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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Today I want to talk about one of the most controversial figures in the modern world - scalpers. Who are they, what do they do, and why are they often disliked? Let's dive into this topic, which will reveal why the term «scalper» is associated with negativity and even outright dislike.
Who are scalpers?
The word «scalper» comes from English scalper, which initially had a completely different meaning, is related to the real cutting off of scalps in wars or skirmishes between the indigenous peoples of America. But like many words, it has transformed over time. Now scalpers are not tomahawk warriors, but businessmen or speculators who use their «weapons» to make money from price differences.
A scalper is a person who buys goods or tickets at their face value and sells them at inflated prices. This approach requires speed, because in order for scalping to work, you need to act quickly and at large volumes. The word itself is also used in the world of finance, where scalpers are traders who make money from short-term transactions with securities.
What are they doing?
One of the most famous areas of activity of scalpers is tickets to events. They buy up huge numbers of tickets for concerts, sporting events, movie screenings or any other event that is in high demand and then resell them at much higher prices. The worst thing is that ordinary people who want to just enjoy a concert or a match often have to pay twice or even three times more than originally announced.
Another popular field is electronics. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world switched to remote work and education, the demand for computers, game consoles and other equipment increased dramatically. Scalpers bought scarce goods and resold them at inflated prices, using special bots for instant purchase.
Why are they not loved?
And here we come to the main reason why scalpers have a bad reputation. Their activities are often seen as parasitic. Instead of adding any value, they manipulate the market and raise prices for ordinary people. Imagine, you waited several months for the release of a new game console, and on the day of its release, all stocks were instantly bought by scalpers. Now, to get this device, you'll have to pay twice as much, and that's understandable annoyance.
Another reason why scalpers are not liked is their effectiveness. They use complex technologies that make buying practically impossible for an ordinary person. Bots can buy tickets or merchandise in fractions of a second, leaving ordinary people with no chance. This creates the impression of injustice and increases the negative attitude towards scalpers.
What is being done about it?
In response to the activities of scalpers, some countries are beginning to implement laws that limit their capabilities. For example, the UK and the US already have laws against the use of bots to buy tickets. In addition, many ticketing platforms try to combat speculation by introducing captchas and other screening tools.
There are also movements among consumers calling for a boycott of purchases from scalpers. They emphasize that as long as people are willing to pay inflated prices, scalping will continue to thrive.
So, scalpers are a kind of «speculators of modern times who have found loopholes in the system and use them for quick enrichment. Although their activities are legal, they cause enormous resentment among consumers, who are forced to pay more for the desired goods and services. Technology platforms and legislators may be able to find a way to limit this phenomenon in the future, but the fight continues for now.
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