Remember the places that gouge and tell the managers after the prices return to normal that you will no longer be doing business with them and why you won't. Period. Then, DON'T!

We went through somethingsimilar when oil exploration was booming and the town increased in population by about 30% for eight months.

I am with an emergency services department. mechanics to whom we'd taken our response vehicles were telling us to wait for two or three days to get even minor repairs effected because some of the big players in gas exploration just didn't care what they were charged for repairs and so they were given preference.

Well, the tables are turned back to normal. Two businesses that had put us on the 'you'll have to wait until we get the important customers out of the way' have called asking why we no longer go to them. We tell them why--and why we won't be back until they no longer own the business. They f%%k you now, f%%k 'em back next week or next month or next year. But don't let it ride. Sooner or later they'll learn.