Extreme Undercutting - Should it be a violation?

[Paladinleeds]

EDIT2: I accept listing the report has caused misunderstandings and probably shouldn't have been included. That being said, I appreciate the constructive discussion this has lead to. I'm glad that a moment of rage for me has been turned into something productive and opened up a mature debate. Thank you for that. I am reading replies, don't worry! Even if I don't respond to you, I've read it!

EDIT: FOR CLARIFICATION. Yes, I reported MYSELF to the GMs for this. Not another player. Myself. Because I was told I was griefing other players by doing this extreme undercutting. I acted upon what I had heard from other players. And I felt the GM response warranted a thread opened to discuss this. Please don't think I'm trying to say that one person should control the markets

So, after a heated and angry me decided to report myself for extreme undercutting (90% undercuts for example, to try and lower prices) I was responded to with this.

Greetings (name),

Thank you for your call.

We're deeply sorry that your game experience is disrupted by another player. Unfortunately, undercutting in the Market board is not a violation to our rules and policies, therefore we're afraid we won't be able to assist you in this case.

We would be very grateful if you could submit any suggestions or comments on our official forums. Your feedback will then be forwarded to the appropriate department by our Community Representatives. We remind you however that name shaming is strictly against our forums guidelines, therefore we advise you to share your comments without referring to any specific player.

Official forums:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/

Although individual responses aren't sent, rest assured that all comments submitted are read and considered for future updates.

Thank you for your understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Regards,

- The FINAL FANTASY XIV Game Master Team

So, currently it clearly isn't a violation. But do you think it should be a violation? Why do you think so?

Personally, if it is deterimental to the experiences of other players as I have been told it is, I believe it should be. I do believe experiences which severely negative impact the experiences of others (as I believe severe undercutting is), should be punished. But what are your thoughts? Let's turn my heated and angry moment into a useful discussion.

[Korihu]

hwat

/10char

[Paladinleeds]

hwat

/10char

I'm trying to open a discussion on whether or not 90% undercutting with the intention of market crashing should be a punishable offence, using the GM response I had as a catalyst to spark discussion. Given how heated things got in a different thread because I let my temper get the better of me, I realised it warranted its own thread with its own discussion. That way we can pull the previous thread (which was to do with DPS queues) back on topic.

[Niraves]

I think its a free market and if Random Player # 4907 wants to sell the same fish as you for 1/10th the price, he has every right to do so. Is it stupid? Yep. Is it annoying? Yep. Is there anything likely to be done about it? Nope!

And no, I don't think extreme undercutting should get someone banned. What you consider 'extreme' might not be a big deal to them, and banning someone for posting an auction is just.. well its as dumb as the undercutting itself.

[Lilseph]

Did you... actually reported someone for undercutting in the market...? As annoying as it is, the market is being controlled by the players. The prices you see are also controlled by the players. Undercutting is really annoying, yes, but I don't consider it a violation of any kind.

[storm]

[Paladinleeds]

I think its a free market and if Random Player # 4907 wants to sell the same fish as you for 1/10th the price, he has every right to do so. Is it stupid? Yep. Is it annoying? Yep. Is there anything likely to be done about it? Nope!

And no, I don't think extreme undercutting should get someone banned. What you consider 'extreme' might not be a big deal to them, and banning someone for posting an auction is just.. well its as dumb as the undercutting itself.

Well from what I've heard, extreme undercutting with the aim of trying to crash a market (as in drive the prices down), is an offence in WoW and people do get banned for it. So something clearly seems amiss here.

Did you... actually reported someone for undercutting in the market...? As annoying as it is, the market is being controlled by the players. The prices you see are also controlled by the players. Undercutting is really annoying, yes, but I don't consider it a violation of any kind.

Yes, as listed in my original post, I actually did report myself for it (as I had done it in the past and was told it gets people banned on WoW. Had a friend give me a right telling off for getting as angry as I did at myself!). If I feel I've breached a rule, I am usually very quick to report myself. Perhaps too quick, but that's a discussion not for this forum.

[Kyuuen]

Welcome to a free and open market. Items are worth what the seller deems appropriate.

[Niraves]

Well from what I've heard, extreme undercutting with the aim of trying to crash a market (as in drive the prices down), is an offence in WoW and people do get banned for it. So something clearly seems amiss here.

Except, you can't say for 100% certain that they are undercutting to attempt a market crash. And even if you could say it, you can't PROVE it. And neither can a GM. They can't punish a player for posting an auction simply because another player has the same item listed for a higher price and is just assuming they want to crash the market on said item.

[ErikMynhier]

Lol what is this? What do you want to do? Set price caps for mid and max price? Who decides what undercutting is? You? Dude.... no. Free markets or don't bother in the game.

WELCOME TO....