A rant against Disney Profiteers

[ppete1975]

It isn't artificial though. If people are willing to pay those prices the prices are not unreasonable. We're not talking about the price of gas after a natural disaster here. People don't need these items to survive.

Exactly, in this situation the market dictates the price unles you just post something with a stupid price and hope some idiot buys it (check amazon for that stupidity) where the price of food gas utilities you have no say.

 

[FCivish3]

It would be hard for any group or individual to Profiteer more than Disney itself. $1000 for an Annual Pass? $125 for a 1 day Park Hopper (Disneyland). Polynesian Bungalows to rent out at $2000 a night? Disney is the King of Profiteering.

Now, you could say, "Of course. It is their product. Disney is a corporation, and a corporation is remiss in its duty if it doesn't make all the profits it can. They are just charging what the demand will bear." Etc. Etce. But then, why should they be able to do it and some poor small schmuck who is putting up his own money and effort shouldn't be able to do it, too? After all, from the poor schmuck's (Profiteer's) point of view, the same thing applies. "Of course the little guys are profiteering. It is their product. (They bought it with their own money). They have a duty to themselves and their family to make all the profits they can. They are just charging what the Market will bear." Etc. Etc.

I know I have been disillusioned a little bit, but maybe that is because I grew up when Walt Disney was still around. Walt Disney NEVER put profits ahead of service. His goal was not to make the most money possible. His goal was to make people happy and to lead them into a BETTER tomorrow. Time and again he sacrificed profits in order to achieve those goals.

So, yeah, I can condemn Disney for how it is now, and if I do, I could also complain about the Profiteers. But the Profiteers are such small fry in the grand scheme of things. The problem is not really them and it doesn't originate with them.

 

[GhostlyGoofy]

*Sips tea with Galaxy's Edge Spork*

They don't bother me.

 

[PeoplemoverTTA]

I would argue that it's not illegal, it's using the system to one's advantage...as far as their margin being public information, while their total profit margin may be public information, individual profit margins on a particular item is proprietary information. No where is there a list of Disney's wholesale costs on any particular item. I worked in retail management for 30+ years...you would NEVER reveal how much it costs to buy a widgit from your vendor...let's tell UNI how much profit they make on a similar item that Disney sells...they might be buying from the same factory and one could be paying substantially more/less. That info. you would never make public. If you really want to make the argument that it's stated somewhere that the items you buy are not to be resold, it's illegal, fine, but so is going 5 m.p.h. over the speed limit...I don't know too many people who have gotten tickets for 5 over.

I see both sides of this. Years ago I drove to Detroit from Buffalo to see the Yankees play the Tigers in the ALDS. They gave away free towels, which I didn’t want (being a Yankees fan). When I got home, I decided to sell the towel on eBay, and I started the bidding at $15, which I thought was reasonable. People went nuts and it sold for $75. So of course I put my dad’s on there too (I took my dad with me to the game). This time, I started the bidding at $50. I got really nasty messages from people calling me a bad person and a terrible fan.

I mean I was a broke grad student at the time, and I really didn’t feel like I was gouging. I mean if you really had to have that towel and you were SUCH a fan, wouldn’t you have been at the game?

Of course, the people going to the parks to scoop up LE stuff so others can’t buy it are, in my opinion, a bit different.

Or maybe I’m a hypocrite. I can accept that, really.

 

[larryz]

Maybe government should start rationing trips to WDW to avoid the unfairness inherent in those who can afford to going any time they feel like it versus those less fortunate who can only afford to go every couple of years...

 

[Kingoglow]

I agree with being able to get something, you would not otherwise be able to get, by going the ebay route. My problem was with the
over the top profiteering. Selling a $6.00 bottle of soda for $21.00, over a 300% increase. It really isn't even the reselling. I mean the
people do have to put in some work to obtain these items. It is the excess that is a bother, again, in my opinion.

Just for the smiles, please go post this on an Ebay enthusiast's website. Copy their reaction to your POV and bring it back here. It would be fun to read.

If you don't think something is worth the price don't buy it. If the window of opportunity to buy something is short then you had better do your best to get first day front of line access, if you want to buy said thing.

