Your thoughts: EGS Middleman Service

[kendrah1]

The truth about middleman service is that the middleman gets burnt out over time. Not for $10, not for $30 per transaction will it justify a middleman wanting to continue offering the service endlessly. They will get burnt out.

The struggle is that even at the price tag of $30, it makes it tolerable for the middleman to continue on. It's the boarderline wage that someone would want to continue to work for. This is why we see new middleman come and go, and will see people come and go. We recognize this, and adapt to it accordingly. It's nothing against the retired middleman that have come and gone, it's just the way it is. People do get burnt out in that position, and you really can't understand the full effects unless you find yourself in that position.

So with that said, if $30 is only a tolerable amount (remember MM only make a percentage of that), then $10 or even $20 wouldn't cut it.

The saying goes "You pay someone barely enough to keep them working that position, and they work only hard enough not to get fired" The $30 mark is the happy medium in that quote.

[YeNotGuilty]

Putting it that way, that makes sense. All right, all in favor for raising MM price to $45?

[Panda]

I think the MM service is pretty invaluable, and I'm sorry to hear that it's a thankless job. I think the idea was a great one to implement it, and I believe it's helped ease quite a few minds when it comes to trading. I don't really think $30 is too high, since you aren't required to buy it. Those interested in the service are interested in security, and that comes at a cost.

I understand some trades are less then $100, and they don't want to be cheated out of their money as much as the next guy, but I think they have to understand that this is a service. Someone is taking the time to make sure you won't get scammed, you should take the time to make it worth their while. Well, at least tolerable.

I think an interesting idea might be sort of like a donation/tip fund. Good customer service is hard to find these days, and I know I'm willing to pay extra for great service. I'm not really sure how this might be implemented, maybe within the leaving feedback options, but it saddens me to hear that the MM's get burnt out on helping people. I understand how it can happen though.

[Monarch]

The process can be fast and/or slow depending on how fast the buyer and seller can communicate with the MM. It is impossible for the MM to be online 24/7 to eagerly wait PMs from both parties, as usually both parties do not happen to log-in/be available at the same times..

Our MM is pretty fast considering our extensive verification process, and our MM really do outperform their jobs. We have over a 99.9% success rate!

[YeNotGuilty]

Could get more done if I was a MM for FFXI as well?

[otheract]

I know the tiered thing has been explored and discarded ...how about % based with caps ...minimum of 15 (or whatever) and max of 50 (or whatever) ...I guess as someone new selling something relatively low cost 30 (25% or so) seems more than I would want to pay.

Of course, I've never done it so maybe I would change my mind over time.

[Infamous Flame]

Originally Posted by otheract

I know the tiered thing has been explored and discarded

...how about % based with caps

You mean a tiered system..?

[Wizzar]

Originally Posted by YeNotGuilty

Could get more done if I was a MM for FFXI as well?

Makes me giggle.

[Wowarrio]

I've been scammed in the past and I'm still wondering how the middleman can prevent certain scams. If a buyer buys an account, the middleman doesn't give them the account info until payment is "verified" by the seller. Paypal can still do a refund on a sale even after the payment has been verified...I'm wondering how you can prevent paypal from giving the buyer a refund when he/she requests it.

[Wowarrio]

I found the answer earlier up in the thread (I didn't notice it was 6 pages when I posted).

Correct me my understanding is wrong. The middleman is only involved until the transaction is finished, there is no protection or gaurentee after the money and account have traded hands. (Even western union has fakes from what I've read). As a seller my concern would be confirming payment recieved too early, I'd want to give the bank time to make sure the funds were accepted.