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forum members gouging prices over iPad?!

zhenya said:
One thing not brought up is that there is a cost associated with waiting in line for a few hours or driving around from store to store. Now I'm not willing to pay the premium (I'd rather just wait until the things are widely available), but it seems reasonable to me that there are some people out there who will want the newest device immediately, and would be willing to pay a premium because they didn't have to spend 4 hours of their life trying to get the device they wanted.
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Agreed. While it can be annoying to think that these guys are taking supply off the market, they are at least providing a service to the many people who actually have jobs and can't wait in line at 12-5pm on a Friday...:rolleyes:
 
arcsbite said:
I'm in the Uk and already have my iPad ordered so this isn;t out of jealousy.
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Translation: I am so ****ing jealous.

am I the only one that thinks this kind of thing is digusting?
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No. Supply and demand and all that.

our own marketplace has people selling iPads bought less than 24hrs ago for over $200-$300 over rrp?
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Like a membership in some geek forum should override market forces. :rolleyes:

I mean really? take that ***** to ebay if you wanna rip people off, this forum doesn't need people like you
you bought it yesterday...so the "I just don't like it"...even though you queue'd for it doesn't play.
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I'd rather have the resellers than someone who wants to tell others what to do. Jealousy is so ugly.
 
YoYoMa said:
Agreed. While it can be annoying to think that these guys are taking supply off the market, they are at least providing a service to the many people who actually have jobs and can't wait in line at 12-5pm on a Friday...:rolleyes:
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I have a job and am an Engineer, but I am from Canada & going on vacation on the 23rd & it releases here on the 25th. Since I sold my previous iPad I stood in line 5 hours to get one from the US.

Does this make make me jobless these comments on this forum is getting stupid every single day. Also none of the people around me where jobless as we had quite a few conversation over the 5 hours & many where from Toronto.

The guy behind me & his daughter were buying 4 they were too from Toronto too & he was wearing a Breitling watch & so was I & we discussed watches etc. So I don't think he was jobless & wearing a Breitling!!

And WHY wouldn't people charge more? I paid NY taxes plus Ontario HST 13% plus gas plus driving time plus standing in line plus coffee food etc.

If I had to get an extra I WOULD charge way EXTRA for the effort I put in to buy one! So to the OP sod off, this is called paying for services & anyone is allowed to charge anything. Does the govt ask you before raising your taxes!!!

By the way I love my iPad 2:)
 
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I tend to use the word "gouging" when referring to products that people actually need like food, clothing, etc. Not luxury products.

If they're charging what you think is too much for an iPad, then don't buy one. You'll be able to get one in a month or two - no big deal.
 
Brien said:
What I'm trying to say is, it's unavoidable. The best Apple could do was limit it to 1 per person and not let people hold spots in line (which I am all in favor of, people were holding spots for 10+ people at my store).
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That right there is BS and wouldn't fly at our Apple store & mall. Not only would the people group together and force them out of line but mall security would not allow it, period. Our security is really good about these launches and they don't play that game at all letting people in because you were "saving their spot". If the person isn't there waiting and anyone brings it to their attention, they handle it. People here are vocal about it too and will call them out. People are very respectful of people going to get food, bathroom, etc.
 
gigaguy said:
It's like blaming drug dealers for the drug problem.

If you wanna blame, drug takers create the market that dealers serve.
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Gotta....have.....dem..Apples Auhhhhh :D


tis true, but then again, the laws go harder on the pushers :)
 
If there's a demand, people will take advantage. It's crazy that people would go ahead and pay $300 over MSRP for one, but if they have the money, they can spend how they want to.
 
samiwas said:
Now, where I get angry is things like concerts and (even though I don't go to them) sporting events. There are a finite number of tickets. Some asshat reseller goes in and buys up all the tickets, quadruples the price, and starts reselling. THAT I have a real problem with. I think it's immoral, greedy, and the kind of thing that only true douchenozzles do.
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Why do you have a problem with that? iPads are the same way right now. Just cause I bought 300 tickets to Lady Gaga to make a profit. It is being smart just like buying an iPad that is in demand.
 
