Exchange Selling Tip

DocHollamby · 02-01-2010, 02:47 AM

As a former merchant on SWG I noticed a trend when browsing the Exchange - a lot of people are trying to sell items for a lot more than they are worth. The nett effect is that hardly anyone can sell anything and hardly anyone can buy anything. I went looking for a personal weapon yesterday and there was just ONE item out of maybe a hundred that was priced reasonably.

Here are some things to bear in mind when you post an item for sale on the exchange:

1.) In the bottom left of the item's description is an energy value - this is the energy cost as if you were purchasing the item from a vendor. While not all items can be purchased for energy credits, it gives you a guide as to the item's value. Do not price higher than this unless the item is very rare.

2.) Get to know the items for sale on the Sol vendors - if you are selling a Mk2 Phaser Sniper rifle there is no putting it up for sale for 5000 energy when I can buy it for a tenth of the price at the Requisitions vendor. - If you ARE selling something that's also for sale on the Sol spacestation, pick a value somewhere between half the item's energy cost and it's full price. That way you're making more energy than if you sold to your replicator but it's still a good deal for anyone who's shopping around.

3.) The items that came with your starter ship are NOT valuable. You would do better to sell them to your replicator for 2 energy credits than try to sell them for 1000 energy on the Exchange.

4.) Bear in mind how much energy credit people have. Look at your own energy credit right now - do you have thousands? Or maybe a few hundred? Think about the tier of player you are selling to and how much energy they are likely to have to spend.

5.) Loot - get an idea of the loot drops in game. If it's pretty easy for you to pick up a Mk1 Phaser array as a loot drop, then it's pretty easy for everyone else too. Just try the Sirius, Orion or any other patrol mission and you'll see how quickly you can loot good quality items for your ship. Same goes for certain ground missions for ground equipment. Keeping this in mind, don't overprice your loot. Again, if it's something you can buy on the station, don't mark it up above the full price. If you loot something that can't be purchased on station then you have the advantage and can sell it for a decent profit.

6.) Finally, and most obviously, check out the competition. If you're trying to sell a phaser rifle for 2000 energy and there are ten others up for sale for 500, it's very unlikely yours will get sold. For a quick sale, undercut the others and get the energy you deserve for being such a successful businessman/woman/thing.

I hope these 'rules of acquisition' will help you sell better and more often, and make The Exchange a place for people to pick up good deals.

AntiEvil · 02-01-2010, 02:53 AM

First let me say you make 'reasonable' and 'experience proven' statements in your post. Keep in mind most of these players came from other games, much larger than SWG. And much less 'community oriented' than SWG. That said, I doubt anyone will take anything you've written to heart. But it is a good post...

Alkoomi · 02-01-2010, 03:45 AM

Thanks for the interesting read Doc... I've picked up some invaluable tips I wouldn't have otherwise known.

Badem · 02-01-2010, 03:50 AM

I agree Doc, I used to follow these rules in Vanguard

i got an item free, all I want to sell it for is something more than its scrap value, every cred above that is a bonus, I used to sell the items cheaper than the rivals prices, even if that rival then brought it and put it back on at a higher price, I was'nt bothered,

After all remember

Easy Come, Easy Go

CaptainBeefheart · 02-01-2010, 03:51 AM

The problem, In every MMO i played there is always somebody jacking the price up on items, IN MOST CASES RMT's the real plague of mmo's.

You will not be able to control people there going to mark up items and somebody will buy them.
Best bet just refuse to buy items over priced making the seller rethink there pricing.

Heldar · 02-01-2010, 03:52 AM

great post,mostly its all about uncommon sense

having played numerous mmo's over the yrs i've come to realise that while lot people use that thing called a brain, the majority of players are complete morons and think theyre being so clever marking items way above what they should be,shame really,its why the goldsellers are so active

Kthang · 02-01-2010, 03:54 AM

What usually happens is that someone buys up your cheap goods and sells them at a higher price, which people will pay anyhow. I have tried to sell cheap in other games, and make things available for the general public, but there is always someone that just buys all my stuff and sells it at a much higher price. Sure, I get my items sold but everyone else will pay a higher price. I'm not disgrunteled or anything like that, it is just how things are. And people are willing to pay anything in the end, it seems.

