Re: [Phys-l] A geek's observations on "Avatar"

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

Bob!

I understood differently.  I offer an analogy.  A new CEO took over Sears (before the 40's, as that's when my mother related the story) and during an initial conference the officer in charge of credit boasted of only X% defaults.  The CEO fired him because it shoulda been higher.  Probably apocryphal, but the economic point is valid -- not to the extent of the exaggerated recent case tho!!!

bc, thinking of Brian's price raising, remembers the concept of price/demand elasticity from econ. 101.

On 2010, Jan 04, , at 10:19, LaMontagne, Bob wrote:

> Let me see if I understand you - It's OK if I steal items from stores because they can just raise prices and let others pay for what I steal?
>
> Unfortunately, this is just how many people feel. I have a friend who manages a Bed Bath and Beyond. The pilferage is astounding. When caught, shoplifters have no remorse whatsoever - they feel they are just taking back from a big rich company that is ripping them off with high prices. They have no idea that they are part of the high prices. 
>
> Just because stealing is built into the business models of most retailers does not in any way justify the theft.
>
> I think what I find most annoying is listening to middle class people on this list justifying theft simply because they are doing it for the use of their classes. What hubris!
>
> Bob at PC
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-
> > bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Brian Whatcott
> > Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 1:06 PM
> > To: Forum for Physics Educators
> > Subject: Re: [Phys-l] A geek's observations on "Avatar"
> >
> > Not to blur an ethical issue, but  Joel illustrated here a business
> > decision of the kind also made by stores who place sale goods on free
> > access to customers, realizing that they invite 2 or 3 percent losses
> > from pilferage, in inviting increased sales and allowing reduced store
> > manning by this means.
> >
> > If a movie theater experiences 2% box office losses from lack of
> > resource
> > of this kind, they have the option of lifting seat prices by 3 or 4%
> > - say from $12 to $12.50  per seat....
> >
> > Brian W
> >
> > Rauber, Joel wrote:
> > > Fun movie, but I definitely had the impression that I had seen this
> > western before.
> > > Depending on the theatre it may or may not be stealing the glasses;
> > some theatre's sell the glasses to the audience.  I so Beowulf and paid
> > $2.00, for my glasses and saved them.
> > > _________________________
> > >
> > > Joel Rauber, Ph.D
> >
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