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Quest items on the Auction house that are useless,( those that should Drop on quest completion, yet do not for some reason are still allowed to be kept?, yet are for sale by scammers in the AH for a lot of plat?
The game allows this even though they say this is against the rules and if caught you will be banned.
Is this enforced?
Lol ummm........NO
I have seen this sort of thing as long as I have played. It must work on someone because folks keep spending the auction fee. I doubt Turbine gives it a second thought.
Can you give an example of a useless item that can be sold on the AH?
Aspect Crystal from Dreaming Dark. Seen that on the AH quite a bit. And I wouldn't be surprised if the various books you get in quests (Valak's Mausoleum, Rainbow in the Dark, Let Sleeping Dust Lie, etc.) can be auctioned, too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mastikator
Did you buy something you wish you had not?Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorth
A scam is when someone tricks you into paying for something. I don't see how it's possible for anyone to trick you into buying this.
Chances are, they're not trying to scam people, they're using the auction house as storage.
Sounds like gold sellers transferring gold too, possibly :/
If you have a lot of plat, chances are you know better than to buy an aspect crystal or pit restart guide. If not, well... A fool and his money are soon parted.
A better example would've been when "The Bloodstone" was the "Bloodstone" and there was(is?) a vendor trash gem of the same name. Scammers would post the trash gem for a bazilion plat and anyone who didn't simply mouse over the "Bloodstone" wouldn't know the difference. Weather or not there were ever direct consequences by Turbine I don't know, but the issue was dealt with by Turbine renaming it to "The Bloodstone."
Just like in RL, scams usually just victimize those more eager to pay plat than due diligence.
Storage??? Why storage? These items are generally completely useless, bugged (they are supposed to disappear after quest completion) and really shouldn't even be in the game in the first place. The only items of this nature that have a use are the ones with instructions written on them (and generally only need to be read once, if at all). Virtually all of these items could be eliminated from the game and turned into DM text, except maybe the guide to The Pit, but who runs that anyway. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Zachski
Okay, I guess there are some people out there too shy to use the advice channel to ask "Do I need this Gilded Scroll Case?" And maybe they are the schmucks putting it on AH as "storage." But honestly, if it were that important to you, why wouldn't you just ask?
I frequently put the seal of shan to kor on auction for 101gp. It sells for whatever reason, its like those goverment minted coins that are not minted by the goverment. For a reasonable price, if somebody wants it, I see no problem. Large amounts of plat is not reasonable though.
No idea what ppl do with them.
I used to keep "the spellbook" you get from the lighthouse on my fighter wizard for rp purposes.
This is FAR more likely a situation. Spend $5 online, receive instructions to put up a Gilded Scroll Case on the AH for 7m plat, receive 5m plat in return after AH fee. Give the Chinese and the Russians your credit card number!Quote:
Originally Posted by locus
put some of them in stone of change to open the secret cow level, of course.
That's where Turbine keeps the extra cowbells.Quote:
Originally Posted by fco-karatekid
I've done this. Sorry, not scamming... legit didn't know.Quote:
Originally Posted by samthedagger
Why store the garbage in the bank?
When I first started playing, I didn't realize what was and was not necessary to keep. I also used the bank as storage till i figured out favor. I had Delera's "book" and the abbot bibles for two weeks before I confirmed them worthless.
While I think a lot of stuff is there for scamming, this is not a difficult leap of faith for me.
Another scammish thing I've seen in the AH is people selling a single +5 thieves tool for the price of a whole set of 50 tools.
Free market, bi&#es!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jingwei
If someone wants to buy something useless or overpriced, more power to whoever just made some plat.
Calling it "scamming" is a very, very big stretch considering you can't really do any convincing/communication etc via AH...at all.
Usually scammers use...you know...some type of scam. Overpricing something isn't a scam, it's just bad buisness.
Unless someone happens to buy it, in which case it is very good buisness.
I highly doubt the devs are banning people for overpricing items on the auction house. And rightfully so, the only crime being commited when someone puts an aspect crystal on there for 500k is the crime of stupidity if someone buys it.
Since no one knows the seller it could be some newer player to the game.
Calling them scams is a bit over board.
And just because some thing is in the AH doesn't mean it will sell.
I know I had stuff I held on to not knowing if later in some other quest it may be needed.
So I can see maybe some one else thinking a quest item may be needed by some one.
