With the recent iPad 3 launch, does this mean scalping Apple products is over?

[santaliqueur]

Okay...

If scalpers only exist because of limited supply, what are they doing with the items they purchase? What is their motivation?

Huh? The scalpers buy items other people want. They sell to people who can't get the items at a higher price. Their motivation is to make money.

Is this a serious question? I can't tell.

 

[deeddawg]

Huh? The scalpers buy items other people want. They sell to people who can't get the items at a higher price. Their motivation is to make money.

Exactly. So if there's nobody willing to buy at a higher price, there's no money to be made by scalpers, and thus there's no scalpers for that product.

In other words, it is the buyers who are willing to pay a markup that are the root cause. Without them, no scalpers. At least not once it's clear there's no market. If we had short supply and everyone was willing to wait patiently, there still would be no market for scalpers to make money from.

Is this a serious question? I can't tell.

Serious question. I couldn't fathom why you'd say I was wrong to put the people who bought from scalpers as the root cause. No buyers -> No scalpers.

 

[Buildbright]

i can make the connection just fine. but there's a much bigger connection between [less] supply driving more scalping than your suggestion that apple raise their pricing to stiffle demand. it's been proven time & time again, that meeting demand with enough supply is the most effective means to combat scalping.

raising apple prices would be 'cutting your nose off to spite your face' type of thinking.

Whats your deal? Coming on a forum with in a jealous rage because people make money off the ill prepared or mark products up that should be a lower price? Welcome to economics 101, supply and demand. What do you think the Global Finance Markets do? What do you think the Retail Supply Chain does? Ever heard of the Commodities Market? Or the Futures?

Oh reselling (scalping) is different because it is has already been marked up? Here’s a secret, things you purchase every day from Oil, Food, or Tooth Paste have been marked up by different resellers in the supply chain at least 4 or 5 times over. Ever buy an accessory for your iPad? Even if you bought it direct from China at least three people have "marked it up" or "scalped" it to more than 300%. Ever wonder why a lot the cases or iPad stylus look the same? Because they are or very similar.

Wake up, read some books, or go to school if you want to discuss things on an adult level. Insulting other posters because you’re mad at basic business concepts and the people who use them is childish and irrelevant.

 

[bufffilm]

your post was actually funny.

me in a jealous rage over scalpers...nope. i've never bought anything off a scalper. my posting in this thread was centered around the silly assertion that raising the price of apple products would somehow lessen scalping [of Apple products].

if you want to talk about getting educated, there is huge difference between markups along the distribution chain and what scalpers do. to attempt to paint them in the same brush is ridiculous. scalping and the commodities market? yeah, keep smoking the weed.
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i seem to recall you actively posting about scalping on a number of threads since the new release. i guess you were probably one of those who were hoping to make some quick bucks. better luck next time, buddy.

Whats your deal? Coming on a forum with in a jealous rage because people make money off the ill prepared or mark products up that should be a lower price? Welcome to economics 101, supply and demand. What do you think the Global Finance Markets do? What do you think the Retail Supply Chain does? Ever heard of the Commodities Market? Or the Futures?

Oh reselling (scalping) is different because it is has already been marked up? Here’s a secret, things you purchase every day from Oil, Food, or Tooth Paste have been marked up by different resellers in the supply chain at least 4 or 5 times over. Ever buy an accessory for your iPad? Even if you bought it direct from China at least three people have "marked it up" or "scalped" it to more than 300%. Ever wonder why a lot the cases or iPad stylus look the same? Because they are or very similar.

Wake up, read some books, or go to school if you want to discuss things on an adult level. Insulting other posters because you’re mad at basic business concepts and the people who use them is childish and irrelevant.

