I changed my mind...the answer is no! How did this whole concept of price gouging even start? Now I have to research economics again and how these laws were even put in the effect in the first place! Oh wait, I forgot, I have better things to do with my time. But as long as this thread doesn't get too long, I may read it to see if there is a definitive answer. I'm curious myself.

When is eye gouging acceptable?

when your looking at your own ______ LOL

A lot of price gouging going on here in New Braunfels with gas prices. Retailers know they are not going to have the summer crowd this year and are charging the locals 20-25 cents a gallon higher than the price in Schertz, which is only about 10 miles away.

I find that a stretch to give that a term of “price gouging”. $0.25 difference on a gallon of gas between gas station locations is quite common. Even if the gas stations are close together.

Price gouging is acceptable on a case by case basis. I don't think you can give a blanket answer without know what your example is.

Bananas would not be for sale in Barrow if they were not allowed to sell them for $13 per pound. Everyone who lives there willingly moved in from someplace else knowing what the cost of living would be, and even the janitors make 6 figure salaries. Jacking up the cost of someone's prescription medication so it cost as much as a house is different, at least to me.

Check this here in Graham reg. gas is $1.78 a gal. 60 miles North in Wichita Falls it is $1.21. Not sure how much it is in DFW but I am guessing it is about like Wichita. I believe 57 cents a gal. Difference is probably considered price gouging.

That or a station is selling off the gas they have left in their tank that cost them $1.50 a gallon and another station just filled up their tanks that cost them $1.20 a gallon. It has been known that oil prices have fluctuated significantly over the past few weeks.

Greedy Americans!

If you have traveled much to areas of the Country immediately after natural disasters (tornados, hurricanes, fires) you would see immediate price gouging everywhere you turn.

Not so much with fuel costs because FEMA will step in there, but hotel rooms, restaurants, grocery stores. It's not uncommon to pay double the price prior to the disaster. This will usually last for 45 days. Competition has been eliminated due to the disaster. Make a small fortune off of your fellow man.

Isn't that what Capitalism is all about. Taking advantage of your situation to maximize profits?

If you think other wise you are just naive.

So true!!! It’s always easier to point a finger at blame rather than understand it. If I remember right I was paying close to $2.50 a gallon not so long ago. Those bastards were really gouging me then! But the good thing is I’m an American and GD’it I’ll sue someone!

bump for a good thread.

if some greedy robber baron basstage carpet baggin sob wants to charge 5 times what they were prior to a disaster of any kind, well, I say by gawd let'em!

and since some greedy robber baron basstage carpet baggin sob wants to charge 5 times what they were prior to a disaster of any kind we should be able to protest and riot over the prices and BTBD!
what's a fair price for stuff ya got in the looting? how much would a 65" go for then.

oh, who the heck is gonna pay for my gas so I can drive to this event?

lol, katrina brings back memories of paying 4.25 gal. in joplin.

you should have seen my diesel bill though.