I don't know if this illegal, but at best, it's unethical.

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

My grandmother saw me playing with my Nexus 4 and she really, really liked it. I told her I was on Straight Talk and that she could get the Nexus 4 on $45 a month plan. So I ordered her a Nexus 4. I then tried to order her a Micro SIM card from walmart.com. They were sold out. So I figured I would buy a Standard SIM card and cut it down to Micro size... Nope, sold out.
I then google Straight Talk AT&T SIM cards and a bunch of Amazon and Ebay links pop up. walmart.com sells these SIM cards for 14.95. Amazon and Ebay sell them for $90. What I figured is is that someone bought all of walmart's stock with plans to sell them all back at a nearly 100% profit. Is this illegal, and if not, why do people have to be such jerks?

If you're interested in stopping this behavior, give Straight Talk and Wal-Mart a call. Or, email Wal-Mart at https://corporate.walmart.com/contact-us/store-corporate-feedback#2. You can email Straight Talk at custsrv@straighttalk.com.

Sorry if any of you think this is fair play, but to me, it's bullcrap. If Straight Talk wanted their SIM cards to be $90, that's what they would charge.

 

[Nimbose]

If that is what they're doing (reselling, I mean)... Then yeah, they're being total douchebags. It makes me think of the people who buy Nexus 4 units from google, only to sell them on Ebay at double the cost. It's spiteful. :/

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

I'm sorry you're upset but if you don't like the price someone is charging, nobody is forcing you to buy from them.

If you're going to get mad, get mad at Walmart for running out.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

They didn't run out. People purposely depleted their stock and are now screwing people over. It's bullish capitalism and it's wrong.

- - - Updated - - -

The reason I am so excited... I want her to see just exactly what our generation has accomplished, technology wise. It's very important to me. If she can fully comprehend the advances we have made before she dies, I believe it could be an almost spiritual experience for her.

And she's willing to try. A 60 year old farmer is willing to try and I can't even get it working for because of greedy holes.

Please, email Straight Talk and Wal-Mart and let them know what's going on.

 

[androidluvr2]

If Straight Talk wanted their SIM cards to be $90, that's what they would charge.

The problem is lack of inventory driving the price up. Simple supply and demand. If ST would make enough SIM cards for Walmart to sell for $15, no one would be able to charge $90 for them on ebay.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

The problem is lack of inventory driving the price up. Simple supply and demand. If ST would make enough SIM cards for Walmart to sell for $15, no one would be able to charge $90 for them on ebay.

I understand what you're saying, but your failing to recognize the sleaziness of these people. They bought out Straight Talk's stock. Not to use them in phones, but to simply control the market through bullish capitalism. They don't need the SIM cards. It's horsesh1t.

 

[llamainmypocket]

Sorry if any of you think this is fair play, but to me, it's bullcrap. If Straight Talk wanted their SIM cards to be $90, that's what they would charge.

I don't think it's fair, I know it's fair.

First of all, nobody corners the supply of Walmart. Without knowing anything about this situation i can tell you that with certainty.

Second, the act of taking what is cheap and marking up the price is actually beneficial to the market. You can call it trading, scalping, or flipping. You could fill volumes on the benefit of these acts on an efficient market. They range from price discover to supply protection and distribution.

The notion of market ethics is very complicated and having a good grasp on what is or isn't ethical requires a solid foundation in economic theory. You would be surprised how weird economics gets.

 

[androidluvr2]

The reason I am so excited... I want her to see just exactly what our generation has accomplished, technology wise. It's very important to me. If she can fully comprehend the advances we have made before she dies, I believe it could be an almost spiritual experience for her.

And she's willing to try. A 60 year old farmer is willing to try and I can't even get it working for because of greedy holes.

You can still get it working, it would just cost .more. Also, I think you are misguided if you think 20-somethings are largely responsible for smartphone technology. First of all, the technology is built on the work of many generations of engineers and scientists, some far older than your 60 year old grandmother. The nobel laureates who invented the transistor that none of this would be possible without are long since dead. They aren't in your generation.

And those who conceived of and implemented computer programming, the internet and wireless communications aren't either.

I understand what you're saying, but your failing to recognize the sleaziness of these people. They bought out Straight Talk's stock. Not to use them in phones, but to simply control the market through bullish capitalism. They don't need the SIM cards. It's horsesh1t.

It is still a problem caused by ST's lack of sufficient inventory.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

You can still get it working, it would just cost .more. Also, I think you are misguided if you think 20-somethings are largely responsible for smartphone technology. First of all, the technology is built on the work of many generations of engineers and scientists, some far older than your 60 year old grandmother. The nobel laureates who invented the transistor that none of this would be possible without are long since dead. They aren't in your generation.

And those who conceived of and implemented computer programming, the internet and wireless communications aren't either.


