DigitalRicket
Member
But I mean ethically and legally. I mean, if someone has a product that is high in demand and a store raises the price on it, isn't that simple dollars and sense (cents)?
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Scalping-GAF: How did it go for you?
- Thread starter Khalifa Jayy
- Start date
But I mean ethically and legally. I mean, if someone has a product that is high in demand and a store raises the price on it, isn't that simple dollars and sense (cents)?
So why didn't you sell them for 3$? You'd still make a profit? You chose 4$ because you thought that was the sweet spot between undercutting your competition and maximising your profit (aka greed)...
Moral Panic
Member
Why all the threadshitting? I'm interested in how the experience was for people.
Scalpers are scum, plain and simple.
You didn't buy the console to enjoy it, youre like a used car salesman.
Why its funnier to me is you can still find them out there, I know theres some still in stores around my City, NOT sold out. So why people would pay more than shelf price, is beyond me.
But yes, scalpers are scum. Sell it if you need the money cause you overbought, but dont buy up alt initial stock just to resell. Should be illegal.
You didn't buy the console to enjoy it, youre like a used car salesman.
Why its funnier to me is you can still find them out there, I know theres some still in stores around my City, NOT sold out. So why people would pay more than shelf price, is beyond me.
But yes, scalpers are scum. Sell it if you need the money cause you overbought, but dont buy up alt initial stock just to resell. Should be illegal.
You could also say that to the 99% of the human's population living under the 1% thumbs.
Marauder Shields
Member
my bro flipped a few PS4s for between 575-600 on ebay. After shipping and fees profit ends up being around $100. I think he sold an xbone for 699 too. Too much of a hassle for me. Definitely isn't on the level of the PS3 and Wii launches where you were getting ridiculous profits.
I agree - I get this feeling that for some peolpe "scalping" is the first experience in seeing capitalism at work.
NullPointer
Member
Do you actually read GAF? Lots of (I would say justified) moral outcries here on a regular basis, with the seedy underbelly of capitalism being a pretty common theme.
thejazzking
Neo Member
No scalping for me.
Had a pre-order at my local shop for months. Opportunity came up today to buy more online so I snatched two up, both for launch day delivery. Sold to two friends who missed out on their launch day pre-orders, didn't make any money. Just wanted to make sure they got some.
Had a pre-order at my local shop for months. Opportunity came up today to buy more online so I snatched two up, both for launch day delivery. Sold to two friends who missed out on their launch day pre-orders, didn't make any money. Just wanted to make sure they got some.
I could have and did alter prices, bundle accordingly and throwing around crazy deals. Product is only viable when it has a consumer and a return rate. I didn't tax, hell, I could have maximized perfectly at $4.99 and they still would have bought from me and it would ahve been cheaper for them and more money for me. I was the only one on that side of town and I was an adorable 10 year old.
Greed is getting as much as I can, I didn't want or shoot for that. I made more deals with friends (2/$5) than I ever did selling at $4. Don't ever think personal profit is inherently greed at all.
Do all the scalpers in this thread report the profits to the IRS?
We understand perfectly fine that you're trying to make money.
We also understand that you make our lives more difficult, so we hate your guts anyway.
As someone who was screwed out of his preorder that I put in 6 months ago, by a shop clerk that "made a mistake" for whatever reason, and now have to wait x amount of weeks to get one on the second shipment, All I have to say is fuck anyone who does this. You are a shitstain on this hobby.
I find it rather sad that your life is made difficult because you couldn't buy a luxury item the day you wanted to and instead had to wait a few weeks at best. Readjust your priorities.
If you must know I am a little irritated given that my PS4 was almost scalped without me knowing about it, so yeah, I'm a little salty.
Furthermore it used to piss me off when I worked in retail in 06-07 and this sleaze ball would wait around for Wii shipments, buy them up from the manager to sell out of his trunk, and then a few hours later Parents/Grandparents with kids would drive to the store because they heard about a possible shipment. I got him back though, told him Wii Music was the next big thing, sold him 20 copies, and had the regional manager black list him from returning any of them in the region(state and various bordering ones.)
