I was going to post in the game section, but it's not really about games.

Lately I've been buying systems for the sole purpose of selling them for a lot more money then I paid for it. Two days ago I got a PS3 and sold it for 3x more then I paid for it, and I just received 3 Nintendo Wii's, that I will be selling for 2x I paid for them.

The people buying these systems either really want them bad for themselves (gotta have it NOW attitude) or they are buying them as a gift for someone else. These systems are in no way at all necessities...Should I feel guilty about buying/selling them and making a profit for myself? I'm going to probally get another PS3, next week and sell it aswell.

The way I see it is they are paying for my time spent getting the system, and also the supply/demand of these systems.

Also why is ticket scalping illegal, but selling game consoles for 2-4x the MSRP legal?

 

Yes, you're a bad person...give me your leftover game stations as penance

 

Sure PM me your address, and I'll throw in Zelda too

 

If asshats are willing to pay, then I say enjoy.

 

do what you gotta do to stack your paper.

 

I don't see a problem with it.

 

Ya, I don't see any problem...My mom said it's "not right". I don't really see her point I'm not hurting anyone or stealing from anyone. If anything the people paying crap loads could have waited in line there selves, or just wait a few months till they can easily get it for regular price.

 

Sell me your next PS3 at MSRP and I will forgive you for your hookup's.

(60 GB Please!)

 

no you are NOT unethical...
it's business... you don't think vendors do that? Buying a box of hotdogs for $1.99 and selling them for $3 each at certain entertaining places?
A case of beer for $5 and selling at $5.25 a bottle?

welcome to the business world... keep it up...

 

Hell no you're not bad, supply and demand, if people pay it, then good for you. Wish I had the capital to do it.

 

I think its wrong that you buy it just to sell it at a higher price. But if people are dumb enough to pay more for it, then ta hell with it.

 

It's not like you are buying out all the available PS3s and than giving people the only available option which is to order them from you. These people can clearly afford, or at least are willing, to pay this much for the consoles instead of wait time wise, or wait in line. I see no problem in giving them what they want. You aren't screwing them out of anything, they are making a choice to pay a marked up price to get it how and when it is convenient for them.

Then again, my brother went to school with a kid who didn't have much furniture, including a bed, but had a big High Def TV. He and his friend at the time I was told this were 11 or 12.

Mike

 

What's your reasoning?

 

cause i guess the people who waited in line behind you couldnt get theirs for retail, but dont want to/have the cash to pay the resellers prices..

 

It's not like your killing people. You're not selling life saving drugs. It's just a video game console. If people want to give you money for it let them.

Someone on DC craigslist was offering oral favors. It sounded like a guy. CREEPY!

 

Supply and demand. Capitalism at it's best. What makes you more or less unethical than the store/company you bought them from? I do not think it is unethical to hustle.

 

your mom thinks it's wrong? shit if it were my son, I'd be proud... it's NOT like your selling drugs or something

 

I told my mom i could double or triple my money if i camped out for one, and my mom asked why the hell I was at home instead of trying to go and get one.

She was about to throw me out in the cold.

 

 

I don't think there is any thing wrong with it.

Supply and demand.

If idiots are willing to pay 2 or 3 times the value of the item just to have it now then you deserve to get the profit.

Think back to when the NSX first came out. Acura dealers did it.
The Miata was the same thing.

 

Tell your mom to read an economics book. If the equilibrium price for a PS3 is 8 grand (like the one i saw on ebay last week), so be it.

 

free market at its best... there is nothing wrong with it... im sure all of us go to bars and clubs... do we have a problem paying for the 300-500% markup on the drinks??? no... because we know that we have to if we want that drink...

same situation... those ppl that want these hot items right now know that they have to pay for the markup...

 

Supply and demand man, if you have the supply and the customers demand it, then it's all good. You are not holding someone's kids hostage or price gouging gasoline after a natural disaster so it's all good in my book.