Have played plenty of games where this was the case.
There's lots of examples, really...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mastikator
The "book" from Delara's Pt II.
The Black Moon Scroll from Threnal
The Pit Start Up Guide.
Any of the brick a brac in the Deposit Boxes in the Sharn Chain quest where you raid the bank.
And so on, and so forth.
Next time use your head and eyes before using the auction house.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorth
Results in fewer stupid forum threads.
I don't see why scamming should be against the rules in the first place *unless* it exploits game mechanics.
if you buy an item off the auction house its not scamming. if you don't know what it is. why are you buying it? if you pay a million for an item that doesn't do anything. Who's fault is that? no the seller but the buyer.
Oh my... it's just common sense... do you go in a store and buy an expensive merchandise without knowing what it is??
Ask around or check the wiki -> solved.
I don't think it is likely at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by samthedagger
Why would the seller eat 2 mil plat when they could trade character to character and not lose 1 plat?
Why would anyone want a 5 mil plat piece of mail they can't open and will expire since the character limit is less than 5 mil?
Finally, why would anyone commit the account bannable offence of buying plat from a third party when they can buy turbine codes and raid timer bypasses and creature companions and sell those to other players for plat legally?
My thoughts, exactly. I assume that the person doesn't even know a "rule of conduct" on what to sell and what not for the Auction House. Where from ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rip-V-Winkle
Me, I've been trying to sell items by it which I thought would be nice for low-level characters. A few of them sold, but not all.
If they don't want it, then I'll sell it. It's as simple as that.
But before - I'm giving low-level characters a chance to get this item, if they want it. For a resonable price, of course. I'm never charging more for "my" items than a few hundred Plat. I'm not exploiting. I'm not a capitalist.
And of course anyone in the higher levels regards this as "trash". Of course. We low-level players are the inferior folk.
Max AH price is 2M though.Quote:
Originally Posted by samthedagger
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zachski
If someone puts something useless on the AH and an idiot buys it then good for them.
When you bid on something it is your responisbility to understand what you are bidding on and decide if the price is fair or not.
...those might have slipped your mind there for a second...Quote:
Originally Posted by samthedagger
This one isn't bugged. You get it outside of the quest. And I recommend everyone to read it at least once. There is a few funny things here and there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Memnir
Never said it was bugged - I was answering the question about useless items that can be sold on the AH. :) I had a guildie who made 35k selling one on the AH, and it remains hilarious.Quote:
Originally Posted by nibel
on orien at the mo some arse is flooding the ah with +5 theives tools.
sold individualy.
technicaly not breaking the rules but...
showing the name of the poster would go a long way to cutting down on this sort of ****.
Actualy im a 'high lvl' player and one of my characters - a lvl 24 wizy, regularly buys up every item on the AH that costs less than 500 plat and can be deconstructed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alrik_Fassbauer
Not only are you providing a decent price service to noobies, your also providing a decent price service to crafters. nothing wrong in what your doing - one mans junk is another mans treasure.
No. Dont do this.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
I dont feel like getting tells from people every 5 minutes who arent satisfied with my prices who think they know what the only real absolute price for everything on the server is.
I found those handy when I was F2P, actually. Prevented walking and running out before I started hoarding them :DQuote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
What item did you see on which server? Just curious. I don't think this is a scam in fact it's impossible to discern the intent.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zorth
fair comment chai.
What would you suggest to cut this kind of behaviour down - or dont you view it as an issue?
Good idea, but out of curiosity, why 500 vs. a lower price? Just 'cause that's what you can stomach?Quote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
Yah, that's inviting grief. Even if you price too low purposefully, you will get "hah! noob! I just bought yer item and am reselling it higher"... great, Warren Buffet, knock yerself out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chai
You mean the AH isnt meant as an auxillary bank?
Quite frankly nine times out of ten I come into contact with gougers and scammers when trying to negotiate through pst. I've met some incredibly nice people through sales negotiations, they are very few and far between. But no hard feelings really. This is a game and people are free to play their strengths w/in the rules imo. If a person is scammed intentionally by another player they should file a report and follow up. I also find that scammers don't usually scam just once ...
I tend to list basically any stuff I get that's 400+p "base value" for something fairly close to {55% bid, 90% buyout}. I'm a newbie, I have very little plat, I don't care much.
