Memimi said:
Why do you assume they are all RMTs? More than once I've bought all the astral rings on the AH and sold them for more a few days later. >_> Am I an RMT for using the AH to make money like that?
Because they are buying and selling to each other at obviously lower prices than what had been the norm. You don't just put a Chiv chain up 4 times for 70k to be bought 4 times by the exact same person.
People who have these items are prone to accept this trend, sell their own items at this false low, based on auction house previous sales, only to have them bought back up by you later, so you can sell all of your items back to yourself again, but this time at a price double the original value, along with the items you scored at the false decreased value, and make a substantial profit, based on what are incorrect norms. People will assume that the raised price, is the price, and buy your items at prices generated by a false demand.