Dear Matzav Inbox,
I’ve been following the letters on Matzav.com about the supposed overpricing in kosher supermarkets with great interest. While I can’t claim to know the exact markup or whether these stores are indeed overcharging us, there’s a broader issue that needs addressing.
Why are we putting all the blame on supermarkets? Are they really the only ones taking advantage of our wallets? Let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Consider the high-end makeup artists charging $2,000 for a set number of faces at a wedding. Whether you need one face or five, you’re stuck with that exorbitant fee. How is this not just plain price gouging? It’s not just a matter of supply and demand—it’s a matter of taking advantage of people’s simchos.
And what about wedding hairstylists who demand hundreds of dollars for each head? This is inflating prices to levels that are simply unreasonable. Is this not a form of exploitation?
Let’s not overlook the musicians and singers who charge thousands upon thousands of dollars for their services. The fees they demand often seem detached from reality.
Jewish clothing stores are another example. The markups on their clothes are often so high it makes you wonder if they’re pricing us out of the market entirely. How is this different from the issues we see in supermarkets?
We shouldn’t forget other service providers as well. Caterers with hidden fees, event planners with inflated charges—the list goes on. All these vendors seem to have no qualms about squeezing every last penny from us.
Yes, we should be vigilant about prices in our grocery stores. But let’s not fixate solely on supermarkets when there are so many other areas in our kehillos where people are getting ripped off just as badly, if not worse.
If we’re going to hold supermarkets accountable, we need to apply the same scrutiny to all the other vendors who are equally, if not more, guilty of overcharging.
Sincerely,
Tired of Being Ripped Off
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very simple, don’t use them! the oilam will continue being taken advantage of as long as we allow it. We , the consumer, have the ability to make it stop. (unlike by yeshiva tuition)
the problem with this letter, although i agree with the premise that groceries arent different, is that NO ONE knows what the markup is, or what the overhead is that may justify that markup.
So till we can prove that its actually outrageous, all this is simple motzei shem ra
#1 its supply and demand. if people don’t hire them, they can’t charge these fees.
the vendors need to live, they need to buy supplies from wholesalers, who buy from the manufacturer.
everyone has a markup. you can dictate what the markup is? the market does that.
#2 do you not believe in Hashem and Chazal? The Gemora says clearly that the amount of money you need for the entire year is already designated on Rosh Hashona. So why are you complaining?
The gemara says how much money you will get that year is decided on roah hashana. Which rashi understands to mean dont spent too much money in the beginning of the year because you can use up you designated amount and then you won’t have any left for food at the end of the year.
and many others disagree with Rashi. You can pick your manhig but don’t force your hashkofa on me.
You can pick what ever you want, but you are running the risk of having nothing to eat.
let me know one source who disagrees with Rashi please?
Can your daughter volunteer for my child wedding coming up soon. Of course I will tip her.
you are misquoting chazal- If you are stupid and irresponsible dont put it on hashem. Even for Shabbos expenditures, the havtacha is if you spend within your means
pretty sure I quoted Chazal correctly. You may not be a ma’amin, that could be the issue here. כל הפוסל במומו פוסל
Look at the haga’os ashri there, wher he paskens l’halacha like Rashi.
Im honestly curios to know a mareh makom that says different
100% The “frum” merchants rip us off; they take advantage of us. The only thing worse than their greed is the fact the we are stupid enough to allow it. Why do they they not speak out against this???? Where is the leadership? How about doing something to help us???
What do you expect? They have to pay the grocery prices?
The obvious difference between supermarkets and all of the above mentioned vendors is that groceries are not a luxury, and that every individual no matter their income needs to shop for these essentials at the local supermarkets. The issue at hand is that in today’s society unfortunately many people (like the above writer) do not differentiate between needs and wants. If society says its normal to spend $2,000 on a makeup artist than to many its akin to buying bread and milk in the grocery store. (BTW at my last daughter’s Chasunah my younger daughter did our whole families makeup and people didn’t stop asking who we hired… I have to say I was a bit embarrassed to have to admit that I didn’t hire anyone) We (myself included) need to understand that if we are not someone with the extra means these luxuries are not for us, and we need to either blatantly skip them or come up with creative ways to cut expenses.
So why don’t you try doing without those services/products. Or go into business as a competitor.
Life costs money, old problem.
Don’t assume that people are ripping you off just because prices are high.
The people providing your products and services deserve to make a living too.
Too many people short-sighted and/or self-centered and forget this.
The reality is that none of these businesses are ripping you off. They’re making a parnossa as per the market value. What and who decides how much they’re allowed to charge? You and only you! If you don’t like it, you can try someone else.
agreed 100%
It’s in your control. Solicit enough buyers who will wholeheartedly commit to capping prices for each service at a fixed set price, no matter what, even if it means forgoing the service. Get people excited about jumping on this bandwagon. Soon, pricing will be lowered.
