[1 Dismissal] Capitalizing on the merchant

[MO_oNyMan]

Merchant slot has some potential which with the current state of affairs is kind of wasted. He is a singular role that trades random goods from an obscure location somewhere on the station and is kind of obeying the regulations but really or some stuff.

Due to the location the merchant's shuttle is situated at it is rarely visited

The actual store area we have on main level is never used

And the cargo entrance on the surface which is located (as in on purpose) right opposite of the merchant's ship is never used as well.

So i would suggest the following system that in my opinion would make merchant a more in-depth and elaborate job as well as giving some work to cargo who suffer very much from the lack of stuff to do.

- So, a merchant arrives. He's stocked on goods he would like to sell, he got his trading license from NT, he docks to the station. Is it time to advertise his goods and invite people to the surface? Not yet. Trading off the shuttle is illegal (law words, something about shuttle being merchant's private property and NT wanting merchants to trade on their property to be able to take part of his profits as a part of the contract, could be treated as contraband, could be a separate regulation)

- So he contacts the QM. Tells him he's going to be trading. Gets registered with the QM (currently it's just for fluff but could be a real thing if there were more merchant slots, wow look at this cool trading hub suggestion https://forums.aurorastation.org/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=10624 ), declares the goods he's going to trade and registers them with cargo, cargo and merchant agree on the part of merchant's profits that will be taken by NT (QM keeps the paperwork). All of the above is done via a currently unused surface cargo entrance. So can he trade now? Not yet Jimmy, he still needs to get off his shuttle.

- So using the close proximity of the surface cargo entrance and the cheap work of underpaid cargo techs crates of goods are hauled to the specially prepared store area (could be the already existing store near the bridge but i would honestly prefer a dedicated room at the construction level near the cargo construction elevator as current store is like on the other side of the station. I can do the mapping. Fuck IT department)

- So the merchant is now set up in his own small shop area and can trade declared goods. He can also trade undeclared smuggled goods but it would be considered contraband if security finds out about it (which is not considered self antagging?). Oh by the way they can search the shop with a warrant since it is NT property. And merchant should abide by station regulations since he's on NT property. He still can carry a weapon for self defense if he acquires a permit (yes, security gets something to do too). So the merchant now interacts with various departments is a part of the station has an easily accessible area for crew to shop for their donuts and drugs and everyone is happy

???

Profit

[LordFowl]

There is no suggestion here. All of these things are just things you can do ICly. Voting for dismissal.

[MO_oNyMan]

There is no suggestion here. All of these things are just things you can do ICly. Voting for dismissal.

 

Reread the suggestion. Revised regulations pertaining merchants and the specifics of his training practice, additional duties of the QM and additional areas are some of the things suggested above.