Contrasts

Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago to Economics
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When one pays the price for a product or service we are usually used to paying the price, or a price close to it.We are usually only made conscious of it when the current price is contrasted with a price for the same product's cost many years ago. For example, 100 years ago a Delmonico Steak at Delmonico's famous restaurant 100 years ago in 1917 was 95 cents. Currently at one of our better steak houses here in Florida, is $16.95. But this is even more painful when the contrast is personal because it happened during one's lifetime. The other day, I was throwing out some ancient bills when I came across bills for my kids from the doctor for the first 10 years of their lives. A bell went off in the old skull and checked out the Vet bills for my beagle, as she just tuned 10 years old. Guess what? The Vet bills were three times the cost of the bills for BOTH boys over a 10 year period. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I would drive from Detroit to the upper peninsula. I75 all the way. There was a rise 50 miles outside of the Mackinac Bridge. I would run it up to 130
    mph + through it into neutral and coast all the way to Lake Superior.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    My oldest son was the one who always got hassled.He tinkered with whatever car he had and always looked as if he were speeding even when he wasn't. One time he actually got himself arrested because he didn't have the title in the glove box. I had to go and bail him out. Oh, The Shame Of it I I think he was 18. He's now 60 and drives a Ford 350 diesel.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I think that the quality of service has dropped in proportion to the amount of dollars that have increased.The stuff from the far east is cheap because of lower labor costs, but also because of improved technology.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Kids might enjoy cars more if there was room on the roads to enjoy them (and if the fuel cost was 25 cents/gallon.)

    I've driven sports cars since '73 and although the performance today is better, the thrills are rarer.

    (Hondas and Camrys get outta the way!)
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  • Posted by term2 7 years, 6 months ago
    The value of the services probably didnt change much. BUT, the value of the dollar used to pay for it went down a LOT.. Inflation numbers have been low for a few years now because more and more stuff is being provided at lower prices from China. The items made here, or services provided by americans ( not illegal immigrants) cost a LOT more, reflecting the true drop in value of the dollar.
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  • Posted by $ Radio_Randy 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    In 1976, bought a '68 GTO convertible with a 400 engine, Holley 750 double pumper carb, 4 on the floor and headers. All for $500 (the owner was being shipped overseas)!

    About 2 years later, I blew the motor, failed in my rebuild attempt and GAVE the car away!

    Tissues, anyone?
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  • Posted by freedomforall 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    First 3 times I walked down the main street near Tech, I was stopped and hassled by the cops. I looked like a typical '72 college student, clean, not long haired. I gave them all the respect they deserved. I should have read it as a warning about the state, but it took me 20 years to wake up.
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  • Posted by CaptainKirk 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I was profiled. I drove a PoS car in a bad neighborhood late at night (worked at a bar as a busboy).
    I got pulled over a few times until they started to recognize me! It pissed me off at first, but then I realized... At least they care!
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  • Posted by $ gharkness 7 years, 6 months ago
    Each of my kids cost me $1 to bring home. Somehow the cost of the thermometer they had to have wasn't covered by my husband's employer health insurance. Even now, if it paid for everything but the thermometer, it would probably be a couple hundred just for THAT!
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  • Posted by Stormi 7 years, 6 months ago
    The upside is, the house you paid the mortgage off on is now worth 2 1/2 times what your paid for it.
    The downside is my preference in cars has not changed, but the prices have soared. Nothing beats my first ,57 Chevy, originally about $3,000 loaded, now they are $50,000-$80,000 at auction. My first Camaro, 1978, sold for tens of thousands less than my current 5th generation Camaro. If we had only collected '62 /corvettes at less than $5,000! On the other hand,we have been able to end up with a Corvette, Camaro and Challenger (husband went to the dark side), in spite of Obama years. And hey, Hillary would have banned cars given a few years, and said she was stopping climate change. I just feel sad that kids don't know cars anymore, they fly around in those tin can tiny cars and don't connect to them at all.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I was profiled by the local cops...and these kids today just don't get it. I deserved it but had a hard time convincing myself...laughing

    My 61 Starliner, 175.00 cost used, less than 2000.00 new, now would cost me 55K by the owner of my car now. We installed a 406 4sp from my friends smashed 62. The front tires would jump off the ground when the clutch was popped and easily did 11sec in the quarter mile...that earned me the right to be profiled.
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  • Posted by mccannon01 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes, but the rear end was changed out to 456s and it would top out around 95, but LORD-HAVE-MERCY it got there in a hurry! Left rubber draggin' all over town.

    Traded it in on a "family car" - don't go there - wipin' my weepin' eyes.
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  • Posted by Dobrien 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Living life , making and savoring the memories.
    I had a friend with a dark green GTO it was souped up with some fat tires and was a 4speed
    With a Big engine. When ever a rode with him anywhere it was like a workout.
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  • Posted by freedomforall 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    We had a '69 Chevelle 350 convertible that had way too much engine for its brakes. It was a blast to drive. Great G-forces! It was fall sale buy for $3,500. I inherited it from my Dad while I was at Tech. Had 2 beauties riding in "parade" mode through campus during the streaking craze in '73.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Even if I wanted to spend that much on a car I no longer have the nerve or the reflexes to drive a car like that But like when my boys & I went down the Colorado River in a raft, I can say, "I did it and it remains evergreen in my memory.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Then you know what it felt like to float along at 130mph. I got so many speeding tickets, I had to either sell the car or go to jail.
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  • Posted by mccannon01 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    By gawd golly gee, Herb7734!!! I had a '69 GTX with the 440! Wish I still had it!

    Edit: finally put headers with bullet mufflers and the sound was soooooooo naaaaasteeeeeeyyyy!
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  • Posted by Herb7734 7 years, 6 months ago in reply to this comment.
    We were brand new Objectivists when my friend bought a GTO, and I bought a Dodge Charger with the 440 engine. We 'd go home from our meetings and pull up side by side and rev. the engines as if we were going to race. We never did. They were both '69's. I wonder what I'd get for that great hunk of iron? As I recall it cost $5,500 and change. It was my favorite car to this day.
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