“We’re getting ripped off…” Maybe. I have no idea what’s behind soaring costs of everything, from food to construction. The feeling is that someone must be getting rich with prices so much higher than they were three or four years ago, but I have yet to meet that person.
“We’re being clobbered by inflation” is something that there’s no doubt about. But that doesn’t mean that there needs to be a villain behind it.
I see the author conveniently left out thee 2 most important ginaivos, ESROGIM AND HAND SHMURA MATZAH!!! Kulam ganavim kulam gazlanim! The teretz they give is, oh it’s hiddur mitzvah. Really?! A ganiv mocher is the one saying it?! The hiddur mitzvah is on the BUYER! There is no hiddur for these ganavim to prey on the most gullible amongst us. The fact that these mochrim don’t follow Choshen Mishpat is all the proof you need that they are emmesdika ganavim.
Who was it that didn’t include an Esrog Soicher for a minyan until Tu biShvaat because it’s not ehrliche money.
You can be 100% yoitze with a borrowed Esrog or buy a det for $29.99 thats kosher, no one is forcing you to pay more. Just like you don’t have to pay more for hairdressers etc.
Bingo and Costco have cheap shmura matzah.
If you want the expensive ones then that’s your choice.
No one is forcing you, nor will you be makayem a lesser mitzvah of achilas matzah.
You’re not required to have your own Lulav + Esrog. And you can be Mekayem Matza with Machine Shmura Matza. If you want the hand Matza with all it’s costs that’s still your choice (the Mehudar Ukrainian hand Matza can be typically gotten for $11/lb). Also, I’m not sure why you’re upset about spending on a Mitzvah when plenty in our community are driving luxury vehicles that the monthly far outprices the cost of Matza for Pesach.
Which increases in wholesale prices, labor costs, and business-related taxes “should” retailers just swallow and not pass on to their customers? Are retailers and their families and employees not people, too?
Chevra wake up and smell the coffee.
The Heimish distributors are working on mark-ups of 25-35%, while the non-heimish aka goi’yim work on a 7-8% markup.
Stop using the heimish products, use all OU parve products and watch the price difference on the end of the month.
The Heimishe distributers need to make a Jewish salary, one that more children, tuitions, maaser, simchos, and (guess what), kosher food. There is a reason they need to have such a markup.
Respectfully, this among the less thought out letters…
*Lux services can charge whatever they want. It’s the necessities that need to be addressed!*
Basic Kosher food is one story, paying someone do your hair, makeup, when you can really do on your own, or paying top singers and musicians to make your event nicer, is a completely different story.
I organize a few dozen events a year. Some for family and others for organizations I’m involved in. (None pay me.) I can tell you that there are musicians and singers for almost any budget. Last Sunday I hired a talented Yeshiva bachur to play and sing for 4 hours for $500. He was nearly professional level. If you want luxury expect to pay for it. The same for catering. You can make or order food for a fraction of the price of paying a caterer that will do everything for you. I’m going to Bar Mitzvah tonight for a relative who making it in their home with a mix of home made and bought food.
When it comes to clothing, my wife and I mostly shop for us and our kids at non-jewish stores and usually do well. For particular items we resort to frum stores. But really the majority of our wardrobes aren’t from frum stores. We can’t afford that luxury.
When it comes Kosher food, we are stuck.
There are plenty of hair stylists who charge $75 a head, the top names (looking at you AM…;)) charge $3000 for a Chasuna. Use someone cheaper. The same goes for all the services you mentioned. There are cheaper options which you as “a besserer mentch “ won’t avail yourself of them.
Why don’t you include the pre-determined required tip at restaurants? 20-25% mandatory tip for waiting services! OMG I guess that’s not exclusive to our oilam.
You obviously have no idea how business works. In your example of the make-up artist, it’s not only about that self centered blob on top of your shoulders getting painted. It’s time & labor as well. Why should a make-up artist commit to a one face job & lose a potential job with the minimum faces she’s asking for? I wouldn’t call that price gouging. She’s trying to make a living like everyone else.
As far as musicians, do you have any idea how expensive the equipment costs? & how long in takes to make back the money spent? Not including the regular expenses of everyday living, (rent, utilities, tuition, groceries etc)
We’re all trying to make a living. The Democrats are to blame for this inflation. It’s affecting all of us. We got to vote them out of office. We’re all struggling. We’re all getting “ripped off” in some way or another.
As far as the inflated prices on pesach with the excuse of “supply & demand” That I might tend to agree with is insane. Before pesach these items cost a fraction of the price & once the season hits it doubles or triples? “Because they can” is insane!
