Wow. Scalpers are no joke.

[Fattytail]

Scalpers just exploit the capitalistic system. You can make money however legally you want but this isn't illegal. It's just morally wrong but who is to judge. You can do the same too but obviously you don't have that effective workforce these scalping gangs have.

Don't hate the players, hate the game!

I'm not even sure I agree that it's morally wrong. Where are the morals here? And whose morals are we referring to?

The fact of the matter is, if the scalpers were well-dressed and polite, I'm pretty sure there would be much less controversy. Scalping is just fundamentally capitalism at its basest form. That's all.

 

[hughiee]

The statement still stands though. A scalper (not you) needs to understand that if they're sensitive about being called names and heavily criticized for what they do or who they are, then they shouldn't be in the scalping business.

Scalpers are not a legally protected class of individual. Quite the contrary: it's by its very nature a shady business, and will bring out the shady side of everyone they encounter. One shouldn't be surprised if that negativity is directed at them for what they do.



Having a negative opinion of scalpers does not by default denote xenophobia. I don't care what race you are. If you're a scalper, you're going to get criticized. Unfortunately some people might use race as a convenient means to get under your skin. Can't take the heat? Don't scalp.

Again, you are making a statement about my post insinuating that I am a scalper. I am telling you that I am not a scalper and that you misread my paragraph about not judging someone by the number of iPhones or iPads they buy.

There are legitimate business reasons (such as an IT administrator) for buying more than 2 iPhones or iPads. Furthermore, there are morally-just reasons such as buying these gadgets as gifts to close associates.

 

[pickaxe]

Honestly there would not be a shortage of iPhones if 1/4th of the launch day stock didn't get shipped overseas.

wahhh only people from my city get to have iPhone!!!!

it's not as if this is a new concept to Apple and they make up extra stock just to deal with it.

 

[TJ82]

Good on her. As long as she's not stalking people in a jealous rage and posting pictures of them on internet forums, she's alright by me.

 

[scaredpoet]

Again, you are making a statement about my post insinuating that I am a scalper.

I did no such thing. Please re-read my post. I specifically said "not you" and that my statement was about people who *are* in fact scalpers, NOT those who engage in multiple purchases for the legitimate reasons that you keep attempting to inject into the discussion. Since you know, scalpers are the topic of this thread.

I did make a hypothetical argument ("If you are a scalper..."), but that is not a statement accusing you of engaging in that hypothetical situation. I suggest you become familiar with what a hypothesis is.

I do find it a bit interesting that you're taking my generalized comments so personally, even after I specifically excluded you. But I won't make any conclusions from that. I stand by my statements and I'll let the facts speak for themselves.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

This thread is stupid. It's called supply and demand...simple economics. If something is in demand, people will do whatever they can to get it, whether for themselves or to scalp. Nike shoes, concert tickets, $3 DVD player on black friday...and iPhones.

If you had the means to buy mass amounts of these phones and flip them for 2-3x profit, I wouldn't believe you if you said you wouldn't take that opportunity.

I hate it when people talk about economics as if they know something from the layman stuff they hear on the news or learn in high school.

There are a whole sort of issues we are dealing with here but I'll explain the most important one. There scalping has a negative effect on me and my ability to purchase an iPhone.

i.e. I had to drive 50 miles just to exchange my iPhone which cost me time and money (gasoline).

So to recap the scalpers are receiving an economic benefit in terms of resale value but aren't accountable to the economic consequence on my ability to purchase an iPhone.

 

[hughiee]

I did no such thing. Please re-read my post. I specifically said "not you" and that my statement was about people who *are* in fact scalpers, NOT those who engage in multiple purchases for the legitimate reasons that you keep attempting to inject into the discussion. Since you know, scalpers are the topic of this thread.

I do find it a bit interesting that you're taking my generalized comments so personally, even after I specifically excluded you. But I won't make any conclusions from that. I stand by my statements and I'll let the facts speak for themselves.

I am stating to you again that I am not a scalper but you find it interesting that I take your attacks personally. Yes you are making generalizations by using my post on a response hence I need to clarify and explain to you that you misread my post. By you stating that you won't make any conclusions about why I take your comments personally, you are again insinuating and repeating your negative statements.

 

[scaredpoet]

I am stating to you again that I am not a scalper

And I'm stating again, I am not saying you are. This is getting really tiring, arguing over something that we are not disagreeing on.

Yes you are making generalizations by using my post on a response hence I need to clarify and explain to you that you misread my post.

I also am quite certain I did not misread your post. You said you're not a scalper. I said that I'm not calling you a scalper. Twice. I'm not sure how much clearer I can say this.

By you stating that you won't make any conclusions about why I take your comments personally, you are again insinuating and repeating your negative statements.

I make no insinuations. I specifically said I was drawing no conclusions. You seem to be reading way too much into people's statements. I have no idea why this is, and frankly I don't care to know.

I DO however, get a little offended when someone claims I'm saying something that I'm not. Just a little bit.

 

[hughiee]

And I'm stating again, I am not saying you are. This is getting really tiring, arguing over something that we are not disagreeing on.



I also am quite certain I did not misread your post. You said you're not a scalper. I said that I'm not calling you a scalper. Twice. I'm not sure how much clearer I can say this.



I make no insinuations. I specifically said I was drawing no conclusions. You seem to be reading way too much into people's statements. I have no idea why this is, and frankly I don't care to know.

I DO however, get a little offended when someone claims I'm saying something that I'm not. Just a little bit.