Nikkadaem · 02-01-2010, 03:55 AM

Yes, do keep in mind that there are a lot of players that came from other games where the economy is out of control. STO will eventually stabalize when the newness wears off. In the mean time expect to see items that cost 2 or even 4 times greater than their energy cost.

When checking my email today I'm already getting ad-mails trying to sell me energy credits for real money. I.m used to it from playing WoW...yes I said it. I hope that Cryptic will as a Report Spam button in the game sometime soon. Also having that button auto ignore will be useful.

Blocking the energy farmers/dealers will greatly reduce the cost of items in the exchange.

Harathan · 02-01-2010, 04:01 AM

The sad thing is, the reprobates who put Mk1 gear up for 5K credits dont realise they're breaking the games economy and encouraging Gold Sellers.

MarvelatMee · 02-01-2010, 04:01 AM

Yes thanks Doc for taking the time to post your comment and yes I agree with it completely. I posted something like this about a week ago because I was worried the prices would be jacked up and then the RMT folks would come out of the wood work and cash in. Hopefully some type of system can be implemented to reward the player for selling X amount of items. Something along the lines of sell X amount of X and you get a temp buff for your character.

02-01-2010, 02:47 AM	#1
DocHollamby Member Join Date: Dec 2009	Exchange Selling Tip As a former merchant on SWG I noticed a trend when browsing the Exchange - a lot of people are trying to sell items for a lot more than they are worth. The nett effect is that hardly anyone can sell anything and hardly anyone can buy anything. I went looking for a personal weapon yesterday and there was just ONE item out of maybe a hundred that was priced reasonably. Here are some things to bear in mind when you post an item for sale on the exchange: 1.) In the bottom left of the item's description is an energy value - this is the energy cost as if you were purchasing the item from a vendor. While not all items can be purchased for energy credits, it gives you a guide as to the item's value. Do not price higher than this unless the item is very rare. 2.) Get to know the items for sale on the Sol vendors - if you are selling a Mk2 Phaser Sniper rifle there is no putting it up for sale for 5000 energy when I can buy it for a tenth of the price at the Requisitions vendor. - If you ARE selling something that's also for sale on the Sol spacestation, pick a value somewhere between half the item's energy cost and it's full price. That way you're making more energy than if you sold to your replicator but it's still a good deal for anyone who's shopping around. 3.) The items that came with your starter ship are NOT valuable. You would do better to sell them to your replicator for 2 energy credits than try to sell them for 1000 energy on the Exchange. 4.) Bear in mind how much energy credit people have. Look at your own energy credit right now - do you have thousands? Or maybe a few hundred? Think about the tier of player you are selling to and how much energy they are likely to have to spend. 5.) Loot - get an idea of the loot drops in game. If it's pretty easy for you to pick up a Mk1 Phaser array as a loot drop, then it's pretty easy for everyone else too. Just try the Sirius, Orion or any other patrol mission and you'll see how quickly you can loot good quality items for your ship. Same goes for certain ground missions for ground equipment. Keeping this in mind, don't overprice your loot. Again, if it's something you can buy on the station, don't mark it up above the full price. If you loot something that can't be purchased on station then you have the advantage and can sell it for a decent profit. 6.) Finally, and most obviously, check out the competition. If you're trying to sell a phaser rifle for 2000 energy and there are ten others up for sale for 500, it's very unlikely yours will get sold. For a quick sale, undercut the others and get the energy you deserve for being such a successful businessman/woman/thing. I hope these 'rules of acquisition' will help you sell better and more often, and make The Exchange a place for people to pick up good deals. __________________ Lt. Cdr Don Hollamby USS Copeland (Nova Class) NCC-92010

02-01-2010, 02:53 AM	#2
AntiEvil Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009	First let me say you make 'reasonable' and 'experience proven' statements in your post. Keep in mind most of these players came from other games, much larger than SWG. And much less 'community oriented' than SWG. That said, I doubt anyone will take anything you've written to heart. But it is a good post... __________________ Six of Nine, Engineer, Liberated Borg (Active) Tully O'Donnel, Tactical Officer, Joined Trill (Active) ======================================== * LIFETIME SUBSCRIBER * Open Beta Tester Pre-orders: Amazon.com Collectors Edition, Atari DDE, Gamestop, Del Taco, WoK Admiral Uniform

