Deleted
-
- Posts: 12073
- Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:10 am
- Mrs.Feeley
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 1:52 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Work boots. Have you priced those lately? They're like $70 to $100. I bought my last pair for $25 at Kinney's.
I used to buy these great flannel/fleece-lined men's shirts from LL.Bean. A few years ago they were $35 each which I thought was insane. But I figured what the hey, I can both work and sleep in one all winter long. This year they're $65! WTH!
I used to buy these great flannel/fleece-lined men's shirts from LL.Bean. A few years ago they were $35 each which I thought was insane. But I figured what the hey, I can both work and sleep in one all winter long. This year they're $65! WTH!
-
- Posts: 1075
- Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:59 pm
Re: I can't believe the price of...
1. IPAD
2. DRINKS AT RESTAURANTS WHEN IT'S NOT HAPPY HOUR
3. beef jerky
4. blu-ray dvds
2. DRINKS AT RESTAURANTS WHEN IT'S NOT HAPPY HOUR
3. beef jerky
4. blu-ray dvds
Re: I can't believe the price of...
A box of laundry soap at the Grocery store: $23.99 !!? Even at Walmart it's 18 bucks or so. For soap?
(I've never seen a $4,000 sofa. You must live in a better neighborhood. :lol: )
(I've never seen a $4,000 sofa. You must live in a better neighborhood. :lol: )
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Blu-rays
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Pecans.
In the last 2 years or so, they seem to have about doubled in price. Now Trader Joe's sells them in 8oz rather than 1lb bags, unlike all the other nuts which are still available in 1lb bags. I think I heard or read somewhere that Chinese demand has driven the price rise.
In the last 2 years or so, they seem to have about doubled in price. Now Trader Joe's sells them in 8oz rather than 1lb bags, unlike all the other nuts which are still available in 1lb bags. I think I heard or read somewhere that Chinese demand has driven the price rise.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Used vehicles. We were in the market for a newer vehicle last month and the prices of the used cars were so close to new we just bought our first new car in a decade.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
And dairy products too! Seems like whenever I hit bj's some diary product just jumped in price. The latest was the 96 slice kraft cheese. Now 11.99 from about 10 six months ago.
My kids love cheese.
My kids love cheese.
-
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sat Apr 09, 2011 6:28 am
- Location: Chicago North Shore
Re: I can't believe the price of...
These are all examples of overpaying for something that doesn't have to be expensive.letsgobobby wrote:-
- furniture. wow, $4000 for a sofa. Who has this kind of money?
- window blinds and drapes. My friend spent $10,000 on interior blinds and I would've guessed 'a few hundred bucks.'
- cabinet depth refrigerator. $3000 and up. No thanks, my fridge will be sticking out an extra 4 inches.
An elephant for a dime is only a good deal if you need an elephant and have a dime.
- HardKnocker
- Posts: 2063
- Joined: Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:55 am
- Location: New Jersey USA
Re: I can't believe the price of...
WalMart has Xtra brand liquid laundry soap for $7.99 that does 160 loads. It works fine.BigD53 wrote:A box of laundry soap at the Grocery store: $23.99 !!? Even at Walmart it's 18 bucks or so. For soap?
(I've never seen a $4,000 sofa. You must live in a better neighborhood. :lol: )
The brand name soap (Tide, etc.) is very highly priced.
“Gold gets dug out of the ground, then we melt it down, dig another hole, bury it again and pay people to stand around guarding it. It has no utility.”--Warren Buffett
Re: I can't believe the price of...
I'm not sure Kraft cheese qualifies as dairy...
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Probably belongs in automotive.snyder66 wrote:I'm not sure Kraft cheese qualifies as dairy...
I always wanted to be a procrastinator.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Anything medical.
-
- Posts: 25617
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:20 pm
- Location: New York
Re: I can't believe the price of...
1) A general practicioner's visit - $200 for 10 minutes, that's some hourly rate, no wonder he's only in 3 days a week and still drives a Caddy to boot!
2) Peanut butter!!!
3) Bag of grass seed.
4) Gallon of heating oil.
5) Toll to cross the George Washington Bridge.
6) A hot NYC pretzel! - $2, used to be 50 cents.
7) Coffee!!
2) Peanut butter!!!
3) Bag of grass seed.
4) Gallon of heating oil.
5) Toll to cross the George Washington Bridge.
6) A hot NYC pretzel! - $2, used to be 50 cents.
7) Coffee!!
"One should invest based on their need, ability and willingness to take risk - Larry Swedroe" Asking Portfolio Questions
-
- Posts: 4384
- Joined: Mon May 26, 2008 10:20 am
- Location: Second star on the right and straight on 'til morning
Re: I can't believe the price of...
