"Overcharging" the rich to offer subsidy to the poor and needy, How moral?

[Ucy]

In certain countries it's normal for businesses to charge customers based on their economic status. If a customer look wealthy or rich, he's charged higher than normal. If he looks poor, and possibly bargains really hard, he could end up getting a fair deal, sometimes below the cost price or eiven free of charge, typically for beggars who have nothing atall to pay... yet such model remains profitable.
Customers who don't get the idea may feel cheated and probably warn others to avoid such places. Others are understanding enough and happy to pay especially since the goods and services are relatively cheap compared to wealthy places. In Rwanda for example, I watched a foreigner trying to persuade fellow visitors to consider this fact, and for the sake of the poor.  
I believe the model is what sustains the poor... businesses are willing to keep price extremely low because of poverty. If some end up not being profitable, they are still able to survive from other people's helps.


I'm considering this topic because of the poor and needy. When we propose ideas that can help keep businesses profitable, we are burdened by the fact that they are probably going to be at the detriment of the poor and needy. So, for conscience sake, we focus on workable ideas that support the poor without affecting businesses negatively.

[MArsland]

It's about flexibility prices are not always the same, I've rarely found a way to do business like this again my place, most prices are set the same for anyone. Such a business idea is quite good and can survive but if based on appearance it looks rich and poor will it not be a problem? because rich people do not necessarily look rich and vice versa. How to classify them with certainty regarding economic status?

[DYOR+BTC]

For an open market all including the rich, wealthy and the poor operates in same price tag but off general market price tags are always different. Talking of price difference between different classes of individuals,  it can only depend on where the commodity is gotten from, for example the rich do prefer going to a rich and nice shops for there shopping with reasons of getting quality products there the prices maybe very different from that of those getting it from a flat market where prices are normal to all. Apart from this situation,  it will be difficult identifying classes while purchasing any commodity.

[Queentoshi]

I'm considering this topic because of the poor and needy. When we propose ideas that can help keep businesses profitable, we are burdened by the fact that they are probably going to be at the detriment of the poor and needy. So, for conscience sake, we focus on workable ideas that support the poor without affecting businesses negatively.

One question is who you are focusing on in business in the business. If your business focus, that is the customers you are focusing on are the rich, you need not worry about the poor when making business decisions that will move the business forward. There are businesses that will fill that void, businesses that will focus on the poor and ensure they are getting what they need at the price they can afford. Having a clear idea of the customers you need will help you structure your marketing to attract such customers, not making things complicated because you are trying to do marketing that will appeal to the poor as you are appealing to the rich.

[adultcrypto]

In certain countries it's normal for businesses to charge customers based on their economic status. If a customer look wealthy or rich, he's charged higher than normal. If he looks poor, and possibly bargains really hard, he could end up getting a fair deal, sometimes below the cost price or eiven free of charge, typically for beggars who have nothing atall to pay... yet such model remains profitable.
Customers who don't get the idea may feel cheated and probably warn others to avoid such places. Others are understanding enough and happy to pay especially since the goods and services are relatively cheap compared to wealthy places. In Rwanda for example, I watched a foreigner trying to persuade fellow visitors to consider this fact, and for the sake of the poor.  

I don't support this business model because it appear like socialism that have not succeeded anywhere I know of. I'm a firm believer of equity and fairness in business because that is what create healthy competition. It is the duty of the government through NGOs to roll out intervention programs that will pull people out of poverty, such gestures should not be mixed up in the normal business world because it violates a lot of principles of equity and fairness. If government wants to subsidise something things, that is good as it falls under their responsibilities and there are just so much they can do to help those who are poor to rise.

[Justbillywitt]

If I discover that you are charging me high for patronizing you, because you want to sell low to people you consider poor I will stop patronizing you. If I decide to dress well doesn’t mean that I should be over charged for what I’m buying. If you want to run a charity home for the poor in your business, make it known to people so that any one who want to donate to that course will support willing. I didn’t steal the money you think I have. I worked hard for it. The government are holding the resources of the people. Such idea will crumble your business. I don’t think I can ever do that if I’m a business owner.

[Cryptomultiplier]

For an open market all including the rich, wealthy and the poor operates in same price tag but off general market price tags are always different. Talking of price difference between different classes of individuals,  it can only depend on where the commodity is gotten from, for example the rich do prefer going to a rich and nice shops for there shopping with reasons of getting quality products there the prices maybe very different from that of those getting it from a flat market where prices are normal to all. Apart from this situation,  it will be difficult identifying classes while purchasing any commodity.

