Things that you just can't fathom why they cost so much.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Dion

Sure they're allowed a profit. In this case it's gouging.

The reason the gouging continues is that consumers are willing to pay those prices. In a sense it's the consumer who indirectly sets the market price.

12 bucks for a CD? I think i'll wait for the greatist hits disc when it comes out, or wait until the artist's discs hits the discount rack. I love music, but not at the regular prices.

Other things that cost 12 bucks:
- 2 beers at the bar
- A meal at a place like Earls (actually much more than 12 bucks)
- Tickets to the movies

All things you enjoy once and that's it. They are gone. A music CD is something you can listen to as often as you want, as many times as you want. I just don't see why 12 bucks for something like that is gouging at all.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Other things that cost 12 bucks:
- 2 beers at the bar
- A meal at a place like Earls (actually much more than 12 bucks)
- Tickets to the movies

All things you enjoy once and that's it. They are gone. A music CD is something you can listen to as often as you want, as many times as you want. I just don't see why 12 bucks for something like that is gouging at all.

I avoid bars due to the insane prices for drinks. Better to have my buddies over and open a case a beer on the deck.

Don't eat out that often due to the prices.

As for movies i frequent the cheap theatre in SE Calgary where one can pay $5 bucks to see a flick. Haven't been in one of the large theatre chains in years. Plus we have a movie theatre here in High River where one can see a flick for $8 and $5 on mondays and tuesdays.

Like I said earlier, I don't see 12 bucks as a fair value for a CD. There are always options and in this case, if I wait long enough i can pay the price I think they are worth.

[ken0042]

Are CDs really only $12 now? I made a new Millenium resolution to never buy a CD again, so I haven't even looked at them for a while.

Oh, and for the record, when it came time that my buddy was selling his band's CDs, I opted instead to buy a sticker from him for $15. He then gave me the CD for free; so my resolution still stands.

[Dion]

The recording industry is using the wrong approach when it comes to users who illegaly download muisc off the net. Instead of going after file sharers they should try and understand why people do it. I should add that i'm not into file sharing.

The industry should set up booths inside music stores where one can burn a compilation disc of music they like. The consumer picks from a list of songs and burns their disc. It's a service I would fully support, and it sure beats paying $12 bucks for a CD that have maybe one or 2 songs you like. Something I did alot of in the past and refuse to do today.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Dion

The recording industry is using the wrong approach when it comes to users who illegaly download muisc off the net. Instead of going after file sharers they should try and understand why people do it. I should add that i'm not into file sharing.

The industry should set up booths inside music stores where one can burn a compilation disc of music they like. The consumer picks from a list of songs and burns their disc. It's a service I would fully support, and it sure beats paying $12 bucks for a CD that have maybe one or 2 songs you like. Something I did alot of in the past and refuse to do today.

I saw one of those in Superstore. It isn't there anymore, but you would find the music you wanted, then come back in 15 minutes and there would be a CD burned for you.

However it was $3 to $5 a track, and the selection software was NOT user friendly. I'm not surprised it didn't catch on. A better implementation would have worked.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I saw one of those in Superstore. It isn't there anymore, but you would find the music you wanted, then come back in 15 minutes and there would be a CD burned for you.

However it was $3 to $5 a track, and the selection software was NOT user friendly. I'm not surprised it didn't catch on. A better implementation would have worked.

Yikes! 3 to 5 bucks a track is a tad expensive!

Not surprsed it's gone. At those prices they wouldn't get my business.

IMNSHO i'd be willing to pay if it was say a buck a track.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

well said, well said...do you actually farm? just curious...oh and way to go, now we're just spreading the rumour that all farmers do is bitch and moan until they get a hand-out from the gov't (although the way things are going, i think we almost have a right to)

No, I do not farm. But I grew up on a family farm in Saskatchewan, just a bit north of Regina, along the north side of the Qu'Appelle Valley, gorgeous country. My grandfather homesteaded that farm and built the house I grew up in, my father was born in that house, and he bought the farm once my grandparents were dead. We had a hell of a time getting my father to retire, that was the only place he had known and it had been his whole life. When he finally moved into town, he was 75 years old and still actively farmed from town for a few years.

