There is a REALLY easy way Apple and the carriers could end this (or really slow it down) if they wanted to. Limit sales to 2 iPhones per person at the Apple stores and 1 iPhone per phone line at the carrier stores over opening weekend. Problem solved.
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(Scalpers ....What is wrong with re-selling iPhones ?
- Thread starter MicroMacTosh
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I wouldn't mind it if it were just like you say: people standing in line for you and charging you a modest price increase for their time spent.
However, I think the bigger issue is that the scalpers kind of cause an artificial inflation. People wouldn't have to line up early and brave harsh conditions (the service you are purportedly offering) if scalpers weren't buying 50 bajillion phones, thus preventing people from getting them under more reasonable conditions.
That said, if you can make money doing it, shrug, more power to ya.
However, I think the bigger issue is that the scalpers kind of cause an artificial inflation. People wouldn't have to line up early and brave harsh conditions (the service you are purportedly offering) if scalpers weren't buying 50 bajillion phones, thus preventing people from getting them under more reasonable conditions.
That said, if you can make money doing it, shrug, more power to ya.
Send to only verified Paypal users and their verified address.
Track and insure high value items . only Buy it now listings , requiring immediate payment .
Don't ship to APO/FPO/DPO
Internatuonal use FedEx or equivalent with tracking and insured , and sent only to verified paypal address .
I think they used to (or still do?) this. The scalpers just bring their whole family and friends with them and still buy up everything.
Not really quite agitated; you asked what "we" thought about your activities. I passionately believe what I wrote, but I only offer my opinion when asked.
That is the current policy ... I don't see any way to enforce it
Maybe they link to you if you use a card , but with cash I can buy as many I want as long as apple em
I ordered mine online at release. Had it in my hands Monday 32 silver
Lol those are the rules. Scalpers just pay others to make the line. One guy took a bunch of homeless dudes and they got into a fight. So it's not them making money from their limit but abusing the system taking all the phones and inflating market price due to low quantities of item.
S
syd430
Guest
No. There's also 10 people that would have otherwise been able to get the phone at retail price waiting in line that would now miss out. All you're doing is redistributing to the highest bidder, meanwhile the person that waited with you in the line has to go home empty handed. You're closing access to one group and granting it to another. Nothing wrong with that per se, but no you're not "fulfilling an economic need" because you're simultaneously creating another economic problem. Don't pretend that the only people that benefit are not you and the purchaser.
That is the current policy ... I don't see any way to enforce it
Maybe they link to you if you use a card , but with cash I can buy as many I want as long as apple employees don't notice
Just go to different stores , have friends with you etc
I was told to leave curtly a few times by staff , and day hi to the the next day and buy more
Ostensibly 10 device limit per person lifetime but if it's not tied to you in some way , it's meaningless
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It is an electronic gadget , not a necessity . Now , say people attempt to profit from people in need , real needs , not manufactured needs , say basic staples like water , fuel , etc , that is abhorrent .
A new smartphone is no necessity , simply manufactured needs , turning wants into needs .
I personally don't mind them, I wouldn't pay the prices they ask for. It is bad enough at Apple prices but I have thought about doing it myself. Maybe next year with the iP6.
S
syd430
Guest
Right and that's why we leave most basic needs to the state, or at least heavily regulate those markets.
By your own advise though, I guess you wouldn't mind if every TV manufacturer on the planet colluded to jack up the price of every single TV to $100,000. And you happen to be in the market for a TV. I mean, it's not food or water right? Oh, you mean it's only OK when it happens to other people and not you?
Obviously people that do this with basic necessities are abhorrent as you put it, you're not as bad, but you're still a problem. And no you're providing no economic benefit as you're simply redistributing without paying any tax on your gain. It's a net economic loss. Please stop pretending that you're on some humanitarian mission, and please for the sake of everyone in this thread, take ECON101 again...
To me it's like if there is only 2 loafs of bread for 2 starving families. The scalper doesn't give a damn about their fellow man and will just buy up the 2 loafs to hold the other family for ransom for every penny they can squeeze out of them.
I could forgive scalpers if they simply sold things at full retail prices (the way a real business does) but they don't. They are simply scum that look to prey on artificial scarcity and rip off whoever they can for a quick buck.
I personally have no more respect for scalpers than I do crack dealers on the streets.
I could forgive scalpers if they simply sold things at full retail prices (the way a real business does) but they don't. They are simply scum that look to prey on artificial scarcity and rip off whoever they can for a quick buck.
I personally have no more respect for scalpers than I do crack dealers on the streets.
Where? Not out here. My friend told me the guy in front of him bought 10 phones at the Apple store launch day and 2 verizon corporate stores told me there was no limit on how many you could buy.
You mention that the iPhone only costs $200 to make, but Apple sell it for $450.
I don't mind paying this, Apple have invested money in R&D, Design, Engineering, Marketing, Production, Procurement, Distribution etc.
You have contributed nothing.
It's not your fault you don't have a real job, or contribute anything to society, I guess it's society's fault that it allows you to live such a life.
Just because its possible and legal, doesn't mean others, like myself, have to agree with it.
I don't mind paying this, Apple have invested money in R&D, Design, Engineering, Marketing, Production, Procurement, Distribution etc.
You have contributed nothing.
It's not your fault you don't have a real job, or contribute anything to society, I guess it's society's fault that it allows you to live such a life.
