Tyler BensonMay 26, 2024
Matthew Haughey

We passed an anti-price gouging law in Portland years ago that is simple and brilliant.

Every store inside the airport must sell items at the same price they’d be in a normal store inside city limits.

It’s a bit of a shock when you buy a bottle of water there for $2, then on your return trip it’s $8 somewhere else.

Every airport in every city should have this law.

May 26, 2024 at 1:52pmWeb
Show threadjz.tuskMay 26, 2024

@mathowie

Your screenshot seems to attribute the price difference to the gummint (taxes), while your text seems to chalk it up to unrestricted monopoly (price gouging). Do you know which is mostly responsible?

Even funnier is that the solution you cite uses even more government to help the consumer. I don't think you and person you've quoted actually agree on how to solve things. ;-)

Show threadMatthew HaugheyMay 26, 2024

@jztusk I don’t know why the person mentioned a 8% CA tax when the price is 300% more. It’s a distraction from the main point.

I think it’s a great use of government resources. I’m love that Portland uses government control over things like predatory price fixing of a captive audience that can’t shop elsewhere. I thought I was clear enough in my text.

Also, could you help make mastodon a nicer place and maybe not be so judgmental of strangers here?

Show threadjz.tuskMay 26, 2024

@mathowie

Ouch, sorry. You were definitely clear that you liked the government solution, and I'm with you on that. I was just struck by the irony of the screen shot person blaming the high cost on government, when that was what provided the solution.

I'll have to do better at remembering "this person doesn't know me" when replying on Mastodon. Guess I got lazy - thanks for the copiously considerate reminder. 😳

Show threadPB Livin'May 27, 2024
@jztusk @mathowie My guess is the screenshot person was trying to score some cheap political points with conservatives by saying "LoOk hOw HiGh tHe TaXeS ArE iN cALiFoRniA, tHe LiBs MaKe tHiNgS sO eXpEnSiVe, wHo CaN eVeN aFfOrD tO LiVe iN tHAt StAtE???"
And not at all caring about how stupid his "fact" was.
Show threadMatt Goldman May 26, 2024
@mathowie the NYC-area airports all have a rule that concessions prices can only be 10% above the local "street price", but I don't think there are any penalties and the Port Authority does not care to fix it despite years of complaints and allegedly doing an investigation.
Show threadDave Hayden 🏊May 26, 2024
@mathowie I was wondering about that law when I got a breakfast sandwich from the Lardo there that seemed airport-priced (and really low quality for something with Lardo’s name of it). Can they charge whatever they want if they don’t sell it anywhere else? Tried to find a menu but got Elephant’s instead. Looks like they add a few dollars at the airport. Not the typical 100% markup but still.. I wonder if the law gives them some leeway.
Show threadMatthew HaugheyMay 26, 2024
@dave I think the rules are same price as offsite thing, so maybe they sell airport-only items to crank up the price?
Show threadPat CastaldoMay 26, 2024

@mathowie @dave Is it a law law or just airport policy?

When we were in the process of possibly getting a space at the airport for Land it seemed more tied to their landlord position, not an actual law.

They really seemed to be telling us at the time it was so they could stay “the best airport.”

Show threadMatthew HaugheyMay 26, 2024
@patc @dave yeah I assumed it was a law but I think it’s just a Port of Portland rule, and they do talk it up on their site
Show threadJim. From Kansas.May 26, 2024

@mathowie

I am slightly surprised that all the airport vendors haven't come together to create an exclusive brand of bottled water that is only sold at the airport, and is the only brand of water sold at the airport.

Late-stage capitalism demands it.

Show threadGreg MaleticMay 26, 2024
@mathowie Is this a law, or an airport regulation? (The McDonald’s at PDX does not charge the same as every other McDonald’s in Portland. I’ve complained twice, to no avail.)
Show threadMatthew HaugheyMay 26, 2024
@Gregmaletic I assumed a law but I think it is just Port of Portland rules. They boast about it on their site here
Show threadClifton RoystonMay 26, 2024

@mathowie

Yes, it's definitely made Portland PDX one of my favorite to fly through. It's got good coffee and good draft beer too, what's not to like?

In addition, all the airport staff seem to be consistently nice and considerate, including DHS screening people.

I think the airport management must be putting considerable effort into training and inculcating a positive culture there.

Show threadAriock(R)May 27, 2024
@mathowie The screenshot is really bad. Do folks really not understand how sales or other taxes work? Is Kev Inkle ok? I'm worried about Mr. Inkle. https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/taxes-and-fees/tax-rates-stfd.htm#alcoholictax CA taxes beer at a rate of 20 cents per gallon. San Diego sales tax rate is 7.75%. So for a pre-tax $5.00 beer, the tax would be +0.20, +0.40=5.60.
Not $15 to $18.
This seems like someone who thinks that if their income rises and puts them in the next tax bracket that they'll actually lose money.
Tax Rates – Special Taxes and Fees

Show threadCeceliaMay 27, 2024
@Ariock @mathowie My take was that the mention of tax was as an acknowledgment that it existed, not as an explanation of the price difference. It’s also not clear to me that the value given actually includes the tax.
Show threadAriock(R)May 27, 2024
@helianthropy @mathowie but it's the only thing that Kev mentions as a reason for the difference. And since it is the only thing mentioned, it seems like an attempt to stroke an anti tax and ultimately anti government sentiment when the real problem is unregulated capitalism.
Show threadStarkRGMay 27, 2024
@mathowie That sounds _highly_ anti-capitalistic. I'm 100% in agreement.
Show threadMx. Aria StewartMay 27, 2024
@mathowie @debcha New York has this law and is a case study in ‘details matter’: the comps are kept secret, and so far sunshine law requests have not managed to get the list; the prices at JFK are astronomical, but apparently arguably, equivalent to elsewhere in the city, somewhere.
Show threadDKMJMay 28, 2024
@mathowie Moast Swedish Airports have taps for you to fill your own multi use bottle.