And some people are driven by an unacceptable amount of greed. I have no issue with people who jump on the pre-order ladder with the knowledge that they may choose to sell or keep it, but I really despise the people who buy multiple units purely to profit from.
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Scalping-GAF: How did it go for you?
- Thread starter Khalifa Jayy
- Start date
And some people are driven by an unacceptable amount of greed. I have no issue with people who jump on the pre-order ladder with the knowledge that they may choose to sell or keep it, but I really despise the people who buy multiple units purely to profit from.
Good for you man, always weirds me out how people crack it over this. It's first in best dressed, capitalism and profit, pure and simple.
It's not nice but it's not fucking some evil horrible thing.
Mine won't arrive in Australia for at least 2 weeks after launch, if there's still massive xmas demand I'll flip it. Not because I want to shaft someone, not because I only bought it to flip it, because it's a wise and profitable thing to do.
I'll re-buy one within weeks - it's basically like getting a discounted console as far as I'm concerned.
EDIT: Oh yeah, my minimum flip profit would need to be at least $200 after fees, otherwise the potential hassle isn't worth it.
CrunchyFrog
Member
And scalping does the exact opposite. This isn't your typical "low supply high demand" scenario. Scalpers in aggregate are creating an artificial shortage to allow themselves to drive prices up. Of course there is no unifying body behind all scalpers, but the net result of the actions of them all is the same. This is not at all a natural extension of competitive economics, it's closing to a monopoly/oligopoly.
You think your responses rise above rationalization of your own position? You have no moral high ground here- you have an opinion like everyone else. That's all.
SneakyStephan
Banned
ITT a bunch of parasites (and their sad rationalisations)
At least a pirate doesn't prevent a fellow gamer from getting to play. You are even worse
At least a pirate doesn't prevent a fellow gamer from getting to play. You are even worse
Boy, do I have news for you.
I don't think it's hard to make a positive economic case for scalpers, at least from a free market point of view. Console prices are sticky at retail, so only early birds have access to the market if there is surplus demand. But thanks to scalpers, a person can purchase a console at any time if they're willing to pay the market price.
citroen-e402
Member
And those buying from the parasites are victims right?
It's a temporary condition only. A month or so down the road and scalpers will be irrelevant because natural supply will meet natural demand.
They are dumb and impatient people with too much money.
A guy I know at work, nice guy but very very impulsive, blows money on dumb shit constantly, large amounts too. He's definitely the type to get caught up in hype and just buy something at way over value. He can afford it, he has lots of money, he simply doesn't care.
That's the kind of person who is being exploited here, the regular gamers in this thread with some common sense aren't picking up a scalped console, they either already pre-ordered one themselves or they will wait 2 or 3 weeks to get one, not the end of the world.
Yep.
God Dayumm
Banned
The only ones to blame are sony and MS for not meeting the demand.
That's one half of the coin, sure. But that about the parents who are trying to make their kid's Christmas special?
Ripping people off? People are willing to pay over MSRP for a hard to find item. Happens all the time. I would say the majority who buy from scalpers are happy customers. The guy who I sold mine to (I actually negotiated on the price and sold it less for then what I listed it for) said he was going straight to Best Buy to pick up some games with a huge smile on his face.
Look that sucks, ..... I can't deny that really does suck but I'm not convinced that the scalpers cause that much trouble for the xmas shoppers when it launched over a month from xmas.
The item is hard to find because of scalpers. People would always rather play MSRP.
Its different now but 8 years ago there really was a hunger for these things. People were put in terrible positions and the terrible profited. If someone is "hardcore" enough to pay that kind of money out of pocket than I am sure that is their ordeal(whether I like it or not.)
But when parents and kids get involved its just about the sleaziest.
Senor Kami
Banned
I don't see an issue with scalping launch consoles. All issues are solved by being a decent consumer and either planning ahead (you had equal chance with the scalper to do this) or not being an idiot and just waiting that extra week or two to get a luxury item at retail price.
No matter what, the person in front of you who got one got it because they were better prepped. They pre-ordered or got to the store earlier. Whether that system is going to the buyer's daughter, being kept for themselves, or being scalped, you ain't getting it because you didn't prep as well as them.
Where that console goes has no bearing on the fact that your lack of preparation is why you didn't get it.
No matter what, the person in front of you who got one got it because they were better prepped. They pre-ordered or got to the store earlier. Whether that system is going to the buyer's daughter, being kept for themselves, or being scalped, you ain't getting it because you didn't prep as well as them.
Where that console goes has no bearing on the fact that your lack of preparation is why you didn't get it.
citroen-e402
Member
So the scalpers are parasites, and the buyers are dumb and impatient. Seems like this market system is meant for one another! I understand that you think it's overvalued, but clearly your friend doesn't have the same thoughts about money as you do. And that's his prerogative. Explain to your friend the concept of delayed gratification
Everyone, the buyer either chooses to buy it or not. It's really that simple. We all make decisions like this everyday. Are you willing to pay a higher price to get it? Come on.
