I quite like Coke Zero in a “It’s Not Coke But It’s Near Enough” kind of way, but I read somewhere Coke are deliberately targeting Diet Coke at women and Coke Zero at men, which certainly backs up the demographics I see drinking it.
But I haven’t actually looked to see how readily available Diet Coke is, since I don’t like it. I think Aldi’s Diet Cola is actually the “best” Diet soft drink on the market atm, but I’m not often near an Aldi to pick some up. Pepsi Max is pretty good, too.
I know my Dad likes Caffeine Free Diet Coke but I haven’t seen any around in ages, so it might be off the market here…
So much was made of Pepsi Throwback with real sugar and it was nowhere to be found in Phoenix. The worst part is that it was probably discontinued because it didn’t sell. Here’s a news flash. If you want to sell something, you have to sell it.
The issue is that this is not a failure of the free market. This actually is the way the free market works. You can’t always buy what you want at the price you want. Vendors can’t always sell what they want at the price they want.
And if anyone hates this so-called failure of the free market, they’d really hate the pristine efficiency of a centrally planned economy.
I bought sandals this summer that are a size eight. This is slightly large on me, since I take a 7.5w. I began my sandal search in April, and finally bought the ones I have in July. Why? Because there are no 7.5w sandals in any stores I’ve been in. Not by any company, and not in any style. The manufacturer’s website for my sandals doesn’t even have 7.5w in stock though there’s 7w and 8.5w. If it’s the most popular size, shouldn’t they, like, manufacture some more?
I’ve wondered the same thing about bread. Whenever I go to the supermarket after university to buy a loaf of bread, they’re almost always out of “toast slice” and only have “sandwich slice” left. Lots of it.
Which makes me think: Why don’t they invert the ratios? Stock more toast slice and less sandwich slice?
I assume they have a reason, but it’s one of those things you wonder about…
FWIW when I go shopping for grandma, they are frequently out of the soda she likes - either cherry coke zero or coke zero. You’d think withall their fancy computers they would keep enough in stock.
I also noticed that lime pepsi, which I liked a lot, suddenly became only available in diet form everywhere and hasn’t made an appearance in sugared form since.
I really don’t understand your point. No one is saying that this is an inherent flaw in the free market system, they are pointing out that the free market system isn’t supposed to have these sorts of problems, at least not long term. Supply should rise to meet demand. If it doesn’t then there’s some kind of problem. These are the sorts of problems that you’d expect to find in a centrally planned economy. So I can’t imagine what your comment about that was supposed to prove.
Where has it ever been said that a free market is 100% efficient? It isn’t, and no one I’ve ever discussed economics with would ever say so. I can think of a whole bunch of things and services that are unavailable to me at any given moment.
Saying “That’s the way it works” is not denying that there are inefficiencies in a free market system.
My comments don’t prove anything. They only point out your understanding of a “free market” is wrong. A planned economy would have these problems almost everywhere. Rather than elfkin477 not being able to buy the desired size and style of shoe, there might not be any shoes at all in the stores.
As a matter of fact, a while ago Payless’ website didn’t have the shoes I wanted in my size, although it had every other size. And my grocery store bakery almost always has run out of the poppy seed kaiser rolls I prefer by the time I get there. And so forth.
I was at the supermarket and, remembering this thread, I checked out the pop aisle thoroughly. There was plenty of Diet Coke in 2 liters and cans. There was also plenty of 2 liters of Diet Coke Caffeine Free.
I would be more than willing to trade with anyone who has a ready supply of Orange Cream Pop Tarts handy. I know they’re a limited edition, but god they’re great. And I can’t find them anywhere after the initial shipment sold out (which, admittedly, I bought most of myself).
It has nothing to do with the nature of the free market system. I’m pretty sure the title of the thread is tongue in cheek. It’s a case of a fairly easy and obvious demand and supply not converging. It’s kind of like there being free cash lying on the street and no one picking it up. It’s fairly odd and begs an explanation. You may shrug your shoulders at odd things and say ‘well shit happens’ but this thread is not about accepting shit as inevitable, it’s about figuring that shit out.
The OP definitely sees this as a shortcoming of the free market system. Her numerous posts in this thread make that clear.
There have been many reasons put forth as possible explanations for the “shortage”, but I was responding to your specific comparison to the true shortages one would find in a centrally planned economy. The two aren’t comparable. I was also responding to the rather ridiculous notion that anyone anywhere thinks the free market system is perfect.
And for those who claim that no one says the free market is perfect, have you LISTENED to people talk about how the free market will cure all ills? That idea is definitely floated around, especially when arguments crop up about health care.
I don’t want to get rid of free markets. I want people to acknowledge that there’s no such thing as a perfect system.
One person’s wants do not constitute an economic demand either. You may assume there are many others but without access to the sales figures you can’t be sure.
They do. You either aren’t paying close enough attention to what is being said, or you misunderstand what is being said. I have never heard a single person say that free market economies are perfect, but I have heard a lot of people say they are preferable to the alternative.
