Re:Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant un...
by the__alchemist on Thursday September 30, 2021 @04:03PM
(#28710660)
Scalpers hurt anyone launching a hardware product who doesn't have the order quantity to buy direct-from-manufacturer.
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Re:Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant un...
by sannee on Thursday September 30, 2021 @07:41PM
(#28712617)
I, for one, am happy that I can get enough parts for a prototype run even if at 5x the price.
Especially as otherwise, those parts would just get sold to the car manufacturers and would be used to make ethically questionable products.
Re:Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant un...
by chrisseaton on Thursday September 30, 2021 @05:57PM
(#28711829)
I don't get how it hurts anyone to have to pay market rate. If your product doesn't work at market prices, then that's your problem - not scalpers.
Re:Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant un...
by yxwvut on Thursday September 30, 2021 @06:41PM
(#28712197)
This kind of perspective where any intervention-free (often equated with 'free market') outcome is ipso facto a socially good outcome is so frustrating because it transcends policy discussions into morality/dogma. Are you opposed to efforts to curtail rent seeking more broadly?
Re:Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant un...
by lmm on Thursday September 30, 2021 @10:46PM
(#28713924)
Making honest prices illegal is the most destructive intervention you can do. "Scalpers" aren't rent-seeking, quite the opposite.
Re:Chip shortage leads carmaker Opel to shut German plant un...
by the__alchemist on Thursday September 30, 2021 @07:21PM
(#28712474)
I think you'll find most electronics products available to be unprofitable if they had to use these scalpers as suppliers.