Superintendent Chat

Richard McClements, Shonto Preparatory School

Americans, unfortunately, tolerate price gauging. Every time I go to Flagstaff, Page, or other urban centers, I am disturbed by the obvious selling price manipulations of the gas station owners. It is almost as if a bunch of them in a block will agree to sell the gas at the same price - for example, $1.79. That way each has a reasonable chance of having the driver stop in to fill up. The actual cost of the gas purchased by the gas station owner seems to have been no factor. It could be that owner A paid $1.12 a gallon, and Owner B paid $.99 a gallon to purchase the gasoline in the first place. Owner B then could theoretically sell his gas for $1.66 a gallon and make the same profit that Owner A is making. No, he charges us the extra because they all are selling it at $1.79. Then if Owner C decides to be competitive and lower the price to $1.70, then all of the others mysteriously lower their prices as well.

This is what I mean by price gauging. They also jump up the prices for holidays and then lower them afterward. Look at the huge increases for super unleaded. Do you really think we believe that it is more expensive to produce? No. It is supply and demand. Some cars need it, and it is a simple way to get drivers to pay through the nose. Why don’t our government and the city councils do something about it? Right now, there is a congressional hearing in Washington, DC over the price gauging being manipulated by the cable TV industry. Over the past several years, their increases have greatly exceeded inflation. It is about time. Three fourths of the stations they offer in their packages are worthless anyway!!

Have you ever noticed that when you go to the movies, the price for popcorn and a coke often exceeds the cost of the movie ticket? They quadruple the price compared to what they pay. Many business owners mark up the price by 50% of their cost. If an item cost them $50.00, they then sell it at $75.00.

Customers everywhere need to speak out. How about ice? In Page where many of us do our grocery shopping, we need ice to keep meat and produce products cold for our trips home. Basha’s charges $1.49 for ice; Safeway charges $1.49, and Wal-Mart charges $1.00. Why would anyone pay the two grocery stores for their ice? Furthermore, they recently increased their prices because of warm weather. Who do you think buys most of the ice? We on the Reservation are the primary consumers. We need ice to keep our milk and meats cold for the trip home. I think this is blatant discrimination against the Navajo. If all of us said, “lower your price”, the two grocery stores would probably do so, especially when they discovered that no one was buying their ice. Until they do, refuse to buy from them.

In the 1950’s, the cost for a new car was around $3,200. I remember buying a new Mercury Marquis in 1977 that cost about $7,000. At the time, I felt like a huge spender – but it was gold, had fender skirts, and was so beautiful, I splurged. Now most decent cars cost $30,000 plus. Furthermore, each year, they cheapen the quality, run the same model (such as Honda) year after year. It isn’t necessarily costing them more to produce, they just keep raising prices.

Students, staff, and parents, if more of us screamed, more of them would listen.