I understand the economics of it, and I know hotels do it everywhere, but I still would consider it dirty for a shop to do it. You wouldn't mind it if they raised hourly prices to work on your rig during EJS just because they know people with pay?
Well, yes I would mind if they raised it just because it was EJS, and absolutely not because I understand how a business like that works.
During EJS it's not like they are standing around with their thumbs up their asses waiting for work to do, and hoping people will pay extra for it because it's a holiday weekend. They work 24/7 in that shop, and in addition to operational expenses (utilities, consumables, etc) they have to pay overtime to employees over 40 hours in a 7 day period. That costs extra in payroll, insurance, etc etc. Is it fair that the shop works around the clock for 50% less profit?
If someone came to you in your place of business and asked you to work 2x's as many hours for 50% less money, without consideration for increased operating costs, would you do it? Nope.
Say they stuck with their normal business model and only worked their normal hours. Would you be willing to wait 5-7 days for them to get to your rig in the order it was received? If you had driven 3-7-50 hours and spent triple that in prep to get your rig to Moab for a week of wheelin, would you pay 50% extra labor rate for a shop to stay open on rigs 24/7 so that they can get you back on the trail? Some would, some wouldn't. But the beautiful thing here is that in America you can make that choice and as long as enough people are willing to pay that extra money, a business can charge it. (This idea warms my heart, but I'm also the guy who sold Coca-Cola out of his bathtub for 50 cents/can at the Disney Hotel when he was 15 because they were $1 out of the vending machines. I made $50 just for taking the initiative to walk to 7-11 and buy a few cases of coke
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I wasn't talking about them going out of their way, I was talking about paying more for a part they would already normally carry just because they know people would pay for it.
Sure, that is unfair. But we were talking about a shop that can't afford to carry a year round inventory of 25k in drivetrain parts. See the difference?
If you were out on the trail, came across a guy that ran out of gas, you happen to have a five gallon gas can full, would you charge him $7.50/gal for it? Supply/demand, right? Yeah, he'd pay for it, but he'd curse you up and down. And you'd deserve a kick in the babymaker.
Have you ever been to the Needles Outpost lol? Halls Crossing? In the situation you outline I would not charge anyone a premium for the gas (as long as they filled the can back up), but I'm also not incurring additional costs of my own by supplying said person with said gas (nor is it my business to sell fuel--if you went into M40 looking to use the bathroom I doubt they would charge you for it even during EJS
). If I was on a trail for a week with 50x's as many people as normal, and 3 of them came to me for diesel fuel, 1 for bio diesel, 5 for premium fuel, 1 for propane, and 1 looking for banana peels for his Mr. Fusion am I expected to have that? If I actually did prepare for that and incurred the considerable costs to acquire, transport, and provide these items to these people on demand, I would probably want to recoup those costs.
Also, for the record if I could find a place that is located in such a way that there is a steady supply of people who have no choice but to buy gas from me for $7.50 per gallon, I absolutely would move to that place and start shipping fuel to it.
Would it be cool with you if they walked around their store and marked everything up 15% just for EJS? Again, I understand the economics of it, I just think it underhanded. :-\
Nope, that wouldn't be cool. But again, we're not talking about inventory they typically carry on hand. M40 in particular does an amazing job of servicing our needs. They have bailed me out of a bind several times and have never charged me extra for staying late or going way beyond the call of duty. I would have paid it but I probably wouldn't sing their praises as much afterwards. They live in an industry notorious for walking a razor thin line between profit and bankruptcy, and do so in a market that is highly seasonal and historically difficult to run a shop in. The fact that they stay in business without charging heavy premiums on products and services far outside of their typical business model is amazing and a testament to the goodwill and loyalty that those practices have earned them over the years.
