[Rob]

Probably a start would be to get everyone invloved and not just the shopowners. The problem with shops in general is the auction. MA has monopolized the shopping by having the auction. Everyone sells their stuff to auction because it is easier.

So, for a shop to become successful, they have to be able to offer good items to the public at prices better than the auction. OR, the auction must have less choices and the shops more. If MA were to eventually fade out the auction system, the shopowners would do very very well.

However, I seriously doubt that MA would do such a thing. SO, the shopowners MUST make alliances, with themselves and with the hunters and miners and crafters. For instance, I know that Epic likes to sell high end equipment. SO, whenever I loot something of value, I sell to him at PEAuction rates and he sells above those rates cause everyone knows PEAuction doesn't reflect what people usually buy at.

Now, let's tie this into another example. If Epic were to make an agreement with Stoffer, for instance, then Epic could agree to sell only high end stuff and Stoffer low end stuff. Sotffer would cater more to the new to mid players and Epic would cater to the mid to high level players. Stoffer and Epic would then enter into an agreement with the supplier, me for instance, and I would supply Stoffer with all the usual newbie and low mid player stuff and I would supply Epic with all the high end stuff. These two shopkeepers can also get their soc member and friends to do the same thing. If you get enough shopowners to enter into agreements with suppliers, the auction would eventually become worthless since all the good stuff would be found in the shops. It would take a while to come to this point, however, if everyone could work together, it would eventually happen.

I think Stoffer's idea about selling stuff in sets in shops would be great.

I also agree that it is very hard to get MA's attention if it is not in their best interest. I mean, seriously, MA is a business and if it is not profitable, they are more than likely not going to implement it. It's just business.

Anyway, that is a little of mytwopecs. I will not get into it any further. I hope this creates some discussion among the shopowners to work with each other.