You think businesses do anything for the benefit of consumers ? Any and every business exists purely to exploit your *wants*! And, I don't support scalping myself, but what I'm arguing is Scalping is just another business for profit ! Drive scalpers out of business by simply not purchasing from them!
As for ethics, businesses [ most ] do not have any either!! They employ child labor, screw up the environment, consume and deplete natural resources, cause major calamities [ read up on oil drilling using guar-gum and tectonic shifts ], etc etc.. Don't think for a moment that businesses [ most ] are making anything for your benefit!!
Oh, btw, the world's biggest scalper is De Beers!!!
Yes they indirectly do, that's what makes capitalism tick. While everyone pursues their own self-interests, it benefits others in the process. Certainly, there are many ways that businesses exploit consumers and I'm not arguing that. However, competition between businesses will result in lower prices, improved quality, advancements in technology, etc. because those businesses want the consumers to buy their products, so they'll seek to compete using either price or non-price factors. This is ultimately better for the consumer, even if the businesses actions weren't geared towards helping consumers. Also, after all is said and done, most big corporations engage in philanthropy.
I agree with that to a point (seems like we have nothing to argue about
). Scalpers can be seen as sole proprietorships, and certainly their actions aren't more unethical than those of other businesses out there. However, they contribute nothing to society while businesses do.
I will tell you what they do. For a starter, they are buying product in the US helping the economy. Then, they are not always, but in a lot of cases selling those products to International buyers brining in the US $$$. They are using Fedex/DHL or freight to ship again helping the economy. And when the $$$ come to the US, it helps the US trade deficit.
You are correct in all those counts. Notice, however, that we would still be doing these things without scalpers. It would be Apple doing the supplying and selling instead of the scalpers, and they would be doing it on a much larger scale. So my original point still stands. There is nothing additional that scalpers contribute to our economy, whether directly or indirectly.
So, Apple makes money. The people who work for Apple are being supported. The shipping companies are being supported because of this. The US Economy is being supported because of this. The 'scalper' makes money because of this.
Agreed, but scalpers provide no additional benefits.
As for the jewelry and the legitimate business, don't we all know that diamonds have no utility and it is only because of the 95% holding of De Beers family of the world supply of Diamond that they are so expensive. It is not illegal is it?
The world is fair game. Whoever gets there first, wins. It is cut throat competition in everything. Stop whining about scalpers and try not to be lazy and be the first to pre-order or to show up at the Apple store if you really want to have their goods before the scalpers. If scalpers come first and pick up the goods, they have all the right to.
We're not arguing whether or not scalping is illegal (at least I'm not). I'm arguing that it is unethical, and therefore there is apt reason to dislike scalpers and rejoice when we find out they had to return all their iPads.
I'm not whining about scalpers. I know they're here to stay as long as the demand is there and this is a reality of our form of capitalism. Yes, they have a right to (again, I think we're arguing different things here. You're arguing about legality while I'm arguing about ethics). But wouldn't you be pissed if someone in front of you bought all the popcorn and instead of consuming it, decided to throw it all in the trash or resell it to you for a higher price?
My point is that there is logical for all the people in this thread to dislike scalpers and be happy that they didn't make any money. I'm not trying to say all businesses are somehow all ethical. In fact, I'd be happy if all those unethical businesses went out of business too and were replaced by ethical ones. But that's too idealistic, as is the thought that scalpers will disappear.