I felt good that day.
No I don't - I simply reply and hope my randomly put together sentences are on topic...
On a more seriousness note - are you refering to OT? On the gaming side I see more than enough corporate apologists - "are you bothered by microtransactions in a 60$ game - don't buy them, what's the problem?"...
Let me be the first to say "welcome to the shithole called planet earth"...
Highly doubtful - see greed and maximising profits
NullPointer
Member
Hey now, don't take my niche. I was here first.
Scalpers in this thread just have to deal with being despised. Comes with your choice of how to make money.
Jesus, if you're that fucking guy then do it, I don't think anyone cares if you block over something so stupid. OMG, Scalpers! Hide them from my view!
It's crazy how bent people get over this shit, but not quite as crazy as the morons who keep comparing this to scalping concert tickets, though, which aren't even remotely similar. Concert tickets are limited for an exact day that will never come again, the PS4 and Xbone will be continually made for years. Cry me a fucking river.
I didn't end up selling mine. When the box arrived I had to open it, so my lack of willpower probably cost me a couple hundred bucks, but such is life. Congrats to those of you managed to make a few bucks.
Because it's about gaming and not something else. Hypocrites, the lot of 'em.
Majmun
Member
The issue here is that scalpers abuse the scarcity and lack of alternatives when it comes to launch consoles, or other certain products (like tickets)
The majority of product you see in stores aren't scarce and there should be an alternative if the pricing doesn't suit you.
You want to gift a Ps4/X1 as a Xmas present, but they're all sold out and your're tight on budget? Prepare to lose money on a scalper.
And yet that one guy sold his friend a hard to find item at the MSRP and still made a profit.
You are working really hard to justify yourself.
We might share the same planet, but whatever "shithole" you are talking about is completely your business.
That's all well and good, I'm just waiting for the justification you lot have to come in to a thread seeking a discussion between those who partook in the practice and effectively just slinging shit at them. Thread is about something you don't like? Well you're more than welcome to skip over it and enjoy the other threads on this board.
Screw that. And I am saying that as a guy who worked in a retailer that made its money in used sales.Bent over backwards to discourage used and even would have new versions shipped to the store when all we had were used.
Nealand Liquor
Member
I'm not a scalper, but I do find the anger in this thread hilarious. If nobody bought the consoles this wouldn't be a thing. Belive it or not may people that buy from scalpers do so knowing they paid more, but they accept that they are paying for someone elses legwork and the convenience on hard to find items. Shit do you all feel the same way about pizza delivery people?
You know you are paying more for that pizza than if you picked it up.
Hell the only way I'd find the reactions funnier is if someone posted they scalped and would accept tips. BUTTHURT ALL OVER THE WALLS!
You know you are paying more for that pizza than if you picked it up.
Hell the only way I'd find the reactions funnier is if someone posted they scalped and would accept tips. BUTTHURT ALL OVER THE WALLS!
And I feel rather said people's profits have to come from the misfortunes of others. Surely there are jobs out there, we can search for them on Monster together, real talk.
Holy Order Sol
Member
I'm not "hiding" behind lol. I found "fellow gamer" laughable, because it makes it sound like just because people happen to share a hobby they should somehow stick together and not try to take advantage of one another, and I don't believe that gaming automatically creates that kind of bond between people that would make them care enough. This is what I meant by taking it too far when talking about a community.
I'm not a scalper, but that's because I find it too risky. Not because of such reasons.
Yes, I'm sure you can tell a lot about my priorities from a two sentence post.
You annoy us and you know it. That's why we don't like you, and you might as well accept it. If you dwell on what others think of you, I'm not sure why you're a scalper to begin with.
I respect said feelings, don't respect the notion that not getting a luxury item is considered a hardship.
You are the one who stated your life was made difficult by not getting a luxury item the minute you wanted it. I can tell enough from that. I have no problem you hating my choice of making money on the side.
