is this case of merchanting wrong??

• Cucurbita wrote on 2010-04-21 16:22
  If its so evil, then there's evil in every corner of life.
  Business is what made this world what it is, and business is what keeps it running.
  
  Could it not be argued that greed and desire is what pushes us to take a step further into productivity and development?
  
  Isn't it why we hire certain people to sell things for us at a higher price?
  
  I'm not trying to say what happened to the OP was not a very jerkish thing to do, but I'm just trying to stand on the other side of the argument here.
  
  The world runs on everyone trying to scam each other out of their money. And if you're the only one playing the nice guy, you'll be left behind. This doesn't mean you should run around and scam everyone. It means you need to keep a perceptive eye, grab good deals whenever there is one to be found, snatch every opportunity.
  
  What you're all speaking of is equivalency, something that is only written in books for ideals.
• Justified wrote on 2010-04-21 16:33
  There are successful businesses that practice ethical standards though. They may be rare, but Ben n Jerry's is an example.
  
  Business in itself leads to corruption by human nature. I won't deny the fact that this leads to some healthy developments, but this also leads to child labor and borderline slavery outsourcing to third-world countries. Wal-Mart has a pretty bad reputation for this, and while I won't boycott Wal-Mart, I'm just acknowledging the fact that the bad is out there. To a limit, it can be tolerated. You can seize a good deal and snatch an opportunity without crossing the line on exploitation. Like buying an item for a cheap instead of trying to haggle it down to insanely cheap.
  
  In-game, I don't think that it's as healthy as in the real world. There are limitless unregulated monopolies, and going bankrupt doesn't screw you over. Can't really say for certain, but I'd say that merchanting isn't really a desirable aspect of the game for anybody - except the merchanters.
  
  

  Quote from pkMaster;13823:

  Scalping my be illegal, but people do it all the time. Why'd you think some concert tickets selling for over 1K? (Talking about real life)

  
  
  Murder and rape happen too. They're also illegal. What's your point?
• Cucurbita wrote on 2010-04-21 16:40
  I for one find nothing wrong with standing in line for 2 days for a ps3.
  And then selling it on ebay for 9001 dollars.
• MrShandavio wrote on 2010-04-21 16:46
  What are you guys talking about? I've been doing this before you came up with a term for it. The entire concept of business is "buy low, sell high".
  
  Now, I won't say I make a living off of it - mainly because I don't have enough money to get anything worth selling. However, I partake in the process of buying low and selling high every now and then. I never buy anything without haggling it down. As far as friends go, I don't think I've ever sold a gift from a friend (and I've been gifted some very expensive things), but that's all in the ethics of the person and their sales strategy... and it's not your place to judge.
  
  I, for one, encourage this "merchanting" business. I just think it's funny that everyone is just now realizing that things like this happen. :P
• eiklnv wrote on 2010-04-21 16:48

  Quote from Justified;13836:

  There are successful businesses that practice ethical standards though. They may be rare, but Ben n Jerry's is an example.
  
  Business in itself leads to corruption by human nature. I won't deny the fact that this leads to some healthy developments, but this also leads to child labor and borderline slavery outsourcing to third-world countries. Wal-Mart has a pretty bad reputation for this, and while I won't boycott Wal-Mart, I'm just acknowledging the fact that the bad is out there. To a limit, it can be tolerated. You can seize a good deal and snatch an opportunity without crossing the line on exploitation. Like buying an item for a cheap instead of trying to haggle it down to insanely cheap.
  
  In-game, I don't think that it's as healthy as in the real world. There are limitless unregulated monopolies, and going bankrupt doesn't screw you over. Can't really say for certain, but I'd say that merchanting isn't really a desirable aspect of the game for anybody - except the merchanters.
  
  
  
  Murder and rape happen too. They're also illegal. What's your point?

