As we all know, the Zaishen Service is a service used to increase the Zaishen Rank of the service provider using the keys of the servee. What many don't know is that it is currently the largest scam in GW.
How is it a scam? Well it isn't directly, in case people haven't noticed the majority of the Zaishen Service providers do not steal a good drop, such as an everlasting, if it drops for the servee. However it is a complete scam indirectly by extoring cash, in this case Z Keys from the client in exchange for lesser value items.
There is a reason there are so many service threads. This is because it has been so effective at reducing the cost needed to advance in Z Rank. But it has its drawbacks, at the clients expense.
The current Z Service exchange rate is the following:
1. The client gives 1 Z Key to the Provider
2. The provider uses the clients key and 1 of his own.
3. The provider drops both Z Chest drops for the client
4. The provider advances 10 points in the Z title track at the price of 1 Z Key
5. The client proceeds to pick up 2 creme brulees with a net value of 600g
6. The client is 4k - 600g = 3.4k in the hole, the provider has made a 4k profit, in terms of title points.
Now I understand not every drop is a creme brulee, but I have taken that into account. I have used over 7500 Z Keys myself and currently have the Zaishen Title r10 (Champion) using keys I bought purely out of my pocket, and have recorded my drop rate.
Out of all my my Keys I ended up with the following:
2 Everlasting Tonics (Mursaat, Ooze)
1 Voltaic Spear (r11)
3 Chaos Axe (r9,10,10)
34 Celestial Weapons (Varies reqs)
64 Monthly Tonics
67 Beetle Juice Tonics
81 Transmog and Yuletide Tonics
131 Drops with a value 20k (Varies)
167 Lockpicks
813 Tomes (Varies)
1800 Unid Golds (merchant food)
2140 Creme Brulee
2196 Flasks of Firewater
Total: 7500 drops give or take a few
Adding up the total value of the above comes to a total of:
80e+50e+40e+60e+8e+8e+650e+42e+122e+91e+257e+542e
Total : 1950e worth of Zaishen Drops
Total Invested: 7500e~
Thus I lost 5550e (Assuming I sold all the items, and sold the mechant golds unid for 7=4k, and took all the time to sell the items)
For comparison purposes I checked the drop data on Wiki which can be found here:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Zaishen_Chest/Drop_rate
The result was similar to my findings with the Z Key user getting back approximatly 26% percent of what He/She put into the title. This is not always the case, but often is. The probability of you eventually getting this low amount back is garunteed.
On the other hand Zaishen service providers are getting exactly 50% back of what He/She puts into the title. Thus Zaishen Service providers are able to save 25% more than normal users when going for their title ultimatly leading them to save 50% on their title overall. They can max the Zaishen title for half, 10,000e instead of paying the full price.
How do they accomplish this? By fooling you, the money saved comes from somewhere and it isnt out of their pockets. It's out of yours, every time they "service" 1 of your keys they make 4k and you lose 3.4k~.
This needs to come to a stop this service idea has gone too far. I question why it is even allowed on the ventari Service Section.
Rule 10 from Ventari's Corner Guidelines states the following:
10. Illegal trades
The following may not be traded or sold:
lottery" tickets or other similar "chances to win".
The Zaishen Service itself is a lottery. It offers a chance to win, an everlasting tonic or fancy weapon, for the ticket price of a Z Key. This Service goes directly against the rules policy yet remains immune to being outlawed. This needs to change.
The rule can be found here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10387865
Remeber folks the zaishen service is only so prominent because it has been so successful, by discontinuing the service you will prevent them from scamming. The drop rate is never in your favor and you will always lose. You allow them to achive high ranks of Zaishen with minimal effort at your expense.
Maybe I'm just QQing about paying the normal amount for my title like the majority of the honorable folks in GW. Or maybe I'm just trying to save you all from being scammed time and time again. Sell your keys if you want to buy a nice item, Use them if you want the title, but don't "service" them because in the end, you are the ones serving them.
EDIT:
If it was true, that Clients only wanted drops, and providers only wanted title points then it would be the following price format:
1. Client gives 1 key to provider
2. Provider uses clients key and 3 of his own keys
3. Provider drops all 4 drops
4. Client picks up all 4 drops, and repeats from step 1
Since you get 26%~ back normally would take x4 the drops to get back, on average what you put in. Since it is 1 Client key, per 1 of provider key, instead of 3 provider keys, the idea of client only wants items, and provider only wants points doesnt hold up. The provider clearly wants to take advantage of the client by giving the client a less than satisfying retention.
I understand the logic of why someone might do this service, what I don't understand is why for this price.
The break even point for both parties is 1 Client Key for every 4 Provider Keys. That's no mystery it's just math. The provider gets a constant flow of points, with 5 points free for every 3 keys he uses. The client breaks even, or occasionally wins, occasionally loses if his luck is bad that day. That would be fair and maybe worth peoples time. As it is now, the client really cannot win. Demand more from your providers or don't use this service. Even 1 key client per 3 keys provider where the provider keeps 1 of the drops and the client gets 3 would be closer to the odds of winning in many low end casino games.
Discuss....
