Fairness in guilds?

hellcatlizzieb16_ESO · May 2017

Ok so i am in several trading guilds most of which do not allow any selling in guild chat, I always wondered why this was but recently joined another guild and their is loads of selling In chat. I realised that this makes it a bit unfair for people listing in store as the people in chat are not paying listing and selling fees.
What's the General feeling about selling in chat? I don't really feel comfortable with this as I don't see why I should pay listing fee/selling fee when others are just selling in chat.

Buffler · May 2017

Selling in guild chat is limited to who is a tually online and paying attention at that moment in time. When you list in store its there for 30 days for anyone passing by has a chance to buy.

newtinmpls · May 2017

Selling in guild chat is annoying as heck.

If I noticed someone doing that, I'd block them out of just not wanting to see them spamming their crap

hellcatlizzieb16_ESO · May 2017

Yeah the spamming is annoying too. I don't mind in zone but if the guild has a good trader and high membership I don't think it's fair when people who don't list on store just spam chat with all items. Especially when you actually stick to selling in store to help the guild get a cut etc. Most guilds I am in have a no selling In chat rule and actually do kick people who repeatedly sell in chat.

Humphie · May 2017

Traders cost gold. Sometimes a lot of gold. If you sell in guildchat, the guild is missing out on fees. So you have the benefit of being in a trading guild but not putting anything in to keeping the guild alive. That is unfair to me.

theher0not · May 2017

I don't really mind weither it is allowed to sell in chat or not, as long as the rules are the same for everyone.

If it is allowed then I would ofcourse take advantage of it and try and sell in chat, just as I do in Zone chat.

If it isn't allowed I am fine with that too since I know that the guild needs money to get a trader.

anitajoneb17_ESO · May 2017

Good question.

One side's argument is "Selling in chat means less tax profit for the guild, it's unfair. Also, what would one need a trading guild if he/she isn't using the guild store ?"

The other side's argument is "not being allowed to trade outside of the guild store in a trading guild makes no sense. Trading guilds are usually full of wealthy, price-conscious people and therefore a great population to target to sell stuff in big bulks, etc.".

In my opinion both sides' arguments are very valid. Trading guilds could be considered like a federation where people act as "wholesalers" while the guild store acts more like a retailer for the general public.

One of my trading guild (The Traveling Merchant, one of the strongest on PC/EU) has imho a fairly balanced and efficient policy. Trading in chat is allowed, and the GM ( @Blobsky ) checks every member on a weekly basis, taking both guild store sales (via Master Merchant) AND donations into consideration. That way, if someone uses the guild chat a lot BUT donates a lot to compensate for tax losses, it's considered fine. On the other hand, if someone uses the guild chat instead of the store but doesn't make any donation, he/she's just using the guild without contributing and will be kicked. Someone not donating is asked to reach a weekly minimum sales volume via the guild store. Imho a good compromise.

Jimbullbee85 · May 2017

Selling in chat is acceptable. We've all been in the situation where we need quick money or need to shift something quick. I do it when my item lots are full to.

hellcatlizzieb16_ESO · May 2017

@anitajoneb17_ESO see that sounds like a good balance, I wouldn't mind that so much as if selling but still donating to cover fees is still keeping it fair. I think that's a great policy for the guild to have. The owner of the guild I'm in is allowing selling In chat but has no such policy and as much as I feel I should contribute a cut and not just the weekly donation for membership, I grudge doing it as I seriously doubt everyone selling In chat are donating in the same way. I wouldn't mind so much just a few things sold here and there if people maxed out items in store etc but it constant selling from when I go on to when I log off. TBH I'm probably gonna leave the guild but it's good to see other people's take on it.

Prof_Bawbag · May 2017

Because it's unfair on those people who donate into the guild for traders. Why bother donating when you can just do it in chat? As mentioned above, some of those traders cost a lot and I've found the worst culprits to be those that don't donate a bean. They sell, they ask for help through dungeons, ask for lvl'n and armour, yet don't give a single thing back. Not even got the decency to allow the guild a slice of the fees for the goods they're selling.

