Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!looking!brad From: brad@looking.UUCP Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: Re: the argument continues, high prices - evil gov't or good businesses? Message-ID: <843@looking.UUCP> Date: Wed, 22-Jul-87 11:38:24 EDT Article-I.D.: looking.843 Posted: Wed Jul 22 11:38:24 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jul-87 01:33:30 EDT References: <148@bby-bc.UUCP> Reply-To: brad@looking.UUCP (Brad Templeton) Distribution: can Organization: Looking Glass Software Ltd. Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 56 In article <148@bby-bc.UUCP> john@bby-bc.UUCP (john) writes: >: >:If this is how you meant the word, (add == apply) then why does it make a >:difference >:to you whether they "add" their markup before duty and tax or after duty >:and tax. If you meant multiply, it wouldn't make a difference to you >:where they "add" their markup. > >Well you were both being picky and missing the point so I thought I >would "add" least correct your mistaken assumption. > >Why does it matter that they are multiplying? It doesn't - what >matters is that they are, in effect, marking up a price that all ready >includes a markup. I'm ready to give up. I can't believe that you are unaware of the simple arithmetical fact that wholesale * duty * fst * markup == wholesale * markup * duty * fst IT DOESN'T MATTER ONE WHIT IF YOU FACTOR IN THE MARKUP BEFORE THE TAXES OR AFTER SINCE MULITPICATION COMMUTES!!! Profit margins are multipled in, they are not added. > >:I thought I detailed this fairly well. To put it in brief terms: We >:pay much higher prices. If the government regulations were not there we >:would pay the same prices they pay in the USA, except for currency exchange. >:Conclusion: The government is responsible for the higher prices. > >This sounds a lot like circular reasoning. > "Assume X causes Y. Y exists. If not(X) then not(Y). > Conclusion: X causes Y" >Not at all convincing. So I assume then that you are doubting the claim that "If the government regulations were not there, we would pay the same prices as they pay in the USA, except for currency exchange." You are suggesting then, that in the presence of complete free trade and no border impediments, a computer store in Niagara Falls, NY would charge $2600 for an HP LaserJet and a store in Niagara Falls, Ontario would charge $3500 in US funds? I finally understand! You think there is a national conspiracy of computer vendors, and they would maintain the high prices even under free trade. I am surprised you have been brave enough to reveal the details of the conspiracy to us in public, for surely they will deal with you now! We all know that there is no conspiracy, ha ha. I not even going to bother answering your other points. If you can come up with some other explanation as to why computers would still cost more after the removal of duties, taxes and border hassles, then I will answer your points. -- Brad Templeton, Looking Glass Software Ltd. - Waterloo, Ontario 519/884-7473