Yes, you are speaking theoretically. I’m sure theoretically you are right. But when it gets down to face to face interactions of people selling needed products to desperate people, it gets a little sticky, doesn’t it? Can’t we all agree on that?
I can agree that it is bad optics. It would have been better if they broke up the cases and sold singles or limited purchases. I’m capable of having a bleeding heart occasionally and I would be tempted to give it away to people in need. But for the big picture, there are a few economic theories backed by the laws of mathematics that can’t be avoided. I am out of the area that was hit, but the grocery store HEB, big here in Texas, limited purchases of bread, water and a few other items so they could distribute more to the affected areas. I haven’t heard any complaints.
I’m a conservative who leans libertarian in my thinking-but in a situation like this one, the optics can be a disaster worse then the hurricane for a big box like Best Buy-as in costing future business since a lot of people have long memories. So many of the big box retailers are doing what amounts to charitable donations of essentials for those displaced by the storm-so it looks worse than bad for Best Buy to not be doing the same-after all this is done, I’m guessing there will be people spending their dollars at a store that wasn’t accused of gouging instead of Best Buy-and that is lost profit.
Besides-whether we agree or disagree with the gouging laws in Texas, they are in place-so this little debacle could well result in fines that would negate any profit from gouging, at the very least...