The Apples' bad business practices...

[Forlong 1,726]

There is no nice way to say this: the Apples run their ranch almost as bad as a CEO of Solyndra.  There's a lot of crap they do completely wrong, but I'll focus on the most obvious.  Why don't they hire extra help?

 

It was made clear early on that Big Mac, Apple Jack, and Apple Bloom are only just able to harvest all their apples.  Whenever Big Mac is unable to do his work, they always need help.  Logically, we can assume the same thing happens whenever AJ is out of town.  Why not hire an extra hoof or two and remedy this problem?

 

In no episode is this problem more clear than in "Super Cider Squeezy 6000".  Rainbow Dash and several background ponies make it quite apparent that the Apples never make enough cider for everypony, yet Applejack says that even then they make enough to get by in the Winter.  So the question is would the increased output of cider pay for the extra workers?

 

In terms of output, Twilight calculated that roughly doubling the workforce produced five times the cider and enough for everypony in about half an hour.  And judging by the cost of living in Ponyville, the pay wouldn't even make a dent in the Apples' profits.  But let's get official with this.

 

In "Putting Your Hoof Down", the cost of tomatoes gives us an idea of the cost of living for Ponyville.  As someone who lives in a farm-heavy state, I can tell you that $3 a pound would likely be the normal price for Ponyville tomatoes.  Four tomatoes is a pound, so three would cost $2.25.  According to Pinkie Pie, one bit in the right price for three tomatoes and two is outrageous.  Since that would be $4.50, I'd say Pinkie has a point.

 

Now, with the price of a common crop, we can say standard minimum wage would be about 2.5 times the cost of a pound of tomatoes.  The cost of a pound of tomatoes is 1 and 1/3rd of a bit, so 3 and 1/3rd a bit an hour would be standard minimum wage.  Let's say 3 bits an hour, so we don't have to worry about anymore fractions.

 

Now to see how much of a dent that would make into the Apples' profits.  Assuming they paid AJ's friends 3 bits each, that would be only 15 bits.  Since Fluttershy paid 2 bits for one pint of cider, a whole 42 gallon barrel would earn them 672 bits.  Yeah, the Apples are pretty stupid.

Edited December 23, 2012 by Forlong

[Standard User 2,127]

Y'know, it's winter break and I'm not expected to do math...but you do indeed have a point. Perhaps they should hire someone to work out their finances.

Boy, wouldn't THAT make for an exciting episode...

[Blindsight 142]

I agree so much!! That's exactly what I've been thinking about after watching the new episode.

 

They also put up a new barn extremely often. So far they renewed the barn at least three times. Do they put it up so poorly or.. are they, again, stupid? -_-

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

They could simply raise the price of cider until there is no longer a shortage as well. It's possible that there isn't a huge demand for jobs in Ponyville (I can't see it having unemployment), and people generally do jobs related to their cutie marks, so perhaps they just can't find anyone.

 

But really, if their cider is so good that hundreds of people line up for it and loads of them don't get any, just charge more and ensure that the people who want the cider most get it. They would even make more money.

[Forlong 1,726]

They could simply raise the price of cider until there is no longer a shortage as well. It's possible that there isn't a huge demand for jobs in Ponyville (I can't see it having unemployment), and people generally do jobs related to their cutie marks, so perhaps they just can't find anyone.

 

But really, if their cider is so good that hundreds of people line up for it and loads of them don't get any, just charge more and ensure that the people who want the cider most get it. They would even make more money.

Another valid and profitable business practice, but I highly doubt Ms. Element-of-Honesty would be okay with that.  I'm just sayin'.

Edited December 23, 2012 by Forlong

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

Another valid and profitable business practice, but I highly doubt Ms. Element-of-Honesty would be okay with that.  I'm just sayin'.

Well raising prices isn't exactly dishonest, if anything in this case it is allowing the true market-determined value of the cider to be the actual price. But Applejack's a good person and it's completely in character for her to want to let as many people enjoy her cider as possible .

[Silverhoof 2,844]

Rarity runs a successful business.She owns her own building, and lives entirely off of commissions.

Perhaps we could hold a bake sale to pay Rarity to act as a business consultant for the Apples.

 

 - or write Hasbro and demand better cartoon economics.

[Sks_Burns 730]

maybe it isnt so much about the money, and more about providing for the community, with a little on the side to cover overhead? it also seems that the employment model in Ponyville is based on providing a service in exchange for what you need (housing, food, etc). its not so much based on work to earn cash so you can buy the things you need, its a simpler model then that. some of the ponies dont follow that model or its just unexplained, but it makes sense to use a system like that. the mastery of their specific skill is what provides them with the essentials, similar to how a tribe would live. 

