eBay and Beer Sales

Or more likely, lots of someones

 

Yeah I just thought that post was funny. I know 2 breweries who admitted to it.

 

this ignores the same "personal responsibility doesn't exist," stuff that the others are ignoring. "economic facts" do not excuse exploitation, they describe it. maybe you live your life as if you have no control over your actions, but i don't. [edit: if it's not clear, the point is that "just because X is incentivized does not mean that X has to be done, or can't be criticized, or can't be prohibited." the role of personal responsibility cannot be ejected just because you're so pessimistic that you think people are robots who must do whatever they have a (usually monetary) incentive to do. what you call "having your cake and eating it too," is in fact acting responsibly and calling out one's customers to do the same.]

there's a lot of tough guy circle jerking in this thread about how consumers are being screwed because vinnie and shaun want to hold hands. to be completely honest, that kind of sentiment makes me sick. this "it's all the brutal market, man up bro!" stuff is pathetic. if you all acted that way among all your personal relations, you would be universally reviled, even if people tolerated your presence.

i'm not sure how you all got tricked into thinking that once money is involved or we're talking about something larger than personal interaction (like a business, or a government) we're morally obligated (by economic fact) to act like thieves and rapists. whoever convinced you of that did you the greatest disservice of your life.

 

Profiteering is not the same thing as making a profit. My apologies if I missed the post where somebody said making a profit without being a profiteer is a bad thing.

 

So - are you the arbiter who decides the boundary between the two?

 

You sound like a real blast to hang out with.

 

i would imagine talking to me in person would make you profoundly uncomfortable. if you're anything like your online persona, you would probably throw a punch. i would be so impressed.

 

You sound like you need a nap.

 

lol - you aren't even close =)

 

Here is some of the source material I've referenced so everyone is on the same page.

 

Brewer isnt missing out on secondary cash from eBay either. They sold their product at the exact price point that they wanted.

 

It is about respect. We all spend a lot of time in a forum and part of a community that is centered around beer, those who produce it and those who enjoy it. Much of this behavior is selfish and show a complete lack of respect for other in the community you choose to be a part of. Apparently treating others with respect is not much of a concern for a fair number of people in this community.

 

I agree, I was sent this by a BA just now after sending him a humorous clip to lighten up:

roflmfao

 

that was me. i think it's pretty obvious i don't want to have a private chat with you. go troll someone else.

 

Profiteering is usually self-evident, unless you are obtuse enough to actually believe your own claims that it is virtuous to sell beer on ebay.

 

I don't believe it is virtuous, bad, good, ok, not ok - anything. I don't like to excessively regulate people when they aren't doing things "my way".

 

Open question to those advocating for Ebay, and seeing no distinction between trading vs. selling:
Does Ebay selling / profiteering help or hurt the beer community, and should the answer to that question influence your stance toward it?

Ebay creates a marketplace that incentivizes not only upselling / profiteering, but also poaching that shifts access to beer away from the community at large, and toward those with the deepest pocketbooks. One example among many: pre-release 1 bottle of White Chocolate just sold for $170!!! People are buying now with the sole intention of selling.

It's true the trade forums are a market place with supply and demand like any other, but the community helps regulate against profiteers. Generous traders are recognized. People seeking disproportionately more valuable trades are either shunned or (hopefully) educated.

If you side with the free market and people's right to resell their purchased property, so be it, but you have to be at peace with this stance having adverse consequences for consumers trying to support and access their local brewers.

 

How much time do you spend at the farmers market vs on BA, at beer events or something related? Most people are much more invested in this community than their farmers market.

I guess the guy who gets up early and buys all the oranges, turns around and opens his own stand to sell them at an inflated price is completely respectful to the growers and the other customers right?

 

I'd have to gather some numbers. If there were really 12,000 bottles of Rare, I'd like to see how many were moved on eBay over 2 years.

I bet the person who paid $170 for WC really wanted it! He's probaby a BA!

As for consumers accessing their local breweries - wouldn't the people on eBay selling the stuff generally be the consumer accessing and supporting their local breweries by buying the beer?

If 10,000 bottles are sold and all drank that day by the purchasers - the brewery made X. If all 10,000 are sold and eBayed, the brewery made the same X! Same level of support!

 

Good observation. It seems to be a fight between those who want to control others and those who want to leave things be.