Tetrium wrote on 2022-09-12, 12:01:
... But the reality is that probably most hobbies will end up being a net loss.
Nah, don't sound convincing to me. If you want others to sell their stuff cheaper than they bought it, say it straight instead of trying to call your fantasies a reality.
Tetrium wrote on 2022-09-12, 12:01:I only asked you to stop spreading misinformation.
This […]
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I only asked you to stop spreading misinformation.
This
In the situation of a short supply and a growing demand prices will grow even without "scalpers". Scalpers only "help" to achieve market prices faster than it would happen naturally.
is misinformation.
It is not a misinformation, nor a disinformation. It is the way free market works. The simplest example is the way any eBay auction works. If starting price is too high, there will be zero bidders and if it is too low, price will rise till it will reach a more or less market price.
Tetrium wrote on 2022-09-12, 12:01:
I don't know about what could be good regulation against scalping in retro computer parts world specifically, but I think it's a good idea to indeed use regulations to keep scalping within acceptable limits as this will benefit everyone (well, everyone except the scalpers and their private little networks of course).
And I definitely saw scalpers hoarding face masks, thermometers and even paracetamol at the start of the pandemic (scalpers trying to sell boxes of paracetamol for like €1000 on sites like marktplaats) and it takes a while before regulation can make specific amendments to laws that should help prevent unwanted economic exploitation mechanics like scalping. But you don't need to buy that, right? So it's all perfectly ok 😀 😀 😀
Regulation - means passing a law and enforcing it afterwards. If you want retro computer parts prices to be regulated, you need to cause your local parliament members to vote for your bill. Same about face masks and others goods. If you want price of those goods to be regulated, go to your government and force it to start regulating it. Till then there is nothing to do other than trying your luck in a court, cause it's your right for having benefits of using someone's goods against ownership rights of that person who owns those goods.
Tetrium wrote on 2022-09-12, 12:01:
If you're in a hobby like this, you do need those parts. What you are saying might be interpreted as to either pay scalper prices or quit the hobby. And what if they move to the next hobby? Scalpers will infest there as well and drive people out of that hobby as well. That seems like a pretty bad idea overall, just monetizing things in such a way. It's damaging to not just this specific hobby. I mean just look at what scalping is doing to the housing market in Europe.
I do not need those parts, it is only a hobby, those parts are not a life saving medicine or a fresh water, I can live pretty fine also without them. Regarding your interpretation of my words, it is your right to try interpreting them the way you wish. What I did mean actually is that in world of more or less free market there are rules of economics that really work. There always were and always will be forces that push prices upwards and downwards and the market price is the point where those prices become stable. Scalpers - are one of the forces that push price upwards and as long as they do not do anything illegal, you may only complain, and there is nothing to do besides buying now and paying the existing price, trying to convince a seller (scalper or a regular seller, doesn't matter) to lower the price, or waiting till the price will drop. And if time goes by and prices not only do not drop, but only rise and you can't afford to finance your hobby, then definitely you better find different hobby, one you can afford.
Tetrium wrote on 2022-09-12, 12:01:
Fine you only want to see the benefits and marginalize the damaging effects of scalping (or try to). And you tried to present misinformation as an honest bit of information. Sorry you felt like someone telling you what to do when someone else is challenging your perception of the facts of the effect scalping on retro computer prices, but I think it's more important to stay informed and the best way to stay informed is to be provided and provide others with correct information which was what you were definitely not doing.
The only thing I'm trying to do is to say how I see the nowadays' situation with prices for retro computer parts. You may accept my point of view or not, but with all due respect, it's not you who will decide whether it is a misinformation or not. Let's respect each other, even if we have different points of view.