[SCA-AE] RE SCA Merchantin. Was.. Need Merchant Info

[Thomas Gressman]

Please understand, my comments were not necessarily a
shot at smaller professional merchants. My beef is
more with the overall climate that makes it necessary
for us to have insurance.

It seems that so many people are looking to sue
somebody so we have to protect ourselves against the
"Professional Victims" and their enablers.

The other half of my gripe, the one that was aimed at
"professional merchants" of the type who make their
full, or almost full living doing mundane craft shows,
renn faires and so on. These folks are often, at least
to my observation, nominal SCAdians, at best. It
doesn't hurt them so much to have to pay out a larger
fee to merchant at an event, it is all figured into
their overhead, the same as insurance is for any other
businss.

Whereas for those of us who used merchanting to help
finance our hobby, we get cut twice. First in the loss
of income, slight as that might be, and second in the
form of reduced participation in the SCA.

I understand that business and market forces hit
everyone, hobby merchant or professional. Where I hit
the disconnect is where the fees being assessed begin
to overwhelm any potential profit I might make.
At that time, I like any other business must make the
decision to raise prices, cut quality, cut overhead (I
really can't do that, I can't fire myself, so I can't
cut staff, I work out of my home, so I can't move into
cheaper digs, and I can't raise and slaughter my own
cows and tan my own leather), or go out of business. 

Sadly, I had to choose the latter. And, mark my words,
I won't be the last.

Morgan

--- Linda Learn <fabrix at mymail.emcyber.com> wrote:

> Things like requiring merchants to have insurance
> are
> driving the "hobby merchants", like me out of
> business. > --------------------------
> 
> Us 'professional' small merchants are having a hard
> time too. Same costs,
> same hassle, more taxes and no money coming in from
> a 'day job' to pay the
> 'ordinary' bills. 

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