If it comes to identity by how one dresses or presents themselves, then one might not be able to tell the rich from the poor people when it comes to price and transactions in a general market situation.

However, status of rich or poor as you have stratified definitely include location where they patronize for business, mode or medium of delivering payments upon completed transactions, quality and quantity of the kind of item that wants to be purchased, because this stratification is easy to use to identify the rich from the poor and know how such kind of model can be applied to a society that needs economic balance.

[Crypto_Timothy]

I'm considering this topic because of the poor and needy. When we propose ideas that can help keep businesses profitable, we are burdened by the fact that they are probably going to be at the detriment of the poor and needy. So, for conscience sake, we focus on workable ideas that support the poor without affecting businesses negatively.

Well, usually the reason you start a business for most people is to make money or rather profits from the business so we can obviously understand why they would go with the strategy that would give them the most profits, and yes consciously taxing the rich is good idea because i think money is money gets down the line otherwise, if everything were left to the rich, they would want to keep the money circulating in their little circle, leaving the rest of the public with either nothing or just crumbles. So i think taxing the rich is fair but how you do it also matters alot because if not done right, you might end up taking money away from those you wanted to help in the first place and of course businesses can outrightly just host crown funding nights where the rich can just donate, i think these are initials that will help with keeping business prices at a low one for the public to be able to afford it.

[Italian Panic]

I think it’s the right thing to do some people are so rich that nothing will ever be done to them. I think it’s only right to help those in need and to share a portion of their immense wealth. For example, Elon Musk in America has suggested the possibility of giving one SpaceX share to every child born, and Trump has stated that the big tech companies must contribute to the country’s development and give a portion of the dividends derived from AI to American citizens.

[uneng]

If a customer look wealthy or rich, he's charged higher than normal. If he looks poor, and possibly bargains really hard, he could end up getting a fair deal, sometimes below the cost price or eiven free of charge, typically for beggars who have nothing atall to pay... yet such model remains profitable.

It's a scam. A quite common one in third world countries applied to foreigners. It's an absurd that people are already considering it a legit model of subsidy, even though it's not, because for a subsidy to exist, the person who is giving the subsidy is aware about it, while in the cases mentioned the person doesn't know what is going on. He doesn't know he is paying a more expensive price than other people, due to his appearance.

I would avoid such places at all costs. That is definitely not a welcoming place for visitors...

[Ambatman]

Robin Hood.
From my understanding its just business strategy that they don't sell with a single price
They try to make more profit from one and normal from others
It's rare for them to sell below net cost so not really that chivalrous but just business.
It has it perks when they come across people that can't haggle prices.

[tabas]

That is why a lot of tourists are calling places a scam. And that's due to the adjustment of prices from the actual and real price of it. I've watched also a guy who's shopping into the fake markets and he's aware of the prices of the copied items. But because he's white, he's being charged way more than the normal price from a local. I admire the guy who's good in bargaining the prices and he knows that the sellers are still in profit despite that he's asking way below the adjusted high price. I think the name of the guy's channel was Collin Abroadcast. I just stumbled on his video where he shops in different countries fake/clone markets.

[Donk1]

​Well that's why, as someone who likes buying luxury and you are rich, you will have to go to bigger shops whereby you wouldn't see regular folks putting on the same items as you. But still for sure, many businessmen and women increase the price of commodities based on appearance. Best to say it's all part of the marketing strategy which is a rich customer might not want to purchase a product that has a low price. This is where quality and quantity come in. It's not about the price but about the quality you might get something at a cost amount and it will still just fade away, but that's not an issue for rich folks. But yeah for you dressing to look rich, then it might end up being an issue. Though it varies based on individuals. That said it's all based on how you present yourself. You can't present yourself rich and start pricing like a poor person. That's all.....

[Zoomic]

While I support the idea of a business doing everything possible to make sure that their services can't be affordable to the poor, we should also be cared in being conclusive with who's "rich".


A customer who can pay more isn't necessarily inviting you to charge them for more, it can discourage them from patronizing the business which will leave a negative impact on the business.

Maybe, the they should go for the of offering cheaper alternatives ro discounts with the conditions explicitly put out, that I think will be a better and more transparent approach so people can intentionally choose what fits their pocket without feeling cheated on.

[Fortify]

In certain countries it's normal for businesses to charge customers based on their economic status. If a customer look wealthy or rich, he's charged higher than normal. If he looks poor, and possibly bargains really hard, he could end up getting a fair deal, sometimes below the cost price or eiven free of charge, typically for beggars who have nothing atall to pay... yet such model remains profitable.
Customers who don't get the idea may feel cheated and probably warn others to avoid such places. Others are understanding enough and happy to pay especially since the goods and services are relatively cheap compared to wealthy places. In Rwanda for example, I watched a foreigner trying to persuade fellow visitors to consider this fact, and for the sake of the poor.  
I believe the model is what sustains the poor... businesses are willing to keep price extremely low because of poverty. If some end up not being profitable, they are still able to survive from other people's helps.

