A big bump, strategic racism, and in the “not feeling safer” department…
I’ll get started by mentioning that Fatty Goodlander’s “Rising Costs and Disappearing Expectations” in the April All At Sea is an article everyone should read. Which, sorta/kinda brings us to the cost of stuff.
The other day, I realized that I should buy a few flares. A quick look at West marine told me that the flares in question were $42.99 and Defender has them for $36.99. The problem, of course, is that being flares they can only be shipped to exotic locations for something like a couple of hundred bucks.
Not going to happen.
The cost locally is $75.99. That being the case, I’ll just go without since our electronic flare is all I legally need. I also have a bunch of outdated flares which I find nearly impossible to dispose of properly. So, no threat to safety.
The frustrating part is that everything we purchase suffers from inflation. It’s just a part of the equation. That said, they’re lying about the real numbers of inflation. While I hear the inflation level is below 2.9%, our grocery basket is at least 50% higher than it was last year.
Do the math.
Then again, apparently, most folk these days can’t do simple math. So accept whatever the-powers-that-be deign to tell them.
On the other hand, boat stuff is a whole different story as most everyone with a boat has consumed the kool-aid of “anything that cost more is better”. Sure, it’s faulty logic but it’s also gospel where yachting is concerned. So…
This four pack of flares from Defender at $36.99 is not as good as this set of flares…
from Budget Marine because they cost $75.99.
Yeah, I know that’s an oversimplified example but I see the same logic play out everyday where boat stuff is concerned and whenever I point it out they tell me…
“You get what you pay for”