thought about econ (in General)

Today in chat there was a bit of debate about auction monopolization. I wanted to see what the wider community thinks about it (few people buying up items they don't need just for resale value) along with this side issue : It seems we like to debate how better to keep new players... Does anyone think that the concept that this auction monopolization adversely affects new players is a significant problem?

*th00p keeps the seal on any names

Well auction 'monopolization' is just another way to make money, like fighting or forging. Sure I was arguing against it, but that doesn't make it wrong - I just think people should limit how much they do it, because they raise the prices of products and I find it morally irresponsible.

uhhhhhm...

not really

No offence to any ex campers but I remember what it was like to be a new player when campers got all the items and sold them for huge amounts of cash. Because back in those days new players didn't have the NUB. Took a while before I was able to own rares.

You can at least get hold of stuff in auctions if you're persistant enough, and normally at decent prices - comparatively. ;)

i used monopolization just as a term everyone knows, not necessarily a truthful description of what i think happens... but if you think something is "morally irresponsible", how do you not think its wrong? :)

No offence to any ex campers but I remember what it was like to be a new player when campers got all the items and sold them for huge amounts of cash. Because back in those days new players didn't have the NUB. Took a while before I was able to own rares.

You can at least get hold of stuff in auctions if you're persistant enough, and normally at decent prices - comparatively. ;)
.......................
actually... me and Jibfest, along with other campers and forgers in CB services inc, did not mark up the price. We worked together to hold prices stable... that was our goal and we obtained that goal.

I played a little in cb1 and thats what made me keep coming back to CB, to achieve 1 rare as it was quite difficult and fun to purchase, wereas nowadays its so easy to get them... Is this going off subject a little?

It's kind of like voting: if you do it every so often it's okay, but doing it all the time is just plain wrong.

Yeah SBW, there were some of you were cool; I remember the contests that a few of you guys threw with great prizes gotten from camping. But there were some - like there are now - who resold for a huge profit and at prices a new player back then couldn't afford. Of course now there is the NUB that's not so much of a problem.

Buying and selling - the merchant class to this game - is as important as fighting or forging to some. I don't particularly think it should be limited, same as I didn't think camping was a problem. In this case I really do think if you have a problem with it then do the same yourself. You could do what I (used to) do with rare ammo and buy it up and give it away!

It's more of an oligopoly ;P

Zoglog, what does Knovice's birdie have to do with this?

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about?
If something in auctions is above what I consider a fair price, I don't bid.
It's easy enough to get past prices from auctions (and also private sales takes a bit more effort but is do-able)

Where's the problem?

If someone sees a chance to make money off an item, your telling me they should not? Why?

Buying low and selling high is the basis of capitalism. Supply and Demand.

Last I heard CB was not a communistic type game, where everyone is entitled to everything.

I'm entitled to everything. Comes with being OB. Gimme all your crap.

I don't think this is a problem at all, it's not easy to buy up all items and keep getting profit from it because of the changes that Jon made. Honestly, I've saved up some valuable items (which I don't use at all, except put it in rental) that the value went down pretty bad when Jon changed stuff and added new items.

Besides there's nothing to be monopolized here, you just have to bid more than the others and it shouldn't be a problem AT ALL for new players since they have NUB, I mean if they're not maximizing their NUB gain, that's really their own fault.

"me and Jibfest, along with other campers and forgers in CB services inc, did not mark up the price. We worked together to hold prices stable"

that's a euphemism for marking up the price if I ever heard one.

Ranger, being a trader doesn't mean you have to be a profiteer, there are many shades of capitalism.

Show me any successful trader that does not make a profit.

If traders did not make a profit, why would they trade?

heh, look up profiteer in the dictionary :)

"that's a euphemism for marking up the price if I ever heard one."
prices stayed as they were. You didn't like the fact that a clan was running the economy I'm guessing?

profiteer

noun
1. someone who makes excessive profit (especially on goods in short supply)

verb
1. make an unreasonable profit, as on the sale of difficult to obtain goods

You are assuming that the goods in question are in short supply AND I am making an unreasonable profit.

I do not think I am making an unreasonable profit. Just as much as the trading and selling of items that you do.

Ranger I don't think you do either. I was just pointing out that I don't think this topic is reducible to "Buying low and selling high is the basis of capitalism. Supply and Demand."

I'm one of those guys that buy cheap and sell high. Well, not high, but for market value. I don't see a problem with that. Typically this happens when the market is soft for an item. I have to put in a lot of effort bidding on all the auctions, staying current on market prices, and hoping that I can resell at a price that makes some cash. I can assure you that my efforts net me FAR below minimum wage if you look at the amount of money I make vs. the time I spend. I just can't resist my merchant impulses.

I've had a go at this for a while, and I take my furry hat off to anyone who can make a decent profit out of it - It's a lot of work for an awfully risky, quite modest return