Scalper
A scalper is someone who buys items, often in high demand and limited supply (like event tickets, gaming consoles, or collectibles), with the intent of reselling them at a higher price. The term is commonly used in contexts such as:
- Ticket Scalping: Reselling concert, sports, or event tickets at inflated prices, often taking advantage of fans unable to buy tickets directly due to sellouts.
- Product Scalping: Purchasing limited-edition or high-demand items (e.g., gaming consoles, GPUs, sneakers) and reselling them at a premium, often using automated tools like bots to outpace regular buyers.
- Day Trading Scalping: In finance, a scalper refers to a trader who makes quick trades, aiming to profit from small price changes over short periods.
Scalping often draws criticism because it exploits scarcity and drives up prices for genuine buyers. Some jurisdictions have laws or regulations aimed at curbing ticket scalping and bot-based practices.