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7$g9m@vnetnews.value.net> <32BAEFF1.D51@atlcom.net>
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: > Call it economics. I call it sleazy. But I guess it requires some modicum
: > of ethics to realize this.
: > 

: To say I'm not ethical is off-base, and a cheap shot. My main problem
: with anti-seller bashers are as follows:

: Logically, price rises when supply shrinks (as it should in a
: free-market society).  It doesn't take an economist to figure this out.
: Go to the supermarket and look at the grapes.  More expensive than
: summer - because there are supply shortages in the winter.  The N64 is a
: commodity, just like grapes. Why should N64s be forced to be sold at a
: set price?  Give me a reason.

Ethics. Someone (maybe it was you) brought up the subject of the Mazda
Miata going for $10,000 over MSRP when it was first introduced. I don't
have a problem with that. That was a simple case of supply and demand.

N64's and Tickle-me-elmos in Dec. are not a simple case of supply and
demand. These scalpers are taking advantage of parents desperation to
provide their children with that gift. Ethics does enter into the
discussion when you are talking about the wish to please another, over
your own selfish desires, which is why the Mazda analogy is inapplicable
to this situation.

: 2) Nobody is FORCING anyone to pay these prices.  The N64 is not a
: life/death situation.  If a parent/kid decides to buy one over cost,
: it's their decision.  Also, an educated buyer would shop around and
: eventually find one at $200 - or perhaps wait until after Christmas. 
: Discuss with the child what's happened.  Kids understand more than most
: people give them credit for.  Many people here are angry because they
: ARE educated buyers and know they can find one for $200.  Some blame
: needs to be placed on the buyer, doesn't it?  

: 3) Is it really scalping?  OK.  I see "Tom Tuttle" play minor-league
: ball.  I think he'll be a great pro.  I snatch up as many rookie cards
: as I possibly can. He goes on to win 5 MVP awards.  The card value goes
: from $1 to $1000. I sell my cards.  Is what I did wrong?  

That is entirely based on the circumstances surrounding the sale. Again,
from the sheer capitalistic "fuck you, I've got mine, I'll sell you
your's" it is never wrong. And that's the problem.

: I am actually quite moral and ethical.  However, some issues need to be
: dealt with without getting too involved emotionally.  It looks like
: you'll see what I mean in 20 years when Social Security and Medicare are
: ruining my generation.

By all means, let's keep Christmas time seperate from emotions shall we?
Bullshit. Scalpers are playing on emotions at this particular time of
year. Whether or not you choose to acknowledge this is entirely up to you,
but does not change the facts. You think N64's are going to go for
anything over MRSP after Christmas? 

: PS - As for the person who wrote about Ticketmaster - there is a key
: differences.  Ticketmaster is acting as a monopoly.  Monopolies
: (usually) are wrong.  Adam Smith (whose theories comprise much of the US
: capitalistic system) vehemently argued against monopolies.  There is
: clearly no monopoly in the N64 case.  Also, tickets have a set price,
: unlike the N64.  No scalping is involved.

Capitialism is good. Unbridled capitalism creates monopolies. Unethical
capitialists create(d) much of the mess we are in now.

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