Islam is very non-materialistic. Middle Eastern merchants are very
open & honest. since they don't consider the prospect of gouging a few
extra coins from your pocket as worth endangering their soul.
Christianity proposes this same philosophy but far fewer Christians
put it into practice.

Dave wrote:
Interesting observations, Doug. *I find haggling distasteful, but not
immoral.

It's not about haggling, which is a great tradition in most places
other than the US. It's about lying for profit.


.... Apparently you view it as having a moral dimension.

It's not about *my* feelings, Dave.... you made a statement that
conveyed your impression that Middle Eastern bazaar merchants...
possibly Middle Easterners in general.... were greedy & dishonest.
This is not the case. They might be happy to kill you but they would
not rob you.


.... So can I
morally price my boat at any more than I expect to ultimately sell it for?
If so, how much more before I'm "gouging"? *And is that the same premium I
can ask before I endanger my soul? 10%? 30%? 50%? 100%?

Morality is not my department. Just telling you the facts as I have
observed them.

Setting a price on your boat is not the same as accepting X amount of
money for it. Seems unlikely to me, in this current market
environment, that you'll be able to endanger your soul over it

Fresh Breezes- Doug King