From Navagon's post:

Scalping is a shadow aspect of free market capitalism. It's a very cold-hearted practice, sure.

Here's some solace: Under communism, things would be more fair: No one would have a New 3DS XL Majora’s Mask Limited edition.

(except the Supreme Leader and maybe the kids of a handful party officials, that is...)

I thought hipsters were all about materialism? Apple products, really obscure vinyl records and things like that?

But yes, your question is valid. Nintendo never really has seemed able to keep up with the demand placed upon it. Which is odd. You'd have thought that such a level of demand would have put enough money in their pocket to put top notch processors in their consoles and manufacture enough to keep the world and their grandma happy. But it always seems they're lagging behind, both technologically and in terms of supply.

Ehh you're so extreme.. I'd just prefer a long-term no-resell clause on limited editions :P

This is veering dangerously close to saying he’s victim blaming. Nintendo fans aren't ‘victims’. Let's not lose perspective here. I believe everybody has a right to affordable entertainment, but that doesn't cover a superfluous rare limited editon when the regular edition has the exact same functionality. I mean come on, that doesn't seem childish to you? I do remember once throwing a tantrum over not getting the coloured console I wanted, but I was eight years old.

Yeah, he posted that while I was typing my post (and being distracted RL as well). The joys of Internet communication and all. ;)

There are those kind of hipsters, yes. But the more annoying kind are those who latch onto trendy ideas. It's cool to hate capitalism (usually without actually understanding capitalism), etc.

But I was just teasing you in a friendly fashion (which you seem to have realized).

Yeah, I don't understand it. Why let the scalpers make that money when producing an adequate number of units could put that money in Nintendo's pocket?

Tho I don't recall the Wii U being in short supply like this... but I didn't rush out to buy one, so I might be mistaken about that.

Who exactly do you think is scalping who?

I know you were teasing, but it seemed more like a hippie thing to me than a hipster thing. I didn't realize there were more than one kind of hipster. I thought the whole point of hipster individuality was that they were all exactly the same as one another?

I think Nintendo really needs to do more in the way of market analysis. The Wii U's availability was more the result of a initial total lack of interest in the console that did eventually pick up. So again, Nintendo completely misjudged one of their products. But I think it's doing OK now at least.

Nintendo gets its cut from normal resellers. Scalpers don't send part of their inflated price to Nintendo. Instead of providing resellers with more units to sell to consumers at normal prices (the sales of which would profit Nintendo), Nintendo enables the inflated scalping market by limiting supply.

Do I misunderstand the situation?

Call me a cynic.

Someone is trying to artificially inflate prices. Nintendo know their markets.

Well, it's rare but sometimes there's karma:

http://i.imgur.com/CEWKlMNl.jpg

This is the hottest console on the market right now. But will it blend? That is the question.

It doesn't anger me, but it does make me roll my eyes, grin and sigh. As sad as it may be, there is an endless supply of people out there desperate to be the first on the block to pick up the newest fad device/gizmo/whatever. They'll camp out at stores and wait in long long lines and spend exorbitant amounts of money to do so also. Hyperconsumerism at its finest you could say. The sad part is how many people do this who are in debt, or even below the poverty line or have other financial struggles ongoing, but seek out material items like this for some small jolt of very temporary whimsical happiness/thrill. People are responsible for their own decisions of course, but the market knows they're there and strongly seems like they're specifically targeted which is sad.

Makes me think of a phrase that is commonly mis-attributed to P.T. Barnum. :)

Wont catch me waiting in line for any new fads though, I like new things but am also fairly content with 10 year old boring junk too.

Indeed! I've got a Blendtec HP3-A here that we could find out if someone sends me the unit to blend. I've no other use for a video game console so it'd be funny to say the least. ;)

You are not the only one who hates such people. monkeydelarge hates them too. It's because of people like them, everything is so fucking expensive nowadays. No, they can't let people just buy things at reasonable prices. They have to fuck people over for $$$ when they are probably already living like spoiled rich people. Every time, you are suffering because you can't have nice things in life because they are too expensive and you are not rich....it's because of people like them. Fuck these people.

Imagine some poor little 8 year old kid who is a huge fan of the Zelda games. He has no father, only a single mother. Imagine, this kid does good in school and doesn't make his mother's life too difficult. Then imagine, he dreams of getting his hands on the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask Limited Edition 3DS XL. And finally it's out and his birthday is next week. Based on all his previous birthdays, he is almost sure, his mother will get him what he has dreamed about for his birthday. "Mom, can you please get me this 3DS XL for my birthday(thinking it is going to be around $200)?" He says. Then his mother says(after checking online for what her son wants). " I can't afford to spend $600 any time soon. It's just too expensive, son. How about the Nintendo 3DS XL Super Mario Bros. 2 Gold Edition Bundle?" This kid's birthday is ruined. 20 years later, he is caught fucking an inflatable pool raft for the fourth time by the side of the road. Like this guy.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/11/edwin-tobergta-sex-pool-raft-_n_5485696.html