Total confusion on common markets now...

I'm a returning player and when I played awhile back I was part of and told that I should always take part in a common market. Now, this go around I'm trying to get into one on Fearless Blue and am being told that most people don't join CMs because countries tend to lose money with them, So which is it? Do I join/ create a new common market like I had done so in the past (mind you I still didnt totally know what I was doing back then either since not very many people were all that willing to teach new players.) OR, do I just stick with the international trade market? I would be nice if someone would take some time to give me a few pointers or explain this game to me... I am a good listener and willing to try what I'm told to do... I'm on Fearless Blue, my country is Lithernia, my president name is heffj4.

My early take

I also played many moons ago when the game was still shiny and new-ish. I also created a common market with my countries and a couple more from other players from time to time. It worked great!

Now I'm not sure it would be beneficial at least on WG. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here as I have not been playing long this time around. I think the chronic and widespread shortages would make CM contracts as well as local contracts less profitable as the mark-up on pretty much everything is max. Where in a CM or local contract are just market price x quality.

ya we all played moons ago lol, common market has it pros and cons

1. when using the cm you cant decide what quality your corp will be getting and many will start building a new corp and offer it to the cm if your corp is producing quality 303 but you accept all supplies from the cm at 120 your 303 will soon be gone

2. if your selling your 303 quality on the international market at -10% or 293% if you offer all to the cm instead your losing or breaking even cause now your selling at market value + quality pretty much "best price"

if your 303 corp is suppling a quality 120 corp now your 120 corp is overspending for supplies is not yet rdy for