Quote from riskarb:
Your competition is the steamroller bearing down on you when you're picking up those nickels. As Dr. Z suggested; there is huge edge-loss in selling those otm call spreads. Some of the cheapest gamma I've ever seen, therefore the most leveraged to gamma^2. Lov vols = cheap gamma. OTM = cheap gamma. Negative call skew = cheap gamma.
If the vol smile was flat you'd get nearly TWICE as much for your call spreads.
If you guys/gals are going to continue down this road... make every attempt to sell near-atm premium, or consider trading atm/otm condors and flies. If you continue to be led down the primrose path, then at the very least buy some term-structure vega in calendars.
No trade beats the expectancy argument[execution-edge], but as I've stated numerous times -- it's best to be long upside and short downside gamma -- long otm/short atm. This naturally structures the book in long flies and condors, either natural or synthetic[irons].
Your competition doesn't control the market; they know that the gamma you're selling them can't get any cheaper, therein lies their edge.
I've said my peace and I won't clutter this thread any further -- good luck.