# What's the most exclusive product/service in the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 25, 2008, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663 "2008-12-25T18:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/21 "2008-12-26T18:42:10Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I’m trying to figure out why a place that exclusive would need, or even want, a website. [Rattlesnake Island Club](http://www.rattlesnakeislandclub.com/). Personally, I was a lot more envious before I saw the website. It looks like a fairly standard Great Lakes resort and some of the lodgings & restaurant look downright laughable if you’re expecting posh luxury or something. I suppose the beauty is in its isolation and not its accomodations. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/22 "2008-12-26T20:52:00Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > I’m trying to figure out why a place that exclusive would need, or even want, a website. [Rattlesnake Island Club](http://www.rattlesnakeislandclub.com/). Seems to me that in the framework that the OP tries to weave, such a website would be laughable to folks with real money. The last thing they want to do (in my imagination, anyway) is to be associated with anything so plebian as a website touting a place they visit once in a while. Puleeeaaase. This is a place that’s clearly for the B level boys. Website. Hmph. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/23 "2008-12-26T21:23:49Z")
Isn’t the US Senate the traditional answer to this question? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/24 "2008-12-26T22:25:37Z")
If you have to ask, you can’t afford it: [Superyacht - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superyacht) ---
**Author:** ![Alex\_Dubinsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@Alex\_Dubinsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alex_Dubinsky)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/25 "2008-12-26T23:24:19Z")
I think someone must be pulling someone’s leg re the Rattlesnake Club on wikipedia. If you go their website, then Services \> Lodging/Dockage, you can see on the sidebar on the right, > [@](#): > > Lodging rates range from $85.00 to $275.00/night > > ``` > Dockage rates depend on > boat size and range from $75.00 to $110.00/night. > > ``` > [@](#): > > Isn’t the US Senate the traditional answer to this question? Touche ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/26 "2008-12-26T23:52:42Z")
The U.S. Senate is not a product nor a service. But a massage at the senate ladies spa,now that’s exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/27 "2008-12-26T23:55:46Z")
There’s a christmas catalog that comes out every year, and has affordable stuff as well as one Absolutely Totally Out of Control item. The one that stands out in my mind is a clawfoot bathtub full of diamonds. I forget the price tag, but as they say, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/28 "2008-12-27T00:07:39Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > John Travolta owns a 707 that he parks at his house. He lives right next to a runway. He is qualified to fly a 747 as well but he does not own one. I think there are some arabs who own 767s for their personal use. That is a good example in a few ways. John Travolta is dedicated to aviation and pilots his own actual airliner. Not only is that ridiculously expensive, it also takes some serious skills and responsibility to be allowed to do it at all especially for decades. I have always heard is a very good and serious pilot which he must be to keep up his license. There aren’t very many people that have the means and dedication to keep up an Air Transport Pilot certificate on their own to fly a personal airliner. Bill Gates could turn over his entire fortune to the U.S. government and would still not be allowed to do that without many years of training and it could still fail if he has health problems. There are a few other famous people like Harrison Ford that are good helicopter pilots but, being able to fly your own airliner is about as exclusive as it gets. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/29 "2008-12-27T00:14:11Z")
This is probably not what the OP intended, but as it turns out, the aforementioned Bill Gates could no doubt get an audience with any Senator he wanted if he so chose. In fact, I imagine that it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to arrange a conversation with the Prez most of the time. It’s not just because of his $, of course, but he is one of the most wealthy of folks, and that might open a couple of doors. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/30 "2008-12-27T01:28:43Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > That is a good example in a few ways. John Travolta is dedicated to aviation and pilots his own actual airliner… Yeah, but as Mel Gibson learned, he’ll take you for a flight and then ask you to help him move. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/31 "2008-12-27T01:35:28Z")
The (ex-US)presidents club? Presumably, the protection and assorted other services (living/office expenses, etc) provided to you would qualify as goods/services rendered. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/32 "2008-12-27T01:47:20Z")
