5 ms·

I think the point is more that it's strange that these giant retailers who've gotten to where they are because they are basically experts at selling goods retai

I think the point is more that it's strange that these giant retailers who've gotten to where they are because they are basically experts at selling goods retail are creating these arbitrage opportunities and largely ignoring them. Intuitively, what you'd expect is for the retailers to find a way to close the arbitrage gap. But in the U.S. we have this kind of strange notion of retailers setting prices based on guidance from the wholesaler or producer and then not allowing any price negotiation. These retailers are used to a world in which realizing the resulting arbitrage was not worth anyone's time or money but the internet has changed that and they haven't adapted.

noir_lord 8y ago
My partner makes 'spare' money arbitraging between TK Maxx and ebay in the UK, she follows all the big fashion vloggers on youtube then buys the stuff she thinks will sell based on spotting trends across them, she frequently makes 100% margin and averages >50% (across everything). She does it because it's fun and she's bored but so far she's really damn good at it. I find it funny that someone with an advanced degree in finance spends her spare time doing that but it's a hobby and she makes more than I do playing Chess (which is zero) so I can't laugh.