Screwdriver wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:05 am
We all know what happens at the end in a game of Monopoly. Inevitably someone ends up with all the money. That scenario is baked into the fundamental structure of our capitalist society. I think we are beginning to see that play out.
Look on the bright side Screwd, inflation is going to reduce the absolute value of their money pile much more than it is yours or mine.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
Count Steer wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 11:16 am
Yup. I don't think we're going to have a problem with turnips or carrots. 'Luxury' stuff like asparagus probably isn't too big a problem and they seem to manage to keep the supply of UK toms going. Maybe soft fruit like strawberries will become a bit more 'luxe'. If cheap labour is an issue they'll either grow mechanically handleable crops or bung up the price. Food staples should be OK and I guess we'll still import from the EU...at a price. (Spanish drivers are/have been on strike - not that we heard much about it.)
Tomato farmers were on the news complaining about gas prices. Greenhouses won't heat themselves apparently.
My dad grew toms in his unheated greenhouse every year. He just grew them in season. If people want out of season stuff it's going to cost more either as an import or from a heated greenhouse. We'd better get used to spuds and turnips in January.
Look up Thanet Earth, they have a huge site in Kent which produces out of season veg. Each glasshouse has it's own heat and power system, the 'waste' is used in the glasshouses while the electricity generated is sold to the National Grid, enough to power 50,000 homes. It has many downsides though. "We don’t believe you can go north of the Thames in terms of winter light" being one of them, given how much land is needed. It's also a bit of an eye-sore and due to the amount of light the houses produce at night needs to be situated in very secluded locations. And of course, it takes a huge anount of initial investment which would probably put it out of reach of most UK farmers and into the hands of big business (supermarkets etc). Another problem is lack of workers. they had alot of waste last year which obviously hits profits.
Hoonercat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 9:34 amit takes a huge anount of initial investment which would probably put it out of reach of most UK farmers and into the hands of big business (supermarkets etc). Another problem is lack of workers. they had alot of waste last year which obviously hits profits.
Since it's said that supermarkets have a tight hold on how much farmers get paid for their produce, it could result in 'accurate' / realistic pricing of food.
Hoonercat wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 9:34 am
Look up Thanet Earth, they have a huge site in Kent which produces out of season veg. Each glasshouse has it's own heat and power system, the 'waste' is used in the glasshouses while the electricity generated is sold to the National Grid, enough to power 50,000 homes. It has many downsides though. "We don’t believe you can go north of the Thames in terms of winter light" being one of them, given how much land is needed. It's also a bit of an eye-sore and due to the amount of light the houses produce at night needs to be situated in very secluded locations. And of course, it takes a huge anount of initial investment which would probably put it out of reach of most UK farmers and into the hands of big business (supermarkets etc). Another problem is lack of workers. they had alot of waste last year which obviously hits profits.
Thanet Earth has serious scale! They must produce ktons of biomass. There's an English chilli equivalent run by an Italian family IIRC. Excellent point about investment. Lots of fairly big, down to medium size farms have put in digesters and the economics will be getting better and better.
When the Govt finally get round to replacing the EU farming subsidy scheme they could support digester schemes - although that's probably too logical for them vs 'rewilding' and wind farms on agricultural land.
(When I was a kid, the market always had 'Guernsey Toms'. I know the IoW grows toms - and garlic, but wonder what happened to Guernseys - do we still get them and they don't bother labelling them as such?).
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
Just been looking at salaries for Thanet Earth. Min wage, working a standard 40 hour week would give you approx £1,570 per month (varies depending on working days in each month). That's before tax, NI (if applicable), accommodation, transport, bills, food etc. Cheapest rent in the area is currenty £550 (houseshare) or £675 (small flat, unfurnished).
Here's. aguage of the current profiteering problem. Wifey works in the charity sector as a volunteer. All chatty outlets get their stuff for free - so no manufacturing costs, energy, transport, import duties blah, blah, blah. They do not have to pay most of their staff - obviously there will be overheads but minimal compared to running a McDonalds store.
The current vogue is that they have all shoved their prices up ( the metic is 1/3 of the new cost) - for no other reason than they are trying increase their revenue , in view of the down turn through Covid. So indirectly, a store that is a charity, run by people who don't get paid, has whacked up prices - adding to inflation.
The usual commercial cost divvy of 1/3 RM, 1/3 staff/ running costs, 1/3 profit doesn't hold up when your RMs are all free!