Selling in guild chat is a good thing in non trader guilds, but it defeat the purpose of having a trader and people pissing their gold away for nothing if everything is being sold in chat. Maybe comes across as only the guild losing out, but it's also screwing those people over who donate on a weekly basis to get traders.

Jimbullbee85 · May 2017

At the end of the day no guild has the right to tell anyone how to sell their goods. I do both. My listings are always full in the trading guild I'm in and everything else gets sold in chat. The guild makes gold, I make gold. For people who are taking the mick there's the kick button.

Humphie · May 2017

Jimbullbee85 wrote: »

At the end of the day no guild has the right to tell anyone how to sell their goods. I do both. My listings are always full in the trading guild I'm in and everything else gets sold in chat. The guild makes gold, I make gold. For people who are taking the mick there's the kick button.

Ofc can a guild set up rules you can follow or leave.

IronCrystal · May 2017

Jimbullbee85 wrote: »

At the end of the day no guild has the right to tell anyone how to sell their goods. I do both. My listings are always full in the trading guild I'm in and everything else gets sold in chat. The guild makes gold, I make gold. For people who are taking the mick there's the kick button.

Yes, guilds can tell you what to do. Guilds have rules that you need to adhere to.

Cadbury · May 2017

Of the three trading guilds I'm in, only one has people spamming their items in guild chat for sale. And it's almost aways a new guildie (they allow a free week for new members before they must pay guild fee). They are pretty much ignored except for comments regarding the over/underprice-ness of the items in question (one recent example was someone offering to buy kutas for 500g).

So yeah, while I do see some sales spam in guild chat it's mostly ignored or weeded out.

Prof_Bawbag · May 2017

Jimbullbee85 wrote: »

At the end of the day no guild has the right to tell anyone how to sell their goods. I do both. My listings are always full in the trading guild I'm in and everything else gets sold in chat. The guild makes gold, I make gold. For people who are taking the mick there's the kick button.

Then find a 2nd guild or even a 3rd guild? Their guild, their rules. You're even free to make your own one and apply as little or as much rules as you want. No one is taking the mick. I've left many guilds in the past because I didn't like certain restraints. That's not a fault nor a slight on the GM's running those guilds, that's me just respecting others in that guild who have no issue adhering to those rules even though I didn't agree with them. We're all free to move so if you feel others can use the kick button, and by the same token, you are free to use the leave button.

UrbanMonk · May 2017

Selling in G-Chat should simply not be allowed unless you simply post that this perticular item has been listed in the store for xxx price.

Jimbullbee85 · May 2017

IronCrystal wrote: »

Jimbullbee85 wrote: »

At the end of the day no guild has the right to tell anyone how to sell their goods. I do both. My listings are always full in the trading guild I'm in and everything else gets sold in chat. The guild makes gold, I make gold. For people who are taking the mick there's the kick button.

Yes, guilds can tell you what to do. Guilds have rules that you need to adhere to.

Yes basic rules, but no guild I'm in has ever tried to tell me who I can and cannot sell my wares to because they've got a level of respect and decency not to. The first one to do so will see my patronage go somewhere else. The ones I'm in are happy enough with the contribution they're receiving already. I've had no problems selling In the store and quick selling in chat and I hope noone is put off doing the same because of this thread. It's all good business. I make money for myself whilst supporting the guild traders too and will continue to do things that way. The big guilds need us more than we need them. Any guild that doesn't understand that wont do well at all.

Jimbullbee85 · May 2017

Plus... I don't sell in guild chat. I sell in zone chat. I can see how it will be disrespectful to use guildchat and anyone doing so will have to accept any repercussions if the guild sees it unacceptable but selling in a general chat for a quick buck is no one's business but the players.

Prof_Bawbag · May 2017

Awwwww, it would have been helpful had you stated that from the off. It's no one's business what gets sold in zone chat. That everyone can agree on.

Tasear · May 2017

it's like selling a knock off when you work at a brand name store. Sure there's some reasonable exceptions, but you should generally try to avoid it.