So every reseller is "burning" somebody? Wouldn't you be "burning" somebody be offering your service at higher price than your competitor?
Depends on the situation doesn't it. About 6 years ago I bought an Ibanez guitar from Ebay. I paid 100 for it. In particular it is the GAX 70 model. Today, if you look this same guitar is selling for 200 +. The reason, the model is no longer manufactured. Also, those units are completely stock. With the unit I have, I have refreted in Stainless Steel, changed the tuners from Ping to Grovers with keystone heads, replaced the plastic nut with bone, replaced the TOM saddle with a Nashville saddle, Replaced the stock Powersound pickups with Pick ups ripped out of a Gibson Les Paul that was too badly damaged to repair, installed chrome pup covers, and replaced the pick up selector with a Gibson blade switch While the unit is not for sale and will not be while I a alive, if I were to sell it for less than I have in it, would that be taking advantage of another? Incidentally, as an amateur luthier, I did all the work myself.
On the other hand, the string trimmer I burnt up, I bought used for 10, put another ten into a carb rebuild kit bought locally for 8.95, when the same kit (a KAT 20) could be found online at the cheapest for 10.95 + shipping. Would it have been ethical to sell it for 50 online?
Since I am the one that has to look myself in the eye in the mirror, I am the one that has to decide what my ethical boundaries are. Working with my immediate business of cutting your grass, I have to factor in thing like fuel costs, transportation time, cutting and clean up time, equipment maintenance, wear and tear. All the nice little things you must account for. From there I give you a fair price. It may be higher or lower than another, but it is unique to the situation. This is entirely ethical because I am not forcing you to purchase my service. With Ebay there are shill bidders, pretty sure that many of those are bots that raise the bids. This is certainly unethical. Since I cannot control the behavior of another, I can only make a choice not to purchase from you.
Also, just so that you know. This is coming from a guy that spent over twenty years in prison. You are the master of your destiny and I the master of mine.
The issue is not marking something up. The issue is marking something up so as to take advantage of another.