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 ...
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...)
Yep, he is a thief. Employees don’t get to set prices and pocket profits behind the boss’s back.
(I'm thinkin' $49.95. With fries of course.)
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.
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.
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.
"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.
He violated a regulation that was intended to prevent scamming: failure to list prices. How can anyone applaud his behavior?
I’ve been to all sorts of restaurants that don’t list prices, especially for drinks and desserts.
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.
Thief... and you're OK with that???
Go back and read my previous comments.
Yes. Mostly people who can’t speak English and have no idea about the value of a twenty.
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?
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.
“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.
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.
“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.
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