Sellers Union? (in General)

It has been suggested a few times, so I thought I might see if there was any interest in starting a $CB2 sellers union. We would make sure that you get as much as possible for your products, by monopolizing the market. Thoughts? Questions?
Remember that this will work to the benefit of the producer (the little guys) and the detriment of the consumer (the big guys) and help even the playing field (by reducing the amount that the top chars can reasonably buy). I see no flaws to this, other than those of you who don't care how much you get for the money...

"amount that the top chars can reasonably buy"

a very unneeded comment in there, it is not only the top players who buy CB2.

Just like it is not only NUBs who sell it.

If a buyers union was started, which group do you think would win?

True, but they are the majority buyers, by far from the looks of recent buy cb2 posts...

Honestly? I think the buyers one would, there are probably fewer buyers than sellers, and most sellers are probably just trying to get money from a free game...
P.S. sorry for the double post : )

Mikel, neither would "win". Both groups would be foolishly thinking they can control the market and push it in the direction they wish, while those outside these "unions" carry on completely oblivious to the union's actions.

Nightmare, I totally disagree with you.
There is a lot less buyers than sellers, so it would be much easier to organize and keep organized than the sellers union.

"and most sellers are probably just trying to get money from a free game... "


and this has been my issue for sometime now, people who are just here to turn a quick buck and leave. Never being part of the community, just cashing in on those who make purchases.


Again, the word MOST is used, which is not all inclusive of everyone who sells CB2. Sometimes you need money and rather than take the TV to the pawn shop you have something you didn't put any money into that can be sold to put a few dollars in the pocket of the needy. But this doesn't mean the price should remain high so we can feel better about ourselves on those selected few instances.

I personally have never sold $cb. I am thinking of it (after I get out of debt) because paypal doesn't like my bank for some reason, and I would like to purchase a new 512 RAM chip so I can play AOE3 on my comp without the 5 minute "loading breaks." and, of course, I'd like to sell as little CB2 as possible (because it hurts my char) while still being able to buy it. Thus, I liked the idea of a sellers union.

“People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public or in some contrivance to raise prices.”

And then go and read up on how oligopolies typically fail.

LOL, get a second job or a first one. Don't rely on selling CB2, which is something you got for nothing and expect to get a BMW out if it for x-mas.

Personally, I actually disagree with this idea, especially if it resulted in a buyer's union (as both might be stubborn... leading to no good). Sorry Rommel =P

As for making money for a free game, so what? I see nothing wrong with making a few bucks. Even if Jonathan saw something wrong with it, he would probably do something to stop it.

If you're a buyer, don't complain about sellers making money. You're %100 supporting them making profit as you're their provider for USD. Whether they sell at 10:1 or 15:1, you're still helping them make a profit. If you don't like the idea, don't buy.

What is this "big guys vs. little guys" load? And why do buyers always get labelled as "The BAD Guys?" There is no injustice going on, because THIS IS A FREE GAME! You spend a little (what is supposed to be) leisure time hitting "C - Enter", and you end up with a product that you can coincidentally sell at infinite profit. I say infinite because IT NEVER COST YOU ANYTHING TO PRODUCE IT!!!! If you get $1, $10, $15 per mil, it's all the same - you are exploiting the benefits of the game for PURE PROFIT. If anyone should be labelled bad guys, it's anyone who sells any CB2$ for any USD!

But I'm not here to label anyone. I'm a buyer, myself. Sometimes a lot, sometimes none for long stretches. I pay what I AM WILLING TO PAY at the time I'm looking to buy. No one dictates how much or little except myself, and the individual seller that I am dealing with at any given time. I also have a feeling that there are a lot more "low key" buyers like out there.
I don't assume to speak for anyone else, but I for one am really getting pissed at all this stuff about "price fixing" and how all the "big buyers" are
driving the price down and it's hurting the "poor little sellers". No one is hurting you, you spoiled little children - IT IS A FREE GAME! IT IS NOT A JOB FOR YOU TO EARN CHRISTMAS MONEY WITH! GET OVER YOURSELVES! Oops - I just labelled the complainers "spoiled little children" - sorry :P

In 1.5 weeks I get a very substantial Christmas bonus. I was thinking of sinking some into my main character. If I'm not so annoyed with all this that I want to leave CB2 by then, someone (maybe 1, maybe several) could make some good money off of me, if they play the CB2$ for USD$ portion of CB2 a lot smarter than this...

How about Sellers of Onions? That might be fun.

:/

Especially with all the tears people are shedding!

BarzooMonkey, you almost got away without labeling =D.