I am offended by the statements you made in post #98 on your response quoting my comment but not understanding the business reasons for making the purchases. Then you continue to perpetuate your statements in a derogatory tone which I don't appreciate. Of course, I take it as a personal attack.

 

[scaredpoet]

I am offended by the statements you made in post #98 on your response quoting my comment but not understanding the business reasons for making the purchases. Then you continue to perpetuate your statements in a derogatory tone which I don't appreciate. Of course, I take it as a personal attack.

It is unfortunate that you're offended, but I assure you that your offense is unfounded. I make no personal attack on you. This is now the fourth time I've told you that my statements regarding scalpers do not apply to you.

Going further: I see no indication that I made any offensive statement towards anyone. My entire statement (and by way of getting back on topic) was that any individual who happens to be a scalper (again, you deny being a scalper, so this does not apply to you) opens themselves up to criticism because of the nature of their business. If they are unable to put aside their feelings about other people having an opinion of them, then maybe scalping isn't the best line of work for them.

I didn't even express my own opinion of scalpers! I merely made an observation, which evidently doesn't apply to you, so there's no need for you to be offended. At all.

Anyway, I'm not going to repeat myself again, since doing so is a waste of time and space when we can be discussing more worthwhile things.

 

[danilko1]

What's with all the racist people on Mac Rumors.

It's not racist if you don't identify the race. However if you say "foreigner" or imply they are "Not American" then it's Xenophobia. I think it's Xeno.

However we can read between the lines. HINT: Red suitcase, that continent, and photos which barely show a face.

Innocently they could be locals, buying phones for family members. However at some point, when you see a lot of people, looking similar and their numbers do not match the demographic of the region of the store they are shopping at, how are you supposed to think? I think in cities like San Francisco, there would be no way to tell, the population is international and they have the worlds largest population of (who are implied) people outside of (that implied country). But go to Nashville or Salt Lake City, and you see the same thing... The mind starts to make up things - bad things.

In reality, it does not matter. Everyone who wants a phone, will get one. So I say, what's the problem? I know some of you are upset that you can't get a phone because there is unintended competition. You want it for a gift or for yourself. You don't want to wait for it, etc.

I bet though, because it's so hard to get, you WANT IT EVEN MORE. When you do finally get it, you experience a relief and greater satisfaction, because you succeeded against the odds.

 

[blueflower]

Not sure what the big deal is, they are enterprising and have found a way to make money.

#yaycapitalism #godblessamerica

 

[hughiee]

It is unfortunate that you're offended, but I assure you that your offense is unfounded. I make no personal attack on you. This is now the fourth time I've told you that my statements regarding scalpers do not apply to you.

Going further: I see no indication that I made any offensive statement towards anyone. My entire statement (and by way of getting back on topic) was that any individual who happens to be a scalper (again, you deny being a scalper, so this does not apply to you) opens themselves up to criticism because of the nature of their business. If they are unable to put aside their feelings about other people having an opinion of them, then maybe scalping isn't the best line of work for them.

I didn't even express my own opinion of scalpers! I merely made an observation, which evidently doesn't apply to you, so there's no need for you to be offended. At all.

Anyway, I'm not going to repeat myself again, since doing so is a waste of time and space when we can be discussing more worthwhile things.

You are educated and do not seem ignorant, so I will accept your words that you did not make any offensive statement towards anyone. I appreciate our exchanges though.

 

[shady25]

Not sure what the big deal is, they are enterprising and have found a way to make money.



#yaycapitalism #godblessamerica

All of this

 

[danilko1]

Morality of scalping: The negative issue with scalping and why it's perceived as being wrong, related to ticket sales for concerts. A person shows up and buys up all the tickets, then turns around as sells them for a higher price. The problem with this situation is that it affects the local population that the tickets were originally intended for. Most people can barely afford the going rate for a ticket. Someone comes in having so much money, they buy all the tickets and become even richer off the hiked prices. (rich become richer) - This could land you into trouble, if caught.

In the case of "supposed Chinese Gang scalping" The local population is simply inconvenienced, because the scalper is not selling to them, they are selling to the rich people in China. (If they were to sell to Americans, then it would be illegal, only if the supply were to run out.) Remember the supply is on going, so these scalpers are prospecting instead. In essence it's the opposite of scalping, because relatively poorer people benefit by the financial capability of richer people who can afford these prices. People are taking their life savings, bringing them to America, buying phones and sending them back home to sell for a profit. It's every-day people doing this. Not some mystery mafia. Though I supposed they are doing it too, but the vast majority are regular enterprising people, trying to make ends meet.

 

[617aircav]

Nothing wrong with scalping. What's so hard in waiting a month for the phone to be fully stocked. People act like the phones will run out and never be in stock again.

 

[bugelrex]

One thing we can all agree on is this:

These scalpers making thousands are evading taxes on their gains, wish there was some way of reporting them to the IRS

----------

Though I supposed they are doing it too, but the vast majority are regular enterprising people, trying to make ends meet.

The vast majority selling back to China are NOT regular folk. Getting them into China requires 'smuggling' as its illegal to being the phones into China without declared (also not currently approved for resell in China). We're talking drug smuggling sophistication to get large quantities through Chinese customs

 

[noekozz]

But you said China, that's racist!!! /sarcasm


Watching some defend and even justify these scalpers is the same as going to canal street and a vendor arguing with you as to why his counterfeit item is better than the authentic.

Do you guys view drug dealers the same way?