It is natural, moral, legitimate, efficient, and productive to seek the highest profit one can obtain, so long as one doesn't resort to fraud, deception, trickery, or theft in order to obtain it.
That doesn't have to mean trying to extract as much material profit as one can from every person, situation, and environment one encounters in life.
I don't see anyone trying to deny you or anyone a fair return on your efforts. If you were paying attention you may have noticed that both fergalish
and I provided an example where one could get even greater profits while at the same time serving ones customers in the best possible way at
fair prices.
I too am disappointed at the way you seem to often want to reduce things to a simplistic level in discussions like this, as if it is only possible to see
profit in terms of a choice between the two absolutes of "good" and "bad".
I see it as more of a choice between the exercise of creativity and a more long term, wider and deeper vision, or the more lazy and shortsighted ways
of trying to grab a quick buck.
It is by the mechanism of each individual seeking to maximize profit (so long as it's done honestly) by which proper market price discovery occurs, and resources are allocated most effectively. If you charge below what you can otherwise obtain, you are sending a signal that the service you're providing is less valuable than otherwise, meaning production of that service will be lower than otherwise, meaning other market participants will be misled by a price signal that was distorted.
Indeed, one could make the argument that charging less than you can, while being good for the person on the other side of the transaction, is in fact harmful in aggregate to those around you.
Sounds like little more than justifications to me. There are many examples of things like generosity and philanthropy resulting in great good for businesses which embrace such ways.
If you find a service provider's fee to be too high, then don't use them. Simple simple!
I find this a disappointing attitude coming from a business man as well. Take it or leave it? I would suggest it makes for a better business to treat customers, and potential customers, with greater respect. The best businesses I have known, and been lucky enough to be a part of at times, encourage feedback, even if it is negative. I see such businesses thrive which do the best job of cultivating open discussions and two-way relationships with their customers.
And that is the point I feel. There is I feel new and better ways ( actually very old ways ) of doing business than a lot of what I have witnessed in many modern corporations and initiatives etc. It is about thinking a little bit less, just a little, about what one can personally gain and just a little more about how one can serve not only ones customers but ones communities and the greater economies we are all a part of.
There is a sweet spot ( maybe more than one... maybe several... ) between the
relative goods and bads, where ones most optimal result is obtained by helping the other
find theirs. Where customers are excellently served and merchants are amply rewarded.
And it seems to me that it is the seeking of that ideal which brings the greatest reward, not only in material terms, and makes for not only better business but more harmonious relations among people in general.
I see Bitcoin as being a potentially helpful tool in moving us in these directions and am just disappointed when I see so many new Bitcoin businesses fail to see such potentials and instead resort to the usual money grubbing ways which seem common for our time.
I see fergalish has posted a response while I have been typing this, but I will post this anyway even though I am sure he already did a good job. Besides I spent too much time on this just to throw it away...
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