TheSkySearchers

I'm thinking of getting a second Telrad and was poking around on line so decided to look on Amazon. $104.51 plus $64.92 shipping for a total of $169.43! Another dealer has it for $247.38, but that does include free shipping and it is the red/green version

Went to look at All-star telescope and it is $79.95 plus shipping. Certainly pays to shop around and support our brick and mortar dealers. TBH, even if the price was the same or even cheaper online I would likely still buy from a 'real' shop.

I have seen the same thing with some electronics. I was looking for an item that I knew was in the $30-$40 range yet found it on Amazon for ~$400 - and they had already sold a dozen or two.

Makes me wonder, who is buying at those prices?

Well, not me....

Yeah, I don't get it.
It started with eBay, list something at an inflated price, if it sells have it drop shiped from Walmart etc.

Some folks just don't know their prices I guess, and assume Amazon, eBay and even Wally World has the best prices.

Even for less than crazy priced items, the Amazon price often compensates for the cost of Prime shipping, so an item listed at $50 plus $5 shipping somewhere will be $55 (or more) with "free" shipping on AMZ.

I've asked myself this question too, Chich. As far as I can guess, the higher priced seller probably is a business partner with one or more much lower priced sellers, so that people say "dang! I better by that lower priced item right now!" Then they share profits. Like jacking and driving deer. And if someone buys the $15 toaster for $450, then bonus time, they again split the profits. It takes a devious mind like mine to think of twisted things like this.

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 2:39 am I've asked myself this question too, Chich. As far as I can guess, the higher priced seller probably is a business partner with one or more much lower priced sellers, so that people say "dang! I better by that lower priced item right now!" Then they share profits. Like jacking and driving deer. And if someone buys the $15 toaster for $450, then bonus time, they again split the profits. It takes a devious mind like mine to think of twisted things like this.

Yes, maybe, but if so, it's evidence that capitalism is dead. In a free market there is no price fixing, or collusion.

I'm only an amateur economist but I got paid for it in real life. You have to earn money for the kiddies with a degree in astrophysics.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 6:23 am

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 2:39 am I've asked myself this question too, Chich. As far as I can guess, the higher priced seller probably is a business partner with one or more much lower priced sellers, so that people say "dang! I better by that lower priced item right now!" Then they share profits. Like jacking and driving deer. And if someone buys the $15 toaster for $450, then bonus time, they again split the profits. It takes a devious mind like mine to think of twisted things like this.

Yes, maybe, but if so, it's evidence that capitalism is dead. In a free market there is no price fixing, or collusion.

I'm only an amateur economist but I got paid for it in real life. You have to earn money for the kiddies with a degree in astrophysics.

Nice use of trigger words, Fritz.

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 12:57 pm

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 6:23 am

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 2:39 am I've asked myself this question too, Chich. As far as I can guess, the higher priced seller probably is a business partner with one or more much lower priced sellers, so that people say "dang! I better by that lower priced item right now!" Then they share profits. Like jacking and driving deer. And if someone buys the $15 toaster for $450, then bonus time, they again split the profits. It takes a devious mind like mine to think of twisted things like this.

Yes, maybe, but if so, it's evidence that capitalism is dead. In a free market there is no price fixing, or collusion.

I'm only an amateur economist but I got paid for it in real life. You have to earn money for the kiddies with a degree in astrophysics.

Nice use of trigger words, Fritz.

Not using "trigger words". Price fixing and collusion are illegal in proper free markets. I cite the classical definition of free market capitalism Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations (1776). Price fixing and collusion are anathema in free market capitalism just as much as insider trading. There are reasons why such schemes are outlawed in a well run economy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 6:23 am

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 2:39 am I've asked myself this question too, Chich. As far as I can guess, the higher priced seller probably is a business partner with one or more much lower priced sellers, so that people say "dang! I better by that lower priced item right now!" Then they share profits. Like jacking and driving deer. And if someone buys the $15 toaster for $450, then bonus time, they again split the profits. It takes a devious mind like mine to think of twisted things like this.

Yes, maybe, but if so, it's evidence that capitalism is dead. In a free market there is no price fixing, or collusion.

I'm only an amateur economist but I got paid for it in real life. You have to earn money for the kiddies with a degree in astrophysics.

Do yourselves a favour and google "price fixing and colluding South Africa".
While illegal it is still rife and not only the small businesses but big banks too!

KingClinton wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 1:18 pm

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 6:23 am

Buckethead 2.0 wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 2:39 am I've asked myself this question too, Chich. As far as I can guess, the higher priced seller probably is a business partner with one or more much lower priced sellers, so that people say "dang! I better by that lower priced item right now!" Then they share profits. Like jacking and driving deer. And if someone buys the $15 toaster for $450, then bonus time, they again split the profits. It takes a devious mind like mine to think of twisted things like this.

Yes, maybe, but if so, it's evidence that capitalism is dead. In a free market there is no price fixing, or collusion.

I'm only an amateur economist but I got paid for it in real life. You have to earn money for the kiddies with a degree in astrophysics.

Do yourselves a favour and google "price fixing and colluding South Africa".
While illegal it is still rife and not only the small businesses but big banks too!

No doubt. It's still racketeering and not capitalism. The fact that it is become widespread is nothing to celebrate.