I'm considering this topic because of the poor and needy. When we propose ideas that can help keep businesses profitable, we are burdened by the fact that they are probably going to be at the detriment of the poor and needy. So, for conscience sake, we focus on workable ideas that support the poor without affecting businesses negatively.

That sounds like a terrible way to conduct business, trying to judge how much you should charge someone based on how they look. You don't find this behavior in successful countries but rather with uncivilized societies. It adds completely unnecessary friction to even the simplest transactions and slows down business in countries that tolerate constant "bargaining" as a regular part of life. If you have a product or service to sell, you should offer it at a single clear price that everyone can understand. I don't see countries that engage in these practices progressing or developing any further until they stamp this out. Relying on pity or individual ability to negotiate is fraught with unfairness and makes life even harder than it has to be. It should not be encouraged or even looked upon fondly, it is the sign of a weak economy.

[Inior]

I know for a fact that in certain businesses there are rooms for VIP customers which are likely those who have money and choose to patronize them more than others. And if anyone wishes to be in that category of persons and experience he has to perform the obligated rights of giving them much attention with his money.

Though I've heard of cases where some sellers like to inflate prices due to the status of the customer and sometimes they get lucky with huge profit. Most people see that as normal but I feel it's cruel to cheat with so much gain. The best solution to issue like this is regulation, if only the government could pass a regulation for the prices of things so that a particular group of individuals are not affected while the rest are free.

[rbynxx]

I get the idea you're trying to give, but I think this kind of system can also be abused by those people that may exploit it, there will always those and that's for a fact. Some people may pretend to be poor just to pay less, while others who can barely pay for those things may end up to pay more just because they look rich. Moreover, I think it's good that businesses are willing to help those who can't really afford to pay. The only tricky part was to find that balance wherein people wouldn't take advantage on this kind of system and businesses.

[Livingleged]

To me there is nothing bad in subsidising prices of goods for the poor and make the rich pay higher while the business keep moving not living any class out. It’s happening in my local actually. I live in the northern part of Nigeria, and there is this business of our native weaved caps. Such cap are sold for different price for different classes of people. and it has become the norms of the society a cap that is cost for example 25 thousand naira for ordinary people is also sold for 150 thousand Na for some elites, and they will gladly pay without thinking too much about it.

To me this system doesn’t feels like unfair or overpaid but you’re doing business based on customer standards, and there could be also be different packaging for same good and sold at different price which is fair enough actually.

[aioc]

In certain countries it's normal for businesses to charge customers based on their economic status. If a customer look wealthy or rich, he's charged higher than normal.
If he looks poor, and possibly bargains really hard, he could end up getting a fair deal, sometimes below the cost price or eiven free of charge, typically for beggars who have nothing atall to pay... yet such model remains profitable.

It's hard to differentiate a poor person from a rich person by looking it will discriminate against the person by just judging them on their looks. The best alternative is for the business industry to give qualified individuals or those who want to avail themselves of the discount card  
And there are people who like to be treated like the poor, even though they are rich, the same with poor people.

I'm considering this topic because of the poor and needy. When we propose ideas that can help keep businesses profitable, we are burdened by the fact that they are probably going to be at the detriment of the poor and needy. So, for conscience sake, we focus on workable ideas that support the poor without affecting businesses negatively.

Here in our country, we have a PWD and a senior citizen card, where people in these sectors can avail of 20% discount, it can be applied to poor and needy people. The most important thing is to differentiate between the poor and the rich, and a discount card can do this.

[JiiBs]

In certain countries it's normal for businesses to charge customers based on their economic status. If a customer look wealthy or rich, he's charged higher than normal. If he looks poor, and possibly bargains really hard, he could end up getting a fair deal, sometimes below the cost price or eiven free of charge, typically for beggars who have nothing atall to pay... yet such model remains profitable. 

That’s just bargaining. It’s not a charge as, you’re not liable to pay if you don’t want to. If you’ve got a string bargaining power, even as a rich individual, of course you would always be able to beat price to a fair rate for both sides.

There wouldn’t be any justification for charging the rich more just to subsidize the poor. Most rich people always find ways to give back when the wealth becomes so much, they open foundations that gives back to the people, the poor included and so, having yo charge them for that too would be absurd.