In response to every new price increase in soft drink prices, my father used to say "that nickel Coke will be the death of me, yet." It was a the earliest example I remember of anchoring a price in the past in order to make a comparison to today's market. It didn't change the price of a Coke.
I guess the best approach would be to substitute one brand for another where we can and to invest so we can stay ahead of the curve.
I guess the best approach would be to substitute one brand for another where we can and to invest so we can stay ahead of the curve.
FI is the best revenge. LBYM. Invest the rest. Stay the course. Die anyway. - PS: The cavalry isn't coming, kids. You are on your own.
-
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 2:06 pm
- Location: Virginia
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Newspapers.
The inflation rate on the price of most newspapers is astounding.
The inflation rate on the price of most newspapers is astounding.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Next time, try the barber. I get a 30 minute haircut for $25 + $5 Tip. $60 an hour is better than $200.GRT2BOUTDOORS wrote:1) A general practitioner's visit - $200 for 10 minutes, that's some hourly rate, no wonder he's only in 3 days a week and still drives a Caddy to boot!
Stay hydrated; don't sweat the small stuff
-
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 3:31 pm
Re: I can't believe the price of...
English gin. Just one thing I noticed this past weekend on a trip to the ABC store for my regular brand. Nothing top-shelf, but it's up nearly 10% from just a few months ago.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
when we whine about the price of parts my machinist always says - " you wouldn't believe the price of aluminum nowadays!"
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Parking and Handling/Shipping for concerts and tickets.
-
- Posts: 461
- Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:01 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
toilet paper.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Car sales went off a cliff in 2008-09 and thus there is a dearth of used cars of the 2-3 year old age.leonidas wrote:Used vehicles. We were in the market for a newer vehicle last month and the prices of the used cars were so close to new we just bought our first new car in a decade.
It is estimated the North American car market will not recover to its 2007 peak of about 16 million vehicles until 2018 or so.
So therefore there are going to be fewer used cars around.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Dying industry, so, rationally, they are milking what remains of their customer base.compounder wrote:Newspapers.
The inflation rate on the price of most newspapers is astounding.
Free newspapers have become a big thing, at least here. The logical opposite innovation.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
As clothing I guess it entirely depends on which brand and where you buy?letsgobobby wrote:- jeans, when they're not on sale. $50 for Levis? WTH? I pay $15, $20 if I'm desperate and only after my old ones are being amputated at the knee.
Cotton prices have doubled.
That's consistent although for 'customized' as to size, sofabed, fabric etc.- furniture. wow, $4000 for a sofa. Who has this kind of money?
You can spend crazy money if you bespoke it (ie custom made).- window blinds and drapes. My friend spent $10,000 on interior blinds and I would've guessed 'a few hundred bucks.'
Non standard items they kill you.- cabinet depth refrigerator. $3000 and up. No thanks, my fridge will be sticking out an extra 4 inches.
T'was ever thus . The various bargain finding websites can help.- hotel rooms in New York - but at least it's nothing new.
that's all on my list today. That's enough.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
that's called 'bundled pricing': you are less sensitive to the costs of extras than you are to the headline price, so providers 'bundle'.Igglesman wrote:Parking and Handling/Shipping for concerts and tickets.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
The China factor. From memory, roughly trebled in 5 years.hicabob wrote:when we whine about the price of parts my machinist always says - " you wouldn't believe the price of aluminum nowadays!"
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Hi I am being contrarian in my points below. It's not intended to be personal or to needle you. I think the price of everything is set by the microeconomics: the mixture of supply, demand, market power of the producer and the amount of information (and ability to switch) available to the customer.GRT2BOUTDOORS wrote:1) A general practicioner's visit - $200 for 10 minutes, that's some hourly rate, no wonder he's only in 3 days a week and still drives a Caddy to boot!
On doctors, the problem as always is the customer does not know what they need, and a third party is paying. There is a very famous paper by Kenneth Arrow about healthcare economics (in fact, it could be said to have invented the field).
US still has peanut subsidies I think. However food manufacture is generally an oligopoly-- a handful of manufacturers make most of the food out there-- so they control margins. My suggestion is to try store brands (assuming your grocery has them) and to try WalMart.2) Peanut butter!!!
It depends how much a 'nice' lawn matters to you. Local grasses and weeds would be better for insects (and thus birds and other wildlife). Kentucky Blue Grass is apparently a European import (who knew?). A 'lawn' in the classic North American sense is an import from 18th century England (ie you were rich enough to have servants to cut your grass) and is therefore something of a bowlderisation. I would expect, in water poor parts of the USA, that in 30 years lawns will be completely circumscribed.3) Bag of grass seed.
