We get very annoyed when things are described as ‘limited’. We’re talking records, especially vinyl, books maybe, runs of plays, even camera models. We suspect that on some occasions we are simply being scammed.
Limited surely is the opposite of unlimited. This latter means that there could be as many as you like, an infinite number. So limited means a finite number, some kind of absolute maximum. This could be a huge number though.
It’s obvious that everything is limited. The resouces of the planet are not infinite. Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd may have already sold 45 million copies, and it may well sell another 45 million, and it could go on being produced for centuries, but one day it will stop, because it has to.
What ‘limited’ means, we think, is special. A cd box set with a bonus disc, perhaps, a vinyl record on coloured plastic, whatever.
The implication is that, once these are gone, there will be no more. There may be something different, more cd box sets without the bonus disc, but when the limited item is gone, that’s it for that.
We understand why companies say things are limited. It appeals to the die hard fans, they are motivated to buy before it runs out, the company can charge more, it’s good publicity.
People seem to buy some ‘limited’ item because they believe it will be an investment. No doubt others will lose out, so the purchaser can re-sell and make a hefty profit. We know of people who have bought five copies of the exact same vinyl record just to collect all the colours, because they were ‘limited’.
It’s annoying when something is produced as ‘limited’ and sells out, then you find that, because of demand or whatever, they are making more. That’s dishonest and pure greed.
If something is limited we’d like some indication of just how many eg “limited to 500 copies”. Maybe they are all numbered. We know that they have made more than the stated number, of course. For items like sweets, they can be available for a limited time, after which they must be gone.
If something has been limited and is now sold out, we don’t want to see the company making more, even if it is ‘in response to public demand’ or whatever.