I understand what you're saying, but aren't the people saying "Price Check
on a XXXX!!!!" asking around on their server? They're doing what you're
suggesting. Also, if you notice the reasoning (after the approximate prices
I listed) took into consideration some of the "Are you happy" type of
questions you asked.
That said, I do understand the concept and the flaws in the "priceguide"
system, and you can peruse the actual bids and weed out the obvious fakes.
I do not believe that the priceguides are THE price for any item. But, I
know that Xegony is one of the original servers, thus sharing more similar
economies to more servers than any that came later. Starting with this
price as a guideline is a safe bet. It was a little easier pre-Kunark to
ask around the server as the items had been around for awhile and more
people knew their approximate value. With all the new items from RoK, it
makes it much more difficult to even know WHAT exists out there, much less
know the value for it. I am surprised constantly by the new items I loot
and have to consider whether the item is a "cash item" or a trade item. And
people I ask many times have no clue to the price and actually ask me the
stats! :)
There are several things that establish a price. Obviously Supply and
Demand are the biggest. How badly somebody wants an item is a 3rd. A high
end Ranger Only sword would go for more than a Bard Only sword with the
exact same stats. Why? There are more rangers than bards. If both those
same items were pre-Kunark they'd go for less on an aged server than a new
server. Why? There are more items in population. If you look closely and
consider the flaws, the pricing guides all take this into consideration
obviously as these are (hopefully) REAL trades.
I agree with the other statement someone made about buying a car... I would
always check priceguides and alternatives first... I may be happy with the
price, but I would sure be pissed off to find out after it was too late that
I was ripped off. Even if I could afford the payments and they didn't seem
to high at the time.
I've used the priceguides as just that, guides, for a long time now, and
I've had lots of success with it. I've had people send me tells saying,
"You'll never get 30k in trade value for an Arbitor's Longsword"... I laugh
to myself and tell them, "Okay" and proceed with dealing with the person
offering that or more. If there is no person offering that or more, then I
obviously would lower my standard, but what they're telling me is THEY would
not pay that for the item. That's perfectly fine... I'll trade it to
someone else. :)
As far as the Selo's Drum... I'd more than likely use my tambourine and try
to loot the selo's drum than trade 15k in value for it... But, I'd be ALOT
more open to trading 15k in value for it if I knew that it was a typical
price and I wasn't being ripped off. It's on my list of WANTS, but there
are many items on that list and I only have a limited "budget" to work with.
:) I will probably only see ONE Arbitor's Longsword in my Bardic life... I
don't want to throw it away for JUST Singing Steel Gaunts, even tho I
really, no REALLY want them. :)
btw, in case anyone doesn't know ~ means "approximately"
Anyway, these are just my opinions, I don't presume to think that everyone
or "anyone" shares them, but I do know there is reasoning behind them. :)
YMMV
Darkfox Reven'tsol
Xegony
Randy Keith wrote:
> No offense but all those sites out there with "Priceguides" are worthless.
If you want to get an idea what
> something is worth. You MUST only ask around on your server. Other servers
vary wildly in pricing.
>
> Those websites get the children posting prices of 250 plat for a item that
goes 10K+ on every other
> server. Throws off the pricing.
>
> The way to know that you are getting a good deal?
>
> Ask yourself one question. Are you happy with what you are getting?
>
> I always wondered about this new phenomenon on my server called "Price
Check on a XXX!!!!!". It inundates
> the chat channels whenever there is a single auction. Now I know the
reason, it's sites like this one with
> the "Price" of items on it.
>
> You ask later in your post about the value of a Selo's drum. I refer you
to the question above. Are you
> happy with what you are paying for it?
>
> blitz_krieg@... wrote:
>
> > Swarmcaller is one of the top Ranger only 2HS weapons in the game.
> > My sources ( www.maximumeq.com ) say it's worth ~20k. Those same
> > sources say the Jade Mace is worth ~12k. Face value says, no it's
> > not a good trade. :) But, consider the Jade Mace is the best Bard
> > wieldable 1HB weapon in the game AND has better dam/delay ratio than
> > the Symphonic Saber and Harmonic Dagger (without the proc). You'll
> > do MUCH better with the mace in your primary hand than with a Yak...
> > Keep the 2 Yaks, "play" with them for a little while, then sell it
> > off. :) I'd see what else this guy could cough up to even out the
> > trade a little and take it in a heartbeat. :)