It's hard to find because we are starting a new gen after a very long cycle and sony decided to release it to over 30 countries by the end of the year.
I would feel more sympathy if it was only available for preorder at retailers for a couple of days. Instead people had the opportunity to pre order for months (some all the way to September)
I would feel more sympathy if it was only available for preorder at retailers for a couple of days. Instead people had the opportunity to pre order for months (some all the way to September)
Yeah, since there is universal "prep" time for everyone ...
Comfort Jones
Banned
How dare people sell things they bought with their money.
If you really wanted it, should have pre ordered. Scalpers do not make that huge of a dent in it, it's not like pre orders fucking disappeared within a day.
It's kinda sad to see the level of rage from some people, going as far to call people, including one of my good friends, SCUM.
If you really wanted it, should have pre ordered. Scalpers do not make that huge of a dent in it, it's not like pre orders fucking disappeared within a day.
It's kinda sad to see the level of rage from some people, going as far to call people, including one of my good friends, SCUM.
Troubleman1990
Banned
I returned mine so 0$.
Don't have time to scalp and meet someone since im in finals. plus if the PS4 dies its on my hands and I would have to meet person again take ps4 back send back to sony or shop blah blah blah.
Nah. I rather scalp Jordans which when released is less likely to have a saturated market compared to the PS4.
Don't have time to scalp and meet someone since im in finals. plus if the PS4 dies its on my hands and I would have to meet person again take ps4 back send back to sony or shop blah blah blah.
Nah. I rather scalp Jordans which when released is less likely to have a saturated market compared to the PS4.
it works both ways
Touché.
purnoman3000
Member
This auction is my favorite:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/151174669458?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Either the people bidding don't realize the shipping is 95,000$ or this guy's a very industrious.
.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/151174669458?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
Either the people bidding don't realize the shipping is 95,000$ or this guy's a very industrious.
.
These are the weakest passive aggressive threats on the entire internet, really, REALLY?
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
The same can be said of video game collectors.
BronsonLee
Member
I have some bad news.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
You'd better hope Sony doesn't release more units to retail. If they do you're screwed.
Arthr2ShdsJcksn
Banned
Yeah, you have to strike while the iron is hot. Pretty sure the sold-out status will disappear within the next couple of weeks.
I'm not screwed. If worse comes to worse, I'll keep one for myself (since I really want one), and I'll return the other to the store which I bought it from.
TheContact
Member
I wonder what kind of idiots would pay extra for a console they could have had on day1 if they just pre-ordered
I'm not really against scalping, I'd never do it but I know there are people who are willing to pay extra to get what they want for other people's work, but it doesn't make sense when they could have it themselves if they just pre ordered it
I'm not really against scalping, I'd never do it but I know there are people who are willing to pay extra to get what they want for other people's work, but it doesn't make sense when they could have it themselves if they just pre ordered it
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
It happened with PS3. I bought a spare 20GB to resell in hopes that the profit would take the sting out of me spending $600 for my 60GB.
My coworker bought one for the sole purpose of selling on eBay but decided to wait until it was closer to Christmas. I listed mine immediately and made $400 profit the next morning. Then the whole bottom dropped out, as unsold units were sitting on shelves. She wound up having to return it.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
I'm more surprised that there are people salty that they missed out when the window for preordering was there for some time. You can't really complain when there was ample chance to lock in a console at retail price.
What did they expect... seriously? Everyone had the same opportunity to lock their console in... I kind of feel that if you didn't bother to do that, too bad.
What did they expect... seriously? Everyone had the same opportunity to lock their console in... I kind of feel that if you didn't bother to do that, too bad.
BolognaSoup
Member
LOL
You act like the scalpers are members of some exclusive club that get privileged access to these consoles. The buyers that ARE WILLINGLY PAYING MARKUP could have also made pre-orders/got in line/called around/drove out of town to get their own but they chose not to. Now they can pay someone that did put in that tiny amount of effort to get one a little extra for the favor. Nobody prevented anyone from getting to play. Nobody, but that person himself.
gamergirly
Member
lol
adamantypants
Member
The vitriol in this thread is overwhelming.
Take video games out of the equation and it's just another hot ticket item. I personally don't like scalping but I don't see anything inherently wrong with it. There are buyers willing to fork over the cash and sellers happy to oblige. It's not your money and not your spare console, get over it.
Take video games out of the equation and it's just another hot ticket item. I personally don't like scalping but I don't see anything inherently wrong with it. There are buyers willing to fork over the cash and sellers happy to oblige. It's not your money and not your spare console, get over it.