JoJoCal19 said:
That right there is BS and wouldn't fly at our Apple store & mall. Not only would the people group together and force them out of line but mall security would not allow it, period. Our security is really good about these launches and they don't play that game at all letting people in because you were "saving their spot". If the person isn't there waiting and anyone brings it to their attention, they handle it. People here are vocal about it too and will call them out. People are very respectful of people going to get food, bathroom, etc.
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I need to move to Florida, then. :p
 
benhollberg said:
Why do you have a problem with that? iPads are the same way right now. Just cause I bought 300 tickets to Lady Gaga to make a profit. It is being smart just like buying an iPad that is in demand.
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Depends on how you're doing it. If you are buying 300 Lady Gaga tickets (of which there are a finite number) for $50 each and offering them on your service for $60 each to make a little money, then that's one thing. If you are buying the 300 tickets (of which there are a finite number) for $50 each, and putting them up on ebay to gouge people for $200 each, I have a problem with that. Yes, I know the concept of supply and demand. But one person buying a large part of a finite supply and then turning around and charging people a ridiculously high price is, to me, a despicable practice. Maybe it's just because I'm not the type of person to use any opportunity I can to milk money out of other people.

I've run into it several times where I wake up and am online at the exact moment a concert's tickets go on sale, and there are no tickets available...sold out. Later that day, hundreds are up on the internet from a reseller for four times the cost or more. Despicable.

It's a little different with something like iPads. There will be more in just a few days, so people have more of a choice to either pay the high price now or wait a few days for the regularly-priced ones.
 
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rdowns said:
Translation: I am so ****ing jealous.



No. Supply and demand and all that.



Like a membership in some geek forum should override market forces. :rolleyes:



I'd rather have the resellers than someone who wants to tell others what to do. Jealousy is so ugly.
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So is being a tosser :rolleyes: but to each his own I supose.
 
I think it's about supply and demand so I don't really see it as wrong. However, I consider this a community we're a part of. So I personally wouldn't do it here. At most maybe add on $10 to cover trip to the store and trip to ship it.

Craigslist is fair game though. I made out nice for 1st gen iPad and case on launch day.

Again though business is business.
 
OneMike said:
I think it's about supply and demand so I don't really see it as wrong. However, I consider this a community we're a part of. So I personally wouldn't do it here. At most maybe add on $10 to cover trip to the store and trip to ship it.

Craigslist is fair game though. I made out nice for 1st gen iPad and case on launch day.

Again though business is business.
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I agree with this. I wouldn't post my iPad 2 here, until iPad 3 maybe.
 
samiwas said:
.......................... If you are buying the 300 tickets (of which there are a finite number) for $50 each, and putting them up on ebay to gouge people for $200 each, I have a problem with that. ..........................
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gee, it's concert tickets. nobody needs them, nobody depends on them. it's like jewelery or designer shoes with a 5000% markup. it's free market and if somebody is willing to pay $300 for a GAGA ticket then that is what they are worth and GAGA should have charged it. Since she didn't the sclaper does.

This is different with essential good that people need like food, water, land, energy, medication. There it is despicable to overcharge but iPads or GAGA tickets? Come on.....
 
andiwm2003 said:
gee, it's concert tickets. nobody needs them, nobody depends on them. it's like jewelery or designer shoes with a 5000% markup. it's free market and if somebody is willing to pay $300 for a GAGA ticket then that is what they are worth and GAGA should have charged it. Since she didn't the sclaper does.
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Agreed. They are usually worth more than what you pay for. Especially Lady Gaga.

andiwm2003 said:
This is different with essential good that people need like food, water, land, energy, medication. There it is despicable to overcharge but iPads or GAGA tickets? Come on.....
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Even when let's say there is a huge demand for food or water. If I was a store owner I would double my prices. If you know a hurricane is coming then make as much money as you can before your store is destroyed.
 
benhollberg said:
Even when let's say there is a huge demand for food or water. If I was a store owner I would double my prices. If you know a hurricane is coming then make as much money as you can before your store is destroyed.
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Florida has price gouging laws during times of hurricanes. Doing that has a good chance of landing you in jail.

Following Hurricane Andrew, the State of Florida enacted a law that prohibits "price-gouging" after a declared state of emergency.
The law bans unconscionable prices in the rental or sale of essential commodities, which would include lumber, ice, water, chemicals, generators and other necessary goods and services following a disaster. Other states may have similar laws, which also impose penalties on violators.

