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More proof businesses are gouging Ashburn

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by flynnibus, Apr 21, 2007.

  1. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    I do not think the prices in the retail business around here are (generally) are that much different and a little price shopping does make a difference. BUT where the prices do seem VERY different because of the zip code are the service-related businesses.

    I mean the contractors, repair guys, landscape, painters, deck guys, decorators etc. I have been SHOCKED by the range in prices some of these guys try to get away with. And I do compare similar work/jobs with other friends in the area so I have a pretty good reference for other zip codes too. My favorite experience was with my recent patio (stone pavers). I had estimates from $18k in the high range, down to $4900 and all for similar size jobs. I even had one of them tell me that he was willing to negotiate because he always quotes the highest price he "thinks" he might get but that he was willing to take off another 20% if I would sign the contract today! He did not want me to tell his manager he said so.... shhhh
     
  2. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Zeratul... sorry, you are supposed to be proud that you are getting charged more for living here.. It's the Rich Badge of Honor - didn't you get yours with your first year's tax bill?
     
  3. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    that is not what I was saying... sorry if that is what you read there, not sure how. I check prices very carefully in the retail shopping that we do, because I think many of the standard prices are too high. Price shopping helps catch the sales and deals that bring it closer to what I would call reasonable levels. I do not think that those levels are that much different from other similar cost-of-living areas. Yes these prices are going to be different if you compare them to more of a rural area. To me, it is partly having to understand the nature of business - charge as much as the market will bear. But that does not mean that I will bear it by blindly walking in to the store and buy without having a clue as to what is fair and reasonable in prices. If you live in a county with one of the highest household incomes in the country, does it not stand to reason that businesses that locate here are going to try and charge more? Not that I like that one bit, and I do not take it sitting down. But it is not surprising that prices in the 20148 zip code are going to be higher. Also - I am certainly not proud of this at all. Just talking more from a general conversational direction.
     
  4. Nova Native

    Nova Native New Member

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    This is a weird debate. I am not sure that prices are that much higher here than in other places. My folks live in Vienna, and their grocery store circulars regularly have slightly higher prices. My dad has even stopped into our Giant when Cokes were 5 for $10 (they were 4 for 10 dollars in Vienna)

    I would also suspect that sometimes stores in less affluent areas might have some pressure putting prices higher because of inefficiencies and higher security and theft costs.

    Finally, as a business owner I charge based on what the market bears. If I have an out of the way project in a less affluent area I often charge more because of the cost of travel and the fact that their neighbors are less likely to come my way through referrals. I often charge the least in affluent areas because we do much more work there and there is more competition. Wealthy people are often more price conscious than less wealthy people.

    I do not believe we are being charged more on the whole, and even if we were, I would vote with my feet rather than getting worked up about it. Charging more is not gouging, it woul be more like just trying to charge what the market would bare.
     
  5. Silence Dogood99

    Silence Dogood99 New Member

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    I think Zeratul's point is a good one, and it's about perspective. I think his point is that you could spend inordinate hours trying to save a few cents or dollars here and there all year long on groceries (say $1,000 total savings, nothing to sneeze at), but you could completely have those savings wiped out by one service job (painting, laying carpet, landscaping), etc.

    While grocery stores operate on margins of 1-3%, service businesses can show huge gaps. Being in the service business, I know we can charge double in this area what we can do in other cities if we want to.
     
  6. Baywatch68

    Baywatch68 New Member

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    Vienna doesn't count in that they have their own seperate tax, so for people who shop there prices are higher. I remember old Sundays ads and soda always had a higher price in Montgomery County.
     
  7. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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    The point of this thread still is not clear. If someone does not like the prices at a particular store, there's no law compelling that you shop there. If that has changed, please let me know!:eek:

    I think we can all agree that we'd like everything for free or next to free, but that ain't life. Further, in the time taken since this thread launched, just think about how much comparison shopping could have been done by the original poster and how much moeny could have been saved.

    In contrast, Redon1's approach (cost survey) is much more helpful.:clap:
     

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