How to report scalpers/price gouging?

[dragongirlxxx]

As many are aware, the price of PC/Computer Graphics Cards has gone up substantially.

Used to be able to buy a GTX 1080 for $300. They are now $500+, when they have an MSRP of only $379.

The GTX 1650 SUPER has an MSRP of $160 - and there are listings for more than double that price.

I understand supply and demand, but simply put, some people are taking their pricing a bit too far.

Price gouging, while not illegal, is incredibly immoral. 

In the state of Maine, where I live with my boyfriend, price gouging is illegal if the listed price of an item is three times (3x) higher than the manufacturer suggested Retail Price.

Most of the Market Values of Graphics Cards are closer to 2x, but in some states, such as Massachusetts, price gouging is completely illegal during a state of emergency, which in the US, there are more than 10 national emergencies currently active.

If a seller or buyer are located in a region where price gouging is illegal, there should be an option to report them and/or immediately have their account suspended indefinitely.

Price gouging should be a crime, anything above 1.25x the original price for things other than Certified Antiques (25+ years old), Certified Rare Items (less than 5% of original production remaining) or Certified Discontinued Items (manufacturing ceased greater than 10 years ago) should be illegal and a bannable offense.

[rebell45]

I believe that most price gouging laws apply to essential goods in times of emergencies. Crypto currency mining is not essential in my book.

[myangelandmyprincess]

Massachusetts. 

940 CMR 3:18, filed today with the Secretary of State's Office and effective immediately, prohibits price gouging of goods and services necessary for public health and safety during a declared statewide or national emergency.

Graphics cards don't fall into the category of necessary for health and safety 

[7606dennis]

If I understand correctly, "Scalping" is a term that relates to laws governing event tickets.  It does not apply to graphics cards.  Since price gouging applies to items necessary for survival during declared times of emergency, that term doesn't apply either.

The owner of an item has the right to determine how much they are willing to take to sell the item, barring the above mentioned conditions.  There is nothing morally wrong, therefor, with the owner asking whatever selling price they wish for their property.  Thus, since the situation falls neither in the realm of scalping or price gouging, your suggestion that a limit of how much a seller can ask for their item is, in itself, suggesting something that violates the price fixing prohibitions of the Sherman Anti Trust Act which would be a violation of federal law.  Surely you are not advocating the violation of the law, are you? 

[terrycece62]

Just because you are upset about what YOU FEEL is too high does not mean the owner is breaking a law  as a owner of the item they can ask any price they want'

IF  you still feel that the seller is breaking a law contact a lawyer 

[forward-motion]

Soooo, go buy it for $379.00

[mudshark61369]

@dragongirlxxx,

   "Price gouging should be a crime, anything above 1.25x the original price for things other than Certified Antiques (25+ years old), Certified Rare Items (less than 5% of original production remaining) or Certified Discontinued Items (manufacturing ceased greater than 10 years ago) should be illegal and a bannable offense".

As all of the others have said so far, Price Gouging only applies to essentials and necessities in times of emergency.  It does not cover things like graphics cards which are not essential items.

Your little rant is way off base. For an item to be recognized as an antique it must be over 100 years old. Vintage or retro items are those things over 20 years old.  There are no classifications covering  "rare" items.  They can be limited or short production run items, or mostly or completely sold out items.  Some items are even considered rare after only a year. 

  "I understand supply and demand, but simply put, some people are taking their pricing a bit too far".

You don't understand supply and demand if you feel sellers are going to far.

You know the pandemic has caused shortages that have affected production output.  That means  popular items with a high demand will increase in value to those that want them.  When it comes to newer items, if a seller's price is out of line, people will not purchase from them. The fact that people are paying those prices indicates that the demand is high enough and supply low enough that they are willing to pay what sellers are asking.  No one is forcing people to pay more than the MSRP which is a "Suggested" price after all.

If you bother to look more carefully at the antique, vintage and rare items listed on this site, you will probably find that most are listed as auctions.  That means the people who bid on them decide the price, not the seller. 

The last time I listed a "rare" item produced in 2001 and never reproduced that sold for $24.99.  I listed it for that amount as the starting price of an auction.  57 bids later it sold for a little more than 40 times that price.  Tell me where I should have stopped the bidding. 

[varebelrose]

"...I understand supply and demand..."

No, no you do not. This is like being lectured on economics by a Bernie boy.

[Anonymous]

I reported it, hopefully others have as well. I've seen far less disappear far quicker. Not sure what the deal is.

[chapabargain]

---

@myangelandmyprincess wrote:

Graphics cards don't fall into the category of necessary for health and safety 

---

For some, sadly it does. 

@myangelandmyprincess 

[chapabargain]

Ummm....supply and demand? 

@dragongirlxxx 

[chapabargain]

Profanity is against eBay rules. Should we report you?

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/member-behavior-policies/threats-offensive-language-policy?id=425...

@dragongirlxxx 

[shoshaug-1]

What are the consequences if You do not purchase this over priced item from this particular seller?  Are you under duress to buy it or else? 

[ebooksdiva]

OLD THREAD FROM 2021 

Did you really need to dig it up to post your nonsense?

[kh-stanley1]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread HERE if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.