 

Ticket scalping is not illegal as long as you don't do it on the property venue you are selling the tickets for. WII's and PS3's are also not considered necessary commodities for price gouging laws.

So, as far as legality, you're in the clear.

On the ethical end...my default answer to life's questions comes into play...."fuck 'em"

 

exactly if youre stupid enough to pay 3x what the system is worth instead of just waiting until after the holidays.. then you know... rob the rich to feed the poor eh?

 

you're not doing anything wrong and don't let anyone put that doubt in your mind. if you were reaching the truck shipment before everyone else or you were slipping the retailer a $100 bill to get the holdback units, then there's a problem.

 

fuck u

pay me.....live and die by that...cuz everyone else is saying that

ps3 didnt cost 600 to make...so your gettin fucked anyway...except you passed on the rapage and gave that free rape ticket to another person..

 

This is hard to argue with.

 

guy at my job is selling one for 2000. My price, because I know him like 3 years......1800

Screw all you scalpers, I can wait

 

It cost Sony over $800 to make the 60gig version.

http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2006/11...-black-ps3-no/

 

actually, they say that if you do the math... because Sony dumped sooooo much $$$ into this project that they are at a lost right now... each unit actually cost more than what they are charging... They are suppose to NOT get out of the "red" (in this project) for a couple years.

 

You know what they say about a fool and his money. If these people are willing to shell out that much of a premium on an early release of this product then let them. Consider the amount beyond the retail price as a fee for your trouble (ie waiting in line or having good connections).

Personally - I'd wait until a later version that was more bug free to come out, where I could buy it for straight retail with less technical hassle. (I actually don't plan on buying one period.)

 

This is actually a 100% true statement. It costs Sony about $825 to make the 60GB version.

** 404 - Consumer "Rapage" Not Found **

 

That's not business. A business would be if he owned an electronic store and conducted his purchases through there. Or if he was incorporated and had a website or conducted PS3 and similar sales 24/7/365 on eBay, etc.

Capitalism, yes. Wisely taking advantage of supply verses demand, yes. Business, no.

BTW, for the record, I have no problem with people doing what you did. If consumers are dumb enough to pay that much money for a system when they can just wait until after the holidays to have one at retail, then that is their problem. The people I do have problems with are those circumventing the system and either getting multiple pre-orders by using other names (since most stores are one per person per store) or managers of stores allowing employees or friends "hook-ups" just so they can sell them online, b/c that is when the real gamers are being screwed.

Otherwise, I see no problem with it. You're getting one here and there and reselling it to some moron paying triple... he's the demand and you're the supply. Seems fine to me.

.

 

FWIW, most of those auctions were hijacked by people looking to get one for themselves or as gifts and were frustrated by the prices. I saw some between $10k and $20k as well. Basically eBayers were just hijacking the auctions and driving the price sky high so the sellers had to relist...

 

It's capitalism in it's purest form, but there will be people that still hate you...

I'm not into gaming, so I see nothing wrong with it at all... More power to ya...

 

I think it's pretty greedy of you to do somthing like that....but hey we all have the freedom to do what we want. You would be out of luck if people weren't so dumb as to buy those systems at GROSSFLY inflated prices

 

^^^he wouldn't be "out of luck." the worst case scenario is he gets stuck with some PS3's he doesn't want and sells them at face value.

And selling something at the market price is not being greedy.

 

That might be true...but $600 didnt get you the high end did it ???? (question not statement)

i thought 600 was for just a nice basic package and there were more expensive ones....

still....its just a PS2 with MODS...lol....its gonna drop once everyone gets one...plus like someone stated earlier....the first ones always have problems....i'll wait till it drops to 300....then i'll cop it...if im still interested then...

600....that can put a tv in my car just about....that will entitle me to do everything a ps3 do....and its mobile....well worth the money..

 

I can't believe that people actually think it's greedy

...like they wouldn't do the same if they had PS3's in their hands...