It is still a problem caused by ST's lack of sufficient inventory.

Look, I know the reasons for our advancements can be traced back many generation ago, but you know what I mean. I'm talking about the progress that has been made the last couple decades. H e ll, just this last decade has been insane. I want her to master this tech before she goes. It will give her a better picture of the world she lives in, compared to the world she grew up in.

 

[androidluvr2]

Look, I know the reasons for our advancements can be traced back many generation ago, but you know what I mean. I'm talking about the progress that has been made the last couple decades.

In the last couple of decades, a lot of the progress that has been made in operating systems, wireless communications, semiconductor technology and computer engineering has been made by people who are now as old as your grandmother and even older.

H e ll, just this last decade has been insane. I want her to master this tech before she goes. It will give her a better picture of the world she lives in, compared to the world she grew up in.

You can, you will either just have to wait until ST gets their inventory problems straightened out or pay more if you can't wait.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

In the last couple of decades, a lot of the progress that has been made in operating systems, wireless communications, semiconductor technology and computer engineering has been made by people who are now as old as your grandmother and even older.

You can, you will either just have to wait until ST gets their inventory problems straightened out or pay more if you can't wait.

*sigh* I'll have to bite the bullet I guess. Her phone is here and I want her to be able to use it... It's a damn shame she's paying almost a $100 extra bucks when I told her the original price. The phone: $299. The SIM: 14.95. And after those one-time purchases, 45 a month. Now its $299 for the phone, $100 for the SIM, and $45 a month. It pis ses me off so much because one of the ways I convinced her to try was the cheapness of the whole ordeal.

smh.

 

[androidluvr2]

*sigh* I'll have to bite the bullet I guess. Her phone is here and I want her to be able to use it...

how long will it take for them to come back in stock?

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

how long will it take for them to come back in stock?

No idea. But I imagine it will be a long time. When I was setting up my phone (back in mid Feb), I was looking for a Micro SIM and they were sold out. I bought a standard SIM and a SIM cutter and got myself setup, but to this day, ST Micro SIM cards are sold out. I think that's a sign of things to come. Doesn't look like the stock will be replenished anytime soon, which only adds to the rage I feel for these slimy [removed by moderator]

 

[androidluvr2]

No idea. But I imagine it will be a long time. When I was setting up my phone (back in mid Feb), I was looking for a Micro SIM and they were sold out. I bought a standard SIM and a SIM cutter and got myself setup, but to this day, ST Micro SIM cards are sold out. I think that's a sign of things to come. Doesn't look like the stock will be replenished anytime soon, which only adds to the rage I feel for these slimy [edited by moderator].

I don't understand why ST doesn't produce more of these if there is demand for their product. Is there some reason that they don't? Do the contracts they have with the carriers who own the networks prevent them from producing more of these micro SIM cards?

Also, Walmart could put a limit on the number of cards they will ship to a particular address. That would go a long way to stopping this.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

I don't understand why ST doesn't produce more of these if there is demand for their product. Is there some reason that they don't? Do the contracts they have with the carriers who own the networks prevent them from producing more of these micro SIM cards?

Also, Walmart could put a limit on the number of cards they will ship to a particular address. That would go a long way to stopping this.

This is true, Straight Talk needs to make more, but that still doesn't absolve the people who are practicing shady business ethics.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

Tell ST if they want you to pay $45 a month, they need to sell you a SIM card for $15. Or else you're going to a different MVNO.


And then do it.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

Tell ST if they want you to pay $45 a month, they need to sell you a SIM card for $15. Or else you're going to a different MVNO.


And then do it.

I'll try this and see if it works.

 

[androidluvr2]

Tell ST if they want you to pay $45 a month, they need to sell you a SIM card for $15. Or else you're going to a different MVNO.

I'm not familiar with ST's policies - so do they not allow you to buy the SIM cards from them for $15 and if so, why can you get them from Walmart for $15?

 

[minnemike]

I don't understand why ST doesn't produce more of these if there is demand for their product. Is there some reason that they don't? Do the contracts they have with the carriers who own the networks prevent them from producing more of these micro SIM cards?

Also, Walmart could put a limit on the number of cards they will ship to a particular address. That would go a long way to stopping this.

I think the law to ban unlocking phones made them hesitate with stocking anything new. I assume you can still get ST phones with a sim inside easily?

There is a new bill being introduced to reverse that law - once the dust settles, they will restock.

 

[I_AM_THE_ENTIRE_INTERNET]

I think the law to ban unlocking phones made them hesitate with stocking anything new. I assume you can still get ST phones with a sim inside easily?

There is a new bill being introduced to reverse that law - once the dust settles, they will restock.

ST phones do not come with SIMS. The phones are attached to the service themselves through said phone's serial. I already looked into this.