Just because its possible and legal, doesn't mean others, like myself, have to agree with it.
Please tell me you're kidding. A starving family? Bread? Ransom?
We are taking a phone here. A luxury smartphone. No one is being forced to buy at a scalper's price. They are not preying on anyone. And in the case of the gold iphone, the scarcity is anything but artificial,
Why do people feel so profoundly victimized by scalpers? If someone wants a gold iphone and they are sold out everywhere, and they buy one for an inflated price, how is that even remotely yours or anyone else's business?
I follow a simple mantra.
An item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Even if we are talking about a smartphone in this instance the personality flaw is the same: they are scum that don't care about their fellow human beings (only themselves) and look to sell things above what they are worth to make a quick buck.
The scarcity sure is artificial when scalpers buy them up in an effort to drive prices higher.
I have an issue with anyone that artificially inflates prices. A real business makes profit by selling at MSRP. A scalper is simply a street dealer that will take whatever handout he can squeeze from someone.
Personally I feel that gives too much leeway for those who want to take advantage of the system and screw consumers over (i.e. scalpers).
I don't think this would classify as a business. It's just a seasonal opportunity, which is the same for amusement parks. The only difference is a "legitimate" business is one that is recognized by the city, state or whatever entity and you register it in that way. If you find loopholes to avoid paying taxes and all the other overhead stuff associated with that "business" then you'd be "legitimate." You're not a corp or LLC or anything else for that matter. You're an opportunist at best.
So with that said, there's nothing legally "wrong" with scalping. If you get in line 1st then have at it. I hope you save those few thousand a year you make to replace your social security check. But I suspect you'll be on the grind til the day you die. Good luck with that.
So with that said, there's nothing legally "wrong" with scalping. If you get in line 1st then have at it. I hope you save those few thousand a year you make to replace your social security check. But I suspect you'll be on the grind til the day you die. Good luck with that.
Just sold an iPhone 5s 64 GB Gold to a buyer in Singapore ....
Sold for $1,700.
Profit of $780.
(Experienced eBayer here, aware of all the tricks and rules and everything sealed tight on my end, no risk- verified Paypal address, tracking, insurance, video and photo proof of package and box)
Sold for $1,700.
Profit of $780.
(Experienced eBayer here, aware of all the tricks and rules and everything sealed tight on my end, no risk- verified Paypal address, tracking, insurance, video and photo proof of package and box)
I hate when reports like this come out, because the average person doesn't realize that doesn't include any labor, design, etc. I am an electrical engineer who designs electrical systems for buildings and infrastructure. I may work 2-4 months on a project. My final product? A stack of drawings that cost about $15 to print. Of course, our fee might be $50,000 for a project that has a $700,000 construction cost and takes me 4 months to design...I assure you my company isn't making $49,985 in profit on that project. If we're lucky, we might pull $2-5,000 profit on that $50,000 fee.
Apple is probably making about $100 per 5S and about $150 per 5C when it's all said and done.
As to scalpers? Free market...
Apple is probably making about $100 per 5S and about $150 per 5C when it's all said and done.
As to scalpers? Free market...
In the end, it's really all about me (and pretty much everyone else who complains). I remember when tickets to a popular K-pop concert were sold out online within 10 minutes, and those tickets subsequently went for sale online (and went on to command multiples).
I eventually opted to give the concert a miss because I couldn't afford the asking price (nor was I willing to anyways).
I care about scalpers when they prevent me from getting a product that I want, at the price that I want.
I eventually opted to give the concert a miss because I couldn't afford the asking price (nor was I willing to anyways).
I care about scalpers when they prevent me from getting a product that I want, at the price that I want.
IF you think about it, scalping opportunities exist because there is a supply/demand imbalance.
Apple could take advantage of this themselves, by selling the phones for outrageous prices at the outset to control demand. But they don't do this. Scalpers do it for them and profit handsomely.
Apple doesn't do it because they are not a completely unethical company. It's unethical to scalp things because it's not how the free market is supposed to work. It's a form of control on market forces by artificially raising the prices temporarily while supply is scarce or not in line with demand.
Personally I think it's lame. You didn't make the product, you didn't develop the product and you are profiting off of others' inability to pick up their own in a store. Scalpers ADD to the shortage problem and cause the shortage problem to last longer because supply can't catch up right away.
It's a free country and you can do what you want, but if this shortage was over food/gas etc and people were scalping that like you are iphones, you can bet the government would intervene. If you want to justify yourself being a creep, go right ahead. Doesn't change my opinion of you.
Apple could take advantage of this themselves, by selling the phones for outrageous prices at the outset to control demand. But they don't do this. Scalpers do it for them and profit handsomely.
Apple doesn't do it because they are not a completely unethical company. It's unethical to scalp things because it's not how the free market is supposed to work. It's a form of control on market forces by artificially raising the prices temporarily while supply is scarce or not in line with demand.
Personally I think it's lame. You didn't make the product, you didn't develop the product and you are profiting off of others' inability to pick up their own in a store. Scalpers ADD to the shortage problem and cause the shortage problem to last longer because supply can't catch up right away.
It's a free country and you can do what you want, but if this shortage was over food/gas etc and people were scalping that like you are iphones, you can bet the government would intervene. If you want to justify yourself being a creep, go right ahead. Doesn't change my opinion of you.