I've heard of people selling this for boatloads of plat.
http://ddowiki.com/images/Teraza-bugged.jpg
http://ddowiki.com/page/Helm_of_Flame
Just to clarify, nobody is chiding anyone for selling low level loot. The thread is specifically about selling truly worthless items. Like the scroll case you get in the storehouse's secret that stays in your pack until you destroy it. It has no purpose.Quote:
Originally Posted by seebs
Also the people selling individual thieves tools are definitely trying to scam someone, thinking that they won't notice that it's only one instead of 50.
As a tip, you might be able to make more money by deconstructing those items, and then selling the crafting essences you get from them.
I'm surprised no one's mentioned the jerks that go to house P, buy a Medium Collectables bag for ~8k, and then Auction it for 20K+
That's intentionally trying to rip someone off, and scamming in my book.
I haven't agreed with Chai in a long time, but yeah, this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chai
There's a fine line between scamming and exploiting. Scamming usually involves some attempt to deceive, where exploiting is just relying on the ignorance of the buyer, or sometimes a situational need. They're both pretty lame in my book, but at least in real life, only one would be illegal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Systern
Anybody remember pet rocks?
Anybody remember the news images from years back of the guys selling blocks of ice for 25$ after a nasty Florida hurricane?
I stored a crystal ball I bought on the AH for months in my bank before I decided to research it and find out it was worthless. I chalked it up to the cost of a lesson learned.
Bloodstones that are actually gems as opposed to THE Bloodstone, a trinket.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mastikator
How about the ones that used to buy the thin quivers for 100 then sell for 1k+? The AH used to have pages of those... :confused::rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Systern
I loved watching all the CNN stories from the states of ppl buying pieces of the Wall right after it fell in Berlin. NOTHING left the city for weeks, yet dufi in America were falling for it and buying "5x8 Sections of the Berlin Wall" within days...Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
Relying on the ignorance of the buyer can be deception. I dont see the two definitions of these words being mutually exclusive.Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
People bought those willingly with no extenuating circumstances being present.Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
This is a good example of exploitation. People are in a bad situation and other people are profiting on it by selling bottled water and ice at insanely marked up prices.Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
I'm not sure how this can be a problem when there are ways someone can prevent himself from buying these useless junk in the AH.
1) Most useless items are specific named ones (aspect crystal, The Pit Guide). They don't normally show up when you click a category unless you are specifically searching for them... so why in the world are you searching for them in the AH in the first place.
2) As someone has pointed out, DDO Wiki is your friend.
3) In the case of the bloodstone, Mouse-hover the item to see what it actually is. Item description will appear when you do that.
That's what I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure there's more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
The same could be said if someone buys the "Tears of Dhakaan" off of the auction house. It was, after all, a rock.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chai
P.S. Pretty fancy editing, eh? I just figured out how to do that.
Indeed. And in all honesty, I'd be one of those people who sends the "Are you high dude? ***?" messages. I get that urge all the time when browsing the AH.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chai
There is a hobgoblin near the quest who will buy them from you for 10pp each. If you can get them cheaper than that, you could make a plat or two.Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
I know, still not worth it.
Having played a Game online that does list sellers name I can say the worst thing ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
There is always some cry baby that will message you saying the price is to high.
Then they demand you sell for less.
It can be priced lower then any other of the same type item but they still complain.
Or expect you to take it off the AH and suffer the loss of the fee you paid to post it.
Surprised no one mentioned this one yet: Lich Dust (or lich's dust or something).
There was the item used for upgrading high lvl Mabar items. And then there was a useless piece of junk with the same name, no clue where it comes from.
I think they may have already done something about the names, but when it was going even mousing over didn't help much unless you knew exactly what it was supposed to say. A whole lot of people got ripped off on these.
What's wrong with that ? +5 tools are very, very good ! Especially for low-level characters ! I think I once sold a few of them myself. - But I rather put them into the guild chest because I have no use for them (apart from my Artificer).Quote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
Exactly. Here, in real life, beggars are collecting deposit/refund bottles for getting cash.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
No, not grief - except if you call capitalism "griefing" in general.Quote:
Originally Posted by fco-karatekid
The supporters of any "free market" usually say : "That's the way the free market works !!!"