So that is my background, most of my relatives still are there, some are farming, others are not, but I know all about growing up on a family farm, what prices were then, what prices are now, how things have changed so much and not all for the better.

Farmers have NEVER asked for handouts, that is not in their blood or in their nature. But they have asked to be treated fairly. I doubt that many would know that most farmers outside of Canada are subsidized by their governments. Our farmers can not compete because of that and thus, the hole for them gets bigger and many are only hanging on to the farm by strings. If it were not for the fact that most farm wives now work off the farm (of course, they also work on the farm), a lot of those farmers would have gone bankrupt a long time ago. In many instances, that is what puts food on the table and helps to pay some bills.

Tell me, when the BSE crisis hit, if it were not for some compensation to the farmers who had cattle, what would have become of them? Would having them on welfare be a better choice? Who picks up the bills then? Is it not you and I and every taxpayer in Canada who would then be supporting all those farmers who would have gone bankrupt?

[ken0042]

I know we got into this with the best of intentions, but let's not turn this thread into something as politically hot as farmers and government subsidies/intervention/wheat board. We have a nice light fun topic going on- let's keep it fun!

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Dion

Agreed! Worked for Safeway for many years and couldn't believe how gulible consumers are. If they did price comparisons they'd be shopping Superstore or as you say Costco.

Superstore also has the lowest dispensing fee's when it comes to presciption medications.

Again, I will not promote one grocery chain over another. BUT, when some do price comparisons, they do not take into account all of the factors. For instance, comparing lettuce in all the stores. Much of the produce in some stores is not Grade A, not meaning that it is not edible, it still will meet standards for consumption. BUT, a lot of waste is associated with buying a product that is say a Grade B or C compared to a Grade A.

That can be compared to buying ground beef. You can not just say ground beef is cheaper at one store than another. First, is it just ground beef, or is it ground round? Is it regular ground beef or is it extra lean ground beef? And is it Grade A beef, Grade AA beef or Grade AAA beef? There are different costs associated with all of these products.

Same thing when comparing cheeses as has been mentioned in this thread. First of all, most grocery chains will have their in store brand name of cheese, probably the main ones such as cheddar, mozzarella and the like. To do a proper comparison, you would have to choose a common brand name such as Kraft and compare the prices for that specific product. However, if you go outside of that in store mainstream, and are talking imported cheeses, then as with fresh produce, as with meat, many other factors come into play.

There is no sense to grumble and complain about the prices of food and other products. We live in a country where consumer choices are plentiful and you can let your wallet to the talking.

Not everyone wants to shop in the big box stores. I for one dont shop in Costco. First of all, I live outside of Calgary and the extra drive is not worth it. Second, my family is no longer at home, we are empty nesters, we simply do not have the requirement to buy our food in bulk. Third, I am a brand name shopper and sometimes, the brands I am interested in are not stocked or if they are stocked, they are stocked in a quantity and size that is far too large. Fourth, I am an old fashioned type, I cook most of my food from scratch, I do not require great quantities of fast foods. And by and large, I can not abide the crowds. I am at a stage in my life where I am more than willing to pay for the convenience of a store that is close to me, that stocks the products I am interested in and gives me adequate customer service.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by ken0042

That's exactly what was being talked about.

I have friends who have small band; play about 10 gigs per year. One band got all of us to pre-buy their CD for $15, went to a studio and recorded the CD. Another band just went and recorded their own CD- cost to friends was $5 each. There is a world of difference.

The bottom line is no CD would sound anywhere near as good as it does without the technology used prior to us getting our grubby little hands on it. Having said that, I still think they are overpriced; compared to how much the artists see of the profits.

I'd say that the guys who sold their CD for $5 just weren't proper audio techs and didn't know how to record and engineer themselves properly. In that case, it might be better to pay for a studio with employees with expertise in the business or for consulting but I still hold that it is possible to make professionally recorded music in one's home that is as good as the most expensive studio churns out...especially with today's computers, audio software, and digital technology and it's incredibly easy. Even decades before, the first album of Boston (w/ "More than a Feeling") was recorded and mastered in a garage and home studio on thrown-together and homemade recording equipment from the 70s. Prince's albums up 1987 were almost entirely performed by Prince (all instruments) and engineered by him in his home.

