Comments on: Retail Store Accused of Scalping Nintendo Wiis on eBay http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:23:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: » Episode #13 12-26-07 » Blog Archive www.Geekazine.com - For the Geek in all of us http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-523400 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:05:38 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-523400 [...] Adult Websites Records Comprimised - ICWT Retail Sells Wii on eBay - RealTechNews All-In-One Projector - Gizmodo Apple to Turn Down iPod - Telegraph.co.uk Top 5 Fails of 07 - ValleyWag [...] […] Adult Websites Records Comprimised - ICWT Retail Sells Wii on eBay - RealTechNews All-In-One Projector - Gizmodo Apple to Turn Down iPod - Telegraph.co.uk Top 5 Fails of 07 - ValleyWag […]

]]> by: Goran http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-427046 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 20:59:33 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-427046 Many retailers use Ebay to sell their stock. Free markets set their price so if there is demand and people willing to pay the price, I don't see anything wrong with selling to the highest bidder. The whole shortage mith is due to Nintendos low price. At higher price the current supply would be sufficient. Many retailers use Ebay to sell their stock. Free markets set their price so if there is demand and people willing to pay the price, I don’t see anything wrong with selling to the highest bidder. The whole shortage mith is due to Nintendos low price. At higher price the current supply would be sufficient.

]]> by: Jason Goatcher http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-426577 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:24:44 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-426577 I think Prozac is very appropriate name, since you need to destress a bit. Nintendo Wiis are not a right. Heck, if you live in the United States, gasoline isn't even a right. If people want to raise the price of a Wii, that IS a right. Unless it involves a shortage of a super-necessary item, stores should be able to charge whatever they want. If WalMart wanted to charge $20 for a gallon of milk in a town with plenty of grocery stores charging normal price, then I would say go for it. Capitalism means competition, which is good for the consumer. I think Prozac is very appropriate name, since you need to destress a bit.

Nintendo Wiis are not a right. Heck, if you live in the United States, gasoline isn’t even a right. If people want to raise the price of a Wii, that IS a right.

Unless it involves a shortage of a super-necessary item, stores should be able to charge whatever they want. If WalMart wanted to charge $20 for a gallon of milk in a town with plenty of grocery stores charging normal price, then I would say go for it.

Capitalism means competition, which is good for the consumer.

]]> by: me too http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-426427 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:32:33 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-426427 Is there really that much difference between one product and another? Look at the gas companies and the price change because of rumors, fears, or 'anticipated' changes. All work within the law of supply and demand - legal for sure, but moral? Perhaps that is another question? Is there really that much difference between one product and another? Look at the gas companies and the price change because of rumors, fears, or ‘anticipated’ changes. All work within the law of supply and demand - legal for sure, but moral? Perhaps that is another question?

]]> by: Prozac http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-426330 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 12:46:39 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-426330 What's wrong with making $$$ in disparate markets? It's dishonest and disingenuine. If they want to be an etailer, then go that way. But don't keep a few in stock to cya in case you're caught. It's plain o;d greed, anyway you want to dress it; neither to be respected nor admired. "Get paid" seems to be the mantra these days. It's nothing but one big black market. So some kid can't get a Wii under his tree because his mom can't afford the extra $$ on line and the store's sold out. But it's ok, it's just business. It's ok, I got mine. I thought games were fun and gave a child joy. Wake up folks. Merry freakin Christmas. What’s wrong with making $$$ in disparate markets? It’s dishonest and disingenuine. If they want to be an etailer, then go that way. But don’t keep a few in stock to cya in case you’re caught. It’s plain o;d greed, anyway you want to dress it; neither to be respected nor admired. “Get paid” seems to be the mantra these days. It’s nothing but one big black market. So some kid can’t get a Wii under his tree because his mom can’t afford the extra $$ on line and the store’s sold out. But it’s ok, it’s just business. It’s ok, I got mine. I thought games were fun and gave a child joy. Wake up folks. Merry freakin Christmas.

]]> by: OfficeDespot http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-425996 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 07:57:02 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-425996 Arbitrage, baby. Nothing wrong with making some $$$ off of disparate differences between separate markets. At least they're being honest about it. 5 systems sold on ebay @ $75 profit per system? That's only $375 after ebay fees, and they also probably shell out some ducats on fed+state taxes as well. Also, with purchasing Wii's from a distributor, they're probably paying more per Wii than the bigboxes have to. Distro has to make their cut as well. I say meh. Arbitrage, baby. Nothing wrong with making some $$$ off of disparate differences between separate markets.

