Any one vialating prices from dryad's page will be posted here for the first
offence most likly killed to show that we are serious. Second vialation you
will be DISINGRATED and i mean that!. For link to prices finger dryad. Any
comments about this post keep to your self unless you have some thing to
contribute. Ignore the typos:P

In theory, theory and practice are the same, but in practice, theyre not.

In the past I have told several players that if threats of this nature are
made, I will begin offering free services (or cost of materials only, if any).
Therefore, unless Gorge's threat is immediately withdrawn, I will be
implementing that policy for as long as necessary. If Gorge wishes to withdraw
his policy, he is free to post so to this group. You have 24 hours.

Ayli

I just want to clarify my position a bit. First of all, I am not opposed to
setting standard prices. In fact, I think that's a good thing. Heck, I myself
charge prices that're listed on Dryad's site and am quite happy to do so. What
I am opposed to is threatening players who decide that they would make a
better profit by charging less. If you simply want to publicize and encourage
a standard pricing scheme, more power to you. I'll even join in if I find it
reasonable (I do find the current prices reasonable). But if you start to
threaten people only for trying to make more money (after all, isn't that the
point of this guild?), that's where I have to draw the line.
And for those who say that those who chose to charge less will destroy all the
business, have you thought that maybe the business as it is is not sustainable
at current prices with the current number of merchants?

-- Ayli

Unfortunately you make the same assumption as many merchants, that somehow
lower prices means more business overall. The only reason any merchant lowers
prices is to take business from other merchants. The demand for merchant
services is almost completely invarient to price. People aren't going to buy
more repairs if they are cheaper or get more prots. I doubt they would buy
more chests as their demand is primarily driven by storage needs. About the
only merchant service which is price sensitive is power reagents.
So, what is my point? These people coming out with public lower prices have
one purpose in mind, to run lower level, less skilled merchants out of the
guild. As I have said numerous times in the past, I couldn't care less about
what the std. prices are, I will still be competative. Unfortunately the
lower level merchant hasn't a chance in a price war. So, I guess you have
your choice - you can stand up for a common price list which provides
opportunity for all merchants to do business and provides a stable environment
where customers know what they will be paying; or you can have a cutthroat
environment where all customers will constantly be looking for a "deal" and
only the most efficient (highest skilled/leveled) merchants will have a chance
to make a reasonable profit.
Personally, I rather the guild be a bit more friendly to those less
experienced - hence I vote for the standardized priced.

Dwilgar
Master Merchant
De-factor Merchant Guildmaster

First, I'm not against standard prices. I am against enforcing them in a
cutthroat manner.
Second, put yourself in the shoes of a less skilled merchant: your skills
aren't that high, and you don't have lots of money/exp to invest in things.
Now you go to try to sell something (say, that 6 slot chest you just made).
You'd like to charge the standard price, because it would give you a very nice
profit on your effort. So you go out and happen to look at someone's cart.
What do you know, they have 10-20 chests in there, using better materials and
better reinforcement than yours, all for the same price as you wanted to sell
yours. Do you think you'll sell your chest at that price? Of course not. So
you go and lower your price so you have a chance at a sale. Next thing you
know, several highbies are killing you over and over. So what's your choice?
Sit there with an extra chest on your hands or die over and over? Real
friendly, eh?
Also, prices DO make a difference. Think about it: would you buy a 3-slotter
for 70k? What about a 3-slotter for 40k?
Ironically, it might be the lower skilled merchants that'd get the upper hand
in a price war. Consider: would you settle for selling 7 slotters for 150k?
Doubt it - you'd likely have much better ways to make your money. Will a
newbie settle for selling 7 slotter for 150k? Sure - 100k is a nice profit for
a few hours work and an investment in a 50k skeleton.
Anyway, perhaps the problem is market saturation? Really, do you expect prices
to stay high when you regularly see 6+ chests in a good number of the carts?
That just gives the illusion that there are more chests than are needed (ok,
maybe not an illusion), which will inevitably drive down prices.

-- Ayli

Actually, if we did get into a price war, I could almost guarantee you the
highbies would win, because what would take you 3 hrs would take someone with
more experience maybe 2. Short of a willingness to "waste' more time, there
really isn't a way for you to compete in a price war.
As to your main point about chest pricing, you are 100% right, but then again
I can't explain why someone like me would be selling a quality material chest
for min prices; I certainly wouldn't. If it is any consolation, I really
don't care what you sell your chests for, as long as you do it discretely (if
you go below recommended minimums). It do have issue with people openly
starting pricing competition - it is bad for the guild. Stable prices help us
all.