IF YOU WISH TO REPORT PRICE-GOUGING WITHIN THE STATE OF FLORIDA DURING A DECLARED EMERGENCY, CALL THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HOTLINE AT 1-866-966-7226
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http://myfloridalegal.com/pages.nsf/main/e73752ffc1a191af85256cc9005dc192!OpenDocument
 
Don't know. The wording seems rather vague. If I was a store owner, I would consult an attorney.

Edit: Found some more information.

The price gouging statute goes into effect whenever the Governor of Florida declares a state of emergency. While the statute is typically applied after a hurricane, it applies regardless of the cause of the state of emergency. The statute essentially applies where the price of a commodity, rental, or lease has been increased significantly after a state of emergency and the increase in price is not attributable to actual additional costs. It is measured by comparing the post-emergency price to the price for the same goods or services during the 30 days immediately prior to a declaration of a state of emergency.
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Continue reading on Examiner.com: Florida hurricane law - price gouging in Florida - National Legal News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/legal-news-...icane-law-price-gouging-florida#ixzz1GcwvnPLF

Florida Price Gouging Statute said:
Florida's price gouging statute, contained in Florida Code 501.160, reads as follows:

501.160 Rental or sale of essential commodities during a declared state of emergency; prohibition against unconscionable prices.--

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Commodity" means any goods, services, materials, merchandise, supplies, equipment, resources, or other article of commerce, and includes, without limitation, food, water, ice, chemicals, petroleum products, and lumber necessary for consumption or use as a direct result of the emergency.

(b) It is prima facie evidence that a price is unconscionable if:

1. The amount charged represents a gross disparity between the price of the commodity or rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility that is the subject of the offer or transaction and the average price at which that commodity or dwelling unit or self-storage facility was rented, leased, sold, or offered for rent or sale in the usual course of business during the 30 days immediately prior to a declaration of a state of emergency, and the increase in the amount charged is not attributable to additional costs incurred in connection with the rental or sale of the commodity or rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility, or national or international market trends; or

2. The amount charged grossly exceeds the average price at which the same or similar commodity was readily obtainable in the trade area during the 30 days immediately prior to a declaration of a state of emergency, and the increase in the amount charged is not attributable to additional costs incurred in connection with the rental or sale of the commodity or rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility, or national or international market trends.

(2) Upon a declaration of a state of emergency by the Governor, it is unlawful and a violation of s. 501.204 for a person or her or his agent or employee to rent or sell or offer to rent or sell at an unconscionable price within the area for which the state of emergency is declared, any essential commodity including, but not limited to, supplies, services, provisions, or equipment that is necessary for consumption or use as a direct result of the emergency. This prohibition is effective not to exceed 60 days under the initial declared state of emergency as defined in s. 252.36(2) and shall be renewed by statement in any subsequent renewals of the declared state of emergency by the Governor.

(3) It is unlawful and a violation of s. 501.204 for any person to impose unconscionable prices for the rental or lease of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility during a period of declared state of emergency.

(4) A price increase approved by an appropriate government agency shall not be a violation of this section.

(5) This section shall not apply to sales by growers, producers, or processors of raw or processed food products, except for retail sales of such products to the ultimate consumer within the area of the declared state of emergency.

(6) Nothing herein shall be interpreted to preempt the powers of local government except that the evidentiary standards and defenses contained in this section shall be the only evidentiary standards and defenses used in any ordinance adopted by local government to restrict price gouging during a declared state of emergency.
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Continue reading on Examiner.com: Florida Code Section 501.160 - Florida's price gouging statute - National Legal News | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/legal-news-...florida-s-price-gouging-statute#ixzz1GcxSVhR9
 
benhollberg said:
Agreed. They are usually worth more than what you pay for. Especially Lady Gaga.



Even when let's say there is a huge demand for food or water. If I was a store owner I would double my prices. If you know a hurricane is coming then make as much money as you can before your store is destroyed.
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Yup. You are the type of person I am not. Money and profits are your priority and not mine. I like to work with people and not against them. You want to stick it to people whenever you can, and I don't. Whatever. As someone else said...to each their own.
 
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