[true_religion]

> In the latter example, that same markup makes cotton balls all but impossible to buy, when even a "normal" retail mark up of 25% would have kept the price in the cents and therefore at least approachable. I'd call that unethical.

If setting prices too high is unethical, then is refusing to sell at all also unethical?

And if it is unethical, should it be mandatory to sell any good at a reasonable prices? Or only a class of goods deemed "essential"?

[faboo]

In my personal opinion? If you are they person/company able to provide a necessary good (a patented, life-saving medicine say), then you have a moral obligation to sell it.

Similarly, I believe it immoral to sell a necessary good at exorbitant prices, but fine to sell luxury goods at whatever price you like. Of course, the question follows: What counts as "necessary"? I don't have an easy answer for that one :)