Auction Price Inflation

[abangs]

I'm new to PT21, having three teams that are only a few weeks old. I've been perusing the auction house since last night, looking to complete some team missions for all three teams, and it seems that auction prices for cards, especially those in the 60s-70s, are 80%-100% above their 7-day and all-time averages. What causes this inflation?

Is it due to teams like mine, flush with PP from their end of the week achievements and hoping for a strong start to the new week, creating a seller's market for the 60s-70s players often targeted to finish team missions?

Is it just a general inflation that occurs over the course of the year?

Is it something else?

[waittilnextyear]

Just supply and demand. There are high prices for some cards because sellers believe people will buy them at those prices.

Inflation has been a little stronger in this version of the game because

(1) the LIVE collection missions were introduced at the beginning of the game thus creating insta-demand for unremarkable bronze and silver players...once a high price point was established, some sellers have sought to explore higher price points that look more palatable in an already inflated market

(2) due to chronic server problems, OOTP limited the number of auctions to 50 per person...this drastically limits supply in the marketplace so sellers are going to prioritize selling higher margin cards because of this policy

[noragar]

The 7 day averages have been gradually, but steadily falling each week.

Cards that are posted to the auction house near or below their averages are immediately snatched up. At any point, if you search for a particular card most of the ones sitting there are the ones that are overpriced and will only ever sell if someone is desperate or has more points or money than they know what to do with.

So that's what you're seeing where the cards sitting on the auction house for extended periods are sitting there specifically because they're priced well above their average price.

[Charlatan]

I follow the philosophy of patience and refusing to pay above the average price for a card. So when I buy a card it is at a good price.

Unfortunately that means there are many cards I won’t end up with. So it’s best to not have your heart set on a specific player.

[One Great Matrix]

Originally Posted by waittilnextyear

Just supply and demand. There are high prices for some cards because sellers believe people will buy them at those prices.

Inflation has been a little stronger in this version of the game because

(1) the LIVE collection missions were introduced at the beginning of the game thus creating insta-demand for unremarkable bronze and silver players...once a high price point was established, some sellers have sought to explore higher price points that look more palatable in an already inflated market

(2) due to chronic server problems, OOTP limited the number of auctions to 50 per person...this drastically limits supply in the marketplace so sellers are going to prioritize selling higher margin cards because of this policy

3) It feels good to have the in-game currency (PP)...makes you feel like you have options. This is why inflation is much more common than deflation. Keep in mind we're islands as much as we are in competition.

[trojan_fight]

this will probably come across as a rant but I think its crap that someone will ransom a 59 card for 1000-2000 all because its needed to complete a mission

[ImBrotherCain]

Originally Posted by trojan_fight

this will probably come across as a rant but I think its crap that someone will ransom a 59 card for 1000-2000 all because its needed to complete a mission

That's basic capitalism. They are setting that price because people are willing to pay it. If it was deemed over priced they wouldn't sell and the price would drop.

For example when the Negro league cards came out I lucked out and pulled a few silvers over the first week. First I sold for 7,500, second barely touched 5k if I recall and the last 3,500, which took multiple listings as I continually had to drop it.

Price doesn't always equal value.

[RobWarwick]

Why do the negro league cards seem to hold such a higher value than others? Is it just because people like to collect them or is there more to it?

[thejojo]

They're part of a mission that has a huge reward.

[MaroonAlberich]

Originally Posted by thejojo

They're part of a mission that has a huge reward.

And it seems damned hard (at least in my experience) to pull one. I've pulled more 100s (3) than I have Negro League cards (2).

[Leo_The_Lip]

Originally Posted by trojan_fight

this will probably come across as a rant but I think its crap that someone will ransom a 59 card for 1000-2000 all because its needed to complete a mission

Except if you wait a few minutes, someone will post it for 55pp.

Patience.

Also, every time I see my mission completion blocked by one of these bozos, I go "up" the card list and find a cheaper option. Usually there is a gold card for 100-200 pp less than this 'smarty' is offering his silver card.

[benderguy1]

Originally Posted by Leo_The_Lip

Except if you wait a few minutes, someone will post it for 55pp.

Patience.

Also, every time I see my mission completion blocked by one of these bozos, I go "up" the card list and find a cheaper option. Usually there is a gold card for 100-200 pp less than this 'smarty' is offering his silver card.

Exactly. And in a lot of cases it might be a Gold card that is more useful at the lower levels of PT or in tournaments --- for less PP.