Count Steer wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:37 am
Look on the bright side Screwd, inflation is going to reduce the absolute value of their money pile much more than it is yours or mine.
Luckily I am asset rich having decided some time ago on a strategy of hoarding (what I thought might become) collectible motorcycles. More recently I have been doing the same with tools/machinery. If HDPE milk jugs ever become valuable, I will be rich.
I still have a lot of bikes, paradoxically (or is that ironically) because I have no money to nail them back together.
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:36 am
Here's. aguage of the current profiteering problem. Wifey works in the charity sector as a volunteer. All chatty outlets get their stuff for free - so no manufacturing costs, energy, transport, import duties blah, blah, blah. They do not have to pay most of their staff - obviously there will be overheads but minimal compared to running a McDonalds store.
The current vogue is that they have all shoved their prices up ( the metic is 1/3 of the new cost) - for no other reason than they are trying increase their revenue , in view of the down turn through Covid. So indirectly, a store that is a charity, run by people who don't get paid, has whacked up prices - adding to inflation.
The usual commercial cost divvy of 1/3 RM, 1/3 staff/ running costs, 1/3 profit doesn't hold up when your RMs are all free!
I agree it does nothing for inflation, but IMO it is perfectly reasonable. Most charities have had a torrid time, shops closed, no street collections, etc. In many ways the problem is continuing, collection tins and street collections are almost dead, no-one caries loose change any more, so one valuable revenue stream is gone and a replacement has not yet been found. Charity shops exist to support their charities, not to clothe and equip the poor.
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:36 am
Here's. aguage of the current profiteering problem. Wifey works in the charity sector as a volunteer. All chatty outlets get their stuff for free - so no manufacturing costs, energy, transport, import duties blah, blah, blah. They do not have to pay most of their staff - obviously there will be overheads but minimal compared to running a McDonalds store.
The current vogue is that they have all shoved their prices up ( the metic is 1/3 of the new cost) - for no other reason than they are trying increase their revenue , in view of the down turn through Covid. So indirectly, a store that is a charity, run by people who don't get paid, has whacked up prices - adding to inflation.
The usual commercial cost divvy of 1/3 RM, 1/3 staff/ running costs, 1/3 profit doesn't hold up when your RMs are all free!
I agree it does nothing for inflation, but IMO it is perfectly reasonable. Most charities have had a torrid time, shops closed, no street collections, etc. In many ways the problem is continuing, collection tins and street collections are almost dead, no-one caries loose change any more, so one valuable revenue stream is gone and a replacement has not yet been found. Charity shops exist to support their charities, not to clothe and equip the poor.
or pay for their CEOs performance bonuses ....
The sad thing is that their revenues are way down - because people will buy new as there is no longer a huge saving being offered ( esp when you look at condition, choice etc). If there was any organisation that can afford to pile it high / sell it cheap and drive the revenue stream , then it is the charity sector, where they get the stuff they sell for free. They have two year piles of the stuff - they are selling it for rags / export for beans per kilo!
Stick it is the shop - ask not more than a fiver for anything - and your revenue will be back on track.
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:36 am
Here's. aguage of the current profiteering problem. Wifey works in the charity sector as a volunteer. All chatty outlets get their stuff for free - so no manufacturing costs, energy, transport, import duties blah, blah, blah. They do not have to pay most of their staff - obviously there will be overheads but minimal compared to running a McDonalds store.
The current vogue is that they have all shoved their prices up ( the metic is 1/3 of the new cost) - for no other reason than they are trying increase their revenue , in view of the down turn through Covid. So indirectly, a store that is a charity, run by people who don't get paid, has whacked up prices - adding to inflation.
The usual commercial cost divvy of 1/3 RM, 1/3 staff/ running costs, 1/3 profit doesn't hold up when your RMs are all free!
I agree it does nothing for inflation, but IMO it is perfectly reasonable. Most charities have had a torrid time, shops closed, no street collections, etc. In many ways the problem is continuing, collection tins and street collections are almost dead, no-one caries loose change any more, so one valuable revenue stream is gone and a replacement has not yet been found. Charity shops exist to support their charities, not to clothe and equip the poor.
or pay for their CEOs performance bonuses ....
Is the correct answer.
I heard that one of these poor gas companies that are struggling so much with all these higher prices due to Ukraine war etc is giving their CEO a payrise from £1.5m to about £4.5m per year, as they are struggling so much.
Still, the working man like me and you will pick up the bill for it, so that's fine!
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:17 pmor pay for their CEOs performance bonuses ....
Is the correct answer.
