Just The Tip Please

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 11:48 AM

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One of the Major income resources for crafters is doing custom crafting for players.   Advertising your crafting wares so that others can have items produced.   It is advantageous because it mostly uses their mats,  as well as doesn't require listing and relisting of items on the auction house.

But a big misnomer is the requesting for a 'tip'.  A tip is generally considered an addition to the price of making an item.  A set amount from the menu to say I will craft it for this price.  The tip portion isn't something that is required (even in restaurants that have a 6 person party addition to the order isn't a tip,  it's a service charge)

Every so often you will see verbal squabbles of people arguing about whether a required amount is a tip or that working for the kindness of others is a better method.   To me,  I've always gone with the idea that for bigger ticket items (weapons,  armor etc.) that a set amount negotiated is going to be more valuable than depending on the generosity of a buyer.   Occasionally you may end up giving someone a better than average tip,  but then that is counterbalanced by the cheap person who only gives you 5 gold for making their new leather PVP set.

There is no real set amount for value on your crafting expertise.  It many times depends on the health of the economy on the server.  If you are familiar with the materials market you can get a general idea of how much an item costs on the Auction house then subtract the material cost if you had to provide the materials.   Then subtracting a percentage based on the client providing the materials can give you a good idea of how much to charge for crafting.

Another option is to just set your prices based on cost analysis.  If an item is valued at 50g.  Then asking for 5g a piece to craft (10%) is not out of the ballpark.  If an item costs 10,000g then asking for a 1000g crafting charge (10%) is also viable.   The percentage can vary depending on the market,  but crafting the 10000g item for 5g is noble eyes of some but not good economically in the long term for your money goals.

Knowing how to tip is very similar.   Good tips can create good relationships.   Creating another addition to your go to cartel is you need items created.  Also these relationships can net sales if your client is looking for someone to have something crafted.   This technique of keeping relationships viable and active through a good tip might net you one or two sales only.  But that is one or two sales less that you have if you try to be cheap and don't provide the gratuity.

There are many traps and falls that can occur from simple items such as tipping.  Walk straight and know just a few rules to being a good vendor,  and a good Gold Goblin.

Good Luck and Good Hunting



Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

Patch 5.2:  Prepping for the rush
How Do You Effect The Market?
He's So Great He's A Fivefather
Patch 5.2:   Farming For Rep.. With A Farm?
Archealogy:   Digging up stuff for gold
Phoning It In....
Daily Quota Buying
Who Are You Feeding Sales Too?
Taking Advantage of 5.2 PVP Gear Changes
Patch 5.2 Prep:   Will players be returning?
Sales Triage
Lost In The Guild Traffic
Finally the end of Cataclysm
Preparing For the Future:   Alts 101
Anonymous Gold Goblin 

Is Your Cartel Happy?

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 9:51 AM

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Mommar here

We have talked about cartels many times when it comes to being a Gold Goblin.  Understanding that a cartel could be made up of two people,  or a large amount of players.   The idea is that you have gathered a group of like minded people to be able to combine your resources and keep track of markets instead of just being a one person team.

But just as you have your days of self doubt and irritation,  so will the members of your cartel.   That is when a leader steps up to make sure that the group is happy and functioning.   Making sure that your cartel is equipped,  their needs of items and trinkets sated and even the occasional gift can add to the group loyalty.

Cartels are not inanimate objects.  They are living, breathing people behind the keyboard with their own issues to deal with.   Whether it's a farmer that isn't able to put in as much time as they want due to personal issues,  or a little extra gold as a "bonus" to say thank you.   Little things can advance a cartel in the right direction.

I was talking with one of my farmers in my cartel and they were being asked to do some healing type stuff for dungeons.   Taking about 5 minutes I was able to see some upgrades that my blacksmith could craft for them.   Crafting that shield,  putting it in a gift wrap and enchanting took me all of 10 minutes to finish.   But that loyalty to know I would be the first in line for new items they farmed made it worth it.  

Management of cartels are just as important as management of your own personal stock.  The more productive that a cartel can become,  the better profits can be shown for just a little work.   A happy cartel member is a useful cartel member.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

Brawlers Guild: Your Killing Us Here
Change of Scenery
Mists of Pandaria in 5 words
Prepping For The Future
Eyes On The Prize
Pattern Farming With Your Jewelcrafter
Lorewalker This Way
Brawlers Guild Blues
Prioritizing Your Daily Quests
BMAH Strikes Back
Trick or Treat JMTC Style
Steel Negotiations
For Whom Does The Songbell Toll
To Level 90 and Beyond
Tales of a Gold Goblin Bully
Chess Pieces Taking The Field

Fingers In The Pie

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 8:30 AM

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Mommar here.

This weekend I decided to take a couple of personal days from Warcraft.   I figured that my farm would still grow it's crops.  My pets would be fine if they were stabled for two days.   Spending time with friends and family felt more important than killing one more of the Klaxxis enemies.

But even when I am taking a wow mini vacation I like to keep track of the markets.   This is where a communication with my server cartel becomes very useful.   I have invested a certain amount of gold with other players in the understanding that if a super sweet deal ever pops up they can buy items for me.   This does take a little bit of trust and understanding that the entire cartel benefits when one member is successful.   Where member of the cartel are embroiled in a friendly competition against each other,  working together has many benefits.

This communication with the markets also comes from other methods.   This weekend I did not feel like sitting in front of my desktop and chatting in my guild about markets and what was available on the Black Market Auction House.   So I was able to break out my trusty tablet computer and jump on the Warcraft Armory App to find out if there was anything on the Black Market Auction house worth my attention.  Where the BMAH isn't directly available from the Armory app,  a quick discussion with a cartel member that was logged online told me that Mimirons Head had not appeared for bidding yet.

All of this took me 10-15 minutes and allowed me to know that there was no major catastrophe market wise that required my immediate attention.   Keeping me in touch with my fellow cartel members and allowed me to continue to have a little piece of information pie on my Warcraft days off.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

Prepping For The Future
Eyes On The Prize
Pattern Farming With Your Jewelcrafter
Lorewalker This Way
Brawlers Guild Blues
Prioritizing Your Daily Quests
BMAH Strikes Back
Trick or Treat JMTC Style
Steel Negotiations
For Whom Does The Songbell Toll
To Level 90 and Beyond
Tales of a Gold Goblin Bully
Chess Pieces Taking The Field
When Numbers Lie
Arrow to the Knee
Must Have Farming Equipment
But How Much Is It?
You Just Can't Fix Stupid
Trick or Treat Time 
Can Pokewow be saved?

Rose By Any Other Name

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 6:00 PM

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Memory viewing Mommar here.

As I was playing Warcraft I met a young lady who also played.  We hit it off and started talking.   One of the things I wanted to impress her was my ability to find things in World of Warcraft.

This was during the Burning Crusade expansion where Dalaran was a blink in the developers eyes.   The girl had a thing for flowers.  So I did my research and saw that roses were very difficult to find in
the game.  At the time the only way to get these was to pickpocket them from mobs.  Most of these mobs were in places like Strathholme and Razorfen Downs.  But there was a nice spot up in the Hinterlands that you could pickpocket to your heart's content and get a large amount of them.

So I decided that I wanted to impress this girl with a dozen roses.   Having done a little research I went up to the hinterlands with my rogue and got busy to pick pocketing my dozen roses.  It took me a little bit under two hours to finish my project.   Then I got my picnic basket that I had won during one of the holidays.  Made an in game chocolate cake and went out to impress this girl.

Well to make a long story short.  I'm still single but she seemed to be mildly impressed.   So why tell you this story?    Because you never know what combination of items that you can get from different places can tell their own story.   From your banking toon being set up with the latest clothing options to just an interesting gift of hats you can have for a friend.   Everything can tell a story if you let it,  and a story is just as valuable as gold in your pocket.

So when you look to vendor an item in the next couple of weeks.   Think what stories you could be telling with that item.   Set it in your bank and someone might get a laugh out of it.  You might even score a kiss in the middle of Stormwind like I did.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

Smell the Bacon and Eggs from Azeroth
It's not the size of the equipment 
It's fun to say Arrrrrghh
Zombie Auctioning
The Tripping of Theramore
You want to do WHAT????
KFC Ain't Got Nothing On Me
BMAH Blues
I am No Dunce
Hype Hype Hype
No Shirt No Service
Too Much Stuff
MOP Prep:  PokeWOW Part 1
MOP Prep: PokeWOW Part 2
MOP Prep:   Enchanters Pt 1
MOP Prep:  Enchanters Part Deux
MOP Prep: What to save for the Pandas Pt 1
MOP:  Powerleveling Leatherworking in the Vale
MOP Prep:   Prepping the Farmer
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points
MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory
MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff
MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup
MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel
MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment

It's fun to say Arrrrrghh

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 11:43 AM

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Avast me hardies Captain Mommar is here.

It's only fitting that today is the unofficial holiday Talk Like A Pirate Day.  As Gold Goblins we can live a pirate life of grabbing gold,  and spending it on our own treasures and luxuries.  I would suggest never calling an Orc a 'wench' unless you want to meet the business end of a cutlass.

I was running through Maraudon with a group,   and was arriving to the last boss of the instance.   Princess Theradras used to be one of those bosses that I dreaded.   She was a tough battle with a nasty knock back attack.  Dying and having to make that long run back was something that I dreaded consistently.  This was when I was tanking for instances so I had a larger chance of dying without a good healer.

This time the group seemed to be mowing through mobs and mini bosses rather quickly.   Many of the players had BOA gear and gear that was overpowered for the instance.   Also being a DPS class this time around I was able to enjoy the run a little bit more.   So in the back of my mind I was remembering a song that I had seen a video for to this instance.   

Now you can imagine as I'm trying to damage the targets this song is running on a continuous loop in my mind.   So a smile and laughter were peeling through the house.  Thankfully there was not Vent with the group or I would have some explaining to do.

As we are playing this game,  there are times that I wonder just how much fun people are having.  The idea of stopping and smelling the roses so to speak.   Veteran players have been through these instances four or five times as they have leveled.  Some have run these 100's of times looking for one item or another.   Performing the same task over and over can become tedious and we forget that this is a game.  It's meant for our enjoyment.   Anything less and there are other things to spend that 15 dollars a month on.

So today,  make sure to talk like a pirate somewhere.  Or talk like a wench if that is what you like to do.  But make sure to have some fun with this game.   That's what we're all here to do.

Good Luck and Good Fishing


Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

Zombie Auctioning
The Tripping of Theramore
You want to do WHAT????
KFC Ain't Got Nothing On Me
BMAH Blues
I am No Dunce
Hype Hype Hype
No Shirt No Service
Too Much Stuff
MOP Prep:  PokeWOW Part 1
MOP Prep: PokeWOW Part 2
MOP Prep:   Enchanters Pt 1
MOP Prep:  Enchanters Part Deux
MOP Prep: What to save for the Pandas Pt 1
MOP:  Powerleveling Leatherworking in the Vale
MOP Prep:   Prepping the Farmer
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points
MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory
MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff
MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup
MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel
MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment

10 days til MOP

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 9:03 AM

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Mommar Here.

It's a brisk Saturday morning at club JMTC.  And if you listen closely you can hear the buzz in the air. Only 10 days left til the opening of the gates of Pandaria.

The tools and the choices are there.   Whether you're excited about the new continent,  pet battles,  skill sets,  dungeons,  raids or just to talk to your friends again.   MOP has that fresh feeling you get when you get a package of clothes you ordered on the internet.

For the next 10 days your mission,  if you choose to accept it, is to focus on what tasks you want to get done first.   Which character you want to level.  Which Profession is the one you want to level first.

Don't forget as well to keep an eye on quick profit opportunities as players shore up their storage for the next expansion.   If you see a good opportunity to buy out a much in need item and gain a profit,  go for it.   Players are storing up on Plants and raw materials to resell.   Using the idea of Zero Balance Investment you can both be making a small profit,  and pay for your own storage items.

Also don't forget to point your friends and guild members to your favorite journals about gold making (it's this one right?).   Your gold making success isn't just wrapped around your own personal fortune. The more gold that your guild members make,  the more flexibility as a raid you have as well.   And who doesn't want to be the hero of an auction house raid.

Good Luck and Good Hunting


Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

Hype Hype Hype
No Shirt No Service
Too Much Stuff
MOP Prep:  PokeWOW Part 1
MOP Prep: PokeWOW Part 2
Time to close businesses..
Would You Save World of Warcraft?
Tips for the Junk Impaired
Its not being lazy,  it's being unmotivated
Lost Pets for MOP
Leveling Digging, Grass Picking O My
Is it Worth It?
MOP Prep:   Enchanters Pt 1
MOP Prep:  Enchanters Part Deux
MOP Prep: What to save for the Pandas Pt 1
MOP:  Powerleveling Leatherworking in the Vale
MOP Prep:   Prepping the Farmer
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points
MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory
MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff
MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup
MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel
MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment

MOP Prep: PokeWOW Part 2.

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 6:30 PM

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Once again... Here's Mommar  (I really should get a sidekick to announce me).

Part 1 of MOP Prep:  PokeWOW talked about engineering pets.     This next part is going to talk about the vendor pets as well as my overall strategy towards pet making.

For many servers it's going to be a smorgasbord of choices on what will sell.   Some players are going to look for power (Min/Max points) on their more powerful pets to put on the field.  Others are going to make with what they like the most (Dragons,  birds, Cats etc).   The goal is to be ready to sell to
all of them.

Knowing where to obtain pets to sell is going to be very important.  Knowledge is power,  in this case it's going to be sales power.  Players generally do not take the time to look up things on WowHead.  They will either ask in trade channel (getting pummeled many times by chants of noob or loser),  or they will depend on the Auction House and Trade Channel Barking.

Vendor pets will sell to those that are uninformed (or unmotivated) to go and obtain their own.   Especially if they are trained one or two levels.   An untrained pet will not obtain as much of a price as one that a player has taken   This is going to be very important for your exotic or hard to find pets.

For our pet business we're going to work on a pyramid system.   Starting from the bottom our bread and butter pets are going to be easily obtained vendor pets.  Pets such as

Anaconda Chicken  (Plucky Johnson in 1000 Needles)

Blue Clockwork Rocket Bot (Multiple vendors in Dalaran and Stormwind/Orgrimmar)

Ghostly Skull  (Darahir in the sewers of Dalaran)

Tree Frog  (Flik During the Darkmoon Faire.)

Winterspring Cub (Michelle De Rum in Winterspring)

(You can find information on http://www.petbattles.net/ which has a breakdown of exactly what pets can be traded and battled and which ones cannot).

My next plank of my Pet pyramid is made based on hard to obtain pets.   These are the ones that either are more difficult to find,  or in places that players no longer go too (read Lost Pets for MOP)


So lets take a look at 5 rare pets that I'm looking at training and trading.
First I choose 5 of the pets I have to sell

Giant Sewer Rat (Rare fishing Capture)

Magical Crawdad (Rare Fishing Capture

Pengu (obtained at Kalu'ak Quartermaster at Exalted)

Phoenix Hatchling (Rare Drop at Magister's Terrace)

Razzashi Hatchling (Rare Drop from Stranglethorn Vale) 

Obviously these are going to get a premium because of how rare they are (not impossible,  but to obtain 
them either the player has to put in their time,  or purchase them at a higher price).  There are more but 
this is a sample of the ones that I'm looking at specifically.   Some of these (such as Razzashi Hatchling)
can be obtained from the AH already.  Investing in these now will offer returns once demand increases.

