Gino Kenny raises alarm over 'price scalping' of consoles
Gino Kenny raised concerns in the Dáil about a practice he called "price scalping", using gaming consoles as his example and asking whether the Government planned to ban it. The Tánaiste replied that ticket touting legislation had been introduced earlier in the year and that a new Consumer Protection Act next year - led by the department and the minister in particular - might provide an opportunity to address the issue.
Praise for colleagues
Gino Kenny began by associating himself with earlier remarks and praising fellow TDs and staff, saying they "do a tremendous job in an extremely difficult year."
Price scalping and console example
Kenny described a practice he had only recently heard of called price scalping - when demand outstrips supply and intermediaries and shops mark up goods well above retail. He cited gaming consoles as an example, saying a device that would normally cost €500 was being sold for up to €880 after intermediaries took a premium and shops added further margins.
Question on banning the practice
Kenny asked whether there were plans to ban price scalping. The Tánaiste responded that the Government had brought in ticket touting legislation earlier in the year and said a forthcoming Consumer Protection Act, which will replace the Sale of Goods and Sale of Services Act, is the major consumer law reform next year and could be the opportunity to deal with the issue. The Tánaiste noted the reform is being led by the department and the minister in particular.
Record of the exchange
The transcript records the exchange clearly through the policy references, then becomes partially garbled and unintelligible at the end of the record, concluding the exchange on this topic.
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I do want to associate your remarks earlier on in relation to fellow TDs and staff in here. They do a tremendous job in an extremely difficult year. Tanaiste, earlier this year the Government brought in legislation around ticket touting that banned above-price resales. It was obviously a very progressive piece of legislation. There's also a practice going on which I never heard of until very recently called price scalping. So this practice happens when something is in demand and there's not enough supply. So for example in relation to gaming consoles at the moment. The thing is that somebody buys a gaming console for €500, they sell it then to one of the high street shops which I'm not going to mention here, which are buy and sell products. They get a 10% premium and then that company, which is not far from here, sell it for an exorbitant price, up to 75% of the retail value. So if you go online or go down to that shop, the product would normally cost €500, it would cost €880. Now obviously it's profiteered and kind of touting by another way, but is there plans to ban this practice? Thanks Deputy, I hadn't heard of that practice, or at least not that term. As you mentioned, we brought in ticket touting legislation, which was the big consumer legislation for this year. Next year we're going to have a new Consumer Protection Act, which will replace the Sale of Goods and Sale of Services Act. So it's a big, being led by my department and Minister Troy in particular, so it is the big reform, if you like, of consumer law. That's going to happen next year, so that might be the opportunity to deal with it. Would you like to go online, and let it have been done with your investment? The answer is the main thing toеров right now. I need the outspoters. The choice is fine. We talk about everything other things. I want to open my window photos. I really believe that it is. This is outspoters. You've got a unique option and and there is nothing but tall I sehen. You've got an!'
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