So this strategy fails against people that keep their word.
I guess. But I don’t know of any real-world transactions where it’s expected that people keep their word on something like this. And if there IS that enforcement/trust available, then the MUCH simpler “both write down our best acceptable price, we’ll split the difference if a deal is possible” seems to be just as effective.
I guess. But I don’t know of any real-world transactions where it’s expected that people keep their word on something like this
I think there are two points worth raising here:
If someone accepts to precommit to the result of this negotiation and then, when the website outputs a price, refuses to honor it then I probably do not want to trade with them anymore. At the least, I would count it as though they agreed to a price and refused to honor it the next day.
You only need to keep a solid precomitment yourself to avoid falling prey to the strategy above.
The obvious issue in my eyes is that few people would agree to use this kind of tool anyway, especially for a nontrivial transaction. But in a society (or simply a subculture) that normalizes them it would probably no longer be true that people don’t consider their precommitment to the tool as binding.
No trust in the other party is required to use this tool,
It requires trust that they’ll honor the results of the tool and boycott any renegotiation or further contact if outside-tool negotiations are attempted. It’s not clear (to me) how much that trust differs from the trust needed to negotiate “normally”.
It requires trust that they’ll honor the results of the tool
Well sure, just like any sale requires “trust” that the other party won’t just take your money and leave. That’s what contract law is for, and I’m not sure how I would get around that with only a website, or why it would be worth spending any time on.
or further contact if outside-tool negotiations are attempted.
...No? It takes two people to engage in a negotiation. If Alice doesn’t want to sell her item, Bob can’t force her to do so.
Thanks for discussing the topic and showing how it could work. I remain skeptical, but very much look forward to seeing reports of success or real-world transactions that this tool enabled.
I’m going to bow out at this point—feel free to respond or further explain, and I’ll gratefully read and learn, but probably won’t reply further.
I guess. But I don’t know of any real-world transactions where it’s expected that people keep their word on something like this. And if there IS that enforcement/trust available, then the MUCH simpler “both write down our best acceptable price, we’ll split the difference if a deal is possible” seems to be just as effective.
I think there are two points worth raising here:
If someone accepts to precommit to the result of this negotiation and then, when the website outputs a price, refuses to honor it then I probably do not want to trade with them anymore. At the least, I would count it as though they agreed to a price and refused to honor it the next day.
You only need to keep a solid precomitment yourself to avoid falling prey to the strategy above.
The obvious issue in my eyes is that few people would agree to use this kind of tool anyway, especially for a nontrivial transaction. But in a society (or simply a subculture) that normalizes them it would probably no longer be true that people don’t consider their precommitment to the tool as binding.
No trust in the other party is required to use this tool, that’s the whole point.
Well, NOW I’m confused.
It requires trust that they’ll honor the results of the tool and boycott any renegotiation or further contact if outside-tool negotiations are attempted. It’s not clear (to me) how much that trust differs from the trust needed to negotiate “normally”.
Well sure, just like any sale requires “trust” that the other party won’t just take your money and leave. That’s what contract law is for, and I’m not sure how I would get around that with only a website, or why it would be worth spending any time on.
...No? It takes two people to engage in a negotiation. If Alice doesn’t want to sell her item, Bob can’t force her to do so.
Thanks for discussing the topic and showing how it could work. I remain skeptical, but very much look forward to seeing reports of success or real-world transactions that this tool enabled.
I’m going to bow out at this point—feel free to respond or further explain, and I’ll gratefully read and learn, but probably won’t reply further.