[mickey100]

Originally Posted by Robbb

In MHO this is not a sign of inflation, its a sign of a monoploy. There is a reason they have shut out any other provider of carts in the Villages....its so they can charge $27,800 for a cart that in a competitive environment would be 40% less.

Exactly. It's run by the Villages, so the prices are inflated over what you'd normally pay. the Villages is very good at eking out extra from the residents. The Villages has their fingers in the financial pie so to speak in any number of local businesses, to cash in. If people do their homework, they will always find cheaper prices elsewhere.

[Gatorfan1]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

walking past the cart shop in brownwood tonight, a star 4 seat forward ele. for only $27,800. cars dont cost that much with more features.

Wait till you get an insurance quote on a new golf cart.

[Villager1234]

I love my overpriced star. It is a pleasure to get over the bridge without accelerating. My kids bought it for me. (It’s less money they get when I go)
😏

[MorTech]

Stupid ain't it...Considering you can purchase a BYD Dolphin for $15K...Oh, wait!

[Eg_cruz]

Originally Posted by blueash

Please tell me what happened on that date that made the cost of a golf cart go up. As I recall we were in an economic lockdown, the world economy was frozen, thousands were dying every day from a pandemic, there had just been a riot in DC, unemployment had skyrocketed, economists were forecasting a certain recession, and the average crude oil price had jumped 250% in just nine months. That is not a typo, it went up from 21 to 53 dollars.

But for you Jan 2021 is special. In fact there was a tough time for the economy climbing out of the hole we were in on January 2021. Now we have lowered inflation, record stock prices, no recession, low unemployment. The results have far exceeded the expectations of the experts.

I think when a golf cart costs more than a new car that may represent specific corporate greed, not the general state of the economy.

Wow……so funny how some see things. Lower inflation, where do you shop, maybe if we were able to finish the pipelines we wouldn’t be over paying today and low employment really…….people are so under employed.
Time to remove the rose color glasses
Yes prices started raising on cars, golf karts, and major appliances in the early part of 2021 because of supply chain.
So YES everything is over priced since 2020 when you know who started.

[JRcorvette]

Cart prices are crazy in the Villages… rip-off. You can get the same one in AL for under $10k and have it delivered for $500 and no sales tax.

[Robbb]

Originally Posted by Villager1234

I love my overpriced star. It is a pleasure to get over the bridge without accelerating. My kids bought it for me. (It’s less money they get when I go)
😏

This is not a criticism, but this is exactly how these village monopoly’s thrive. They prey on senior’s caviler attitude toward money, and our desire to make a purchase easy and simple.

[Villager1234]

Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it

[Villager1234]

Anything is worth what someone is willing to pay for it

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

"Lowered Inflation"...

Yes, after 3 years of record setting inflation...

Lowering inflation only means prices aren't going up as fast as they were. Not that they're coming down... Prices are still sky high...

Inflation over the last three years is truly a game changer. We were extremely lucky to have retired before this all happened and purchase all the big ticket items we will hopefully need for the rest of our lives (with the exception of automobiles). I feel sorry for the recently retired that need to live on a fixed income.

[jimbomaybe]

Originally Posted by GoRedSox!

It started long before that with QE at The Fed continuing far too long, a mistake The Fed acknowledged. There were also two stimulus checks and unemployment benefit extensions with weekly bonuses. This is a problem not specific to the US. There was global supply chain interruptions and inflation was even higher in many, many countries. The war in Ukraine made matters worse and disrupted oil supplies. There is a shortage of labor in this country that continues to this day, and there is still wage inflation pressures. And last, but not least, I think we can safely say that many, if not most corporations took full advantage of the pandemic to raise prices, and profits and stock prices are currently at all time highs. Housing appreciation was also huge.

There are some silver linings for retirees. This is the first time in more than a decade that bank savings generated any kind of significant interest. 401k’s are doing well. Social Security has gone up about 18% in the last 3 years. The wealth of those over 55 has gone up more than 30% since 2019. Meanwhile, the number of “excess retirements” which are those above the normal trend are still high and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. These are typically early retirees. There is no question that according to all metrics, many people are doing even better financially than before the pandemic.

I understand what happened on 1-20-21, but the above is all true.

I bought a new 2023 Quietech with a good seat and several good options for $17,000. Yes, that seems like a lot to me for a golf car, but they are not made in mass production like automobiles. I’m sure there is a higher markup as there is not as much competition and these are generally viewed as luxury want-to-haves, not necessities.

" And last, but not least, I think we can safely say that many, if not most corporations took full advantage of the pandemic to raise prices, and profits and stock prices are currently at all time highs. Housing appreciation was also huge."
Corporation singly or as a group can not control inflation, the money supply or interest rates or inflation, if their prices go up so will the prices they charge for their products, competition limits raising prices, its that fine line between being competitive and losing market share, for the most part they respond to economic changes

[MX rider]

Originally Posted by Villager1234

Something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it

Exactly!
Nobody is forcing people to buy them locally. But people are willing to pay more for the convenience. If I was buying new I would shop around, but many buyers don't want to do that.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by MX rider

Exactly!
Nobody is forcing people to buy them locally. But people are willing to pay more for the convenience. If I was buying new I would shop around, but many buyers don't want to do that.

They all have "strategies" & processes to shop everywhere within 500 miles to buy a Toyota Camry for $30,000 ... but they'll step up and pay a bunch of crooks, $25,000 for a glorified lawn mower.

[GoRedSox!]

There is no question from reviewing objective economic data that these past 3 years have been very good to a lot of Americans, especially Baby Boomers. Let's start with Social Security payments. The cost of living increase in Social Security has been 17.8% over the last three years. Arguably, Social Security has kept up with the rate of inflation. Next, there is now significant income on cash savings. For much of the past decade, CD interests rates hovered around 1%, and in some of those years, you could get almost no interest at all. Now, savings provides a significant income. Next we have the large increase in home values. This has added to the net worth of many Americans. Finally, for those invested in the stock market, the markets are at an all-time high. Even those who don't invest directly have seen their 401(k) values soar.

The average and median Boomer net worth and income has increased significantly. Does that mean 100% of people are doing better? No, but many are.

I could not look someone straight in the eye and complain about inflation because of these facts above. My Social Security increases were pretty much on par with inflation. We finally earn interest on our savings. It's a new revenue stream, really, which I haven't had for more than a decade. My home value went up by at least 40%. And both our normal investments and mine and my wife's retirement accounts are benefiting by a market at an all-time high.

Not everyone has benefited, however. If you are a first time homebuyer, 7% mortgage rates and prices where they are have closed the housing market to many and driven rent prices sky high, which also increases inflation. It was just announced today that the interest rate on student loans is higher than it has been in many years. I do think that the median 40 year old's net worth, adjusted for inflation, has not increased and may have decreased.

[shaw8700@outlook.com]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Just showed up on my FaceBook page. Brand new Kia SUV, with 100,000 mile guaranty. Under $20,000.

But it’s a Kia.