[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/3.jpg” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||213px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.7″ background_color=”rgba(10,10,10,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”204px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_padding=”20px|48px|20px|48px|true|true”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”50px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”8px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”29px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.3em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat”]<\/p>\n
Scalpers: Menaces to Society?<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”15px|129px|1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”9px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat”]<\/p>\n
Wonder why the newest consoles always get snatched up before you get the chance to buy them? Elton Tan<\/strong> and Isaiah Chua<\/strong> investigates.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.7″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-75px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]<\/p>\n Scalpers and their stock of Playstation 5s. Photo taken from <\/span>VideoGameChronicles<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0px|48px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked_phone=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-385px|||” custom_padding=”90px|||||” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-53px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”27px|0|27px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-19px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”29px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n BY Isaiah Chua <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-7px|-415px||-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px|1px|0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an evident problem in the technology and entertainment industry. You only need to take a look at online and physical stores to know what the problem is. From a lack of brand new, newly released consoles, to a lack of computer parts; this problem has one source and one source only. Determined resellers, or what we know them as, <\/span>scalpers<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Plot and Characters<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px||-616px||” custom_padding=”|0px|1px|0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n The term \u2018scalper\u2019 has two different meanings. The original, more historical meaning, according to <\/span>americanheritage.com<\/span><\/a>, are individuals who \u201ccut the crown of hair from a fallen adversary\u201d. This was traditionally done by Indians as a way of collecting and displaying a sign of victory from battles.<\/span><\/p>\n The term has indisputably evolved. The \u201cscalpers\u201d we\u2019re now referring to are defined by the economic, more informal meaning of the term. In the late nineteenth century, the term scalper was a generic term for \u201c<\/span>con man\u201d or \u201ccheater<\/span><\/a>\u201d. This isn\u2019t too far fetched from what we know them as in society today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/4.jpg” alt=”Sneaker reseller” title_text=”4″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.7″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=””]<\/p>\n Sneaker resellers use bots to win raffles on hyped sneaker releases. Photo taken from <\/span>Reddit.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-35px||-1px|||” custom_padding=”||14px|||” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n According to <\/span>Investopedia.com<\/span><\/a>, a scalper is \u201ca person who buys large quantities of in-demand items, such as new electronics or event tickets, at regular price, hoping that the items sell out\u201d. To then earn a profit in exchange for the effort they put in, the scalper resells the given items at a higher price.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Why Scalpers are a problem to today\u2019s society<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em”]<\/p>\n Scalpers usually target products that are in high demand, such as newly released or limited products. They then proceed to buy many more units of the product than they need in hopes of reselling. If left unchecked, it leaves the average consumer with nothing left to purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/3.jpg” alt=”Scalpers and their stock of Playstation 5s” title_text=”3″ _builder_version=”4.4.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px||22px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Scalpers and their stock of Playstation 5s. Photo taken from <\/span>VideoGameChronicles<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-11px|||||” custom_padding=”||7px|||”]<\/p>\n For instance, currently, the <\/span>PlayStation 5<\/span><\/a> (PS5) has been out of stock for months due to scalpers mass purchasing the console using shopping bots (programmes designed for resellers) online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” background_color=”rgba(224,122,44,0.13)” custom_margin=”-19px||-1px|||” custom_padding=”1px||0px|||” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n According to <\/span>businessinsider.com<\/span><\/a>, in the sneaker resale world, a “bot” refers to a software application that expedites the online checkout process and helps resellers nab hyped pairs in seconds: including limited-edition drops and collaborations.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_padding=”19px|||||”]<\/p>\n They then typically upsell the product for a few hundred dollars more, to the dismay of consumers waiting to buy the console. In turn, this phenomenon has caused an uproar in the gaming community.<\/span><\/p>\n As reported by <\/span>GeekCulture<\/span><\/a>, local scalpers on Ebay and Carousell have been selling PS5 consoles at an inflated price, with offerings of over a thousand dollars. The retail price of the console is S$729 for the standard version and S$599 for the digital version.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI wanted [the PS5] since [its] launch in November. I only could get it in March. 5 months. The stock was always out and scalpers were charging 1.5 to 7 times the price,\u201d says Dylan Lim, 19.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/unnamed-1.jpg” alt=”Ebay listing of PS5 consoles sold by resellers” title_text=”unnamed (1)” _builder_version=”4.4.7″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” min_height=”43px” custom_margin=”-20px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n Ebay listing of PS5 consoles sold by resellers. They are largely overcharging consumers. Photo taken from <\/span>GeekCulture<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||19px|||”]<\/p>\n Another example of scalping, particularly in Singapore, is the incident involving tickets for Coldplay\u2019s concert in 2015, when tickets were sold in <\/span>10 minutes<\/span><\/a>. Ticket scalpers were then reselling tickets for over 3,000 per cent more than its original price. Fans either had to accept that they couldn\u2019t go to the concert or pay a hefty premium for the tickets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Does it sound unfair? Well, we agree with you.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cI think it\u2019s exploitative, but I understand why it\u2019s happening. People want to take advantage of the situation,\u201d explains Dylan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Unfortunately, the pandemic has exacerbated the problem. While the global supply chain is affected and trying to recover, the manufacturing of goods has been slower than usual. Releases of products are met with scalpers using bots to buy a high volume of items, snatching up any chance for people who want to enjoy the product.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Why?<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||22px|||”]<\/p>\n Money is the biggest driving force behind scalpers. The return on investment is simply too high for people to resist. A bot service can cost as little as a few hundred dollars. Profits can be made from selling hundreds of products two to three times their retail price with just the click of a button.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0As reported by Forbes<\/a>, corkets like Tesco (akin to Sheng Siong in Singapore) to resell milk from farmers.<\/p>\n \u00a0To scalpers, it is all about business. They are like vultures, looking for any opportunity to make money, even at the expense of depriving consumers from enjoying simple products like tickets, consoles, clothing, and computer parts.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|17px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|79px|12px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off”]<\/p>\n What we can do to stop them<\/b><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.7″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em”]<\/p>\n Companies can introduce more security to their website to ensure that the products go into the hands of consumers that actually enjoy their products.<\/span><\/p>\n
Elton Tan
Perspectives Section Editor
Hype Issue #53<\/b><\/p>\n
Lifestyle Section Editor
Hype Issue #53<\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
Aug 13, 2021<\/h5>\n