2016年ESL之商务英语 03 Price Gouging

（单词翻译）

ESL Podcast 1180 – Price Gouging¹ 

Pedro: Why are you changing the prices on all of those items in the store? 

Elisa: Haven’t you heard? There’s a hurricane coming. People will be stocking up on basic necessities. 

Pedro: I know that, but that still doesn’t explain why you’ve decided² to jack³ up prices. 

Elisa: There’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of a spike⁴ in demand during emergency situations. We’re in business to make money. 

Pedro: That’s price gouging and you know it. There are laws against that. And plus, we shouldn’t be exploiting people’s fear. 

Elisa: I’m not responsible for that hurricane and I didn’t tell people to hoard⁵. I’m not hiking prices so high that people can’t afford it. I’m just increasing them to discourage hoarding⁶, that’s all. 

Pedro: I don’t know. It still doesn’t feel right. It feels like we’re profiteering. 

Elisa: No, we’re not. We’re making a sound business decision. Hey, where are you going with those? 

Pedro: I’m putting some of these items in the back to reserve for people who can’t afford your new prices, the poorest and the most vulnerable in our community. 

Elisa: You’re not suggesting we give those items away! 

Pedro: You’ll thank me later for helping⁷ you to assuage⁸ your guilty conscience. 

Elisa: Hmph! 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse