12-13-2013, 05:05 AM
When I first moved to Hawaii (Maui) I could not believe how much the local business Hopaco charged for paper and other office supplies. When I asked, the answer was always that shipping expenses made everything cost double and triple what I had paid on the mainland. When I moved to Big Island, the prices at HPM reflected the same discrepancy between mainland pricing and local.
Then Office Max and Home Depot opened, and Hopaco and HPM dropped their prices to match those of the big box stores. They didn't go out of business at those lower prices, which seems to indicate that those high shipping charges did not create the high prices they charged us for so many years.
Business is business, and almost every business owner looks to maximize their profit, some a little more, some a lot more.
Then Office Max and Home Depot opened, and Hopaco and HPM dropped their prices to match those of the big box stores. They didn't go out of business at those lower prices, which seems to indicate that those high shipping charges did not create the high prices they charged us for so many years.
Business is business, and almost every business owner looks to maximize their profit, some a little more, some a lot more.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves