let rearrange the words a tad
I wish I could remember who told me this when I was a child. It was probably in Russia, but I can't say that for sure. For whatever reason it's been stuck in my head for over 30 years: "The profit on an item is the amount in excess of the item's worth that you were able to extort from some one.what you are describing is knowledge management. The knowledge which is the basis of all trade between non participants. I am being paid for the knowledge of where to sell a particular item that you as a seller do not have. That is the basis of a payment for my acumen. As long as it is not regulated that an individual may not sell without a go between it is a valid method of making a living. You are paying someone for their expertise.
thanx,
bill