20% item resale value: impossible!

[mattdm]

I hear that 20% resale value for used items is totally unbelievable and breaks suspension of disbelief. So that's why I no longer believe in my local gaming store:

http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/policies.php?func=used

Original Book   We Buy For:
  Price:	        
$0.01 - $5.00	$1.00
$5.01 -$10.00	$2.00
$10.01-$15.00	$3.00
$15.01-$20.00	$4.00
$20.01-$25.00	$5.00
$25.01-$30.00	$6.00
$30.01-$35.00	$7.00
$35.01-$40.00	$8.00
$40.01-$45.00	$9.00
$45.01-$50.00	$10.00

Oh no! Since that's clearly reality-breaking, I must be trapped in a horrible computer simulated world while my real body soaks in a vat being implausbily used as a power source for a race of evil robots!

 

[Lore Raithbone]

I paid $200 for the Bud-K "Dark Knight Slayer Sword" and tried to pawn it, but I can only get $20 bucks for it! For some reason, its hard to quickly sell weapons and armor....

or maybe I am trapped too!

 

[DeusExMachina]

Used books is exactly what I mentioned when this discussion first came around...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I hear that 20% resale value for used items is totally unbelievable and breaks suspension of disbelief. So that's why I no longer believe in my local gaming store:

http://www.pandemoniumbooks.com/policies.php?func=used

Original Book   We Buy For:
  Price:	        
$0.01 - $5.00	$1.00
$5.01 -$10.00	$2.00
$10.01-$15.00	$3.00
$15.01-$20.00	$4.00
$20.01-$25.00	$5.00
$25.01-$30.00	$6.00
$30.01-$35.00	$7.00
$35.01-$40.00	$8.00
$40.01-$45.00	$9.00
$45.01-$50.00	$10.00

Oh no! Since that's clearly reality-breaking, I must be trapped in a horrible computer simulated world while my real body soaks in a vat being implausbily used as a power source for a race of evil robots!

They are just ripping you off. You could certainly get more via eBay.

And it's not like eBay doesn't exist in your campaign, eh?

 

[Harr]

I haven't seen the original discussion on this, but anyone who would posit that 1/5 of full market price for a used product/item of questionable origin is unbelievable strikes me as a very sheltered individual indeed.

Of course, such people deal mostly in collectibles and hard-to-find items, which don't follow the same rules, so it's kind of understandable.

 

[SweeneyTodd]

You should do the quest where you find someone on the street who wants your book, convince them they should buy it from you rather than a store, and profit. I found out the hard way Intimidate is an auto-fail on those skill challenges, though.

Although now that I think about it, magic items are probably more "used car" than "used book" -- so that quest probably involves taking out a Pennysaver ad and sitting around in your driveway for a couple of weeks hoping a buyer shows. Pays pretty well, as long as you don't count lost wages from the time you had to sit around waiting. Sure, you could sell to a dealer, but their tradein values are unrealistic.

 

[The_Fan]

I dunno, I see magic items as more "used gun."

"Gun for sale. Only used once. Name your own price, seller moving soon."

 

[mmu1]

Yeah. Cause it's just great when your "hero" trying to unload a magic blade found in a dragon's hoard gets a deal only a little better than if he was a crackhead at a pawn shop.

The multiplier doesn't really matter in the long run, but it's silly to argue it's "realistic" because of the prices random old books that aren't particularly in demand sell for.

Magic items are (supposedly) rare, don't wear out (so they don't depreciate with age) and most parties are selling them legitimately.

 

[Tuft]

Of course, such people deal mostly in collectibles and hard-to-find items,

Um, "collectible"... "hard to find"... sounds exactly like magic items.

 

[Storminator]

Magic items are (supposedly) rare, don't wear out (so they don't depreciate with age) and most parties are selling them legitimately.

By "legitimately" you mean "killed the previous owner and took his stuff and am now unloading the goods without paying guild dues or taxes" right?

PS