As people reading this topic know, I've been playing the AH a lot since Cata dropped. One thing I'm *really* beginning to hate is people that price items irresponsibly low. Not high, but *low*.
Example:
The Cataclysm metagem, Shadowspirit Diamond, has been consistently selling for 650g, on my server. I've sold probably ~10 at this price, so I know they move at this range. The recipe is BARELY profitable, at this price. Some days you'll make ~200g on the recipe, which is totally healthy, but you have to invest 1100g to make that 200, and there's no guarantees. Other days you break even.
So I list 4 of them at 648g - normal.
I come back and check later, and someone has listed EIGHT at 500g. Now, I don't mind being undercut - that is business. But this isn't the same. This behavior is harmful to all high-level alchemists server-wide. I bought up all eight and relisted at my price of 648g. Not because I'm a dick, but because I have a vested interest in this recipe remaining profitable for my profession.
Now, maybe the guy has a source for the materials needed to create the recipe, so he wants to price his metagems to move, since they cost him less to make. Fine. But he could have easily listed his metagems at 600g or even 620g, and they would have sold just as quickly. That's what I mean about irresponsibly low pricing.
Eight was flooding the market - there are only 25 being sold on the entire server. 500g helps no one - you get 200g less profit than you would have, you make alchemy less viable as a profession, and you're just putting more money in a JC's pocket.
I'm ALL ABOUT pricing ruthlessness, but people need to follow the market.
Edit: For the record, I've already resold six of the eight metagems I relisted, earning me 600g in pure profit after all fees. But I don't even care about the profit. I care about buyers getting used to paying 650 for the metagem, not 500. It would be disastrous for all alchemists if too many buyers "held off" on paying 650 because they know they pop up for 500 regularly.
