Fed rate increase = lower hifi prices?

@daveyf 

Indeed. Profiteering and gouging are interesting concepts aren't they. I don't know of too many people who willingly sell something they own for less than market value. I want someone to sell me a perfect JBL Paragon at its original MSRP! Somewhat depends on which side of the transaction one finds themselves. I sortof chuckle to myself though when I hear the accusations of gouging. The opposite of much of the accusations of profiteering or gouging is subsidizing.

I don't get a vote, I just get the privilege of participating, but I believe in free markets so I am equally opposed to price ceilings and/or price subsidies.

I wonder if we could ever reach a consensus on which industries should or should not be allowed to price their products as they see fit?

OK, in the context of this thread, lets say that one such industry to have price controls is that of audio/hifi equipment.

Who or what would be granted the ability to determine fair prices?

edit oh, now this appeared -

I believe in free markets so I am equally opposed to price ceilings and/or price subsidies.

What was that little fair is fair motherhood statement?

@daveyf there’s so much wrong with what retiredfarmer wrote I’m not even gonna take the time to respond. I’ll just say the US Dollar is up since covid and leave it at that. If you wanna put any credibility into the crap he’s spewing be my guest. IMHO he has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about and should stick to opining on farming. If you buy into his crap about us being headed to hyper inflation you’re a fool.

I don't pretend to understand what people mean by the term "price gouging". 

I googled it and it was explained as a situation where in times of emergency (however defined) certain goods are subject to rationing to prevent things like hoarding.   Price gouging then occurs if some people find themselves with more than they require on-sell for an exorbitant price.

Has that happened?  Did I blink?

@noske 

I believe in free markets so I am equally opposed to price ceilings and/or price subsidies.

It was intended to provoke thought. Its unfair to limit someones profit potential if you are unwilling to limit their losses. I don't support this way of thinking, Its why I am opposed to price caps or floors.  Its a problem I have with releasing the strategic oil reserves so car trips to Wallyworld remain affordable.

I hear it frequently said that the price of oil/gasoline is too high at a given point in time and that the industry is "gouging". No one whines when prices are so low that it actually stimulates other industries. We hear it frequently from industries who have no pricing power or who are experiencing a demand/supply imbalance, especially if they believe their product deserves subsidies.

Once again, understanding human nature helps us all place these data points in proper perspective. Lets take western states and water for example. There are numerous examples of communities that were/are subsidized with cheap water and the inherent waste of that precious resource is quite visible. Vegas? Palm Springs? LA?  Water has been too cheap as evidenced by its waste. Food and water are the only commodities which cant be substituted. There are subsets of food which can be substituted for other subsets so the free market can work, sortof(regional, climate induced scarcity occurs all the time). Water on the other hand is interesting...you have good/safe water or you don't.  Of course, we live in a world where we take perfectly average tap water from one region, run it through a filter, slap a label on it and then ship it around the globe in a plastic bottle with an exorbinant markup. Doesnt matter to me...as long I have access to safe water to substitute. If the cost of hifi gear became prohibitive, maybe people substitute it for a cooperatively funded live performance? Who knows...

The good news is not only are we not burdened with solving these problems of demand/supply imbalance, they inevitably take care of themselves if humans keep being humans.