Reselling is fine. Sorry you didn't get a pair of shoes...

 

[OG Runner]

Just for the smiles, please go post this on an Ebay enthusiast's website. Copy their reaction to your POV and bring it back here. It would be fun to read.

If you don't think something is worth the price don't buy it. If the window of opportunity to buy something is short then you had better do your best to get first day front of line access, if you want to buy said thing.

Reselling is fine. Sorry you didn't get a pair of shoes...

Oh sure, what is this, "I triple dog dare you!" I am not sure I would survive that encounter, any more than jumping out of a gondola,
on my way to Epcot. Again, just to restate my point of view, I do not see the reselling, in and of itself as bad, it is the extreme pricing.
Another year I ran the marathon, they were sold out of the pin versions of the finishers medals. I have collected one from each of
the Disney marathons I have completed. They were sold out one year. When I got home, I purchased the pins for myself and my son,
who finished with me. The regular retail price was $12.00. I bought the two pins on Ebay for $35.00. (free shipping). More than the
retail price, but not 400% more.

 

[eliza61nyc]

It would be hard for any group or individual to Profiteer more than Disney itself. $1000 for an Annual Pass? $125 for a 1 day Park Hopper (Disneyland). Polynesian Bungalows to rent out at $2000 a night? Disney is the King of Profiteering.

Now, you could say, "Of course. It is their product. Disney is a corporation, and a corporation is remiss in its duty if it doesn't make all the profits it can. They are just charging what the demand will bear." Etc. Etce. But then, why should they be able to do it and some poor small schmuck who is putting up his own money and effort shouldn't be able to do it, too? After all, from the poor schmuck's (Profiteer's) point of view, the same thing applies. "Of course the little guys are profiteering. It is their product. (They bought it with their own money). They have a duty to themselves and their family to make all the profits they can. They are just charging what the Market will bear." Etc. Etc.

I know I have been disillusioned a little bit, but maybe that is because I grew up when Walt Disney was still around. Walt Disney NEVER put profits ahead of service. His goal was not to make the most money possible. His goal was to make people happy and to lead them into a BETTER tomorrow. Time and again he sacrificed profits in order to achieve those goals.

So, yeah, I can condemn Disney for how it is now, and if I do, I could also complain about the Profiteers. But the Profiteers are such small fry in the grand scheme of things. The problem is not really them and it doesn't originate with them.

lol well once reason maybe licensing. By that analogy some one could steal a persons intellectual property say a song and just remake it and profit from it, after all the poor smuck had to pay studio recording fees etc etc.

So because Walt Disney was a super nice guy, let's give everyone license to do whatever they want to the company??

 

[RustySpork]

lol well once reason maybe licensing. By that analogy some one could steal a persons intellectual property say a song and just remake it and profit from it, after all the poor smuck had to pay studio recording fees etc etc.

So because Walt Disney was a super nice guy, let's give everyone license to do whatever they want to the company??

That is a great point if intellectual property is involved, like music; but merchandise is a physical property that has protected resale rights. Companies tried to use the intellectual property argument in the 90s to prevent resale of software that shipped on CD/DVD and they lost.

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

Always trying to start arguments lol

 

[DisneyAndUniversalFan]

OK Edward Jackson, after reading your opening for a third time I still have no idea why you take issue with one buying something and then reselling it.

As for these shoes you talk about I still don't get it. Or do I? You show up at 11:30 pm (late) to a party which kicked off at 9pm and those who arrived at opening took the limited supply of Heineken.

Hahah.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Oh sure, what is this, "I triple dog dare you!" I am not sure I would survive that encounter, any more than jumping out of a gondola,
on my way to Epcot. Again, just to restate my point of view, I do not see the reselling, in and of itself as bad, it is the extreme pricing.
Another year I ran the marathon, they were sold out of the pin versions of the finishers medals. I have collected one from each of
the Disney marathons I have completed. They were sold out one year. When I got home, I purchased the pins for myself and my son,
who finished with me. The regular retail price was $12.00. I bought the two pins on Ebay for $35.00. (free shipping). More than the
retail price, but not 400% more.

