[conservative in nyc]

This might be a situation of dishonest arbitrageurs understanding that the value of the parts is greater than the cost of buying a Tracphone - sell the batteries in bulk to meth lab owners (which they can't get in bulk at Wal*Mart); the phones in bulk to organized crime and terrorists, who don't really need new batteries, just new phones (which they can't get in bulk at Wal*Mart or most places without getting on camera); and the chargers to phone kiosks or just chuck them. Following their customer chain might lead to some very bad people, even if the phone purchasers themselves aren't terrorists.

[Cobra64]

Good points. There were reports that one of these groups were segragating batteries, chargers and the phones.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

"This might be a situation of dishonest arbitrageurs understanding that the value of the parts is greater than the cost of buying a Tracphone - sell the batteries in bulk to meth lab owners (which they can't get in bulk at Wal*Mart); the phones in bulk to organized crime and terrorists, who don't really need new batteries, just new phones (which they can't get in bulk at Wal*Mart or most places without getting on camera); and the chargers to phone kiosks or just chuck them. Following their customer chain might lead to some very bad people, even if the phone purchasers themselves aren't terrorists."

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An excellent thought - - perhaps these guys are arbitraging like Tyson's, which takes whole chickens and repackages them in various parts to increase the margin on the final sale to users. Some people like breasts, others like legs, others want less expensive hot dogs and luncheon meat. Tyson's and similar marketers, serves them all.

[EnquiringMind]

"This might be a situation of dishonest arbitrageurs understanding that the value of the parts is greater than the cost of buying a Tracphone - sell the batteries in bulk to meth lab owners (which they can't get in bulk at Wal*Mart); the phones in bulk to organized crime and terrorists, who don't really need new batteries, just new phones (which they can't get in bulk at Wal*Mart or most places without getting on camera)'


Then why are all of the purchasers Muslim men?

If they were being sold to meth labs and organized crime, wouldn't we see young and old hustlers of all races trying to make a quick buck?