You know Hawk, the first thing you didn't get was that I was not talking specifically to you. However, apparently that boot fit as you took it upon yourself to lace up that ***** and wear it out. Then you proceeded to tell me about me....as if you have a clue. You clearly don't understand what I'm talking about, so don't try to tell me what I mean.
Next, I am not at all putting down diggers. Nor have I.
When I say just another teenager who knows it all...that doesn't mean I'm putting down teenagers in general, just pointing out an observable trend in a specific individual.
Let me ask another question. When you need glasses, do you go to the mechanic on the corner? Or, would you rather go to the optometrist? The difference is not which one is a better person or feels \"greater\" than the other. The issue is that one makes his living making eye glasses and the other (likely very accomplished in his own technical skill) works on something no where related to glasses.
In case I lost you there, let me explain. The trend among many of the diggers (certainly not all) here on the forum is to suggest that dealers are artificially keeping prices low in an effort to scare diggers into selling ginseng which has a very high value (in their personal opinions) for a very low price. The underlying tone is that dealers are somehow trying to cheat diggers by effectively committing a fraud and conspiracy which includes most every dealer in every state. From that position, they are suggesting that anything said by a dealer in caution referencing the market is therefore obviously an intentional lie.
But, who should you trust more to give advice about the ginseng market? A digger who has nothing but rumor and speculation, or a dealer who has contacts and makes his living buying and selling ginseng in that same market?
The thing most folks don't understand is that the dealers make more money in a good advancing market. I would much rather be paying $1000 a pound right now. As it is, the dealers are the only ones losing money right now. If a digger gets $200 a pound that is nearly all profit. Many dealers right now are barely breaking even or facing losses. You see Hawk, we make money buying AND selling. If the price is high we sell high. If the price is low, we sell low. Our margin is normally similar, but a little better in high price years. This year is worse than a normally low year. The margins just aren't there for us this year.
If you feel like I'm picking on you...I'm sorry. But remember, you were the one coming out of the gate all confrontational toward me.