 

[Buildbright]

your post was actually funny.

me in a jealous rage over scalpers...nope. i've never bought anything off a scalper. my posting in this thread was centered around the silly assertion that raising the price of apple products would somehow lessen scalping [of Apple products].

if you want to talk about getting educated, there is huge difference between markups along the distribution chain and what scalpers do. to attempt to paint them in the same brush is ridiculous. scalping and the commodities market? yeah, keep smoking the weed.
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i seem to recall you actively posting about scalping on a number of threads since the new release. i guess you were probably one of those who were hoping to make some quick bucks. better luck next time, buddy.

Oh you so got me, I am ashamed and shocked how wise beyond your years you are Buffflim. If you would take the time to read, you would see I made money on the "three" iPads I bought to resell. Once again your reference to childish jokes of "me smoking weed" instead of making one point of why my analogies were incorrect. What will you recite next “Liar.. Liar.. Pants on Fire”? Have a good day as this is my last reply to you.

 

[bufffilm]

Oh you so got me, I am ashamed and shocked how wise beyond your years you are Buffflim. If you would take the time to read, you would see I made money on the "three" iPads I bought to resell. Once again your reference to childish jokes of "me smoking weed" instead of making one point of why my analogies were incorrect. What will you recite next “Liar.. Liar.. Pants on Fire”? Have a good day as this is my last reply to you.

thanks. so i've basically exposed you as someone who had a personal stake in the scalper 'pro or con' arguments.

there was no need to clear up why your analogies are incorrect because they clearly are. if you truely do not think there is a difference between what scalping and retailing/stock markets/etc, then i sincerely hope you get some education in that dept.

[edit] to add: it seems you narrowly equate scalping with markups. there's a lot more to scalping than a mere markup. this is a discussion on a philosophical, economic, and taxation level and not something i care to debate on a forum with lengthy posts. if we were face to face, and you were genuinely interested in knowing, i'd probably spend the time. it's all about getting educated.

 

[Sdevante]

Can we all perhaps agree that both supply AND demand are the cause of scalping?

And while we are discussing Econ 101, what about those fixed rent prices in NYC???

 

[santaliqueur]

Exactly. So if there's nobody willing to buy at a higher price, there's no money to be made by scalpers, and thus there's no scalpers for that product.

You just described decreased demand. No scalpers in that scenario. People ARE willing to buy at a higher price. You may not like it, but the scalpers are useful. They meet demand (for people who are willing to pay for their service).

In other words, it is the buyers who are willing to pay a markup that are the root cause.

Without buyers, there is no product to begin with. Also no scalpers.

If we had short supply and everyone was willing to wait patiently...

We could also eliminate war tomorrow if we could all just get together and discuss our misunderstandings rationally. Human nature behaves a certain way. Not sure why you would even bring up "waiting patiently" when you know nobody would. Nor should they have to.

Serious question. I couldn't fathom why you'd say I was wrong to put the people who bought from scalpers as the root cause. No buyers -> No scalpers.

I was questioning you because your logic is wrong. Or, misguided.

No buyers = no demand. You are thinking about the scalpers too hard. If you are trying really hard to blame the buyers, blame them for desiring the product in the first place. The scalpers only arise when there is an imbalance.

An increased number of buyers means increased demand. If a company cannot meet demand, scalping will arise, because buyers will look elsewhere, no matter how badly you want them not to (apparently). If the demand is met, scalping goes away because their service holds no value anymore.

 

[deeddawg]

Without buyers, there is no product to begin with. Also no scalpers.

Okay, I see what's going on.

You're apparently thinking I'm referring to *all* buyers of ipads.

That is not correct.

I'm referring ONLY to buyers of ipads FROM scalpers, i.e. ONLY those buyers willing to pay the inflated price from the scalpers.

If no buyers were willing to pay more that MSRP (inelastic demand) then there would be nobody willing to buy from scalpers, thus no demand for what the scalpers had to offer, and thus no scalpers.

I was questioning you because your logic is wrong. Or, misguided.

I can see how it might seem that way when misunderstanding what I said.

I probably wasn't clear.

If the demand is met, scalping goes away because their service holds no value anymore.

Exactly my point. If demand is met, then nobody wants to buy from the scalpers, and they go away.