All my kids want for Christmas is a PS5.

I’m the last person that’s gonna be mad at somebody for trying to turn a profit, but the dicks out there who bought up all the PS5’s just so they can turn around and try to sell them for $1000 apiece are fucking ass-hats.

These are the same dicks who buy concert tickets with no motivation other to then sell them for five times the amount.

I get having disappointed kids on Christmas morning because the PS5 is just unavailable, but to have them unavailable in stores but on EBay for $1k just sucks ass and really pisses me off.

The internet has made all of that easier. It used to be just sports outside the stadium. Kids are even doing it in the local high schools.

That is absolutely shitty. I’m starting to get why retailers limit purchases. Assholes abound these days.

Goddamn free market capitalists. Well, lucky for you, Sleepy Joe may institute some socialism.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Goddamn free market capitalists.

That's weak tea, JHE.

It's one thing when manufacturers, and even authorized/legitimate/what-have-you retailers raise prices in response to supply and demand. It's quite another when scalpers create an artificial shortage and then up the price sky-high to take advantage of the shortage they created--or at least exacerbated.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Goddamn free market capitalists.

That's weak tea, JHE.

It's one thing when manufacturers, and even authorized/legitimate/what-have-you retailers raise prices in response to supply and demand. It's quite another when scalpers create an artificial shortage and then up the price sky-high to take advantage of the shortage they created--or at least exacerbated.

Nope, scalpers are capitalists too. If they’re getting their price, then it’s not too high; if not, then they’ll reduce it to where willing buyers pay that price and the parties conclude a mutual transaction. Who defines what’s a “natural” vs. “artificial” shortage? Is the former a comet hitting an Amazon warehouse and the latter a person finding an opportunity to buy low and sell high? Don’t conflate equality of opportunity (anyone could have bought them up when they were cheap) vs. equality of outcome (you don’t want to pay the higher price today).

Charging what the market will bare!

quote:

Originally posted by BigJoe:
Charging what the market will bare!

Woohoo, a nekkid market! Here's hoping it's Victoria's Secret, and not Lane Bryant -- I couldn't bear the thought.

Ha, terrible visions in my head.

I'm right there with you Ronin.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Goddamn free market capitalists.

That's weak tea, JHE.

It's one thing when manufacturers, and even authorized/legitimate/what-have-you retailers raise prices in response to supply and demand. It's quite another when scalpers create an artificial shortage and then up the price sky-high to take advantage of the shortage they created--or at least exacerbated.

That is the way a free market works.

When people take the initiative to buy products that they know will increase in value, they are then entitled to sell at the "market price". This product isn't something essential which folks need for survival like water or food, it is just an entertainment item

People who don't/didn't see the demand outstripping the supply will have to either pay the current going rate or do without. If no one will pay the selling price, the sellers will reduce their price until it does sell...that is the market balancing itself.

It's not scalping , it's capitalism . Scalping is charging $100 to a thirsty man for a drink of water . That video game is not a necessity . I understand your frustration at not being able to give your kids what they wished for . Our system isn't perfect , but it works most of the time .

You know it’s possible to support capitalism and still think scalpers who do shit like that are fucking assholes. They aren’t producers. They are worthless pieces of shit who profit solely off the work of others and their own lack of decency. And anymore most of them are running computer programs (that they didn’t create) to buy the things. It’s not even like it used to be when they actually had to put in some work and actually go physically stand in lines.

I support the system that allows their activities. And I think they are assholes.

It’s not so much the scalping as it is the bots buying out the supply the instant they go on sale. Found out for myself-literally seconds after they went on sale last night they were sold out. Mere mortals have no chance against the bots.

quote:

That is the way a free market works.

And I am equally free to decline to pay scalper prices and tell them to FOAD.

quote:

Maybe the item should have been purchased earlier? Get them a ball and a bat! Its healthier to play outside than sitting down and playing games!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wow you went to the same school of hard knocks as my father.

It no different than non reloaders who purchased all the primers and jacked up the price to $100-300+. Its a free country. I hate it as well. I’m the guy who would sell at a fair price but after seeing items I sold for a fair price appear the VERY SAME DAY for several hundred more than what I sold it to them for, I now cut no one a deal. It’s market price unless it is going to someone I know well.

quote:

I’m the guy who would sell at a fair price

A fair price is what you can replace them for

I had a friend who asked me to sell him some primers. I did a little research and found that I could easily replace them for $100/k. With a little bit of effort, I could get them for $60/k, but then you'd have to figure in HazMat and shipping (there's no more deals on these)...which brought the price per thousand back up to $90.

He was a long time friend and I knew he wasn't going to resell them. He was more than happy to pay $60/k

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

That is the way a free market works.

And I am equally free to decline to pay scalper prices and tell them to FOAD.

That's how it's supposed to work.

But as long as someone is willing to pay the asking price, the asking price isn't excessive

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Goddamn free market capitalists.

That's weak tea, JHE.

It's one thing when manufacturers, and even authorized/legitimate/what-have-you retailers raise prices in response to supply and demand. It's quite another when scalpers create an artificial shortage and then up the price sky-high to take advantage of the shortage they created--or at least exacerbated.

Nope, scalpers are capitalists too. If they’re getting their price, then it’s not too high; if not, then they’ll reduce it to where willing buyers pay that price and the parties conclude a mutual transaction. Who defines what’s a “natural” vs. “artificial” shortage? Is the former a comet hitting an Amazon warehouse and the latter a person finding an opportunity to buy low and sell high? Don’t conflate equality of opportunity (anyone could have bought them up when they were cheap) vs. equality of outcome (you don’t want to pay the higher price today).

Umm...I beg to differ sir. The boss here put an end to that shit time and time again on this forum. People charging double/triple for 239 magazines and the like. He dropped the hammer.

I agree with the OP, it’s shit. I want one myself to take my mind off of a family covid death. Bots grabbing them all up. It’d be a lot different if normal folk could get on a list, or like say Apple does it, and gives you X date when X item will arrive. This whole console thing is a big shit show and it’s bullshit. People are all stuck at home 24/7, gaming in a time like this is not a bad thing. It’s something to do. Scalpers and bots, can rot in hell.