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Axiom 1:
Some people (class B) like to pay far over the odds for things just because they can. Were that not the case, Fortnum and Mason, Harrods et al would not be sustainable in their current form.
Axiom 2:
There are an enormous number of people (class A) who can't really afford to shop
even in budget stores such as LIDL and ASDA. The money being thrown away by your average Harrods shopper could make a real positive difference to them.
Axiom 3:
People in class B have obtained their money on the backs of those in class A. They have been greedy and failed to pass on the benefits realised by the labour of those under them in a fair and equitable manner. Whilst they set aside great riches, they pay low wages, weasel out of providing good pension schemes and try to escape even basic labour protection measures.
Brilliant Idea:
A new shop, selling the kind of upmarket packaged goods that class B love buying at enormously inflated prices. Prices as high as ever. Anyone doing Christmas shopping there will be out a grand at the minimum. Profits go to helping out class A people.
Disclaimer:
This is not charity as it is clearly a way for people with lots of money to show off even more. The benefits to class A are a side effect of this decadent materialism rather than its aim.
Prior Art:
Partial prior art in the 'Fair Trade' scheme, however in that scheme the processor, distributor, wholesaler and retailer all get the same immense profit as they did before. In this scheme the retailer operates at a profit level more frequently found in LIDL or ASDA.
Anticipated Problem:
It may become even more boastful to spend a lot of money and avoid spending it in the charidee shop. "I'm so rich I don't even need to buy my overpriced junk somewhere where my purchase might help people in real need".
Second Anticipated Problem:
The profit level may not allow the shop to distribute free champagne to shoppers.
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MFD - trying to hit too many targets with one blunderbuss. |
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I don't mind socialists, but when somebody mentions "sharing" how come it's always my stuff that gets shared.
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ps: the expensive stuff is expensive because it's a long-term investment, not a short term impulse-buy.
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This is my "can-opener" story... a couple years ago I went to a dollar store and picked up a can opener; 6 months later it was broken: wouldn't open cans. So I went and got another one... a couple weeks later it was broken. A 3rd time for a different design, slightly more expensive. The fourth time was the kicker; it never worked at all, but I kept it around because it had a punch-opener on it. So I go to use the punch to open a can of juice: the handle bends right back and the punch doesn't even dent the can.
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So now I have a $20 can opener that is screwed into the wall, has lasted so far for a few years, shows absolutely no sign of breaking and I'll probably will it to my kids.
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Weird. We have a cheap can opener; after a few years it's a bit worn, but that's it... |
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Sometimes yes, you spend more for a product which is more durable, hence justifying the higher cost. Sometimes though, stuff is just more expensive. Harrods mince pies are not a long term investment. |
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I'm bunning this because it's a responsible and workable idea that has received only bones so far. |
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It's not really a new idea - I have worked on many charity auctions where very rich people pay vastly overinflated prices for goods and services, with the profit going to help the less fortunate. There are also several swanky galleries that work on precisely this principle. The profit margins usually cover the cost of some champers, and quite often a three course meal to boot. |
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Where ? We like blunderbusses..... is this an idea for hunting down Chavs and killing them ? We will give it a bun if it is .... |
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[max]:
Charidee (noun): An action of donation which resembles charity but is in fact undertaken motivated by anticipated benefit for the donor. Examples include singing at major televised fund-raising concerts 'for free' whilst happily benefiting from publicity which would have cost millions, putting someone else's name on an 'charitable alternative gift' to show off your 'kindness', or purchasing everything from the Charidee Shop at inflated prices for your cocktail party. |
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