AFAIK there is no tax on this? So it's the world price of oil + refining and distribution margin (neither is a high profit industry). The world price of oil is inflated by growth in China and India in driving, plus artificially low prices for gasoline in oil producing countries, plus Libyan production is off market at the moment, and the big find (Brasil offshore) is several years to come.4) Gallon of heating oil.
Since new barrels of oil (Canadian tar sands, Brasil off shore) are coming in at marginal costs of $60-80/barrel, that's where the world oil price starts. Big increases in production are not likely, and neither are sharp falls in consumption, even if China goes off the boil.
As ever, insulate insulate insulate. And leakproof. Get a thermal scan and leak test. And look into heat pump technology. Solar hot water also has a payback (it does not if you heat water with gas, but if you are oil fired, it can).
I shall take an economist's viewpoint. Do you suffer inordinate delay? Then it's not high enough. Tolls should be priced at the marginal cost of delay to the user who values it most highly.5) Toll to cross the George Washington Bridge.
Most of this is service costs + rent which tend to rise with all NYC prices.6) A hot NYC pretzel! - $2, used to be 50 cents.
Arguably coffee prices were too low. They were headed downwards for decades (after inflation). Now they are catching back up. IF (big IF) the benefits accrue back to the farmers in the countries where coffee is produced, this is nothing but a good thing.7) Coffee!!
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Not to get off the subject of price increases but if you want a SXS ref counter depth you should look at this now, as it is on sale. Samsung - 24.5 Cu. Ft. Counter-Depth Side-by-Side Refrigerator not to advertise for them but the price is only 1499 at bestbuy. I bought this ref and it is very nice. Most of the ones I had looked at didn't have the ice through the door or were smaller and much more $$.
-
- Posts: 3971
- Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:56 pm
Re: I can't believe the price of...
VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index ETF). Only 2.5 years ago, someone could buy it for $35 / share. Today it is $64.51. Ridiculous.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Should be nothing on this list.... Inflation is low and those of us that know that is bunk are thought to have tin hats around these parts. Must be all your imaginations......
|
Rob |
Its a dangerous business going out your front door. - J.R.R.Tolkien
- Opponent Process
- Posts: 5157
- Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:19 pm
Re: I can't believe the price of...
I can't believe the hedonic value I get in Apple products.
30/30/20/20 |
US/International/Bonds/TIPS |
Average Age=37
-
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 4:16 pm
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Good one.hsv_climber wrote:VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index ETF). Only 2.5 years ago, someone could buy it for $35 / share. Today it is $64.51. Ridiculous.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
new Rolex 5K watch I looked at 4 years ago, new one now it's priced >7K
-
- Posts: 161
- Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 7:29 pm
Re: I can't believe the price of...
a candybar. For some reason spending over a dollar on a candy bar seems wrong.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Out of couriousity, what's the price 4 years ago, say 1st January 2008? About $62.00?DetroitRed wrote:Good one.hsv_climber wrote:VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index ETF). Only 2.5 years ago, someone could buy it for $35 / share. Today it is $64.51. Ridiculous.
. .
'Past performance is no guarantee of future performance' as the UK boilerplate for retail financial products goes.
-
- Posts: 48944
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:07 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
I don't think there is anyone here who ever argued that. Just some examples of things we are all aware have moved up faster than US CPIrob wrote:Should be nothing on this list.... Inflation is low and those of us that know that is bunk are thought to have tin hats around these parts. Must be all your imaginations......
- price of US healthcare has both risen much faster than inflation, and suffers compared to any other developed country of which I know (on the order of twice as much for the same care)
- price of services generally rises faster than US CPI
- price of raw materials of all kinds have shot up much much faster than inflation
- US price of gasoline has risen faster than general inflation (because you don't have the taxation levels, it is more geared to the oil price than ours, say, in percentage terms)
Don't know about rents (which is what the CPI uses, roughly) but US housing prices are down c. 50% over the last 4 years.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Large jar of mixed nuts from Costco. For years they were $9.99. I hadn't bought any in a year so I didn't realize that now they are $15.99 for the same exact jar.
-
- Posts: 15368
- Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 8:53 am
Re: I can't believe the price of...
