Buying in Bulk - Guild Wars Forums

Rumi The Poet · Nov 05, 2010, 03:30 PM // 15:30

over the years ive noticed that when someone sells a given item in bulk they ask for more than the going rate 90% of the time seemingly.

ive tried to be fair with people in my trades and i dont practice buying / reselling as i think its not healthy for the game as a whole . . but thats just my opinion.

i understand the concept of supply and demand.

im not condemning the practice of reselling here, so dont get offended.

is gw2 going to be the same way?

do u think the practice of reselling turns ppl off/away from the game?

any input is welcome , ty for your time

*Darcy* · Nov 05, 2010, 03:38 PM // 15:38

Most people understand that trading is part of MMO life. You don't have to participate if it's not how you want to play, but for others it's their main joy in the game. As GW2 will be an MMO, I imagine it will have player traders. The reason for the increase in per item price when buying in bulk has to do with charging for saving you time.

If you want to discuss GW2, go to the GW2 guru at http://www.guildwars2guru.com/ and start a post in their Tyrian Assembly forum.

Milennin · Nov 05, 2010, 03:41 PM // 15:41

Any multi-player game with an economy will have players who make their money by buying low and selling high.

Ailina · Nov 05, 2010, 05:23 PM // 17:23

Actually, buying in bulk usually gets you a discount, because it saves THEM the time of selling all of the items separately; they get it over with in one trade.

Even in the real world, buying in bulk carries with the assumption that there will be a discount for doing so.

If the price is higher when selling in bulk, then it's silly, because you can just buy one item at a time from them at the regular, non-bulk-inflated price.

If someone is selling, say, Traveler gifts at 4.5k apiece, and 5 for 25k, then you should just buy a few at a time at 4.5k apiece instead of 5k. It's just a really, really silly concept to charge more for buying items in bulk instead of singly.

I personally have NEVER seen any instances in game of sellers charging more for bulk rates. usually it will be something like "Selling Traveler gifts 5k each, 10 for 45k", because it saves them time, and that's worth the extra 5k for a reseller.

tacotown · Nov 05, 2010, 05:39 PM // 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ailina

I personally have NEVER seen any instances in game of sellers charging more for bulk rates. usually it will be something like "Selling Traveler gifts 5k each, 10 for 45k", because it saves them time, and that's worth the extra 5k for a reseller.

i think the OP is referring to when people sell sweets/drunk/party pts in bulks of 1,000+, not 5 or 10 at a time. i've noticed most of the 1k+ point sellers sell for slightly above the going rate, and these sellers will not sell piece by piece. it makes sense from both sides as well:
-seller collected massive amounts of points, and is now trying to add a bonus to his hard work
-buyer saves time not having to buy points 5 or even 25 at a time (when the total is 10,000, it really does save time)

it's not like rl where production costs of an item lower as you make more, thus making sellers want to get rid of more of their supply. it's more like.. the convenience of having many items in one place raises the price slightly.

End · Nov 05, 2010, 08:55 PM // 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ailina

Actually, buying in bulk usually gets you a discount, because it saves THEM the time of selling all of the items separately; they get it over with in one trade.

Saves the person buying the time buying as well

Quote:

Even in the real world, buying in bulk carries with the assumption that there will be a discount for doing so.

This is because in real life storage space is a more finite resource. Therefore lowering the number of people who will buy those items. If you could buy 5 rolls of paper towels at the grocer for 1.50$ ea or 500 at the local bulk supply store at 1.50$ea your probably going to go with the one thats a pain to store. So bulk suppliers sell at a lower price per unit to encourage people to buy and cut corners in other places or require membership feees or this or that to keep up profits

Quote:

If the price is higher when selling in bulk, then it's silly, because you can just buy one item at a time from them at the regular, non-bulk-inflated price.

Oppritunity cost in terms of time spent buying to save money vs. time spent in the game earning money. You risk loosing money.

Quote:

If someone is selling, say, Traveler gifts at 4.5k apiece, and 5 for 25k, then you should just buy a few at a time at 4.5k apiece instead of 5k. It's just a really, really silly concept to charge more for buying items in bulk instead of singly.

5 is far from what I would consider bulk esspecially for a stackable item. More along the lines of buying a stack of gifts @ 4.5 ea one at a time or buying a stack all at once for 5k ea.

Quote:

I personally have NEVER seen any instances in game of sellers charging more for bulk rates.

Check out Kath Hammers

Quote:

usually it will be something like "Selling Traveler gifts 5k each, 10 for 45k", because it saves them time, and that's worth the extra 5k for a reseller.

Again this is really not what I would consider bulk because it's such a small amount that it plays by a slightly different rule set and the people selling traveler gifts are more casual players less worried about big profit.

Angel Killuminati · Nov 05, 2010, 09:24 PM // 21:24

The auction house (I believe it's in GW2 right?) will be a huge source of trading for all - I particulary loved trading, making money. I'd go months on end without spending any gold, just hoarding it, as I loved to see it constantly increasing.

With that, reselling will be just as big in Gw2 imo.

Ailina · Nov 05, 2010, 09:44 PM // 21:44

You make excellent points, End. I have never been involved in the powertrading market, so I don't have experience with the incredibly huge amounts you all are talking about. To me, buying a stack of something is as "bulk" as it gets.

