How much would you pay for a human soul? (market research)

[Acid_Lamp]

Barring further information, One could assume that a human soul has the monetary value of one Reasonable Wishtm. That is, a wish that the devil might grant without upsetting either the fabric of reality or violating the general order of the world.

For example: The devil could arrange for the death of a rebel leader in a war torn country, but not that of the POTUS. He could arrange for enough wealth to make you independently wealthy by the status of your country, but not simply re-arrange reality to make you bill gates.

By this model, I would estimate the value of a human soul to be around $ 1million USD That is a significant enough amount to ensure financial security if managed properly.

[Chessic_Sense]

Well, I think you have to discount the soul. Otherwise, the devil would just buy it from the person himself. I also think it costs the devil a little more than it costs you to buy it from a person, what with the red horns and pitchfork being a little offputting. So basically, you’re charging him to be his agent for soul acquisition. I think the cheapest type of soul the devil could get would be the “I need money for my mom’s operation” type. Let’s ballpark it at $150k. You, by virtue of being human, could pick up a soul for about as much as a birthright- 1 bowl of soup. So I’d say you’d have to mark it down to about $120k on resale. So your balance sheet should reflect a profit of $119, 999.63 per soul.

[Winston_Smith]

@IntelSoldier

Well, I think you have to discount the soul. Otherwise, the devil would just buy it from the person himself. I also think it costs the devil a little more than it costs you to buy it from a person, what with the red horns and pitchfork being a little offputting. So basically, you’re charging him to be his agent for soul acquisition. I think the cheapest type of soul the devil could get would be the “I need money for my mom’s operation” type. Let’s ballpark it at $150k. You, by virtue of being human, could pick up a soul for about as much as a birthright- 1 bowl of soup. So I’d say you’d have to mark it down to about $120k on resale. So your balance sheet should reflect a profit of $119, 999.63 per soul.

You assume the Devil can just whip out his billfold and pay cash for souls. No so. The Devil gets souls by means of temptation and bargaining, the objective of which is to lead men to sin. The idea of selling one’s soul in exchange for wealth, sex or fame is merely allegory for leading men to the sins of greed, lust or pride (respectively).

But I’m not so constrained.

Also, that’s Pan with the horns and pitchfork, not the Devil.

[Winston_Smith]

@Acid Lamp

Barring further information, One could assume that a human soul has the monetary value of one Reasonable Wishtm. That is, a wish that the devil might grant without upsetting either the fabric of reality or violating the general order of the world.

For example: The devil could arrange for the death of a rebel leader in a war torn country, but not that of the POTUS. He could arrange for enough wealth to make you independently wealthy by the status of your country, but not simply re-arrange reality to make you bill gates.

By this model, I would estimate the value of a human soul to be around $ 1million USD That is a significant enough amount to ensure financial security if managed properly.

Would you pay $1 mil. dollars for a soul? Most of us don’t happen to have that much cash lying around, and banks don’t typically issue unsecured loans in that amount. I’m afraid you’re not being very realistic.

[Q.E.D]

Do you take bits of string?

[Winston_Smith]

@CutterJohn

We also need some information on what use a soul has. Can it be used to power spells/enchantments/god powers? Or is it more like a knicknack that god figures and voodoo priests collect just for the sake of collecting them, akin to postage stamps.

Sorry, what you choose to do with it is entirely up to you.

[Winston_Smith]

@Q.E.D.

Do you take bits of string?

If they’re wrapped around a big bundle of money, I do.

[Quartz]

Of course, dealing in souls is a fundamentally evil act in itself, so I wouldn’t pay anything - I’d step away from the deal.

[Acid_Lamp]

@Winston Smith

Would you pay $1 mil. dollars for a soul? Most of us don’t happen to have that much cash lying around, and banks don’t typically issue unsecured loans in that amount. I’m afraid you’re not being very realistic.

Of course I wouldn’t pay anywhere near that much. However, since the devil values souls highly enough to bargain for them in the form of wishes, It is a reasonable baseline. Now, knowing that a soul has an inherent value of a reasonable wish, I would probably take advantage of my insider knowledge and fleece the disbelieving public into selling me their souls for $1000.00 each. It would be easy to find a stream of people willing to sign their soul over for what they would perceive as “free” money.

[Acid_Lamp]

@Quartz

Of course, dealing in souls is a fundamentally evil act in itself, so I wouldn’t pay anything - I’d step away from the deal.

