If a trader in Gothic Remake refuses to do business and says “I only sell to people who respect the rules,” the fastest fix is to sleep in a valid bed until the next morning. This usually resets the merchant’s temporary hostility and restores trading access.
| Issue | Cause | Solution | Time Required | Works On |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trader won’t trade | Accidental theft | Sleep until morning | 1–2 minutes | All camps |
| Merchant says “I only sell to people who respect the rules” | Breaking camp rules or being caught stealing | Use a nearby permitted bed and rest | 1–2 minutes | Most vendors |
| Unable to access shop menu | Temporary reputation penalty | Wait overnight by sleeping | Less than 1 in-game day | Traders including Fisk |
| Merchant remains hostile | Severe crime or combat-related aggression | Wait longer or leave the area and return | Varies | Situational |
Why traders stop trading in Gothic 1 Remake
When you commit a minor offense such as stealing an item, entering restricted areas, or otherwise violating camp rules, some merchants temporarily refuse to trade. Instead of opening the barter screen, they’ll respond with the message:
“I only sell to people who respect the rules.”
This is effectively a short-term punishment system designed to discourage theft and rule-breaking without permanently locking players out of vendors.
How to fix the trader issue
Step 1: Find a usable bed
Locate a bed that belongs to you or one that you are allowed to use within the camp. Avoid beds marked as owned by NPCs, as sleeping there can create additional problems.
Step 2: Sleep until the next morning
Interact with the bed and select the option to sleep until morning. Advancing time appears to clear the temporary merchant restriction associated with minor rule violations.
Step 3: Return to the trader and verify the fix
After waking up, head back to the merchant who refused service. In most cases, their dialogue will return to normal and the trading interface will become available again.
Initiate conversation and choose the trade option. If the merchant opens their inventory, the issue has been successfully resolved.
Merchants confirmed to be affected
| Merchant | Location | Issue | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fisk | Old Camp | Refuses to trade after theft-related incidents | Sleep until morning |
| Various camp traders | Multiple camps | Temporary trading lockout | Sleep until morning |
| General vendors | Throughout the colony | Rule violation penalty | Wait overnight |
Preventing the problem from happening again
While the sleep method is effective, avoiding the issue altogether can save time. Try to avoid stealing while NPCs are watching, stay out of restricted areas unless required by a quest, and be cautious when interacting with containers that belong to camp residents.
If you do get caught, remember that the trading ban is usually temporary and can often be cleared simply by resting until the next day.
Sleeping away the trading penalty
The “I only sell to people who respect the rules” trader issue in Gothic 1 Remake is generally caused by a minor reputation violation rather than a permanent bug. Fortunately, the fix is extremely simple: find a usable bed, sleep until morning, and speak to the merchant again. In most cases, you’ll be back to buying and selling within moments.