Apparently, as you pointed out, the rules are different when such ridiculously large amounts are involved. Thank you for correcting me; I love learning new things.

daveham · Nov 06, 2010, 01:23 AM // 01:23

Take something like red rock candies.

If a hard core speedclearer wants them they will pay more per unit if buying for example a stack than 5-10 as they want to be speedclearing, not sitting in kamadan for hours. if they are doing something like DoA they will make more than the money back in the time saved.

Spiritz · Nov 06, 2010, 12:38 PM // 12:38

ive never really seen this tho a few times i sell bulk mats but a stack of mats i sell at 250x player market price per unit which is usually lower than npc buy price to a point.
upto 1k its usually 100g cheaper and stuff like ectos is usually 1k cheaper so if npc was sellin feathers at 400g for 10 a stack works out at 10k - player base would be 8.5 to 9k a stack.Thinking tho as feathers have made me think .. ive seen a few players charge 10k a stack even if you can but at npc for 9k ( usually when pointed out they respond by calling you a noob ) but thats the only instances ive seen.
In a way it shows at times how stupid we are when buying and we shud really check prices before handing our money over so willingly - if we wasnt so stupid a lot of scammers would fail .

Nov 05, 2010, 03:30 PM // 15:30	#1
Rumi The Poet Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2010 Guild: This Game Is Old Profession: D/P	Buying in Bulk over the years ive noticed that when someone sells a given item in bulk they ask for more than the going rate 90% of the time seemingly. ive tried to be fair with people in my trades and i dont practice buying / reselling as i think its not healthy for the game as a whole . . but thats just my opinion. i understand the concept of supply and demand. im not condemning the practice of reselling here, so dont get offended. is gw2 going to be the same way? do u think the practice of reselling turns ppl off/away from the game? any input is welcome , ty for your time

Nov 05, 2010, 03:38 PM // 15:38	#2
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	Most people understand that trading is part of MMO life. You don't have to participate if it's not how you want to play, but for others it's their main joy in the game. As GW2 will be an MMO, I imagine it will have player traders. The reason for the increase in per item price when buying in bulk has to do with charging for saving you time. If you want to discuss GW2, go to the GW2 guru at http://www.guildwars2guru.com/ and start a post in their Tyrian Assembly forum.

Nov 05, 2010, 03:41 PM // 15:41	#3
Milennin Jungle Guide Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Europe Profession: W/	Any multi-player game with an economy will have players who make their money by buying low and selling high.

Nov 05, 2010, 05:23 PM // 17:23	#4
Ailina Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jan 2010 Guild: Whats Prot Spirit [FoR] Profession: R/	Actually, buying in bulk usually gets you a discount, because it saves THEM the time of selling all of the items separately; they get it over with in one trade. Even in the real world, buying in bulk carries with the assumption that there will be a discount for doing so. If the price is higher when selling in bulk, then it's silly, because you can just buy one item at a time from them at the regular, non-bulk-inflated price. If someone is selling, say, Traveler gifts at 4.5k apiece, and 5 for 25k, then you should just buy a few at a time at 4.5k apiece instead of 5k. It's just a really, really silly concept to charge more for buying items in bulk instead of singly. I personally have NEVER seen any instances in game of sellers charging more for bulk rates. usually it will be something like "Selling Traveler gifts 5k each, 10 for 45k", because it saves them time, and that's worth the extra 5k for a reseller.

Nov 05, 2010, 09:24 PM // 21:24	#7
Angel Killuminati Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK	The auction house (I believe it's in GW2 right?) will be a huge source of trading for all - I particulary loved trading, making money. I'd go months on end without spending any gold, just hoarding it, as I loved to see it constantly increasing. With that, reselling will be just as big in Gw2 imo.

Nov 05, 2010, 09:44 PM // 21:44	#8
Ailina Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jan 2010 Guild: Whats Prot Spirit [FoR] Profession: R/	You make excellent points, End. I have never been involved in the powertrading market, so I don't have experience with the incredibly huge amounts you all are talking about. To me, buying a stack of something is as "bulk" as it gets. Apparently, as you pointed out, the rules are different when such ridiculously large amounts are involved. Thank you for correcting me; I love learning new things.

Nov 06, 2010, 01:23 AM // 01:23	#9
daveham Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jul 2007 Profession: E/	Take something like red rock candies. If a hard core speedclearer wants them they will pay more per unit if buying for example a stack than 5-10 as they want to be speedclearing, not sitting in kamadan for hours. if they are doing something like DoA they will make more than the money back in the time saved.

Nov 06, 2010, 12:38 PM // 12:38	#10
Spiritz Forge Runner Join Date: Apr 2007 Guild: DMFC	ive never really seen this tho a few times i sell bulk mats but a stack of mats i sell at 250x player market price per unit which is usually lower than npc buy price to a point. upto 1k its usually 100g cheaper and stuff like ectos is usually 1k cheaper so if npc was sellin feathers at 400g for 10 a stack works out at 10k - player base would be 8.5 to 9k a stack.Thinking tho as feathers have made me think .. ive seen a few players charge 10k a stack even if you can but at npc for 9k ( usually when pointed out they respond by calling you a noob ) but thats the only instances ive seen. In a way it shows at times how stupid we are when buying and we shud really check prices before handing our money over so willingly - if we wasnt so stupid a lot of scammers would fail .