Is it just me, or has Amazon really just become a place for 3rd party scalpers to buy up stock and resale it for horrible prices? It seems like lately it has become harder and harder to actually find what I am looking for sold by Amazon. It is especially true for any newer item. It really is sad that Amazon does nothing to prevent this and instead just takes the money from the scalpers and screws their true customers. 

Supply and demand controls the cost of an item.  In this case the market is willing to pay a lot more than MSRP for an item that we want to buy at MSRP.  While price control and fixing might help keep items at MSRP it does not reflect the demand side of a free market.
When buying brand new items, popular items or hard to find items one has to determine at a personal level if their own demand matches what the market will bare.  But we should not hate those that have more money or ambition to make money in that market.  Envy is a dark road to sadness and despair.
 
Now that the logical side is out of the way the reality of how I feel is that I really wanted a 1080ti before I started playing the new MassEffect game but the ones selling for actual MSRP where gone before I had a chance.  Lucky for me I did miss out as the game actually plays awesome on my 1070 OC edition  (but it could have been better!!)

bcavnaugh
I see this on Newegg as well.

I have also seen limits on items at Newegg. Showing that Newegg is at least trying to do something about it. Same with EVGA and limiting to 2 per household. 

Where do the scalpers get their cards? Do they have special accounts with EVGA? If so EVGA could put a stop to this.

Shockjockey
Where do the scalpers get their cards? Do they have special accounts with EVGA? If so EVGA could put a stop to this.

It's actually extremely simple, the scalper lists an item they dont have, and then they "experience shipping delays" until they can actually buy one at $699 and then they ship the card to some dummy that paid way too much. Amazon refuses to do anything about this.

The scalper also lists shipping delays like "Ships in 2 to 4 weeks" or "Expected to ship April 15th" which I see on almost every ignorant scalpers listing, and people are still to dense to pay attention and end up uncouraging these idiots.

I think amazon should require proof of products from any third party seller, and if a "shipping delay" is experienced, a full refund should be sent and the aeller delisted.

Amazon and Newegg seller only for me, Amazon has gotten bad, I prob order from Amazon twice a year now vs twice a month, and gaveup on Prime.

bcavnaugh

chrisdglong

bcavnaugh
I see this on Newegg as well.

I have also seen limits on items at Newegg. Showing that Newegg is at least trying to do something about it. Same with EVGA and limiting to 2 per household. 

" limiting to 2 per household. " caused a lot of members on the Forum to be really Mad a EVGA and they posted some really bad stuff about EVGA because of it.
You are one in a 1,000,000,000 that feels this way. For me it is fine.

You have proof of your claim that I am one in 1,000,000,000 that feels this way? If not, then just shut up, because you just look like an ass. 

Scarlet-Tech

Shockjockey
Where do the scalpers get their cards? Do they have special accounts with EVGA? If so EVGA could put a stop to this.

It's actually extremely simple, the scalper lists an item they dont have, and then they "experience shipping delays" until they can actually buy one at $699 and then they ship the card to some dummy that paid way too much. Amazon refuses to do anything about this.

The scalper also lists shipping delays like "Ships in 2 to 4 weeks" or "Expected to ship April 15th" which I see on almost every ignorant scalpers listing, and people are still to dense to pay attention and end up uncouraging these idiots.

I think amazon should require proof of products from any third party seller, and if a "shipping delay" is experienced, a full refund should be sent and the aeller delisted.

Amazon should require most 3rd parties to send products they want to sell to the nearest Amazon fulfillment center, before it can be listed. That would prevent scalpers from listing items they don't have in-stock and it would make the product eligible for PRIME shipping.
 
Scalping on Amazon Marketplace 101
1) Find items that aren't sold by Amazon or other people on Amazon Marketplace
2) List the items with 60-80% or higher markup
3) Make sure to give yourself at least 8-14 days to delivery it
4) Purchase the item from another online retailer at normal price
5) Easy profit with no risk being stuck with inventory that could lose value
 
 

gipothegip
The actual solution would be to not buy from scalpers, and try to get one at a reasonable price.

 
+2
 
If I look at Amazon, Newegg, eBay or where ever and see that a product I want is listed and a ridiculous price, I simply don't purchase from that individual/reseller.   

And I also agree that Amazon and others should vet their resellers better, but especially Amazon.

bcavnaugh
In Stock here at B&H for only $699.99

I opened that link. Odd, in stock, but there is literally no where on the screen to add to cart.
 
Told by rep that you may only purchase it as part of this bundle.
 
https://www.bhphotovideo....gefrc_gtx_1080_ti.html

I agree with the few.  Don't buy from them period and they'll stop doing it, maybe.  If there's an incentive for them, they'll keep doing it.  Same with sporting events.  There's always going to be some bozo (like me) that will pay double of what the admission is all for the experience.  
 
I've only purchased from reputed big box companies.  No 3rd party purchases unless its a used item on ebay at a very good price.
 
At the end of the day, it lies on the consumer to not step on the land mine.  Can't be mad at no one else except yourself.

I can see Amazon going the way of eBay, if they dont starting giving a rats butt....

knightsilver
I can see Amazon going the way of eBay, if they dont starting giving a rats butt....

I can see this too.