[JEVjnd2024]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ikki

Look, just as long as companies manipulate the market (and market value) of their products by running limited quantities --- there'll always be a secondary re-seller market. Frankly, I don't like it anymore than the next guy. When companies manipulate the market value of a product line by limiting the supply, (supply and demand 101), it becomes an artificial way of creating value for a product and its brand. And it's especially ridiculous when the product and its line is subpar quality-wise (and it hurts me to say that cause I love ML wholeheartedly.) But when you consider the overall shoddy quality of ML when compared to other similarly priced lines in the $50-80 tier, it becomes quite ridiculous to limit the supply and make them "hard to get" when their collector value is so low, technically speaking.

But at the end of the day, like I alluded earlier, as long as companies artificially manipulate the supply-end, there will be unmet consumer demand, and thus an overpriced secondary market will inevitably exist. it is this way with everything. And the market value of a particular item is what people are willing to pay. So vote with your wallets. You have to be a consumer activist of sorts.

And finally, people should blame the companies instead. They should run continual re-issues, especially of popular figures. They should be capitalizing on the ridiculous re-seller market. And why do we care if a product is rare? If a figure is nice, it's nice, and I want it based on its own merit. I can care less how many other people may or may not have it. The fact that other people have it doesn't limit my enjoyment of a particular item.

But I digress. you can hardly blame a re seller. For instance, when you buy a house, and the market value goes up.. guess what? you sell it for more. It's called a free market. Don't like the price, don't buy it.

I couldn't agree more. Diamond Select has done a phenomenal job of doing this. We see what would have otherwise have happened with The Watcher figure in particular. Well said, but I still hate the scalpers.