# Economics questions **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 1, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-questions/527294 "2010-02-01T21:16:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-questions/527294/41 "2010-02-03T21:00:38Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think it’s just one of those obvious “slap your head once you get it” things. > > The OP described how the website worked. People go there and offer games for sale for points. They can also use points to buy games that are on sale. The site now allows you to buy points for money but this was not the case when they started out - you could only obtain points by selling games. > > So it’s day one. The site has just started up. But thanks to pre-publicity, several of us have heard about it and are joining up right away. > > Little Nemo: Great idea for a site. I’ve been meaning to sell my old copy of Mario. Anyone want to buy it for 300 points. > Ruminator: I’ve got a copy of Zelda I’m selling for 400 points. > Wesley Clark: I’ve got Donkey Kong on sale for 350. > Saint Cad: And I’ve got a copy of Kirby that I’m selling for the bargain price of 250. > Little Nemo: Wow, that’s great. I’ve been looking for Kirby. > Saint Cad: 250 points and it’s all yours. > Little Nemo: Well, I don’t have any points yet but as soon as I sell Mario, I’ll get back to you. > Ruminator: No problem, Nemo, I want to buy your Mario. > Little Nemo: Do you have the 300 points? > Ruminator: No, not yet, I just got here. > Wesley Clark: I think I priced my Donkey Kong too high. I’m reducing the price to 200 points. > Saint Cad: That’s a bargain but I don’t have 200 points. > Little Nemo: I already said I don’t have anything yet. > Ruminator: Me neither. > Little Nemo: Does anyone here have any points? > Wesley Clark: I don’t. > Saint Cad: I’ve got nothing. > Ruminator: I’ve still at zero. > Little Nemo: And I don’t have any points either. > > (long pause) > > Wesley Clark: So how can any of us buy something? Do none of you folks have cash? Why not one of you at least say, “Screw the points, I’ll give you $15 for Super Mario Bros.”. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-questions/527294/42 "2010-02-03T21:26:50Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Do none of you folks have cash? Why not one of you at least say, “Screw the points, I’ll give you $15 for Super Mario Bros.”. do you even need cash? let’s barter ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-questions/527294/43 "2010-02-03T21:35:34Z")
You could also have an un-balanced trade (I forgot what the technical term was). If Super Mario Bros. is selling for 300 points, and Zelda is selling for 600, the house (government) could cause the transaction to take place (assuming each wanted what the other was selling) and the person getting SMB for his Zelda would get SMB and 300 points to use in the next transaction. The obvious answer is that the market place was already seeded somehow, for instance, buying points for half price. The question is why would the market place do this? The obvious answer is to drive traffic, and not just for ad revenue. I don’t what the site looks like, but in today’s internet economy, traffic driving still isn’t enough to generate (useful) revenue. Though, it might be if the site owners have extremely low expectations. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-questions/527294/44 "2010-02-03T21:50:22Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > do you even need cash? let’s barter Bartering is a pain in the ass, that is why money was invented in the first place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/economics-questions/527294.md?page=2)