The article How to Become A “Afghan Bazaar Queen” has been submitted for the Bonsai Vault Article Contest.....Good Luck!

Name: #1 - Irene Britton
Country: USA
Credits: None
Category: Non-Fiction
Submission Date: 04/17/2008

Thank you for your submission Irene

Well done Irene for giving us an insight of the barter system. Wish I could trade with you freely but the restrictions on live material does not quite fit in with "bonsai is borderless" as you often say. I agree with you on that but the physical limitations are there, alas. Good read.

Ash

Ash Barns wrote:Well done Irene for giving us an insight of the barter system. Wish I could trade with you freely but the restrictions on live material does not quite fit in with "bonsai is borderless" as you often say. I agree with you on that but the physical limitations are there, alas. Good read.

Ash

Ash, believe me, you don't want to barter with Irene!!!

I second that

I get no Respect for perfecting a skill!
Mom

irene_b wrote:I get no Respect for perfecting a skill!
Mom

Quite the contrary, Irene. In an ideal world, we would each act out of our own self-interest, and try to maximize our personal profit. In an ideal world, each party would have a sure knowledge of what they believe their work or product to be worth to them, and would not make a deal that put them at a disadvantage. Therefore every transaction would give something of value for value received, without the arbitrary assignment of a number ($ in this case) to decide what value is.

On the other hand, we often see folks with a fair underestimation of the value of their work. Or we see unscrupulous traders with inferior product being touted as superior. What's to prevent someone from being completely taken advantage of?

Only the market can do this. Do we need laws and agreements to be certain that Queen Mary doesn't take advantage of Lonely Bonsaiist? No, we need the market to do that. Lonely must learn through repeated dealings either that he is not getting full value for his product, or that he is getting full value and be content. But what happens when Slick Wick comes into town and offers Lonely double or triple what Queen Mary has been "paying" for the product? Lonely begins to believe in the higher value of his product and negotiates more strongly when Queen Mary comes by next time.

Capitalism is a beautiful system. In my opinion, it is the only moral system of government the world has ever seen. And barter is capitalism in its purest form. We ought to do more of it. My caution was intended to bring to others' attention that they are their own guardian...in order to barter and be happy with it, they need to have that sense of confidence and understanding of what a thing is worth to them.

Chris Johnston wrote:

irene_b wrote:I get no Respect for perfecting a skill!
Mom

Quite the contrary, Irene. In an ideal world, we would each act out of our own self-interest, and try to maximize our personal profit. In an ideal world, each party would have a sure knowledge of what they believe their work or product to be worth to them, and would not make a deal that put them at a disadvantage. Therefore every transaction would give something of value for value received, without the arbitrary assignment of a number ($ in this case) to decide what value is.

On the other hand, we often see folks with a fair underestimation of the value of their work. Or we see unscrupulous traders with inferior product being touted as superior. What's to prevent someone from being completely taken advantage of?

Only the market can do this. Do we need laws and agreements to be certain that Queen Mary doesn't take advantage of Lonely Bonsaiist? No, we need the market to do that. Lonely must learn through repeated dealings either that he is not getting full value for his product, or that he is getting full value and be content. But what happens when Slick Wick comes into town and offers Lonely double or triple what Queen Mary has been "paying" for the product? Lonely begins to believe in the higher value of his product and negotiates more strongly when Queen Mary comes by next time.

Capitalism is a beautiful system. In my opinion, it is the only moral system of government the world has ever seen. And barter is capitalism in its purest form. We ought to do more of it. My caution was intended to bring to others' attention that they are their own guardian...in order to barter and be happy with it, they need to have that sense of confidence and understanding of what a thing is worth to them.

For the most part i do not disagree with what you are saying.

When a value is attached to an item the seller has a rock bottom price they will not go below, the buyer is then left to either pay the asking or define the rock bottom (RB) price. What I have found in this world is very few people are willing to negotiate or feel that it is insulting to the seller.
Our ancestors never thought twice about using the barter or the RB solution, so why is this generation so offended by the skills of bartering /negotiations?

When a price is set on an item it generally includes actual cost for item plus the markup, which is on average 300% (This is not implying that all sellers do this).
I am sure that this will bring the flamers out!
Irene

irene_b wrote:
When a price is set on an item it generally includes actual cost for item plus the markup, which is on average 300% (This is not implying that all sellers do this).
I am sure that this will bring the flamers out!
Irene

No flames, but this seems an over-broad statement. In what industries or businesses would you think you see a 300% markup?

Chris Johnston wrote:

irene_b wrote:
When a price is set on an item it generally includes actual cost for item plus the markup, which is on average 300% (This is not implying that all sellers do this).
I am sure that this will bring the flamers out!
Irene

No flames, but this seems an over-broad statement. In what industries or businesses would you think you see a 300% markup?

Chris that is the reality of most retail stores.
Irene