Hacker News Reader

Comment by dotancohen | Hacker News Reader

Doesn't buying a used pixel encourage the sale of new pixels by demonstrating a healthy resale value?

I don't think the market of people buying used phones for the purpose of graphene is going to make a dent in profits for Google. It raises resale value maybe by say, $0, considering the price is set by the average consumer

Well then buying them directly from Google would have no effect either.

Except that Google would then get the profits

It's not about Google, it's about OP's personal values

But if you think buying on the secondhand market doesn't impact the market, why do you think buying from the OEM does?

It's one phone's worth of demand either way.

Nobody is buying pixels specifically to resells them. If anything there fast reduction in value makes them less attractive.

First hand = money goes directly to Google including margin

Second hand = money only goes towards a private person, 0$ for google. At best it prevents usable phones being thrown into landfill.

> If anything there fast reduction in value makes them less attractive.

Right. And if you buy a secondhand one you are increasing their value on the secondhand market. Reducing the depreciation increases the value of the brand new phone.

That was addressed further up: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47243976

No it wasn't. That's the exact point I'm refuting.

If you don't think voting with your wallet works, then that is a position you can take. But you can't think it works when buying from the OEM but doesn't work when buying on the secondary market.

Sure you can, because you're talking about different inputs in your supply and demand scenario. You're also talking about different opportunity costs for the OEM, different incentives, and different outcomes. You're also assuming the person selling their Pixel is buying another Pixel, and not switching to a device made by a different OEM.

And ultimately, if buying it on the secondary market in such small numbers that it doesn't move the market, then it adequately addresses the concern.

Edit: I'm not saying there's zero effect of it, but it's likely statistically insignificant.

I never considered resale value when buying a phone. Is that really something people look for?

I often hear resale talk from iPhone buyers.

How much of that is self-justification for convincing themselves to buy something expensive?

that depends what you consider a healthy resale value, I bought my Pixel 6a with no issues for 100EUR :-) (and not because I care about Google's business, I don't have gapps in my phone, I just like good deals/VFM)

Yes, because everyone is a perfectly rational agent in the economy.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com