And there it is above, folks: the EasyTrip RFIDs that originally sell for only Php200 each are now being sold online for as much as Php900!
The November 2 implementation of the 100% cashless toll collection system on all Luzon expressways (NLEX, SLEX, TPLEX, etc.) has become a high profile event, causing a shortage of EasyTrip RFID stickers at designated service stations. But the scarcity may have been artificially created by online entrepreneurs.
Whenever a high profile event sells out, you can be sure that retail arbitrageurs are at work, endeavoring to make profits at the expense of those who missed out. Much like ticket scalping – when tickets for popular events sell out fast, people take advantage of the shortage by selling tickets for a mark-up in the secondary market. This is what is happening now on the RFID online market places.
You see, in a situation where an online entrepreneur is certain that the demand for products will be greater than supply at the face value price, he is able to purchase them now and be assured of a profit on resale, once the supply in the primary market is exhausted.
So by the time you'll be ready to make the purchase, everything's sold out and your RFID sticker is going for thrice the asking price on online websites. Just like the alcohol and face masks all over again.
You wonder, why is this happening, and what is the EasyTrip management doing to stop this?
According to automotive guru, Top Gear, EasyTrip operator Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) conducted their own investigation and found out that "these resellers apparently availed of the express and stick-it-yourself Easytrip RFIDs that were made available a while back."
Hence, the company encourages all RFID customers to buy their RFID tags only via the authorized Easytrip customer service stations. The initial cost of each RFID tag is still priced at Php200 each and customers should not pay more than this amount.
Legit companies like the MPTC hate to see their RFID stickers fall into the hands of enterprising resellers. They don't profit from the artificially increased prices and hate to hear from disappointed customers. When this happens. it only means that they sold an RFID sticker to a business, not to a consumer.
Resellers or wholesalers: Whatever you call them, they're the bane of both consumers and suppliers. They are online storefronts that instead of producing their own merchandise, they instead find and source products from other suppliers to sell from their store. They purchase popular products, then sell them for huge markups. In some ways, they're not all that different from a guy hanging out near a concert venue, trying to sell last-minute tickets to anyone who happens to be passing by.
To know more abut installation and reloading of EasyTrip, as well as Autosweep RFID stickers, read COMPLETE GUIDE: Where to install and reload your RFID stickers for NLEX, TPLEX, SLEX, NAIAX, STAR, other expressways
ANY THOUGHTS?
Share your ideas in the comments box below.
If you have read this post here, I'd like to inform you that the original post is at https://emongsjournals.blogspot.com