Yes, but again, exploiters always reply : "That's the way the free market works !" Is this an U.S.-american thing ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hambo
I once tried to bu something from someone via a trade dialog screen - I'd give him an amount of plat and he'd ive me the item.Quote:
Originally Posted by Druggo
somehow the interface just didn't allow me to give him plat. It always resetted my value into Zero ! - I have never found out whether this was buggd or not. In the end, we cancelled the trade.
Ah, okay, thank you with the clarification. I'm still not that familiar with the game ... Maybe people are just desperate for plat ? Repair costs ? Or their sales are just "jokes" ? "Let's see how many fall prey to it?" It'd be like "testing out waters".Quote:
Originally Posted by FestusHood
Yes, but there's alwys two sides of the coin :Quote:
Originally Posted by Systern
Who informs the Newbies ?
And again I think that this is a "duty" veterans should embrace : Protect the Newbies from griefing. Because otherwise it'd be implicitely allowing exploiting as such.
In German language we call this "Welpenschutz", "protection of puppies". Everyone knows that puppies and kids need to be protected until they can take care of themselves.
yeh prety much what i can stomach. And deconing wise theres often some good baragins in that price range, atleast on orien server.Quote:
Originally Posted by fco-karatekid
I tend to find folks putting anythign from +1 to +4 gear on the ah at that price.. and +1 to +4 gear at anything from 10 plat to 10k plat.. The prices vary wildly, so i just hoover up whats nice and cheap.
I got an example, which actually is scamming people. Browsing through the belts you saw many exceptional CON +1 stat plus and add skill for a fairly high price. Then right in their middle, ordinary +1 enhancement CON plus same skill for the same price if not higher.Quote:
Originally Posted by MRMechMan
People who want to rip off newbies will always exist.
nothing wrong with sellign +5 tools, there is somethign 'underhanded' with selling indivivual ones in the hope that some poor sod will not notice its not a full stack of 50. If they were priced at 1/25th or so the price of a regular stack of 50+5tools then fine.. but they werent. it was a scam. And no it hasnt cought me im just sick of having to wade through the **** to get what im lookign for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alrik_Fassbauer
On the subject of naming the person who posted the aution: fair comments all, i was wrong in that suggestion - you have pointed out many way it would be bad. thankyou for bringing me to my senses in this... i have many ideas... some of them are good. this one clearly wasnt ;)
Just curious about this approach and if people would consider this "scamming" I would call it more "middle-manning"...something that is very common in the "real world"
I haven't tried it yet in DDO but seems like worthwhile way to make some plat. on a low level toon with limited resources. Also keep in mind this is a time consumming process, you have to visit the pawn brokers reguarly and pick out the items that you feel could sell on the AH at a higher price listed by the Pawn Broker. In my mind you are earning your plat by going through the effort of looking for deals with the Pawn Brokers and middle manning them to the seller (through the AH) at a markup for your efforts. Much like what happens in everyday situations. People buy items from garage sales and yard sales and list them on e-bay, at a markup for their efforts.
Example:
Buy a +1 stat item (INT, STR, CON, DEX, etc ...) off a pawn broker for ~100-200 Plat.
List on AH for 1k plat.
The reason why I am thinking this is because I typicaly will sell on the AH stat items of +1 to +5 at 1k plat per "+"...so if I loot a +2 charisma cloak from a low level chest, I will list it on the AH for 2k plat and a buyout of 2,001 plat and list for 72 hours. Majority of the time these items sell on Buyout in less than 72 hours. WHy do I do this? Well...when I first started playing I didn't know Pawn Brokers existed so I used the AH for everything, buying and selling. Months later I discovered pawn brokers and through observation on prices the pawn brokers buy / sell for I realised that there is potentioal for middle manning items.
The way I see it I am providing a service for the community by visiting the pawn brokers, buying up items that have been dumped as trash loot and listing them on the AH at a reasonable price for my effort (subjective of course). The AH will take a 30% cut of my profit of course, and I will be left with a reasonable amount of profit that I would not consider gouging in any way since I am not over-inflating the price and selling at comparable prices to the Pawn Brokers (with a little markup for my effort of course) on the AH.
Thoughts? Comments ? Concerns?
That's the nice thing about the game. If you have fun doing stuff like this, go for it!Quote:
Originally Posted by sk3l3t0r
There are lots of ways to spend your time. Some like to RP. Some like to quest. Some like to farm. Some like to craft. Some like to barter/broker deals.
So long as you're having fun it's all good, I'd say.