You can also very easily make it on your own, for about 1/30th the cost. I have done it in the past and it was amazing. Since I do 2-3 loads of laundry a month now, no point in expending the effort when a $8 box of soap can last me multiple years.HardKnocker wrote:WalMart has Xtra brand liquid laundry soap for $7.99 that does 160 loads. It works fine.BigD53 wrote:A box of laundry soap at the Grocery store: $23.99 !!? Even at Walmart it's 18 bucks or so. For soap?
(I've never seen a $4,000 sofa. You must live in a better neighborhood. :lol: )
The brand name soap (Tide, etc.) is very highly priced.
Most of the listed items, well at least the ones which I purchase(such as jeans), can be found for much much cheaper. I have frugal shopping down to a science.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
A bag of salmon fillets at Costco. We used to buy them every trip at $16.99. For the last couple years they have been $21.99-$22.99. So we have gone without.
- Rick Ferri
- Posts: 9703
- Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 10:40 am
- Location: Georgetown, TX. Twitter: @Rick_Ferri
- Contact:
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Investment management services!
The Education of an Index Investor: born in darkness, finds indexing enlightenment, overcomplicates everything, embraces simplicity.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
That's just recency bias . Back in 2007 the typical AUM fees were higher than today (due to more assets), and they were much much cheaper in early 2009 than they are now or previously.Rick Ferri wrote:Investment management services!
No excuses, no regrets.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
I often deliberately take the opposite approach and marvel at how cheap some things are.
Bottom of the line Vizio tablet computer from Costco for $189. It's made out of glass and plastic and silicon and, I dunno, magic? $189 to play high def videos that appear from nothing--I just move my finger around and an elf apparently makes 1's and 0's turn in to a picture almost indistinguishable from reality.
Ramen is still 20 cents a bag. I mean, it's crap food but the process is something like: grain is grown somewhere, shipped to somewhere else, a bunch of obscure chemicals are added and a weird noodle-like brick is made, wrapped in plastic (don't forget the seasoning!), which is shipped to some port, to some distribution center, to a conveniently-located grocery store, then it's in your hands. For 20 cents.
Ryan
Bottom of the line Vizio tablet computer from Costco for $189. It's made out of glass and plastic and silicon and, I dunno, magic? $189 to play high def videos that appear from nothing--I just move my finger around and an elf apparently makes 1's and 0's turn in to a picture almost indistinguishable from reality.
Ramen is still 20 cents a bag. I mean, it's crap food but the process is something like: grain is grown somewhere, shipped to somewhere else, a bunch of obscure chemicals are added and a weird noodle-like brick is made, wrapped in plastic (don't forget the seasoning!), which is shipped to some port, to some distribution center, to a conveniently-located grocery store, then it's in your hands. For 20 cents.
Ryan
An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered. -- GK Chesterton
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Ah, I envy those of you with a kitchen so vast that 4 inches doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to open the oven with a standard size fridge. But there are plenty of cabinet depth refrigerators in the $1000-2000 range, though I've seen them online for less.letsgobobby wrote: - cabinet depth refrigerator. $3000 and up. No thanks, my fridge will be sticking out an extra 4 inches.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Actually, it is amazing how low ER's and trading costs have gone down. I cannot believe it, but in a good way.Valuethinker wrote:Out of couriousity, what's the price 4 years ago, say 1st January 2008? About $62.00?DetroitRed wrote:Good one.hsv_climber wrote:VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market Index ETF). Only 2.5 years ago, someone could buy it for $35 / share. Today it is $64.51. Ridiculous.
. .
'Past performance is no guarantee of future performance' as the UK boilerplate for retail financial products goes.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
But this situation has been around for much longer. I bought a new Honda Civic in 2006 because the new car cost less per mile to drive to 120K miles than a used one with 40K would cost to drive 80K miles. The reverse was true when I bought my first car in 2001, because of a huge supply of three-year-old leased cars.Valuethinker wrote:Car sales went off a cliff in 2008-09 and thus there is a dearth of used cars of the 2-3 year old age.leonidas wrote:Used vehicles. We were in the market for a newer vehicle last month and the prices of the used cars were so close to new we just bought our first new car in a decade.
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Things do seem very expensive in Euro-land if you are US dollar based ... but Australia/NZ are even more so. Perhaps the USD is reaching the low side of the spread?tludwig23 wrote:Euros
Re: I can't believe the price of...
Similac Sensitive for Spit-Up ready-to-feed baby formula.
Had been getting at Walmart for 4.25/bottle while powder was unavailable. Powder became available and ready-to-feed price went to 6.47 overnight. It's a racket I tell you.
Had been getting at Walmart for 4.25/bottle while powder was unavailable. Powder became available and ready-to-feed price went to 6.47 overnight. It's a racket I tell you.