02-01-2010, 03:45 AM	#3
Alkoomi Career Officer Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia	Thanks for the interesting read Doc... I've picked up some invaluable tips I wouldn't have otherwise known. __________________ Everybody's got a right to be a sucker once - Clint Eastwood

02-01-2010, 03:50 AM	#4
Badem Career Officer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire	I agree Doc, I used to follow these rules in Vanguard i got an item free, all I want to sell it for is something more than its scrap value, every cred above that is a bonus, I used to sell the items cheaper than the rivals prices, even if that rival then brought it and put it back on at a higher price, I was'nt bothered, After all remember Easy Come, Easy Go __________________ This is the place of sand and sorrow. This place is the romantic comedy that makes you realise how lonely you are. The order that looks so tasty but which you didn't order. This place makes you feel like a child in Eritrea looking into a McDonalds and crying softly because your arms have become too weak to open the doors. This is the place where elephants come to die and whales sing their melancholic songs of oblivion.

02-01-2010, 03:51 AM	#5
CaptainBeefheart Career Officer Join Date: Jan 2010	The problem, In every MMO i played there is always somebody jacking the price up on items, IN MOST CASES RMT's the real plague of mmo's. You will not be able to control people there going to mark up items and somebody will buy them. Best bet just refuse to buy items over priced making the seller rethink there pricing. __________________ heck i played STO on a commodore 64 and it works fine and im a mmo and video game expurt! a EXPURT i TELL Yah. Lifetime Subscription Space Balls FLEET Want's YOU! Rear Admiral 5 Borg A Mania U.S.S Space Balls V(Fleeet Escort) Vulcan Capt Beefheart U.S.S Pennsylvania Vent Kills STOP USING VENT !

02-01-2010, 03:52 AM	#6
Heldar Member Join Date: Aug 2008	great post,mostly its all about uncommon sense having played numerous mmo's over the yrs i've come to realise that while lot people use that thing called a brain, the majority of players are complete morons and think theyre being so clever marking items way above what they should be,shame really,its why the goldsellers are so active __________________ TIme and tide wait for no one..... The path to knowledge is paved with question......so ask already.. Whats the point of having power if youve not the knowledge to use it..

02-01-2010, 03:54 AM	#7
Kthang Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009	What usually happens is that someone buys up your cheap goods and sells them at a higher price, which people will pay anyhow. I have tried to sell cheap in other games, and make things available for the general public, but there is always someone that just buys all my stuff and sells it at a much higher price. Sure, I get my items sold but everyone else will pay a higher price. I'm not disgrunteled or anything like that, it is just how things are. And people are willing to pay anything in the end, it seems.

02-01-2010, 03:55 AM	#8
Nikkadaem Member Join Date: May 2009	Yes, do keep in mind that there are a lot of players that came from other games where the economy is out of control. STO will eventually stabalize when the newness wears off. In the mean time expect to see items that cost 2 or even 4 times greater than their energy cost. When checking my email today I'm already getting ad-mails trying to sell me energy credits for real money. I.m used to it from playing WoW...yes I said it. I hope that Cryptic will as a Report Spam button in the game sometime soon. Also having that button auto ignore will be useful. Blocking the energy farmers/dealers will greatly reduce the cost of items in the exchange.

02-01-2010, 04:01 AM	#9
Harathan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010	The sad thing is, the reprobates who put Mk1 gear up for 5K credits dont realise they're breaking the games economy and encouraging Gold Sellers.

02-01-2010, 04:01 AM	#10
MarvelatMee Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA	Yes thanks Doc for taking the time to post your comment and yes I agree with it completely. I posted something like this about a week ago because I was worried the prices would be jacked up and then the RMT folks would come out of the wood work and cash in. Hopefully some type of system can be implemented to reward the player for selling X amount of items. Something along the lines of sell X amount of X and you get a temp buff for your character.