Tep Keyrings - UBER-PROFITABLE???

[Meech]

I just did a Shop Wizard search on Tep Keyrings... they're "selling" for anywhere between 20 and 99K!!!!!

What gives?!! Is this for real?? I gave away so many of those things because I thought there were a bazillion of them and wouldn't be worth a thing!!!!

[charlixsparkles]

Wow. But I guess there are some items out there which have massive price ranges.

Maybe the ones selling at 99k haven't been on neo for long to know the current price...? This is my random speculation of the day

[shapu]

It's more likely that someone out there decided that because there's a limited number of tep key rings (only a few million were given out, and some users who had them have quit/been frozen) they'd just buy a bunch until the price rose enough for them to hoard them and sell them piecemeal.

It's an artificial price inflation, and against the rules. Now, I don't know that that's what happened - it could also be that someone out there just really, really likes tep keyrings.

[Siniri]

It's more likely that someone out there decided that because there's a limited number of tep key rings (only a few million were given out, and some users who had them have quit/been frozen) they'd just buy a bunch until the price rose enough for them to hoard them and sell them piecemeal.

It's an artificial price inflation, and against the rules. Now, I don't know that that's what happened - it could also be that someone out there just really, really likes tep keyrings.

From what I remember, you can decide to hoard something on your own, hoping the price will rise. However, if you buy up everything in collaboration with others, then it's against the rules. It's like price-fixing in the real-world -- if an entire industry decides to get together and jack up prices, it's illegal. But if one company hoards their supply, hoping prices will rise, then sells at a later date, that's perfectly legal (but can be risky). If a number of individuals each decide to hoard, prices could rise substantially (sort of like the commodities market, I guess). Anyway, I've bought a few rare items from recent plots (books from CG, for example) and thrown them in my SDB. A few years from now, as supply dwindles, I'll take them out and sell -- I'm hoping to make at least 1000% profit.

[crashbash]

It's more likely that someone out there decided that because there's a limited number of tep key rings (only a few million were given out, and some users who had them have quit/been frozen) they'd just buy a bunch until the price rose enough for them to hoard them and sell them piecemeal.

It's an artificial price inflation, and against the rules. Now, I don't know that that's what happened - it could also be that someone out there just really, really likes tep keyrings.

From what I remember, you can decide to hoard something on your own, hoping the price will rise. However, if you buy up everything in collaboration with others, then it's against the rules. It's like price-fixing in the real-world -- if an entire industry decides to get together and jack up prices, it's illegal. But if one company hoards their supply, hoping prices will rise, then sells at a later date, that's perfectly legal (but can be risky). If a number of individuals each decide to hoard, prices could rise substantially (sort of like the commodities market, I guess). Anyway, I've bought a few rare items from recent plots (books from CG, for example) and thrown them in my SDB. A few years from now, as supply dwindles, I'll take them out and sell -- I'm hoping to make at least 1000% profit.

This could also be considered price-gouging, where a person feels that they can jack up the prices in order to make a profit when an item is limited. We see it today in the gas prices, stations that have their price $0.20 higher than that of the average are price gouging just because they are the only station in an area so they hope that people will stop there because it's their first opportunity. This is just an example and the same idea can be seen in very many neopets items.

[Siniri]

This could also be considered price-gouging, where a person feels that they can jack up the prices in order to make a profit when an item is limited. We see it today in the gas prices, stations that have their price $0.20 higher than that of the average are price gouging just because they are the only station in an area so they hope that people will stop there because it's their first opportunity. This is just an example and the same idea can be seen in very many neopets items.

It's not quite the same. Other people had the opportunity to buy the items, hoping prices would go up. When I sell, I won't be the only seller in the market. I also didn't collaborate with anyone else to buy up the supply. I don't think it's price-gouging; I think it's basic supply-and-demand economics. If the items I bought don't increase in demand, then I may never be able to recoup the 100,000's of NP I spent -- that's a risk I decided to take. Would you consider it price-gouging if I had won the prize myself and decided to throw it in my SDB, just in case it went up?

My main point is to emphasize that buying up or hoarding items hoping they'll increase in price is NOT against TNT's T&C and won't get you frozen. Collaborating with others to do the same IS against the rules and COULD get you frozen.

[thegreenside]

This could also be considered price-gouging, where a person feels that they can jack up the prices in order to make a profit when an item is limited. We see it today in the gas prices, stations that have their price $0.20 higher than that of the average are price gouging just because they are the only station in an area so they hope that people will stop there because it's their first opportunity. This is just an example and the same idea can be seen in very many neopets items.

I don't think it's price-gouging here. I think it's just the case that arn't to many of those ldp keyrings around. Just look at the others ones. Most of them are around 5k and there isn't a big supply of them.

Just do the math. I find less than 10 key rings per search on the normal shop wizard. There are 13? different results. So I guess there are around 100 of each key ring buyable at the moment With 30? at 5k. So it's not like you have to hoard a lot of them to make them inflate a LOT. It might be even coincedence It could be that less people got Tep keyrings.

Of course it's also possible that someone bought all the key rings up recently and then it is indeed price-gouging

Luckily i didn't cashed my LDP points in yet. Seems like it was a good idea to not use them on the e-z crytal balls.
Let's see... it looks like you have 19,300 points left to spend

[Stars_of_Night]

This could also be considered price-gouging, where a person feels that they can jack up the prices in order to make a profit when an item is limited. We see it today in the gas prices, stations that have their price $0.20 higher than that of the average are price gouging just because they are the only station in an area so they hope that people will stop there because it's their first opportunity. This is just an example and the same idea can be seen in very many neopets items.

I don't think it's price-gouging here. I think it's just the case that arn't to many of those ldp keyrings around. Just look at the others ones. Most of them are around 5k and there isn't a big supply of them.

Just do the math. I find less than 10 key rings per search on the normal shop wizard. There are 13? different results. So I guess there are around 100 of each key ring buyable at the moment With 30? at 5k. So it's not like you have to hoard a lot of them to make them inflate a LOT. It might be even coincedence It could be that less people got Tep keyrings.

Of course it's also possible that someone bought all the key rings up recently and then it is indeed price-gouging

Luckily i didn't cashed my LDP points in yet. Seems like it was a good idea to not use them on the e-z crytal balls.
Let's see... it looks like you have 19,300 points left to spend

yeah but don't wait too long. I remember TNT was saying in the editorial that one day they will delete that page later on in a year or so. So don't wait till forever until they delete it. Then you end up with nothing

[shapu]

No, not nothing. There's a feeling of foolishness you can carry with you forever

[neobeth]

Seems to be a lot of this going on. Just checked A Mysterious Valentines Card and its been 55-60k for a while, now its 130-600k

[matchbow]

Seems to be a lot of this going on. Just checked A Mysterious Valentines Card and its been 55-60k for a while, now its 130-600k

those valentines cards are always unbuyable. they just seem to inflate as it gets closer to valentines day