We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Selling Reservation Numbers For Wii's

Colliefrog
Colliefrog Posts: 602 Forumite
in It's gone, but was it any good?
Just wondered what the general opinion on this is...

As you probably know, people are selling reservation numbers for Wii's on eBay. They're charging about £5-£10.

My personal opinion is that it is wrong. They are cashing in on people's desperation and I do not think it is fair. Some of them don't actually sell so the seller re-reserves the item preventing other genuine customers from reserving one.

I know Argos don't agree with this and Security Solutions has been informed about, but I'm not sure what (if anything) they are doing about it.

So what is your opinion? I'd guess that the majority of people who want a Wii would pay for a reservation number seeing as they are like rocking horse s**t to get hold of at the moment!
«1

Comments

  • sparkleworld
    sparkleworld Posts: 342 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    I have a friend who works at Argos and she said the last delivery of Wii's Argos recieved had all been reserved within 2 minutes!!!!! I think that was nationwide..... So now Argos are only allowing a certain amount to be reserved and the rest are available to genuine in-store customers to allow joe public to actually get their hands on them. She said Argos thought it was their competitors because the time between availability and reservation was so short!
    So if you are looking for a wii it might be worth actually going instore.

    Hope this is helpful to someone
    Regards
    Sparkleworld
  • Colliefrog
    Colliefrog Posts: 602 Forumite
    We had a similar situation at our store. We had 9 in for weeks and they were being reserved but not picked up, then reserved again as soon as the reservation expired. They were all reserved within 2 minutes so we guessed they weren't genuine reservations. We've now cancelled the reservations and put some our stock on sob so the only way people can buy them is to come in store or reserve them from another store and we have reserved a couple under the store name just in case we cancelled a genuine customers reservation.

    In my opinion Argos should not allow any reservations on the Wii's and just sell them in stores on a first come first served basis.
  • saintscouple
    saintscouple Posts: 4,313 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Colliefrog wrote: »
    In my opinion Argos should not allow any reservations on the Wii's and just sell them in stores on a first come first served basis.

    Totally Agree.
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    I agree with Colliefrog and saintscouple, but I think if they did this, some stores would need security (the one I am thinking of already has it, but would definitely need more) ... could start World War III! x
    Gone ... or have I?
  • azureus
    azureus Posts: 27 Forumite
    Is this thread ironic?

    how about they are really desperate people with kids and too little food who are using their ingenuity to earn a couple of pounds? I don't find that disgusting or wrong.

    or look at it as they are giving a service - the people who buy the reservation didn't not have to organise themselves to reserve one while it was still for sale but they still get a guaranteed purchase.

    are the folks who buy the reservation number not genuine customers?

    as for "absolutely disgusting" behaviour being expected of everyone who sells on eBay - now that is funny - pretending to insult millions of people at once, very clever.
  • dvds2000
    dvds2000 Posts: 98 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Kilty wrote: »
    Argos should change their reservation system so you enter a name and are required to show photographic ID upon pick up :)

    So anyone without photo ID can't reserve one? Bit unfair on the many thousands of people who don't drive or have a passport isn't it?
  • saintscouple
    saintscouple Posts: 4,313 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    azureus wrote: »
    Is this thread ironic?

    how about they are really desperate people with kids and too little food who are using their ingenuity to earn a couple of pounds? I don't find that disgusting or wrong.

    Morally unacceptable, taking advantage of other peoples rights to make a reservation for a product they wish to purchase, and charging them for it!
    azureus wrote: »
    or look at it as they are giving a service - the people who buy the reservation didn't not have to organise themselves to reserve one while it was still for sale but they still get a guaranteed purchase..

    Because someone has placed a reservation with no intention to purchase, and if not sold on ebay, other genuine buyers who make the effort to get off their backsides and go to the store miss out!
    azureus wrote: »
    are the folks who buy the reservation number not genuine customers?

    Yes, but the seller who made the reservation is not, and that is the point everyone here is trying to make.
    Morally speaking, reservations should only be made if you wish to purchase the item, not to potentially make yourself a quick buck, and restrict genuine buyers.
  • azureus
    azureus Posts: 27 Forumite
    saintscouple wrote: »
    Morally unacceptable, taking advantage of other peoples rights to make a reservation for a product they wish to purchase, and charging them for it!

    Morally unacceptable to feed hungry children doing an entirley legal thing - you clearly have different morals than me.

    Because someone has placed a reservation with no intention to purchase, and if not sold on ebay, other genuine buyers who make the effort to get off their backsides and go to the store miss out!

    If they hadn't placed the reservation other would have bought it and the genuine buyers who then buy the reservation wouldn't get one - do you get the concept of capitalism?


    Yes, but the seller who made the reservation is not, and that is the point everyone here is trying to make.
    Morally speaking, reservations should only be made if you wish to purchase the item, not to potentially make yourself a quick buck, and restrict genuine buyers.

    They aren't restricting genuine buyers just using the foolishness of people who have no patience and a disproportionate desire to follow a trend against them. Anyone can buy the reservation from them. Taking money off the gullible is what the Brits do, it is called enterprise. If people weren't prepared to buy it then people couldn't sell it.

    I say again - I can imagine many desperate people out there who would turn to what ever legal thing they can to turn a few pounds and if someone gets there wii a few weeks earlier or later and pays a couple of pounds more for it I am fine with that.

    I don't have a wii and haven't reserved any so I can sell it on - the effort isn't worth the couple of pounds to me - so I have some milk of human kindness for those who need to resort to that to make a couple of quid.

    Please try to have a little empathy for the plight of others.
  • saintscouple
    saintscouple Posts: 4,313 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    azureus wrote: »
    They aren't restricting genuine buyers just using the foolishness of people who have no patience and a disproportionate desire to follow a trend against them. Anyone can buy the reservation from them. Taking money off the gullible is what the Brits do, it is called enterprise. If people weren't prepared to buy it then people couldn't sell it.

    I say again - I can imagine many desperate people out there who would turn to what ever legal thing they can to turn a few pounds and if someone gets there wii a few weeks earlier or later and pays a couple of pounds more for it I am fine with that.

    I don't have a wii and haven't reserved any so I can sell it on - the effort isn't worth the couple of pounds to me - so I have some milk of human kindness for those who need to resort to that to make a couple of quid.

    Please try to have a little empathy for the plight of others.

    Your points seems to be only based on the presumption that those who sell these reservation numbers are 'desperate people'.
    All this talk of empathy and plight of others, i can't believe is being used to substantiate the selling of reservation numbers on ebay.

    Let's agree to disagree and let others have their say
  • 3KIDSNOMONEY
    3KIDSNOMONEY Posts: 811 Forumite
    I had been searching for a wii and was unable to get one. I was in my local argos and saw one on display and bought it immediately. Even though the store had 3 in they weren't able to let people reserve them online because of things like the ebay problem.
    now mum of 4!!!
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.2K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.5K Life & Family
  • 259K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture