Welcome to Gaia! ::

Today is the first time I've been into HAM in a long time, and I've noticed that the front page has changed drastically since my last visit. I see that a sort of mission statement is now present, and I'm not sure what to think of it. When I was invited to join HAM I thought we were a band of merchants poised to uphold honor in the marketplace, that is to sell our items at reasonable prices yet still make a profit. As a merchant, I thought that was a worthy cause. From this new credo on the frontpage I can only gather that this purpose has been greatly altered. We are people looking to make a profit off of our items, so why is it we're suddenly fighting increased prices? Why shouldn't I sell an August '04 letter for 85k if someone is willing to pay that? I'm not suggesting we sell the Jan 06 for 50k, I'm simply saying that to fight the flow of change is absurd. We shouldn't resist inflation, we should embrace it with zeal because as merchants our primary goal is profit.
Discuss?

Yesh, we ARE trying to make a profit...but not one so unworldly that the poor citizens of Gaia can't afford it..It's quite rediculouse actually. 11k is going beyond the limits especially for items that don't really deserve such a high price...they're no halo mind you..AND note, HONOR, has a price in itself and that we keep to our word...that we make sure our prices are reasonable...some items are even aquired for free, either from a box...or an event...and so many people are selling them for thousands and thougsands of gold...It's a conspiracy...As the Honorable Association of Merchants, we should up hold to our own creed and not our own greed; the Honorable part is killed when we hit below the belt, if you know what I mean... ((cheesey...but true..))

Also...this guild hasn't been quite active...hence the reason why it's...not..progressing?

First post in months, as I feel my being a member states my support just fine.

All of my items are always the lowest in the market place, and generally sell out within minutes. I make less money, but I get it quicker. And hey, I like getting good deals too.

I find it pure jackassary to charge someone a crapload of coin for something menial.

Unless it were a halo or something. In which case It'd never leave my inventory.

Well I double checked 'Teh Guide' and if you are actually selling an August '04 letter for 85k, or already did...you're actually going WAY below its recomended price by about 45 to 50k..so really, kudos. ^_~

The thing is back then, letters were only worth up to 1k way back when, or so I hear...But it's understandable the price has risen so much, as time goes, the more valuable, and the more people the greater the damand as well as cash flow going around, much like today. Ice cream was about oh what...10 cents?...now you pay a dollar...not much, but really, that's 10 times its original cost..I'm not good with economics, but one thing I learned is cost and pay matches it's economy and demand; as it grows so does everything else, and if there's is a shortage of supply and a grand scale of demand, the cost, obviousely, increases. If there's an overstock, especially in comparison to its demand, as you'd guess, it would decrease. And I'm pretty sure Gaia isn't going to be giving out anymore August '04 letters in 2006 or anymore years to come, and that's the lovely thing about letters.^_~

But the fake inflation that's devouring the marketplace is getting quite rediculouse...kinda like gas prices...they rise every oh~..ten minutes!?! The few and hard to find honorable merchants of Gaia are dwindling as they lose sight of what might be, should the dimwits of Gaia create the new permanent bench mark of unreasonable and hence unreachable prices...

Actually I heard in the beginning that letters were sold for 1k and there is a very nifty person who is actually selling letters for 1k in the forums somewhere.

As for the price guides, I go by one, which I actually agree with and its set prices are QUITE below the prices in the market AND they keep track of the current prices as well, the one I used before 'Teh Guide'.
Inflation, yes is quite natural.. But what we have in Gaia today isn't JUST inflation, its artificial inflation-the average prices can jump from 85k to 95k in less than a week... It sucks. I don't see any problem with going the middle though, I mean it doesn't help it, nor does it hurt it... In a sense it feels more like a neutrality point. Also, what exactly is 'Honor' to you? Because, and I mean no offense in anyway, but I find nothing honorable in those who stand at the sidelines and watch with no care to do anything except for maybe reap the benefits of the current situation. Your sense of pricing, though, is good, and I see no problem with it, I'm only trying to point out some justification in our new mission statement.

But right now as we speak I feel as though Gaia itself is actually trying to fight the artificial inflation, what with the begginers sets and the easy to get gold in towns, something tells me prices will either sky rocket... Or Towns will be the most active spot, esp for questers.