At least they’re being honest about it. 5 systems sold on ebay @ $75 profit per system? That’s only $375 after ebay fees, and they also probably shell out some ducats on fed+state taxes as well. Also, with purchasing Wii’s from a distributor, they’re probably paying more per Wii than the bigboxes have to. Distro has to make their cut as well. I say meh.

]]> by: Dave http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424998 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:59:13 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424998 Actually Nintendo has doubled their planned production twice since they released the Wii; They had planned on it being a hot seller, but they had no idea that it would be as much more popular than the other consoles as it apparently is - a couple of months ago I read an article saying they were outselling the XBOX360 22 to 1. FYI, the shortage is clearly not artificial to drive profit as evidenced by the fact that - of the Big Three - Nintendo is the only one making a profit on the hardware at the base price. Sony loses hundreds of dollars per PS3 they sell; likewise to a slightly smaller degree with Microsoft and the XBOX360. Nintendo, however, takes home about $60 every time they sell one at the MSRP, so they have no need to worry about driving up demand. In fact, they could drop the price to $199 and still be making $10 per box. Actually Nintendo has doubled their planned production twice since they released the Wii; They had planned on it being a hot seller, but they had no idea that it would be as much more popular than the other consoles as it apparently is - a couple of months ago I read an article saying they were outselling the XBOX360 22 to 1.

FYI, the shortage is clearly not artificial to drive profit as evidenced by the fact that - of the Big Three - Nintendo is the only one making a profit on the hardware at the base price.

Sony loses hundreds of dollars per PS3 they sell; likewise to a slightly smaller degree with Microsoft and the XBOX360. Nintendo, however, takes home about $60 every time they sell one at the MSRP, so they have no need to worry about driving up demand. In fact, they could drop the price to $199 and still be making $10 per box.

]]> by: Steve http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424732 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:30:01 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424732 Its funny because I got a Wii at a Gamestop about 2 months ago without any problem whatsoever. I simply walked in, paid $249.99 and walked out with a sweet game console. I didn't even realize there was a shortage until I had friends over who had spent hours waiting outside of that very same Gamestop last week only to be turned away as the last one was sold to the person in front of them. Its funny because I got a Wii at a Gamestop about 2 months ago without any problem whatsoever. I simply walked in, paid $249.99 and walked out with a sweet game console. I didn’t even realize there was a shortage until I had friends over who had spent hours waiting outside of that very same Gamestop last week only to be turned away as the last one was sold to the person in front of them.

]]> by: Sean http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424687 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:46:10 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424687 Yeah, there's no artificial shortage here. If a producer intentionally builds less than there is a demand for, they do it to be able to charge more per unit. Nintendo has not altered its price since introduction. Which suggests it's not doing this on purpose. It doesn't have to anyway if Wiis are selling for $400, Nintendo could charge that and possibly still sell every unit. Yeah, there’s no artificial shortage here. If a producer intentionally builds less than there is a demand for, they do it to be able to charge more per unit. Nintendo has not altered its price since introduction. Which suggests it’s not doing this on purpose. It doesn’t have to anyway if Wiis are selling for $400, Nintendo could charge that and possibly still sell every unit.

]]> by: Mike http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424533 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:25:00 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5170#comment-424533 I doubt that it's a fake shortage to be honest, according to the latest figures on their production, they're building 1.8 million a month worldwide. (60,000/day). they're just selling like hotcakes. I hear that you can still find them in more rural areas, but nearly impossible in the big metro areas. I got lucky when I got mine in Phoenix Metro area. The shipment at my local electronics store was 40 units, and they were gone in 20 minutes, I got the 2nd to last 1. I doubt that it’s a fake shortage to be honest, according to the latest figures on their production, they’re building 1.8 million a month worldwide. (60,000/day). they’re just selling like hotcakes. I hear that you can still find them in more rural areas, but nearly impossible in the big metro areas. I got lucky when I got mine in Phoenix Metro area. The shipment at my local electronics store was 40 units, and they were gone in 20 minutes, I got the 2nd to last 1.

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