[2022] Scamming the Merchants

I think that's a good idea, but there is something planned where the prices aren't always the same for every merchant which might solve this issue. What I mean is, merchants will price things based on their origin and travels. So, if a merchant comes from a neighboring settlement with a need for wood logs, they'll price them higher. If they come from a settlement with a need for bronze ingots, they might not spend anything on wood logs. My intention is for players to eventually set up trade networks with their neighbors based on supply and demand. I think this will solve the issue you are encountering because it's not always guaranteed that the merchant will even want your resources. Does this make sense?

Edit: I also want to add that, your idea is sort of wrapped up in this planned feature. The demand will go down as you sell a settlement items, making the price go down as well. The demand will go back up slowly as they use the resource.