Canada has implemented a new tax savings from December to February for some things like taxable groceries, crafts, and gaming physical media. I wanted to get a new Xbox controller and found the best price at Walmart for $55 a week ago. The tax holiday starts today and I now see that the $55 has increased to $62 and change, which is about how much tax I should be saving. Great to see this thinly veiled attempt to help Canadians ( /s - win votes) is just going to be extra profit in the corporations’ pockets.

  • CileTheSane
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    1 month ago

    It doesn’t matter how much competition there is of they’re all going to do it anyway.

    • masterspace
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      1 month ago

      It does. Competition is literally the only mechanism that drives greedy actors to lower prices or improve their service. Without competition they hoarde.

      • CileTheSane
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        1 month ago

        literally the only mechanism

        You forgot about laws.

        • masterspace
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          1 month ago

          No I didn’t, price control laws don’t work. Companies will find another way of maximizing profits and screwing you.

          • CileTheSane
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            1 month ago

            “only the market can fix this”

            Gestures broadly at the market

            Multiple competitors just results in them all agreeing to raise prices when taxes are lowered.

            Out of curiosity, how do you propose increasing the number of competitors? Or is this a situation of “gee, that would be nice. Oh well, I guess nothing can be done.”?

            • masterspace
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              1 month ago

              Multiple competitors just results in them all agreeing to raise prices when taxes are lowered.

              Price signalling happens in situations with low competition, in a healthy, competitive market, if you raises prices someone will undercut you to take your business.

              Out of curiosity, how do you propose increasing the number of competitors? Or is this a situation of “gee, that would be nice. Oh well, I guess nothing can be done.”?

              You literally just break up grocery store companies and stop them from merging in the future. The solution is not complicated.

              • CileTheSane
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                1 month ago

                You literally just break up grocery store companies and stop them from merging in the future.

                Oh, so you mean LAWS?