NullPointer
Member
I don't remember slinging shit, but lets not forget that you're having this discussion on a forum populated by those most directly affected by console scalping.
abstract alien
Member
Went really well. Sold one, and kept the other. Counting the cost of the one I kept, I made a few hundred bucks overall, so it went well. As always make someone else pay for it if they are willing. It wasn't worth 400 bucks to me anyway, so this was the way to go.
Some respect would be cool since scalping threads prior to this one were brought down with this discussion already.
But you Respect the fact that someone probably is directly the reason for his mishap, profited from it, and the target consumer is now without what he paid for?
So was his stolen? Because otherwise he didn't pay for it. I have no problem with someone holding the stance you have towards it. You're well within your right and reason to do so. But labeling it as a cause for hardship, in this specific case regarding a game console, is disingenuous.
I think scalping is kind of a waste of time unless you took on like 20+ consoles, but that would be a big waste of time and effort if they didn't all sell, which they probably wouldn't.
My friend just bought a PS4 off somebody last week, he paid an extra $20 apparently. I was like "Why would you do that? Why didn't you just preorder or go buy one new yourself?" but he seemed happy to have bought it the way he did, so I didn't bother him about it.
If scalping stops one person who shows up too late at a store, who probably doesn't even care that much if they're showing up late (unless they absolutely couldn't book work/etc. off to be there early), from buying something, but it lets somebody else who for whatever reason didn't go to the work to get the thing when it was available but still cares enough about it to pay a premium, what's so bad?
The way I see it somebody who probably doesn't care that much about the product (or else they would have preordered early/been one of the first in line/etc.) doesn't get to buy it (or just doesn't get it at release date in the case of consoles) and somebody who cares enough to pay a premium does get it, with another person making a smallish profit in the process. Not the end of the world, and it doesn't even affect me at all since if I care to get something at release I'll put in the effort to preorder it early or whatever else I have to do.
My friend just bought a PS4 off somebody last week, he paid an extra $20 apparently. I was like "Why would you do that? Why didn't you just preorder or go buy one new yourself?" but he seemed happy to have bought it the way he did, so I didn't bother him about it.
If scalping stops one person who shows up too late at a store, who probably doesn't even care that much if they're showing up late (unless they absolutely couldn't book work/etc. off to be there early), from buying something, but it lets somebody else who for whatever reason didn't go to the work to get the thing when it was available but still cares enough about it to pay a premium, what's so bad?
The way I see it somebody who probably doesn't care that much about the product (or else they would have preordered early/been one of the first in line/etc.) doesn't get to buy it (or just doesn't get it at release date in the case of consoles) and somebody who cares enough to pay a premium does get it, with another person making a smallish profit in the process. Not the end of the world, and it doesn't even affect me at all since if I care to get something at release I'll put in the effort to preorder it early or whatever else I have to do.
BolognaSoup
Member
Good work OP. Don't mind the haters. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what you did whatsoever.
Pretty much. I'll be blocking you, and every other petty, pseudo-moralist like you, that shows up in this thread.
Moral Panic wants to know how scalping went! that is pretty funny
I said more difficult. Next time you make assumptions, make sure you read the post.
Friend of mine--and fellow GAF'er--bought four of each next-gen console, and, in the end, was able to keep one of each for himself AND buy around 8 games total without spending anything out of his own pocket. The only part of me that doesn't agree with what he did is the part of me that's jealous that I didn't do the same thing. Sca
Nothing wrong with capitalizing on suckers on ebay and Craigslist who can't control their "gotta have it right now" mentality--it's not like we're talking about necessities here. I pre-ordered my PS4 within minutes of when they went live last May b/c I knew I wanted one and planned ahead; in other words: early bird get the worm. Fact of the matter is, it's not like SONY and MS are going to suddenly cease production--if you missed out on the first run, you can either chose to pay high prices when the supply is low, or simply wait until supply increases/demand decreases. I waited 6 months to get my PS3 because of the low supply and crazy prices, and I still got over 7 years of incredible gaming out of it, yet without the initial 6-month software lull.
Also, let's not forget that scalpers are taking a risk, too: lots of people planned on flipping WiiU's for crazy prices last fall, yet that plan failed miserably.