 

im fairly ignorant on economics though, so im just throwing ideas are based on what ive seen and how i feel they would operate. one of the clues to their system lies in the lyrics to Winter Wrap-Up

 

"But the food we've stored is running out, and we can't grow in this cold"

"No easy task to clear the ground, Plant our tiny seeds. With proper care and sunshine, Everyone it feeds."

 

see, it isnt about making money for them, but providing food for the community, they just charge a little to cover things that must be purchased to keep the practice afloat. 

[Batbrony 16,056]

Interesting point you raise, but honestly, I have to pin this one more on the writers than on the Apples themselves.  Guessing most of them, if not all of them, don't come from farming backgrounds, or business backgrounds for that matter, and thus haven't thought the economics through that much.  Plus they probably would rather portray the Apples as some quaint, close-knit farming family than a farming family with a bunch of hired laborers.  Plus it's a kid's show, and they probably figured the intended audience wouldn't worry about the economics of a cartoon show.  So all in all, not disagreeing with you, but again, this is pretty explainable and easily pinned on the writers.

[TailsIsNotAlone 3,695]

I'm with sks_burns and Batbrony on this one. Sweet Apple Acres is not seeking to turn a big profit. They are as local as a local business can be. They don't have a business model, they have a way of life. They grow enough to feed themselves and the community, and charge just enough bits to keep their farm. Knowing how old-fashioned Applejack and her relatives are, I doubt they would be comfortable with a big money-making operation anyway.

 

Also, the writers weren't really thinking about it. ^^

[Forlong 1,726]

sks_burns, Batbrony, and TailsAlone:

 

You are partly right.  The Apples are not out to get rich, but that doesn't make their actions in SCS6000 idiotic.  The community was upset that they weren't making enough cider.  Turning a profit and harmonizing with Ponyville required the same action.  If they wanted, they could even lower the price of the cider, because they have more of it.

 

Also, Apple Jack said in "Ticket Master" that a lot of their equipment is old and needs replacement.  So they do have some financial needs that they can't meet, so increasing profit may be necessary.

[almozayaf 72]

Hasbro didn't make one single video game for MLP:FIM on ant console or hand video game divce

there no Blu-Ray of MLP:FIM s1

there no toy that look like the show 100%

no toy over the sea (i can't find any of theme here)

 

<( dude what you point

 

how a company that don't know how to do business make an episode about business

 

and man you over think it

MLP never was a thing to over think it

 

you think about a show were a friendship defeat evil

evil only defeated by nuke bomb <<< realistic

[Stalliongrad 982]

If you want to analyzye it the problem is even deeper than that. Not sure what the laws on free enterprise in Equestria are but the the Equestrian Trade Commission should be notified. The Apple Family has the biggest monopoly ever. Realistically they should be swimming in cash because every time you buy an apple in Equestria aside from tax all of it goes to the Apple Family. Its funny how they are depicted as rustic even though they are more than likely very very very rich. Any thing that is made with an Apple is made with apples grown on an Apple Family farm. It is understandable if they dont want to hire out thats their bussiness and most farms operate that way. (although they hire help on occasion) And i suppose that if Granny Smith and the Apple Family were the founders of Ponyville they can get away with it. But ill assume people wont take notice until they jack up the price several bits and then we'll get some change goin.

[TheSeji 36]

My mind, was just blown, Pony Economics? and Business analysis? Where am i! No but seriously that's some hardcore math that could be totally wrong cause i really didn't bother to do it myself but i am pretty trusting so ima just trust you did it right yourself right and you aren't misleading all of us into thinking poor lil applejacknem and all her peeps are just horrid at their jobs which is supposed to be the one thing they can do over all others . *GASP*

 

No but srys....they need dem bits.

[Stellafera 3,836]

If you want to analyzye it the problem is even deeper than that. Not sure what the laws on free enterprise in Equestria are but the the Equestrian Trade Commission should be notified. The Apple Family has the biggest monopoly ever. Realistically they should be swimming in cash because every time you buy an apple in Equestria aside from tax all of it goes to the Apple Family. Its funny how they are depicted as rustic even though they are more than likely very very very rich. Any thing that is made with an Apple is made with apples grown on an Apple Family farm. It is understandable if they dont want to hire out thats their bussiness and most farms operate that way. (although they hire help on occasion) And i suppose that if Granny Smith and the Apple Family were the founders of Ponyville they can get away with it. But ill assume people wont take notice until they jack up the price several bits and then we'll get some change goin.

 

There is another apple orchard in Appleloosa, so clearly it isn't the only one in Equestria. It completely dominates the business in Ponyville, yes, but we aren't sure about other places.