Quote Originally Posted by Kazamoto View Post
I was going to say this post is Zigkid3 and Bizzybeast/MentalPoison bait, but Zigkid3 beat me here.

Anyone who thinks that there is no problem with the current level of undercutting and degree to which things gets devalued must also feel that Walmart is good for a local economy.
Yes, it often is.

When someone doesn't care that they are selling at a loss and undercuts an item for a third the cost of its base materials (you see this with lumber frequently), it drives out other producers.
Which lowers the supply, resulting the prices rising again. Problem solved.

Often the price of lumber will drop to the cost of a single log. And when it does, I sell logs rather than lumber, following the money with the goods I have..

But in what business model does selling something that costs 300+300+300+50 for 300g -tax make sense?
The business model where an open slot in your inventory is worth more than 650 gil + tax

Granted, people who gather the base mats, like myself don't lose money as those who bought the mats would have.

The frequent adjustment angle means someone who just wants to liquidate some unneeded materials has now set the new price point, unless someone who makes it their business to sell only that item is constantly camping the markets to buy out undercutters. And if that is your idea of gameplay, you should really be playing EvE.
I do play EvE on occasion. Fantastic economy. FFXIV's economy could stand to be more like it.

"An item is worth what somebody is willing to pay for it."
I wish this phrase were the truth in FFXIV, but the truth is:
It is a phrase that is true everywhere. It is essentially a tautology.

"An item is worth as little as someone would take to liquidate it for, at this exact moment"
Yes, if people are selling something for very little, that's what people will be willing to pay for it. QED.

TLDR?
(Sensible) people are upset because items are constantly being sold way under cost, not for less than they are entitled to.
Sensible people know they aren't entitled to anything, and don't try to compete in items that are regularly being sold for under cost when they are looking to make a profit.