Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The $30 hot dog guy is a capitalist hero
The New York Post ^ | May 22, 2015 | Kyle Smith

Posted on 06/07/2015 11:30:22 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

I’m shocked by one aspect of the story of the guy selling $30 hot dogs to tourists near the World Trade Center — shocked that he was fired. Who knew hot-dog men could be fired?

As for that other detail — selling a hot dog for considerably “more than it’s worth,” so what? Apple makes a huge profit on every device it sells. Does anyone think Apple is guilty of “price gouging”? Moreover, a hot dog is guaranteed not to shatter when it falls on the sidewalk, and I’ve never had to reboot my sauerkraut. No hot dog has ever been rendered obsolete by a new model that has a slightly thinner bun.

Hot-dog guy Ahmed Mohammed — let’s be accurate and call him Hot Dog Hero — was simply exercising his right to sell stuff in the marketplace for whatever he can get for it. Why begrudge him a large markup if he took advantage of the fact that some people are stupid? Taking advantage of stupidity is an important driver of the economic engine. Without taking advantage of stupid people, how would haute-couture designers sell a couple yards of shiny fabric for $2,000? Without taking advantage of stupid people, how would the New York State Lottery rake in $3 billion in profit? Without taking advantage of stupid people, how would the Franklin Mint have sold off millions of dollars worth of plastic copies of Jackie Onassis’ plastic pearls? If the stupidity were ever wrung out of the system, our economy would be the size of Bangladesh’s.

All of these stupid people are exactly what Hot Dog Hero’s “victims” were — willing customers....

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Local News; Travel
KEYWORDS: economy; newyork; vending
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last
To: Larry Lucido
Was it a Papaya King?

Heh! I had to eat at one of those when I was stuck at LaGuardia airport for a while (they had one there once). True they were overpriced, but not 30 bucks. The hot dog was pretty good, and their papaya smoothie was pretty good!

(click on the link above to be taken to Papaya King Land...)

21 posted on 06/07/2015 12:03:12 PM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'll vote for Jeb when Terri Schiavo endorses him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: McGruff

Yep, he is a thief. Employees don’t get to set prices and pocket profits behind the boss’s back.


22 posted on 06/07/2015 12:04:10 PM PDT by TigersEye (If You Are Ignorant, Don't Vote!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido; 2ndDivisionVet; Gamecock; FredZarguna; SaveFerris
If Ack-Med Moe-Ham-Head wants to up his game he needs to vend Chicago Style (Kosher) Vienna Red Hots -

(I'm thinkin' $49.95. With fries of course.)

23 posted on 06/07/2015 12:04:31 PM PDT by shibumi ("Walk Through the Fire, Fly Through the Smoke")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Did any of his “victims” bother to tell him to get bent or try negotiating?

Obviously these people have not gone to Mexico and paid the Gringo (i.e. stupid) tax.


24 posted on 06/07/2015 12:04:40 PM PDT by Organic Panic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

My understanding is that he was ripping off tourists who did not understand the value of US money and thought they were paying the same market price as the other customers.

It is like me going to Japan and trusting the Squid vendor to charge me the same number of Yen as the native guy who ordered ahead of me.

He is a con artist.


25 posted on 06/07/2015 12:10:33 PM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

This guy was an employee, not a businessman. He ripped off some customers and pocketed the ill gotten gain. A real businessman would find the sweet spot where profit is maximized over the long haul.


26 posted on 06/07/2015 12:11:17 PM PDT by AlaskaErik (I served and protected my country for 31 years. Progressives spent that time trying to destroy it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TexasGator
A very good socialist.

"According to his need", remember?

He "needed" it more then the boss who is obviously a bloated plutocrat.

This guy deserves a "Order of Stalin" metal.

27 posted on 06/07/2015 12:13:23 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

He violated a regulation that was intended to prevent scamming: failure to list prices. How can anyone applaud his behavior?


28 posted on 06/07/2015 12:13:41 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: USMCPOP

I’ve been to all sorts of restaurants that don’t list prices, especially for drinks and desserts.


29 posted on 06/07/2015 12:23:48 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

That’s only true if government isn’t creating a monopoly. Anyone who uses government to eliminate competition is just a greedy pig who should be eliminated himself.


30 posted on 06/07/2015 12:24:19 PM PDT by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: COBOL2Java; shibumi; Gamecock; SaveFerris; FredZarguna
Now there's room for this guy to re-open.


31 posted on 06/07/2015 12:28:48 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Thief... and you're OK with that???
32 posted on 06/07/2015 12:37:36 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido; SaveFerris
No doubt!


33 posted on 06/07/2015 12:38:05 PM PDT by Gamecock (Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and He volunteered. R.C. Sproul)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Chode

Go back and read my previous comments.


34 posted on 06/07/2015 12:38:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: UnwashedPeasant

Yes. Mostly people who can’t speak English and have no idea about the value of a twenty.


35 posted on 06/07/2015 12:40:49 PM PDT by petercooper (And I was born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus... Rollin' down Highway 41.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

No one forces you to buy his expensive hot dogs but the Govt forces you to pay ‘their’ expensive taxes. Who is the bigger villain and rip off artist?


36 posted on 06/07/2015 12:41:10 PM PDT by tflabo (Truth or tyranny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Probably NYC grants a permit to the vendor and no permit no cart. Want a permit? good luck. Bribe some bureaucrat. Get on a waiting list. They set up a monopoly for their cart vendors with a permit then regulate his conduct. More anti-capitalist fail.


37 posted on 06/07/2015 12:41:35 PM PDT by anton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

“I’ve been to all sorts of restaurants that don’t list prices, especially for drinks and desserts.”

I used to like to mess with vendors at the weekend market in Bangkok. I’d see something, then wait for a local to buy some. When I walked up and looked, I’d get some inflated price in broken English. Then I’d say in my finest Thai, “That guy just bought 4 for the same price.” LOL.

Other times I’d show little interest but start a conversation. Then idly ask about something. Are those any good? Where did they come from? Eventually price would come up and I’d start weaseling a low price. Fun stuff if the vendor had a sense of humor.


38 posted on 06/07/2015 12:41:37 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: UnwashedPeasant

My understanding is that he was ripping off tourists who did not understand the value of US money and thought they were paying the same market price as the other customers.

He is a con artist.


Exactamundo. This case is a bit like the $6 a gallon gas station scam by the Orlando airport. Ripping off tourists is not “capitalism”. It’s thievery and bad for a the image of a city.


39 posted on 06/07/2015 12:41:41 PM PDT by lodi90
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Cowboy Bob

“Wouldn’t pay more than $25 for a Nathan’s”

I would as long as it came with the experience being in Coney Island at 2 in the morning.


40 posted on 06/07/2015 12:42:38 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Liawatha, because we need to beat a real commie, not a criminal posing as one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-64 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson