>>10111921
nayrt, but a lot of the items that I see dissappear and get scalped the most often are special sets as they're cheaper (usually also less detailed), more limited, and some come in "exclusive" colours. (Fanny's story doesn't make sense to me for a new release, as you can see a lot of new releases just sitting around in webshops, and you don't need to go to Grand Bazaar for that. Exclusive Grand Bazaar special sets, on the other hand, do attract a crowd and a lot of scalpers, so it's more likely that's what she went to help buy).
So I can see how for a newbie, buying a matched set of jsk + headbow around $150-$300 is an easier way to dip their toes into the hobby, rather than buying the regular dress at $300 +upwards, and then the matching headbow at $30. Meanwhile the more experienced lolitas either like the print, like the simpler cut, or like some exclusive colourway. So I think it's difficult to rule out either side. (Which is probably why scalpers are focusing on this kind of item as it has a wider market appeal).
I don't have an answer, the polyester trend just makes it way easier for me to sit back and not really care whether or not I'm able to buy a release. Some people have been predicting a slowdown in Chinese economy, maybe if we all light a candle to Mana it'll happen faster and the scalpers will slink off to find something else to scalp.