Thai Student Charged For Re-selling Textbooks on Ebay

"Discount sellers like Costco and Target and Internet giants eBay and Amazon help form an estimated $63 billion annual market for goods that are purchased abroad, then imported and resold without the permission of the manufacturer. The U.S.-based sellers, and consumers, benefit from the common practice of manufacturers to price items more cheaply abroad than in the United States. This phenomenon is sometimes called a parallel market or grey market."

This seems like a form of price gouging to me. Why are we charged higher prices than the rest of the world in the first place? I know manufacturer's can choose to set whatever prices they want, but if companies such as Amazon, Ebay, etc. play the manufacturer's little game (and beat them at it) by buying cheaper oversees and then importing, what right does the manufacturer have to say anything? If I legally purchase something anywhere in the world, shouldn't it be mine to sell to whomever I want (in the world)?

Quote from AngryPirate : "Discount sellers like Costco and Target and Internet giants eBay and Amazon help form an estimated $63 billion annual market for goods that are purchased abroad, then imported and resold without the permission of the manufacturer. The U.S.-based sellers, and consumers, benefit from the common practice of manufacturers to price items more cheaply abroad than in the United States. This phenomenon is sometimes called a parallel market or grey market." This seems like a form of price gouging to me. Why are we charged higher prices than the rest of the world in the first place? I know manufacturer's can choose to set whatever prices they want, but if companies such as Amazon, Ebay, etc. play the manufacturer's little game (and beat them at it) by buying cheaper oversees and then importing, what right does the manufacturer have to say anything? If I legally purchase something anywhere in the world, shouldn't it be mine to sell to whomever I want (in the world)?

I'm surprised people in the USA haven't risen up en mass in protest over the costs of cell phones, text charges, etc. as in Europe they're dirt cheap. We're getting ripped off big time.

Quote from LordOfChaos : Yeah I will be careful not to buy and resell bootleg items...

Well, the kid isn't selling bootleg copies of the books. He's selling legit books sold overseas. If the kid loses in court, it will set a precedent that will affect many online sellers and even b&m stores. Because, the selling of grey market merchandise is very common. Even Amazon does it.

Quote from chewspam : My great, great grandmother was black on my father's side, and my great grandmother was a full blooded descendant from the Creek Indian tribe. Sooooooo....Ne-ner Ne-ner Neeee-ner!

So? Doesn't mean you're not racist. You're still white.

Quote : Oh yeah.....and your statement about me being white....TOTALLY RACIST!!!

I swear, people don't understand the term "racist" anymore. Just because I identified you as white conveys the message that I think one race is superior to another?

I can't describe a person as white, black, latino, asian, etc? How is that racist?

What if I write a paper, and quote a journal article saying that prominence of sickle cell anemia is more common in black people than in other races? Or Tay Sachs is more common in Jewish people than other races? Using identifiers is racist?

Do people not UNDERSTAND what racist even means?

Quote from z2g : Well, the kid isn't selling bootleg copies of the books. He's selling legit books sold overseas. If the kid loses in court, it will set a precedent that will affect many online sellers and even b&m stores. Because, the selling of grey market merchandise is very common. Even Amazon does it.

Didn't he already lose? I thought this article was about him filing an appeal to the original decision.

Quote from Maleficent : So? Doesn't mean you're not racist. You're still white. I swear, people don't understand the term "racist" anymore. Just because I identified you as white conveys the message that I think one race is superior to another? I can't describe a person as white, black, latino, asian, etc? How is that racist? What if I write a paper, and quote a journal article saying that prominence of sickle cell anemia is more common in black people than in other races? Or Tay Sachs is more common in Jewish people than other races? Using identifiers is racist? Do people not UNDERSTAND what racist even means? Didn't he already lose? I thought this article was about him filing an appeal to the original decision.

How come you only ever type in black...that seems pretty racist.

Quote from Maleficent : I can't describe a person as white, black, latino, asian, etc? How is that racist?

I think the proper terms are, white, negro, hispanic, and oriental. Please, think of culture feelings before you post.

Thank you,

Red Man.

Quote from AngryPirate : How come you only ever type in black...that seems pretty racist.

I don't like people that type in other colors.

Quote from jsean : I think the proper terms are, white, negro, hispanic, and oriental. Please, think of culture feelings before you post. Thank you, Red Man.

Change white to "honkey" and then that'd be about right.

Quote from Maleficent : Change white to "honkey" and then that'd be about right.

I prefer European American....or Captain Awesome.

I'm the Heinz 57 of Western Europe.

Quote from Maleficent : So? Doesn't mean you're not racist. You're still white. I swear, people don't understand the term "racist" anymore. Just because I identified you as white conveys the message that I think one race is superior to another? I can't describe a person as white, black, latino, asian, etc? How is that racist? What if I write a paper, and quote a journal article saying that prominence of sickle cell anemia is more common in black people than in other races? Or Tay Sachs is more common in Jewish people than other races? Using identifiers is racist? Do people not UNDERSTAND what racist even means? Didn't he already lose? I thought this article was about him filing an appeal to the original decision.

I totally agree!

Have you gotten to the episode of community yet where the black dude (McDonald...don't remember his character's name) accuses Abed of being a racist, and Abed just matter of factly tells him that stating a fact about race isn't racist: it's statistics?

Quote from chewspam : I totally agree! Have you gotten to the episode of community yet where the black dude (McDonald...don't remember his character's name) accuses Abed of being a racist, and Abed just matter of factly tells him that stating a fact about race isn't racist: it's statistics?

Yes!!

I that show! I've seen them all.

And he is right! Just acknowledging that there are differences is not "racist."

I've found that statistics are generally racist towards white people.

Quote from AngryPirate : I've found that statistics are generally racist towards white people.

I'd say affirmative action is even more so.

Quote from Maleficent : Yes!! I that show! I've seen them all. And he is right! Just acknowledging that there are differences is not "racist."

But just the fact that we agree is kind of scaring me.