Why not? according the OP the devil doesn’t care which souls he acquires, so you could sell him one of your surplus for a “get out of hell free card”. Assuming you repent before you die, most Christian religions would consider you good with the big guy upstairs. Even if you didn’t chances are that the devil would reward you for doing his work, with a lake of fire-side resort mansion, and many succubi or inccubi to help while away eternity in* style*.

[Bryan_Ekers]

@TroubleAgain

Yeah, like I need another useless thing cluttering up my house.

Well, if you need to save space, you could fillet it.

[Stealth_Potato]

My biggest question: about how hard would it be to gussy up hog souls to traffic them as human? I happen to have a steeply discounted high-volume source, and I’m thinking there’s profit to be made for a sufficiently unscrupulous graftsman.

[Winston_Smith]

@Acid Lamp

Of course I wouldn’t pay anywhere near that much. However, since the devil values souls highly enough to bargain for them in the form of wishes, It is a reasonable baseline. Now, knowing that a soul has an inherent value of a reasonable wish, I would probably take advantage of my insider knowledge and fleece the disbelieving public into selling me their souls for $1000.00 each. It would be easy to find a stream of people willing to sign their soul over for what they would perceive as “free” money.

Ah, but the Devil doesn’t place as high a value on souls as you would think. The Devil’s objective is getting us to sin, not to win souls. The only value a human sould has to the Devil is that the Man Upstairs doesn’t get it (and of course the satisfaction of a job well done).

[Winston_Smith]

@Stealth Potato

My biggest question: about how hard would it be to gussy up hog souls to traffic them as human? I happen to have a steeply discounted high-volume source, and I’m thinking there’s profit to be made for a sufficiently unscrupulous graftsman.

Impossibly difficult. You know how coupons sometimes have a disclaimer that says “Actual cash value 1/40 of one cent”? It’s kind of like that with animals’ souls. This is because animals are creatures of instinct and lack a sophisticated intellect. A soul is more about the dynamic potential of choice between good and evil than it is about the choice between chewing cud in the sun or shade.

[eleanorigby]

@Winston Smith

I assure you I have a sound business plan.

You are still clinging to idea that souls differ meaningfully from one another. This is simply not the case. I will adress your questions, though, in an attempt to disabuse you of these rediculous notions.
Are these souls the same size (for male and female)?

Sould are non-corporeal, so the concept of size simply does not apply. This is a tremendous advantage in regard to storage costs (approximately $0.00)

What is the redistribution model (aka turnover)? Is it LIFO or FIFO?

LIFO/FIFO distribution models do not apply. The very concept is, in fact, completely irrelevent. Think of it this way: Does it matter which dollars you get back from the bank when you withdraw money? Or which dollars you get when you sell stock? A dollar has the exact same value regardless of who holds it in his pocket, and so does a soul.

Where do kids’ souls factor in or is that another market altogether.

The age of the soul is not a function of the age of the host (souls are immortal).

I hope this helps.

<dazzled by business acumen of Winny>

Name your price, sir!

[THespos]

Does it matter where you put the price point? You’re not going to be able to compete with the likes of eBay, which has better distribution than you can hope to achieve.

All they have to do is create a human souls category and you’re done. Fini. History.

Your SBA officer would be insane to give you a loan on this one.

[Sigmagirl]

Originally posted by Winston Smith
Impossibly difficult. You know how coupons sometimes have a disclaimer that says “Actual cash value 1/40 of one cent”? It’s kind of like that with animals’ souls. This is because animals are creatures of instinct and lack a sophisticated intellect. A soul is more about the dynamic potential of choice between good and evil than it is about the choice between chewing cud in the sun or shade.

Disagree. The soul of my dog is of such greater worth than the soul of – well, of my soul – that Satan can only stand sadly by and weep while Heaven is populated with the spirits of Sparkies, Gidgets, and Sassies gone before.

[Freudian_Slit]

Nothing. Now, monkey souls, that’s where it’s at. Or dogs, they are so much more soulful than us–just look at a puppy’s eyes!

[mr.jp]

I have bought a friends soul for a slice of pizza

[Jragon]

I dunno, let’s talk over a game of assumption.
I’m sure we can think something up!

I don’t know what to do with all the ones I already have though, I have a nasty habit of opening my pocket watch and collecting people’s souls ((OOC: No, really, I do this all the time in front of people)).

Really the value has gone down, what with the laws making it somewhat difficult due to the recent banning on interplanar soul-powered summon lines without prior court approval and good homunculus rituals being heard on a case-by-case basis. With all the red tape there’s not really much of a market any more. I’d say about 3 medium rubies and an emerald? And even that’s a bit generous.