My point is that I feel that the cost of engineering an CD is being grossly overestimated. Most of the money goes into paying for the running of the record company or distributors and for marketing. It is possible to make a great sounding record with today's everyday computers and run of the mill software without the hassle of a large amount of expensive equipment. The internet is a great thing because many new artists are just promoting themselves and selling themselves and distributing their music themselves to their customers.

That said, $12 is a good price for a CD, if you enjoy the music on it. I'd pay $200 a CD for some of my favorite music just because I like it so much...(well, I would collect multiple copies or even LPs of the same song). I still find most commercial albums to be 1 or 2 good songs, and then album filler. Again, internet comes to the rescue and listeners can choose to buy individuals songs.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

fuel

does gas cost more than water yet? thats when i'll complain about fuel prices

[Dion]

Originally Posted by redforever

Again, I will not promote one grocery chain over another. BUT, when some do price comparisons, they do not take into account all of the factors. For instance, comparing lettuce in all the stores. Much of the produce in some stores is not Grade A, not meaning that it is not edible, it still will meet standards for consumption. BUT, a lot of waste is associated with buying a product that is say a Grade B or C compared to a Grade A.

You may want to check this link and how the comparison is done.

CTV grocery price comparison for July

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMA...calgary.ctv.ca


Superstore came out on top in CTV Calgary's price comparison of grocery items on Sunday, July 8th, giving shoppers the best buying power for their money.

The price comparison was done by home economist Sylvia Kong as part of an ongoing series on price checks to be aired monthly on CTV.
Once a month, CTV will create a grocery list and compare prices at major Calgary stores.

The prices are a snapshot on the given day.

All coupons and membership programs are included and some chains vary prices from store to store.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

does gas cost more than water yet? thats when i'll complain about fuel prices

Yes it does. Tap water is around 1/10 of a cent per litre, and bottled water is around 40¢ per litre.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by ken0042

and bottled water is around 40¢ per litre.

then why is a bottle of water $2 for 500ml?

[Reaper]

I have formally elected to refrain from commenting on any discussions which may denegrate any direct or indirect professional employed in the natural gas, oil or oilsands industries in the province of Alberta (and possibly Saskatchewan depending on the offer presented).

Did I mention that I am only about six weeks away from completion of the Process Piping Drafting Certificate (Fast Track Program) offered by SAIT?

It is as someone who is currently without employ in his chosen field that I have elected to avoid potentially piss off a future employer or someone who may have clout with a future employer.


I need a job.


PM me with info.


Seriously.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Flames_Gimp

then why is a bottle of water $2 for 500ml?

Thats pretty ridiculous. A 500mL bottle can be found for as little as $0.25. You can get packs of 12 for like 3 or 4 bucks. Actually, at Shoppers a couple weeks ago I got a pack of 12 for $2.00.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by jam26

Razors

Don't buy the hype of 10 blades, extra smooth strips, batteries (wth?)

Buy simple, old school blades.

You shave better with fewer blades that are sharp and skin that is moisterized.

[Winsor_Pilates]

CD's at $15, or around there is good value IMO.
I don't get why people have such a problem with it. I think it has more to do with the fact that they can get it free illegaly, then to do with the CD actually being expensive When you start comparing it to free, any price will seem expensive.
For me music is a priceless part of my life and there are some CD's I own that I would pay hundreds for if it was the only way to get them.

[gallione11]

Originally Posted by Drunk Skunk

I'll respectfully disagree. A small brewery that has excellent, hand crafted beer is worth the money that is charged. At least in my opinion. I'd much rather pay $8 or $9 US for a six pack of micro brewed beer than $11 for an 18 pack of a mass-produced goldenwater.

Totally agreed here. And it helps that I don't drink a ton of beer. Maybe one a night -- two if I'm watching a hockey game. $9 though? It's slightly cheaper here in Oregon (and we have excellent microbrews). Regular price for the microbrews I like is around $7.50-$7.99 US) but I can get them on sale occasionally for $5.99 per 6.