding this particular product was that the topper looks nice, the topper looks to be high quality, and the topper is expensive. You want one and have the money, have at it.

 

[AmbyBomb]

Can you take your soap box somewhere else? Seriously, there is an off-topic area for a reason.

 

[MJB4450]

Can you take your soap box somewhere else? Seriously, there is an off-topic area for a reason.

Feel free to hit the ignore button on me and the guy above me who re-introduced the subject. It's really easy to do.

 

[MT-Taco]

 

[DENNISD]

I actually like the looks of this topper and hadn’t considered getting one until I saw it. While the price is a little rich for my taste, I’m still giving it some serious thought.

 

[JuanitoBonito]

Im not saying I'm considering it, but I love the look. Its just a bit more then id like to spend.

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