"Scalping"

[marcipolett0]

Is anyone aware that sellers are selling New items above retail? For example, it is common for sellers of books to purchase books at retail, only to sell them at a higher cost than retail. Any ideas????

[marcipolett0]

What if there is a heart medication that people need? A store sells it for a $1.50 a pill. Then Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks comes along and buys all the pills then puts them on sale for $5.00. An elderly person does not use the internet or doesn't drive. Her only source of medication and information is from Joe. That is Ok with you? Hey, that's capitalism. Don't tell me that's different. It is the same reasoning.

[marcipolett0]

That is different. What if there is a heart medication that people need? A store sells it for a $1.50 a pill. Then Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks comes along and buys all the pills then puts them on sale for $5.00. An elderly person does not use the internet or doesn't drive. Her only source of medication and information is from Joe. That is Ok with you? Hey, that's capitalism. Don't tell me that's different. It is the same reasoning. Laws are made to protect consumers. You are talking about economies of scale for USED PARTS. 

[monica-sells]

from books to heart medications.....seriously?

BTW: When "Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks" buys up all the inventory, the manufacturer drops the price to accomodate/increase sales (knowing they can beat Joes price)...in other words, they bury "Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks" and stick him with all the inventory he bought...forcing him to lower his price and decrease his profit margin

That's capitalism

no government controls

oh, and Joe is offering a personal service in your example

[toomuchstuffagain35]

In the US that's against the law as in your scenario it's actually Big Pharma being Joe Quick Buck and believe me their pricing to the end user  is WAY above any perceived "scalping" you may see here.

Do you think WM, Target et al buying cheaper at wholesale and then marking it up for Retail is also scalping?

[toomuchstuffagain35]

Not to mention, the seller you perceive as 'scalping' because they're selling an item above retail, has also done all the work involved. Sourcing which involves research, time & effort (and gas sometimes), taking photos, listing it and paying fees so that YOU the end consumer can sit in your recliner in you jammies at home and purchase it with the click of a button.

You don't like the pricing? Then you get dressed, gas up the car and go looking for said item.

[soh.maryl]

That IS price gouging.  Your other example is not.  

[rugerskick]

I didn't add a sarcasm tag.  I guess from your reply, I needed to.

[rugerskick]

My reply was sarcastic.  Appears I need to spell it out for folks here.

[toomuchstuffagain35]

I know, right? Happens here a lot LOL

[maxine*j]

Here are some terms you should know and understand:

Scalping  applies only to the resale of event tickets, and laws against it are not universal;  among the states that do have anti-scalping legislation, the laws vary considerably.

Gouging refers only to the resale of the essentials of life during a government-declared emergency.

The resale of everything else is based on a free market response to supply and demand.

What you're suggesting is that eBay engage in price fixing with its sellers.  Here's what the Federal Trade commission has to say about that: "When consumers make choices about what products and services to buy, they expect that the price has been determined freely on the basis of supply and demand... Accordingly, price fixing is a major concern of government antitrust enforcement."

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[robbie31415]

Do you know how over charged medications actually are ?

The markup is massive.

And not only that it's extremely unfair to compare medication to books. You might need the medication to live, you don't need the book.

[inhawaii]

@marcipolett0 

SCALPING: Selling even tickets for more than they're worth.

PRICE GOUGING: Raising the price of basic necessities, usually during a shortage or disaster.

[bonjourami]

"That is different. What if there is a heart medication that people need? A store sells it for a $1.50 a pill. Then Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks comes along and buys all the pills then puts them on sale for $5.00. An elderly person does not use the internet or doesn't drive. Her only source of medication and information is from Joe. That is Ok with you? Hey, that's capitalism. Don't tell me that's different. It is the same reasoning. Laws are made to protect consumers. You are talking about economies of scale for USED PARTS. "

In what universe could that possibly happen? LOL...

[bonjourami]

"That is different. What if there is a heart medication that people need? A store sells it for a $1.50 a pill. Then Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks comes along and buys all the pills then puts them on sale for $5.00"

Joe make-A-Quick-Bucks would have to have a prescription to 'buy all the pills'. That doesnt even make sense.

[maxine*j]

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@bonjourami wrote:

"That is different. What if there is a heart medication that people need? A store sells it for a $1.50 a pill. Then Joe-Make-A-Quick-Bucks comes along and buys all the pills then puts them on sale for $5.00"

Joe make-A-Quick-Bucks would have to have a prescription to 'buy all the pills'. That doesnt even make sense.

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You beat me to it!   Has no one ever told OP that the best thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging?  😄

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