[Ajedi32]

> People who really really want the product get it at a fair price (they were willing to pay).

If people were content to get the product at a fair price, scalpers wouldn't be a problem in the first place. The whole reason scalpers are considered a problem is that people want the product at a cheaper than fair price, and scalpers prevent that by buying up any inventory that is being sold for below the market rate.

Basically, if companies employed the strategy you suggest, then they'd effectively become the scalpers in the eyes of people who consider scalping a problem, with all the PR issues associated with that.

That's not to say it's necessarily a bad idea though. Once you accept the fact that scalpers exist, it makes sense for companies to capture those profits themselves rather than let scalpers just have them for free.

[dcow]

Yes I understand and I do see your point. I wonder if the problem can be solved semantically. Instead of thinking of the company as the scalpers you want people thinking of the launch event as an auction. I don't think people would be so fickle if you framed the practice as “launch auctions”. Then it would be clear to everyone that there is no msrp until the supply and demand stabilize. And people would be at liberty to pay whatever they thought a fair price for the item all things considered. If someone else bids higher, well, tough luck.