Thank you for your explanation.Quote:
Originally Posted by bigolbear
Im going to sell my Club of the Silver flame and see if I can get someone to bite.
yo ho, yo ho
Ethical.Quote:
Originally Posted by sk3l3t0r
I'm rather cynical in this, so be warned :
This is like going into a shop somewhere in africa, asia or Soth America where people are REAL poor - buy them away their rice, corn or whatever - and then travel to the U.S., Europe or so and sell that for a big fat fortune.
The result is, and this is happening even right now in real life ! - that we are literally buying awyy the food from others for money - and for money profits - and they starve to death because we've bought away their food.
Yes, this is still The Free Market : buying away the food others depend on for a living. This is the Free Market . we have the power, the money, and this amount of money, this amount of power appears to allow us to buy whatever we need or want. Even organs from poor people who sell literally sell their livers and kidneys in real life because they just don't know from what to buy their next meal or rent from. We have the power, the money, and it seems to allow us to buy ANYTHING - even whole lives ! - Children get stolen and sold to European and U.S. people who can't get a child because they are infertile. In real life, some people are so poor they in fact sell away their children ! Imagine that !
And the money, and the power that seems to come from that, it appears to enable us to buy what we want. Even killers.
The "Free Market" doesn't exist. It's a lie. It's an illusion. It's an Illusion maintained by those who profit from it. There is nothing "Free" there.
This market is nothing but "The Power Of The Stronger One". The ones who have the power - and the money - will always be the oneswho will get what they want - even the law. Those who win are those who can afford the best lawyers. and the best lawyers cost money. So only those win who have the money.
In the end this means that everything will be ruled and bought by those who have money, and with that power. Poor ones will merely be slaves.
And this is a direct assault at Democracy, a direct attack at Humanity.
We have erected the principles of Humanity on the assumption that Everyone Is Equal.
But the "Free Market" follows a different princiople, as shown by George Orwell in his famous "Animal Farm" story : "Some are more equal than others" !
The Free Market isn't about Equality. The Free Market isn't about Humanity. It is about the power of the strongest.
And this is what I call (and is already known as) "Social Darwinism".
Me, I prefer Humanity. It gives me a better feeling.
Actually biggie here hit it right on the head. Your name should indeed be put on the AH next to things you are selling. Anonymity helps no one as much as being out in the open would.
Another MMO I played had two great features. First they put your name on all items you crafted, the second put your name up on the AH next to any item you posted.
This actually helped keep the economy balanced as those professional farmers and crafters quickly became recognized and highly sought after, and forced those who tried to charge excessive prices to either lower them or become forgotten. I in my first month on that MMO gained server wide recognition among lower lvl players as I made and sold well forged weapons at prices much lower then the typical gold hungry greedy SOBs. I was saving up to buy my own house and ship in less then a month, while most players on the game more then a years still struggled to buy a smaller home in a less impressive land plot.
It however did alot more then just let me make good coin and rep in game. It also helped my guild ferret out a very low sort of person.
One day I was crafting when I recieved a tell saying how impressive an item I created was and the price for it on the AH was so low, could I make something for them on special order. I at first as always took it for the compliment it was, but then something odd hit me, the item he was describing was indeed one of the better swords I had recently wrought. However it was also one I had put in the guild chest for any member in need of a good weapon.
I quickly went to the AH and looked up my name, and found sure enough a number of items made by me for sale by another, the name of an officer from my guild who I also knew was RL friends with one of the 5 guild founders.
Trying to be sure, I approached another of the founders, a fellow crafter, one of about a dozen of us in the guild. Although I was only a few weeks in the guild I had gained alot of respect from my fellow crafters especially, but many in general because of my frequent chest donations and willingness to craft custom items to the best of my ability for just material costs. Zalak the drow bard sword maker was low lvl but not low in social standing you might say.
This game was vanguard btw, another eq clone that shriveled in the shadow of wow, but it had alot of quality UI aspects like the ones I spoke of and they lead to a better community. Just like players get a reputation for their play, so to should they be able to build one based on their ability to craft or by being a respectable merchant.