  
  
  Not all illegal things have the same weight of seriousness. Speeding is illegal but what proportion of the population speeds? All "crimes" have different weights, don't compare everything to murder just because they are "illegal". Btw pirating software is illegal, should you get punished the same as murder for it?
• Infamy wrote on 2010-04-21 16:51

  Quote from bebepanales;13263:

  well i did... and his response was "im a businessman"

  
  
  If he wants to be a "businessman" then he doesn't deserve your personal favors.
• Justified wrote on 2010-04-21 16:53

  Quote from kitaek27;13847:

  I for one find nothing wrong with standing in line for 2 days for a ps3.
  And then selling it on ebay for 9001 dollars.

  
  
  Obviously there are exceptions. There's actual effort and dedication involved in that scenario.
  
  The seller (Sony) has a set price and doesn't negotiate, you're abiding by that price and therefore the trade is fair.
  The buyer (who you sell to) is paying for the ability and/or luck that you had in obtaining one. Usually, this is in auction form, so they're willingly offering $9,001 and aren't being coerced into it by you.
  
  Both acts are perfectly fair.
  
  

  Quote from eiklnv;13856:

  Not all illegal things have the same weight of seriousness. Speeding is illegal but what proportion of the population speeds? All "crimes" have different weights, don't compare everything to murder just because they are "illegal". Btw pirating software is illegal, should you get punished the same as murder for it?

  
  
  Couldn't resist. :P
  It was just a response to "XXX is illegal, but people do XXX all the time." I didn't see the point in that statement, so I took it in my own direction. I don't actually think they're too similar, although they do both harm people. (Scamming, rape, and murder I mean)
  
  

  Quote from MrShandavio;13853:

  What are you guys talking about? I've been doing this before you came up with a term for it. The entire concept of business is "buy low, sell high".

  
  
  It's probably been around since before you started playing games at all. "Merchanting" is just easier to say and understand than "buy low, sell high" every time it's talked about. And just because we talk about it now, doesn't mean people haven't realized it before - don't flatter yourself.
• MrShandavio wrote on 2010-04-21 17:05

  It's probably been around since before you started playing games at all. "Merchanting" is just easier to say and understand than "buy low, sell high" every time it's talked about. And just because we talk about it now, doesn't mean people haven't realized it before - don't flatter yourself.

  
  
  Well yeah it's been around since the beginning of time. I just think it's funny how people start throwing terms around like it's some new epidemic. :P Don't get mad, bro.
• Phunkie wrote on 2010-04-21 17:23
  I would delete a person like that off my friend's list. That's just plain rude.
  
  Whether you want to forgive him or not, it's up to you. But he doesn't even acknowledge your feelings in this situation.
  
  He's just a "businessman."
  
  What a jerk.
  
  Oh well, I believe in karma. Watch it get him.
• Justified wrote on 2010-04-21 17:24

  Quote from MrShandavio;13871:

  Well yeah it's been around since the beginning of time. I just think it's funny how people start throwing terms around like it's some new epidemic. :P Don't get mad, bro.

  
  
  I rarely get mad on the internet, you just came off as if you invented the concept. :P
• eiklnv wrote on 2010-04-21 17:28

  Quote from Justified;13883:

  I rarely get mad on the internet, you just came off as if you invented the concept. :P

  
  
  I think you are over-reacting.
  
  My approach to merchanting:
  
  If item is from friend -> not gonna buy to sell higher, only buy if I am gonna use it myself
  
  If item is from stranger -> by all means buy for low and sell high >_>;
• bebepanales wrote on 2010-04-21 18:40

  Quote from Justified;13883:

  I rarely get mad on the internet, you just came off as if you invented the concept. :P

  
  
  thats how it came off as to me too. :T we know it existed from the beginning; we're not stupid. don't belittle our thoughts, mrshandavio.
• Chihaya wrote on 2010-04-21 19:35
  you call him a friend? =.=
  Well, in that case, don't sell anything else to him; show him what it's like to eat his own medicine and merchant yourself
• Archibald wrote on 2010-04-21 20:09
  I question if this person is really your friend. They sound like a user.
• MrShandavio wrote on 2010-04-21 23:04
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