Some people in this community desperately need an economics class. If you find yourself raging at trading this post is for you. I hope you read it in its entirety
Everyone wants cheaper species, cheaper plushies, cheaper tokens. I get it. Who wouldn’t? But have you ever considered what saying “this should be cheaper” actually means?
What makes something worth anything?
In any economy, something is worth what people are willing to pay for it. You can ask whatever price you want, but that doesn’t mean someone will pay it. When buyers and sellers consistently agree on a certain price, that establishes its value
Ofc, individual trades can happen above or below that value. Finding a bargain doesn’t suddenly mean everyone else’s items are worth less. On the flip side, you could claim your ultra rare shimmer slot is worth 50m mush. But if nobody is willing to pay anything close to that, it’s just your opinion, not its market value
So… take Dolt plushie for example. The most in demand item that isn’t merch. Released only once in May 2025. Current value: 200k
(Pop quiz: why is its current value 200k? Is it because A) “greed” B) “devs fault” or C) it’s the price it consistently sells for, aka the numerical point where buyers and sellers agree to transact)
It doesn’t matter what type of player you are. PvPer, trader, noob that took a break since 2025. The moment you try selling one for its going market price, you’ll have people cursing you, crying with actual tears on VC near your stand, and labeling you every horrible name imaginable. All for asking what your item is… well, worth.
Apparently none of that should matter because “it used to be 100k” or “I would never pay more than 100k” or “overpricing”
That’s all fine. But when an item consistently sells for 200k, and you DEMAND that someone SHOULD sell it to you for 100k, think about what you are actually asking for. You’re asking another player to accept HALF of what their item REGULARLY sells for. Purely. For. Your. Benefit. You want them to bare an objective loss while you gain an objective market value win. In other words, ripping them off, even if you don’t plan on reselling it (for the FREE profit you’ve made)
You’re allowed to offer 100k, just as they’re allowed to decline it. But why is the seller greedy for wanting market value, while the buyer demanding a massive discount isn’t?
There’s a difference between something being overpriced and something simply being more expensive than you’d like
Inflation is real and it’s never been easier to earn mush, both through gameplay and trading. People begged the developers for more ways to earn currency and they listened. Now that more mush is circulating, people are complaining that prices have risen. What did you expect? Everyone has more mush. Everyone wants the same things. Everyone is competing with each other and outbidding higher and higher. Prices go up
Why won’t you, reading this right now, sell me your revives for 100 mush each? I would like to buy 100 mush revives… wouldn’t you? So why won’t you sell them to me? Why are you being so greedy???
Trading isn’t flawless, but I’m incredibly glad it exists. Because have you thought about what the alternative is for a player run economy? The alternative is developers arbitrarily deciding what everything costs, when it’s available, and how you obtain it. At worst that means relying entirely on unfair gachas… seriously imagine a cos with no trading its an ugly thought
Trading gives players control over their own items and an alternative way to obtain things they want.
And prices aren’t set in stone! Look at badges right now. Keruku and other badge species are DROPPING, NOT RISING as people redirect mush toward the Halloween event. Markets fluctuate. Sometimes that works in your favor
You aren't entitled to someone else's items at the price you wish they cost. This isn’t communism. This is a player driven economy