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WSJ Writes a Puff Piece Praising a PS5 & XSX Scalper

ManaByte

Gold Member



For many videogame enthusiasts, the console shortage of 2020-21 has been a major drag. For high-school junior Max Hayden, it’s been a bonanza.

He has bought and resold dozens of the newest PlayStation and Xbox machines for as much as $1,100—more than double their $500 sticker prices.

Reselling nonessential goods in most cases is legal, though retailers generally frown upon it as it can create friction with consumers. Hate mail and trolling from shoppers angry about the marked-up prices comes with the territory. Max’s father, whose name is also Max Hayden, said he was initially uncomfortable with his son’s business success because he benefited from a situation created by the health crisis. But he concluded that it was permissible because his son only resells luxury goods, not necessities.

“It is a real distinction,” said Mr. Hayden, 61. “This is capitalism.”

At first Max didn’t need to use any sly tactics to amass a console stockpile. He preordered 10 from Target’s website in September with a debit card, using his own savings. “It was public knowledge but most people weren’t starting to look that early,” he said. Target didn’t respond to requests for comment.

When a limited supply of consoles came out in November, Max turned to the online resale community for leads to find more. He belongs to several groups on the messaging platform Discord that charge monthly membership fees of about $20 to $100 in exchange for tips about when retailers are expected to refresh their supplies of gaming hardware or other scarce items.

The groups also share information on the latest bot programs for automating online purchases, so that resellers don’t have to sit around their computers waiting for items to go on sale and buy them.

Some retailers put limits on the amount of high-demand goods a single person can order at once, while others use bot-detection software to try to thwart resellers’ bots.

The fact that his parents are OK with him doing this show that they have failed in parenting.

the simpsons paddle GIF
 
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Fbh

Member
Kid had $5K in savings? With 16?

Good for him I guess. I blame console manufacturers, retailers and people buying from scalpers more than scalper himself. If the kid made money legally reselling consoles than good for him I guess.
 
I'm here to see a bunch of grown men hate on a teenager that's taking advantage of legal capitalism cause those same grown men can't manage to get a ps5 themselves. Please don't disappoint me.

Edit: ayy we got a couple already! Nice. Keep doing your thing Max, get that money.
 
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ManaByte

Gold Member
Blame those desperate enough to buy from him at such a mark-up.

I can't knock the hustle.

i-aint-even-mad.jpg

Kid had $5K in savings? With 16?

Good for him I guess. I blame console manufacturers, retailers and people buying from scalpers more than scalper himself. If the kid made money legally reselling consoles than good for him I guess.

I'm here to see a bunch of grown men hate on a teenager that's taking advantage of legal capitalism cause those same grown men can't manage to get a ps5 themselves. Please don't disappoint me.

Edit: ayy we got a couple already! Nice. Keep doing your thing Max, get that money.
 

mortal

Gold Member
Lmao, these are luxury items. No one needs a PS5 or Series X to survive.

If he's doing anything illegal then by all means let him be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Otherwise, I don't see how this is his problem.
I really wish I had any fucks to give, truly. There are far more pressing matters in this world than worrying about some money-savvy kid flipping consoles for profit.
 

clintar

Member
That's just the definition. That doesn't say it's illegal. More reference:
IS PROFITEERING ILLEGAL?
Sounds like you have to do one of those things to be considered doing something illegal.
 

Bragr

Banned
I'm here to see a bunch of grown men hate on a teenager that's taking advantage of legal capitalism cause those same grown men can't manage to get a ps5 themselves. Please don't disappoint me.

Edit: ayy we got a couple already! Nice. Keep doing your thing Max, get that money.
Exactly what this kid's parents would say.
 

nush

Gold Member
Scalpers are just the boogie man for why people can't get consoles. If you put in the work (Like the scalpers do) you'll get a console without having to pay a scalper. The issue is there is an extended shortage of stock and there still would be without the scalpers. Back in the day I sold Wii consoles (UK) they were not hard to find, I'd go to a retailer put in a preorder and I'd always get one within 2 days. People didn't want to wait 2 days to get one and would complain they were always sold out. Then you know scalpers got burned on the PS3 and WiiU because there was enough free stock.
 

Blond

Banned
Scalpers are just the boogie man for why people can't get consoles. If you put in the work (Like the scalpers do) you'll get a console without having to pay a scalper. The issue is there is an extended shortage of stock and there still would be without the scalpers. Back in the day I sold Wii consoles (UK) they were not hard to find, I'd go to a retailer put in a preorder and I'd always get one within 2 days. People didn't want to wait 2 days to get one and would complain they were always sold out. Then you know scalpers got burned on the PS3 and WiiU because there was enough free stock.
I just ordered my 11th PS5 for a friend today and I honestly just don’t feel bad about it. They can’t get one, I help and they pay me anywhere from 50-100 bucks as a thank you. I’ve ever sold two of these for profit because they insisted on paying me extra to make sure they got it (between 750 and 850)
 

GHG

Gold Member
People hurling abuse at this kid should take a look at themselves.

In order for him to profit from this he needs to get these consoles at retail prices which means he managed to originally get the consoles via methods available to absolutely everyone. So what you should be asking yourself is why and how he has managed to get all these consoles but you couldn't even get one. A lot of it comes down to desire but people don't want to admit that.

It's supply and demand, don't blame him but blame the people willing to pay the prices he's selling them on for. If not for them he's not buying these consoles to flip them.

And obligatory:

 
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Soulja

Member
Everybody mad at a kid for making a profit but you're all happy to buy a pair of Nike trainers for $100 yet they only cost a few $ to make. You're happy to make the millionaires richer but don't want to see a kid make enough money to give him a good start in his adult life. Let the people pay what they want for the consoles and you guys just carry on buying your over priced tat and moan about not being able to buy a ps5 because of kids like him.

If you guys really wanted a ps5 they really aren't that hard to get. Just ask the kid in the article.
 
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