On Wednesday’s NBC Today, co-host Tamron Hall stumbled upon conservative economic philosophy as she defended a hot dog vendor’s right to charge customers whatever he wanted, even if it was overpriced: “But why can’t he set his own prices? I mean, if a restaurant sells their hot dog, steak, or whatever for the price they want, why is his price regulated?”
Hall was reacting to a story about a New York City street vendor trying to sell a hot dog for $30. Co-host Savannah Guthrie proclaimed: “Our station here in New York, WNBC, actually caught a street vendor trying to sell a hot dog for 30 bucks....for one single hot dog. People obviously were outraged....New York officials say prices should clearly be posted and if you encounter something like this, file a complaint.”
News anchor Natalie Morales observed: “Right around the corner is a guy selling them for a dollar. So, you know, walk the corner.” Hall replied: “Yeah, so just – isn’t that, if you pay it, then, ‘Hey, shame on you’ kind of thing?”
After Hall suggested capitalism and consumer choice as the solution to the high-priced food, Willie Geist joked: “So, Tamron, you’re pro $30 hot dog?” Hall explained: “No, I’m just saying if you’ve ever been to like Disney, the water – the bottle of water is like a million dollars. It just seems that he should be able to charge what he wants and it’s our choice.”
Wrapping up the segment, Guthrie clarified that the only regulation violated was “they have to have the price posted, that’s what the rule says.” Hall replied: “Oh, price posted. Okay, then that’s fair.”
Here is a full transcript of the May 19 segment:
8:15 AM ET
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: Well, New York, as we know, is famous for some outrageous prices sometimes, but let’s just put this out there right now – if you come to visit New York City, just know that $30 is too much to pay for a hot dog on the street. Our station here in New York, WNBC, actually caught a street vendor trying to sell a hot dog for 30 bucks...
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: $30 Hot Dog?; Uproar Over Street Vendor’s Inflated Price]
NATALIE MORALES: Crazy.AL ROKER: Wow, unbelievable.
GUTHRIE: ...they actually charge anywhere from three to 30 bucks – for one single hot dog. People obviously were outraged. When confronted, the vendor claimed not to speak English. New York officials say prices should clearly be posted and if you encounter something like this, file a complaint.
MORALES: What makes it worse was the vendor was apparently down by the Freedom Tower...
GUTHRIE: Where a lot of tourists go.
MORALES: ...so he was trying to profit right there in the face – yeah. Just horrible.
TAMRON HALL: But we make the point that it was a vendor. A, at a restaurant I still wouldn’t pay 30 bucks for a hot dog. But why can’t he set his own prices? I mean, if a restaurant sells their hot dog, steak, or whatever for the price they want, why is his price regulated? I wouldn’t pay it.
GUTHRIE: Is it regulated? It sounds like it wasn’t.
HALL: Well, they’re saying-
MORALES: Right around the corner is a guy selling them for a dollar. So, you know, walk the corner.
HALL: Yeah, so just – isn’t that, if you pay it, then, “Hey, shame on you” kind of thing?
GUTHRIE: I guess.
ROKER: Unsuspecting tourists, though.
HALL: I mean, I think it’s taking advantage, but-
MORALES: That’s price gouging. I mean, I think it, you know, what’s fair is fair, and that’s just not fair.
WILLIE GEIST: So, Tamron, you’re pro $30 hot dog? To be clear.
HALL: No, I’m just saying...
GEIST: I’m just kidding.
HALL: ...if you’ve ever been to like Disney, the water – the bottle of water is like a million dollars. It just seems that he should be able to charge what he wants and it’s our choice.
GUTHRIE: What did you just – Jared just – they have to have the price posted, that’s what the rule says.
HALL: Oh, price posted. Okay, then that’s fair.