:) I love this sort of thought process !!! Have had many a cold ones discussing the very things you describe in your post with like minded individuals. I enjoy these topics and like to see and hear the varied opinions and perspectives.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alrik_Fassbauer
Unfortunately the monetary system that is in place in the real world favours the elite and to ensure that the poor stay poor and oppressed and that the rich get richer. Middle class families? What middle class families...society is being squeezed, and the middle class is dissapearing. The richer elite (the 1%) control the majority of the planets natural resources and wealth while the rest of us (the 99%) are left begging for scraps. I really don't want to go down that path and get into an "Occupy" type discussion...I've grown tired of that topic.
Fractional reserve lending is a prime example of how what was a good idea (currency to facilitate trade) was corrupted to favour the elite.
Money in it's simplest form was invented to make trade easier, to replace the barter system we had previously, so that fair trade and exchange of goods and services could be standardised. Sadly interest was invented and we now have the mess and corruption at the expense of humanity that you see all around us today.
Orwell's book 1984 is also a good read, I suspect you have read it as well. If you have a chance, read the book "Pawns in the Game" by William Guy Carr. What an eye opener that was for me.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Guy_Carr
Now that we have completely derailed the thread...I would be curious to see what other ideas are floating around in your head...seems we could have a great conversation and exchange of ideas !!!
Peace!!
Just don't do it. I don't.
It may make a newb quit the game.
Don't make newbs quit the game, we need them to be Elitists one day.
All jokes aside, if we know that something that is useless to the game and un-bound and a glich in our inventory, and we know is usless, it should be cherished and not sold or simply dragged out of inventory and Deleted, if you put it on the AH you are an a s s hole, pure and simple.
It's called a 'free market' because the prices of goods and services are determined by supply and demand rather than controlled by the government, not because you get stuff for free.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alrik_Fassbauer
A mmo is designed around the sale of soemthing that has zero value. So why would this act in the game be policed, if the game itself is not?
Something to think on.
-Bunk
P.S. Keep in mind that "entertainment value" is not included in my above comment. However, if you consider any in game item of actual physical value, then you have already failed. Pixels hav eno value, and the creator will not, and should not police the sale of pixels, when they are the creator of said pixels. Happy gaming.
we had one of those on Orien's AH for 1.000.000 pp buy out .. not sure if it ever sold or not ...Quote:
Originally Posted by LOOON375
I see no problem with it. If people don't look at the pawn brokers themselves and thus don't notice the "better" deals themselves, you have every right to beat them to it and try selling the ittems in the AH.Quote:
Originally Posted by sk3l3t0r
Also, I want to point out to everyone: This is an investment of time of a real person. This is something that easily gets lost in the argument - We all play for our entertainmen. That is, we spend time. I think our time is the most precious commodity. So ask yourself: How much plat is your time worth?
1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alrik_Fassbauer
Regaring real life, I agree. As a tangent what really makes me feel sick is that - for example - certain agricultural companies hold "copyrights" on grain seeds and force poor farmers in the third world to buy them. The seeds are genetically manipulated so the grain from the seeds doesn't in turn produce seeds that can be planted again. thuis making sure the famrers have to buy new seeds every year again. That's a true perversion of nature for the sake of capitalism.
2.
But regarding DDO your argument is not valid:
The easiest accessible pawn brokers and AH are only a few second's walk away from each other (market). So everyone who is interested in items could go take a look at the pawn brokers first and only if they don't find what they're looking for, head over to the AH. Apparently, many people are too lazy to look at the pawn brokers first or the concept of "middle-manning" wouldn't work, because the players interested in the items would have bought them from the pawn brokers already most of the time.
So this is entirely different from real life, where people in the third world rarely have a choice about whom to buy/sell from/to if they want to make a living.
3.
Also, I think the "capitalism" argument is hard to apply to a game played for entertainment. Personally, I wouldn't ever consider running back and forth between pawn brokers and AH. I don't even put ANY of my loot in the AH but sell it at the pub at the same time when I do repairs. I know I could sell better at the pawn broker and maybe a lot better at the AH. So why don't I do this? Simple reason: I don't want to use my REAL TIME to do it. I value 5 minutes of my time much higher than maybe a profit of 20k plat. I rather use these 5 mins to chat with friends or additional time to run a dungeon.
If someone uses their REAL TIME running back and forth trying to make a profit with pawn broker items that's apparently how they want to use their time for entertainment and fun. It's just a different way to enjoy the game. Definitely not my thing, but who am I to impose my ideas of "fun and entertainment" on them? I have to right to impose my ideas on them.