Nothing wrong with capitalizing on suckers on ebay and Craigslist who can't control their "gotta have it right now" mentality--it's not like we're talking about necessities here. I pre-ordered my PS4 within minutes of when they went live last May b/c I knew I wanted one and planned ahead; in other words: early bird get the worm. Fact of the matter is, it's not like SONY and MS are going to suddenly cease production--if you missed out on the first run, you can either chose to pay high prices when the supply is low, or simply wait until supply increases/demand decreases. I waited 6 months to get my PS3 because of the low supply and crazy prices, and I still got over 7 years of incredible gaming out of it, yet without the initial 6-month software lull.
Also, let's not forget that scalpers are taking a risk, too: lots of people planned on flipping WiiU's for crazy prices last fall, yet that plan failed miserably.
I read it just fine. it being MORE difficult doesn't change anything. It shouldn't make ANYTHING more difficult. It's a damn console.
Schweinehund
Member
itt: bitter people who feel they're at a comfortable position of income, and everyone should adhere to their weird moral view of scalping.
It really wasn't worth it to sell my ps4, so I kept a hold of it. Can't wait for infamous 2.
It really wasn't worth it to sell my ps4, so I kept a hold of it. Can't wait for infamous 2.
NullPointer
Member
There actually is, but I doubt many here would care, and thats a larger topic than scalping, so I'm out.
citroen-e402
Member
The question of are you 'taking advantage of unsuspecting people' seems to be the sticking point in this debate. To me, it's not even an issue.
a. The MSRP of a PS4 and XBox One is easily obtainable (information)
b. One can do a relative comparison between the MSRP and what the buyer is offering (opportunity cost)
c. This good isn't limited, in the sense that there will be more PS4s and XBox Ones in stock eventually (self control basically. Can I wait?)
d. The good isn't a necessity. You're not going to die if you don't have a PS4 or XBox One
e. Knowing all this, the buyer is willing (key word) to purchase the product for a enlarged fee to have it right now. The extra money spent is worth it to them. If the buyer didn't want to buy the product for that price, then he/she wouldn't have. They wanted to.
Yes, it would be awesome to get the product for cheaper. Why wouldn't it be? But the situation is this: Do you buy it for a higher price, do you keep looking, or do you wait? People don't want to waste time, they're going to pay extra. That's simple.
Come on, It's not an issue. I honestly cannot see why scalping consoles is met with so much vitriol.
a. The MSRP of a PS4 and XBox One is easily obtainable (information)
b. One can do a relative comparison between the MSRP and what the buyer is offering (opportunity cost)
c. This good isn't limited, in the sense that there will be more PS4s and XBox Ones in stock eventually (self control basically. Can I wait?)
d. The good isn't a necessity. You're not going to die if you don't have a PS4 or XBox One
e. Knowing all this, the buyer is willing (key word) to purchase the product for a enlarged fee to have it right now. The extra money spent is worth it to them. If the buyer didn't want to buy the product for that price, then he/she wouldn't have. They wanted to.
Yes, it would be awesome to get the product for cheaper. Why wouldn't it be? But the situation is this: Do you buy it for a higher price, do you keep looking, or do you wait? People don't want to waste time, they're going to pay extra. That's simple.
Come on, It's not an issue. I honestly cannot see why scalping consoles is met with so much vitriol.
Alex
Member
While I'd probably never participate in any scalping, and depending on the item sometimes frown upon it, I can't feel bad for people getting gouged on launch hardware. Shit is selling solely off of hype and future potential, it's like an extra layer on top of a luxury item. By the time they're not buggy, software devoid messes, they'll be readily available from every store! So if you're enough of a goofball to run out and drop an extra two hundred plus dollars more so you can get your Knack on a little earlier, then I just can't bemoan the collectors of that idiot tax.
Khalifa Jayy
Banned
What am I reading? Every single business that has ever been successful has been so because they provided a product or service and were able to do so Because they had the intelligence, timing, or resources that others didn't.