As far as the other examples you gave of people selling “products” vs “services” I’m not speaking about because I don’t know the “products” market that well. You might have a point with the clothing. Spending 80 bucks or more on baby shoes only to be worn for two or three months before they’re outgrown is ridiculous! & maybe society is to blame for that… I yield back.
Why stop there?
Do you think it’s normal to buy a six-year-old boy a $150 pair of pants?
BH I am married to a low maintenance woman who recognizes the insanity of all this and shops online
100% true!
Just look back 10 years ago and compare the prices of makeup artists, hairstylists, babysitters, tutors, even skirts and shoes!
We’re getting ripped off big time!
Someone is getting rich off of ממון ישראל.
The dentist/doctor fees are regulated by the insurance companies and you see they stayed the same. Time for price regulation in the frum world. Belz is finally standing up against the high prices of apartment rentals in Yerushalayim for Yomim Noraim. That should set an example for others.
I understand that times are tough and everyone is feeling the pinch, but pointing fingers and accusing “everyone” of ripping you off isn’t the answer—and it’s likely not accurate. It’s easy to feel like you’re the victim when you believe everyone else is to blame, but the truth is, it’s tough for everyone right now, not just you. The makeup artist you’re referring to, the singer, and even the grocery owners are all facing the same challenging economic conditions. These difficulties aren’t unique to our community, and they certainly weren’t caused by community members taking advantage of each other.
Instead of tearing others down, we should focus on supporting each other during these tough times. That’s what Hashem wants from us—unity and kindness, not judgment or shade.
Economics is driven by supply and demand—vendors charge what buyers are willing to pay, and I’m sure you do the same in your field. If you’re an employee, you negotiate for the highest salary you can get, and you don’t settle for less just to avoid “overcharging” your employer. The same goes for singers, musicians, and makeup artists. If their prices are too high, the market will naturally adjust as others enter the industry for the big profits, driving competition and bringing prices down.
If you think their services are overpriced, then simply don’t use them.
The bigger issue here is living beyond your means. When the economy tightens, the strain becomes more apparent. We need to normalize living within our means—there’s nothing wrong with not hiring the top singer or driving a fancy car. Let’s start respecting those who live modestly and teach our children the value of financial responsibility. It’s time to shift away from the culture of luxury and entitlement that we’ve grown so accustomed to.
Did you complain about “high-end makeup artist”? Why are you talking about high-end? Who asked you to use someone or buy something you can’t afford… is this the old peer pressure problem?
The bigger problem is that there is a demand for this…
Your examples are all luxuries, not necessities.
If you can’t afford a $2000 MUA or hairdresser, don’t use one.
These people are highly skilled and are able to command such a high price. The bad ones can’t charge that much.
People have to understand the difference between needs and wants.
I didn’t grow up furm and have family who are not religious….guess what they are also getting “ripped off” I have a family member when she got married 10 years ago she paid 1500 for her makeup. if you WANT certain things you will have to pay . Gucci Versace Dior Bebe Louis Vuitton Tiffany Mack Estee Lauder the list goes on and on and on not Jewish owners or vendors so please let’s not go bashing the Jews world. you can call me old fashioned. when my children wAnt certain things like Michelle watch Tiffany bracelet ebike those kind of wants they bought it with their own money that they worked/gift for. That’s the problem “we” me include need to stop being embarrassed and proudly say I did it my family members etc.
Excuse me Tvinla it’s not that they are better than the next. They charge more so only a certain clientele can afford them so they get a name. Has nothing to do with being better than the next. Same with alot of other services
I agree with Leah B and YB. Groceries are a necessity. Even shopping in the discounted grocery stores is much more expensive now than just a few months ago and only gets hire. The make up, hair, band etc. There are less expensive ones. And you don’t make a Simcha weekly. There is some sort of price gauging going on. And it needs to stop. Did anyone notice the price of plums and peaches this summer in Brooklyn? Most often it was$2.99 a pound. Why? Why are eggs almost $5 a dozen. I don’t know if its the merchants or some other entity but something is going on.
Years ago I did construction and I was advised to price aino Yehudim and compare to Yehudim. Aino Yehudim were much less. I asked someone why? He said because the aino yehudi has his lifestyle to support and the yehudi has his lifestyle to support. The yehudi lifestyle is more expensive. So his prices are hire. Now it is true that kosher food, yomim tovim, tuition add up to a lot. Ainu yehudim don’t have those expenses. But one can’t always pass it all on the consumer. We can’t afford it either. Something has to give
These businesses are simply catering to the current Frum culture.
With “American Consumerism” seeping (ok, pouring) into our tent our culture flipped.
We used to be so proud to tell people how little we paid while today we are proud to tell people how much we paid.
It’s not about the value of the makeup or even the skill of the artist.
You’re paying to be able to stroke your ego by sharing how much you paid.
When you understand what you’re actually paying for, why shouldn’t these providers charge as much as they can?