> [@CC](#): > > This is probably not what the OP intended, but as it turns out, the aforementioned Bill Gates could no doubt get an audience with any Senator he wanted if he so chose. In fact, I imagine that it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to arrange a conversation with the Prez most of the time. It’s not just because of his $, of course, but he is one of the most wealthy of folks, and that might open a couple of doors. Well, that’s not all THAT special. I’m just a constituent and I sat in the House Minority Whip’s chair a couple months ago. I suppose if he’d been in town I could have sat in his lap. 🙂 I mean, our Congresscritters are our employees. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/33 "2008-12-27T01:58:27Z")
Made-to-order breakfast in the Oval Office? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/34 "2008-12-27T15:49:46Z")
Not many people own those super big yachts, the ones that cost $50 mil and up. Tiger Woods has one, he spent part of his honeymoon on it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/35 "2008-12-27T15:59:34Z")
Well it is obviously membership of **Club Veblen** , a club so exclusive that it still has no members. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/36 "2008-12-27T18:05:51Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Personally, I was a lot more envious before I saw the website. It looks like a fairly standard Great Lakes resort and some of the lodgings & restaurant look downright laughable if you’re expecting posh luxury or something. I suppose the beauty is in its isolation and not its accomodations. It sounds like a real-life MPSIMS thread– **Who wants to chill with me on our very own island?** As a practical matter, you have to be able to pay your share; aside from that, a few members need to vouch that you won’t be a jerk. Facilities? We’ll need servants and a half-decent restaurant; after all, we’re not wilderness camping. **Guin** wants to soak in a hot tub? Let’s get a hot tub. **Polycarp** and **Qadgop** are golfers? Golf course, too. Wall-to-wall carpetting made out of passenger pigeon feathers? What for? We’re _dopers!_ What else do we have to prove? Besides, if were really posh, I’d expect security to be handled by genetically engineered, sentient rattlesnakes. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/37 "2008-12-27T18:35:20Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Well, that’s not all THAT special. I’m just a constituent and I sat in the House Minority Whip’s chair a couple months ago. I suppose if he’d been in town I could have sat in his lap. 🙂 I mean, our Congresscritters are our employees. There’s a huge difference between congresspeople and senators, and they’re both our employees. For that matter, so is the President. Reps individually represent a small number of people and interests, relatively, and senators represent the whole state between the two of them. Reps have to run every two years, and please everyone in their districts to get sent back. Senators, not so much, and every six years, at that. And, it may very well be that if your congressbeing had been in town, that office would have been occupied with a different class of visitor. Those hundred guys and gal have a very exclusive job and see very exclusive folks, usually. Certainly, constituents don’t have the same ability to call a meeting with them as the Bill Gates’s of the world. ---
**Author:** ![whorfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6f9a4e/32.png) [@whorfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whorfin)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/38 "2008-12-27T18:39:39Z")
> [@CC](#): > > There’s a huge difference between congresspeople and senators, and they’re both our employees. For that matter, so is the President. Reps individually represent a small number of people and interests, relatively, and senators represent the whole state between the two of them. Reps have to run every two years, and please everyone in their districts to get sent back. Senators, not so much, and every six years, at that. And, it may very well be that if your congressbeing had been in town, that office would have been occupied with a different class of visitor. Those hundred guys and gal have a very exclusive job and see very exclusive folks, usually. Certainly, constituents don’t have the same ability to call a meeting with them as the Bill Gates’s of the world. Well, except in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. There, there are two senators and only one representative-and so, 1) all three are elected by the state as a whole, so there’s no difference in constituencies, and 2) it’s (presumably) harder to get a meeting with the representative than with one of the two senators. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/39 "2008-12-27T18:43:32Z")
[Private Submarines.](http://www.ussubs.com/submarines/phoenix_1000.php3) ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663/40 "2008-12-27T18:45:44Z")
> [@whorfin](#): > > Well, except in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. > There, there are two senators and only one representative-and so, 1) all three are elected by the state as a whole, so there’s no difference in constituencies, and 2) it’s (presumably) harder to get a meeting with the representative than with one of the two senators. True enough, and yet, I’m trying to imagine a situation in which Bill Gates wishes to have a meeting with the esteemed representative from Wyoming. Maybe wangling a hunting date with Cheney? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-exclusive-product-service-in-the-world/478663.md?page=3)