I forgot to ask you...you've seen these running shoes on Ebay and said they were asking $400.00. I'm just curious, did they have a best offer option? Did they actually sell? Was there only 1 listing for them, or were there multiple listings? What was the actual retail price?

 

[OG Runner]

I forgot to ask you...you've seen these running shoes on Ebay and said they were asking $400.00. I'm just curious, did they have a best offer option? Did they actually sell? Was there only 1 listing for them, or were there multiple listings? What was the actual retail price?

There were multiple listings and a number of the sold, though I believe one pair is still there, for the same price. Determination.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

OK, then as much as you don't want to admit it, for what it's worth, customers feel that 400.00 while overpriced to you, is an acceptable price to pay. If there were multiple pairs going unsold at that price point, The lack of bids would have forced the prices down. Now if there are other pairs that get listed in the future and go unsold, one can assume that the "diehards" who wanted them got them and the prices will come down.

 

[OG Runner]

OK, then as much as you don't want to admit it, for what it's worth, customers feel that 400.00 while overpriced to you, is an acceptable price to pay. If there were multiple pairs going unsold at that price point, The lack of bids would have forced the prices down. Now if there are other pairs that get listed in the future and go unsold, one can assume that the "diehards" who wanted them got them and the prices will come down.

Look again. At no tome did I say no one has purchased the items. Just because someone has that much disposable income, does not make selling the items for that much right. I understand some people don't care but them again it was my rant.

 

[FCivish3]

Hey, you guys shouldn't be making such a big deal out of this. If Disney notices that the shoes sell for $400 a pair then you can be sure that next time DISNEY will be the one selling them for $400.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

Look again. At no tome did I say no one has purchased the items. Just because someone has that much disposable income, does not make selling the items for that much right. I understand some people don't care but them again it was my rant.

Look, we're coming at this from two different point of view...do I think they're overpriced? ABSOLUTELY! But the fact of the matter is, at those overpriced listings, people had no problem paying that amount. Your rant is aimed at the wrong people...it shouldn't be the sellers, it should be the people who paid that amount. If no one bought them at 400.00, they would have come down in price.

Let me try this analogy...I drive a 2003 Chevy Suburban that has 350k miles on it. I bought it brand new for 31K. A new 2019 Suburban with the same options is now 75k. My engine went at 298K. I can't afford that, so I have 2 options...buy something else, which I can't because I need the size, or fix up what I have, which I did (a new engine for 6500.00) That I was able to afford. Now, do I start ranting against GM or the dealership because I can't afford what they sell? I'm not going to begrudge GM or the dealers because they CAN get that amount of money. If the economy tanks or the price of oil skyrockets, people will stop buying them and guess what, they'll be sitting on the lot, UNSOLD, and the price will come down. That's all I'm saying...your rant should be targeted at the "dummies" who actually paid the 400.00. If the seller had 10 pairs, and sold all of them at 400.00, and by some crazy chance, came across another 6 pairs from someone, I can guarantee you that the next time they're listed, they will be 500.00. That's how supply and demand works. Like I've said repeatedly, all Disney has to do is limit the quantity allowed for purchase, or make more...case closed. I don't think you're wrong at all about your beef...It's just aimed at the wrong people.

 

[dreamfinder912]

I might be kicking a hornet's nest with this, but this practice actually saved me money. I love Disney villains, my favorite character has been Chernabog my entire life. But absolutely no part of me wanted to shell out money to stay up late and be exhausted at work the next day to go get the villains merch at the after hours thing. So I rationalized spending $50 on a tee shirt is a lot better than $100+ on a park ticket and then another $30 on a shirt. It is a crappy feeling to be in line for something and watch people in front of you buying 10 of everything and then worry it'll be sold out when you get there, but there is a good side to it. You get to be, in my case, really lazy. For other people it's not just saving $100ish on a single ticket it's not flying all the hell down here for an event but still being able to get whatever you wanted.

 

[OG Runner]

Hey, you guys shouldn't be making such a big deal out of this. If Disney notices that the shoes sell for $400 a pair then you can be sure that next time DISNEY will be the one selling them for $400.

Oh My God, then they will be $1,600 on Ebay. AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!

 

[OG Runner]

Thank you everyone for your time and comments.