Anyways, guilty? I say no one should be except those buyers bashing on sellers for making profit off a free game. Just because its not a job does not make it wrong to make money if it isn't against the rules.

barzoo:
I only was refering to the fact that the majority of buyers are larger/more experienced players. I was not calling anyone the "bad guy," which I clarified even further when I said that I had never sold cb2, thus I am not a participant yet in this market. I but put to voice in a separate thread what has been said a few times elsewhere.
The reason I chose to endorse this idea, is that I do not choose to buy cb2 with usd. I prefer to earn it the old fasioned way. Not that it's bad, just not something I do. I chose to endorse this idea as a means to lower the impact on the playablility that this possiblity creates. Players who do put Usd into their character, will gain more of an advantage the cheaper cb2 sells for. My hope was to avoid this and keep the game more focused on the skill/how obsessed you are with the game. (it is 4:00 am here in germany and I am still on cb2 : )
But I can see that this idea will take too much heat to really make a difference. Maybe that will change as the value of cb2 continues to fall.

Time = Money (I love this equation! It's so simple, elegant and easy to understand...^_^ )

Okay, one response, and then I'm done with this:

I don't believe it's wrong to make money off of this, since it's not against the rules. Actually, I encourage it by being a buyer. However, how much is made needs to be kept in perspective - remember, it's not real, and only has the value that the buyer is willing to place on it.

That reflects in the time is money equation. The value placed on time in RL is based on the value produced in that time, and the expertise required of the individual selling that time. I can make upwards of $125 an hour doing what I do, because there are less than 6 or 8 people in my city who can do it as well as I can. My attorney charges and gets $450+ an hour for her services, because a whole lot of education and expertise and licensing and restrictions are required.

Following that analogy, absolutely anyone can sign up and hit "C - Return" multiple times. Add the fact that it's not real, and that doesn't put a whole lot of extra value on that time. Not such a simple equation any more.

If one wants to make USD off of it, one needs to realize that CB$ is simply a buyer's commodity, period.

You call yourself a seller yet are also a buyer. Everything is trade and purchasing using different items.
I buy an apple using money, the shop buys my money using an apple. Someone buys your CB using USD and you buy their USD using CB which you had to retrospectively "earn".
Fair enough, both sides want the best price for them but as the old CB saying goes "If you don't like the prices, don't sell"

and thus the point of a union zoglog, we would all not sell until the price was right. but it seems that support is lacking...

And people started flaming me when I was trying to get a million for 10 bucks. All sort of people accused me of trying to drive the price down.

Pot meet Kettle.

this is simply in response to what you've been doing Ranger

MM, Ranger is not the only one buying at $10, why don't you speak to chappy who is also doing it.

Or since he is in your clan he is exempt?

This is not an attack on chappy, this is an attack MM's double standards.

i'm simply saying Ranger started it... but hey Chappy didn't tell other people to do it either... unlike your fearless leader

No, he rode the coattails quietly taking advantage of something Ranger is flamed for.

I am still trying to figure out why you care, I thought you were leaving.

bet you'd love it if i did eh :)...to bad

Explosive, 4:44 PM EST :
"i'm simply saying Ranger started it... but hey Chappy didn't tell other people to do it either... unlike your fearless leader"

Now this is the misconception. I NEVER told my clanmates to only buy at 10 usd per million. All I ever stated was that I was buying it for that much. And I was not the first to offer 10 usd for a million.

I have said this many times but apparently you think and say whatever you want to try to make your point. It is sad you do so with wrong information and lie in attempts at logic.

"i'm simply saying Ranger started it"

Actually Nightstrike started it and he was tarred and feathered for it.

your denying you told me you were stratigizing (sp?) with your clan mates to get the price down Ranger?

and since a couple people got it for 10, I saw no point in paying more for it myself.

Explosive:

I do not know how many times I have to post that I did not tell my clanmates at what rate to buy cb2 at. Again, for you to read for the 30th time, I told my clanmates at what rate I buy at.

In BR we agree not to overbid each other. Now some may say this is close to a cartel since we have a lot of the cb2 buyers. But a lot of clans have the same rule. And I am not going to break that rule since people are upset the cb2 rate is going down.

so... if you make an offer in every thread that is bellow the market standard and you know they won't outbid you...

Again,

You say 10 usd is below market standard. I say it is what it is worth. And again, there are other cb2 buyers than those in BR. Many of my offers have been overbid by them. If I would offer 5 usd per million, do you not think I would get outbid quickly? Or the sellers would reject my offer quickly?

The market standard is what people will sell and buy for. This is all I have ever said. You seem to want to keep the price above the "market standard".

Let us not forget your clanmates that offer 10 usd. But I guess since they are in Supreme they are immune from any negatives.

read my example about computer chips or take a marketing course.

"Five dollars....Yar brotha too beaucoup"

It is like talking to a brick wall.

It was just a quote just like this one i found very funny:

Private Joker: What do we get for ten dollars?
Person: Every t'ing you want.
Private Joker: Every thing?
Person: Every t'ing.

because i don't agree with his holy QB master of all things... i'm shocked

to expect such a thing is ridiculous, there's too much money floating around. Im quite sure I can find a deal for less than $15 per mil. wish to prove me wrong? look in FS/WTB :)

I'm sick of this. Shut up!

1mil CB1$ sold for $10 USD for YEARS. THAT is the fair market value, people. CB2$ value has been inflated now for 1 YEAR because it is nice and fresh and new. But it's turning one year old now. It's ABOUT TIME that the market value came down to where it belongs.



/rant