I heard that one of these poor gas companies that are struggling so much with all these higher prices due to Ukraine war etc is giving their CEO a payrise from £1.5m to about £4.5m per year, as they are struggling so much.
Still, the working man like me and you will pick up the bill for it, so that's fine!
You could always buy shares in those companies, be part of the success.
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 1:17 pmor pay for their CEOs performance bonuses ....
Is the correct answer.
I heard that one of these poor gas companies that are struggling so much with all these higher prices due to Ukraine war etc is giving their CEO a payrise from £1.5m to about £4.5m per year, as they are struggling so much.
Still, the working man like me and you will pick up the bill for it, so that's fine!
You could always buy shares in those companies, be part of the success.
Cousin Jack wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 12:21 pmI agree it does nothing for inflation, but IMO it is perfectly reasonable. Most charities have had a torrid time, shops closed, no street collections, etc.
Anecdotally you'd think that'd be the case.
Statistically though, it seemed charity giving went up c.7% during the first year of the pandemic.
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:36 am
Here's. aguage of the current profiteering problem. Wifey works in the charity sector as a volunteer. All chatty outlets get their stuff for free - so no manufacturing costs, energy, transport, import duties blah, blah, blah. They do not have to pay most of their staff - obviously there will be overheads but minimal compared to running a McDonalds store.
The current vogue is that they have all shoved their prices up ( the metic is 1/3 of the new cost) - for no other reason than they are trying increase their revenue , in view of the down turn through Covid. So indirectly, a store that is a charity, run by people who don't get paid, has whacked up prices - adding to inflation.
The usual commercial cost divvy of 1/3 RM, 1/3 staff/ running costs, 1/3 profit doesn't hold up when your RMs are all free!
I'm always slightly surprised by charity shop prices. Some of their stuff seems to be priced as if they're desperate to keep it. Then again I suppose if it was too cheap then wannabee-delboy-carboot-millionaires would probably strip them clean of stock. Personally I'd rather just get it shifted.
DefTrap wrote: ↑Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:23 am
I'm always slightly surprised by charity shop prices. Some of their stuff seems to be priced as if they're desperate to keep it. Then again I suppose if it was too cheap then wannabee-delboy-carboot-millionaires would probably strip them clean of stock. Personally I'd rather just get it shifted.
One of the pleasures of rootling around in charity shops was finding something worth a few bob for a few pence. Now it's like our local Oxfam bookshop - someone sits in the back checking the prices on-line of anything that looks interesting. Now they have a locked display with stuff for sale like signed first editions etc priced at eg £120, which is probably £5 less than they found it on-line.
It makes sense for them but it takes away any thoughts of delving for a bargain.
OTOH you'll get the house clearance people still chucking good money items in the skip.
Doubt is not a pleasant condition.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Voltaire
DefTrap wrote: ↑Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:23 am
I'm always slightly surprised by charity shop prices. Some of their stuff seems to be priced as if they're desperate to keep it. Then again I suppose if it was too cheap then wannabee-delboy-carboot-millionaires would probably strip them clean of stock. Personally I'd rather just get it shifted.
One of the pleasures of rootling around in charity shops was finding something worth a few bob for a few pence. Now it's like our local Oxfam bookshop - someone sits in the back checking the prices on-line of anything that looks interesting. Now they have a locked display with stuff for sale like signed first editions etc priced at eg £120, which is probably £5 less than they found it on-line.
It makes sense for them but it takes away any thoughts of delving for a bargain.
OTOH you'll get the house clearance people still chucking good money items in the skip.
I used to do the same for CD's and Vinyl.
Used to get some proper bargains esp as one of my mates is a manger at one of the local St Peters Hospices (he used to give me first dibs on the vinyl that came in).
Now through they are all on the button when it comes to pricing. Never in the last 5 years have i found a bargain CD or Vinyl in a charity chop. They all seem to look on Discogs (tis also what my manager mate does) and prices the product at the medium sell price if it's near mint, lowest sale price if a little ropey.
Tis why i am so skint these days, paying full price for Vinyl...
And before anyone says anything no, i'm not converting to shitty digital MP3's...
Count Steer wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:29 am
Anyway. Larry Fynk, the boss of Blackrock, the world's largest asset management company says that the impact of the war will be a retrenchment by countries to become more self sufficient and less dependent on others, so it looks like globalisation is going in reverse. We could see a range of inflation rates across countries that have generally been pretty uniform.
Interesting times.
This popped up today, the proud 'made in the uk' label.