Next plank on our Pet Pyramid is going to be our Arbitrage trading.   Arbitrage is taking advantage of 
that are limited or unobtainable by one side of a market.  In this case it's both pets sold by the Horde
(or alliance).  Also included are pets that are obtained in areas that are limited traffic.  These include

Blue Dragonhawk Hatchling  (Horde Pet from Dealer Rashaad in Silvermoon)

Brown Prairie Dog (Horde Pet from Halpa in Thunder Bluff)

Cornish Rex (Alliance Pet from Donni Anthania just outside Stormwind)

Leaping Hatchling (Obtained in Takk's Nest in Northern Barrens)

Our next level is the crafted pets I can create from my other toons.   These include

Pet Bombling  (Engineering pattern From Gnomeregan)

Mechanical Squirrel Box  (Learned through Engineering)

De-Weaponized Mechanical Companion (Engineering Pet)

Enchanted Lantern (crafted by Horde Enchanters) (Magic Lamp is the Alliance Version)

(I discussed this early in the first half of this two part article)

Planning and discipline will become very important.   Knowing what pets are able to be traded and which ones will not is going to set you ahead of the majority of players.   A wonderful database has been created at http://www.petbattles.net/.    This is an excellent database on which pets can be traded and which ones cannot.  

Also included in my strategy is going to be banking on the possibility of allowing wild pets to ultimately be traded at some future spot.  So as I roam in different areas both in Azeroth and Pandaria,  my intentions are to pick up peculiar or interesting pets for possible sale later.

Each of these planks is from my own personal strategy.   They don't guarantee success,  nor is it required for you to have them for your own pet battle strategy.   Similar to the Transmogrification item market.  Much of the gold making possibilities are dependent on the server you are on,  and the interest your fellow players show in the new pet battle system.

Tools such as www.petbattles.net and http://www.wowuction.com are going to be necessary to keep ahead of the tide of sales.   Veteran players who have gold are already purchasing the pets they are interested in training.  With new players entering the fray,  new money will follow them and purchasing will continue to pick up.  Keeping a finger on the pulse of your server will be paramount to your success.

MOP brings an exciting idea of pet combat.   And with it a new area of moneymaking opportunity.   So get your plans together,   go buy and craft those pets and be ready to go from the start.

Good Luck and Good Hunting



Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

MOP Prep:  Pokewow Part 1
Time to close businesses..
Would You Save World of Warcraft?
Tips for the Junk Impaired
Its not being lazy,  it's being unmotivated
Lost Pets for MOP
Leveling Digging, Grass Picking O My
Is it Worth It?
MOP Prep:   Enchanters Pt 1
MOP Prep:  Enchanters Part Deux
MOP Prep: What to save for the Pandas Pt 1
MOP:  Powerleveling Leatherworking in the Vale
MOP Prep:   Prepping the Farmer
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points
MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory
MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff
MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup
MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel
MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment

Would You Save World of Warcraft???

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 6:24 PM

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Mommar here

Saving an MMO from extinction if very similar to saving a favorite TV show from the sands of time.   There are multiple ways of getting a show saved from the scrapheap.  From the early days of Star Trek getting saved for a 3rd season by a letter writing campaign,  to recent shows like Scrubs and Buffy getting saved through Internet marketing campaign.

City of Heroes gamers are in this same boat as many television shows have been.   Their beloved Super Hero role playing game is being closed at the end of the month.   With the closing of Paragon Studios by NCSoft in a re-alignment strategy this long time MMO is going by the wayside.

I've never played City of Heroes myself,   but many of my friends have and they enjoyed it.  It had a different vibe to everything.  But my question was who would save World of Warcraft if it ever faced the same fate.   There have been multiple predictions that Mists of Pandaria will be the death knell for Blizzard and Warcraft.  That the changes have dumbed down a very popular game into a shell of its former glory.  Even the numbers of players that have left between the 2nd and 3rd quarter have the investment gurus saying that there might be a problem.  

So what would the players do if Blizzard announced that Warcraft was coming to an end?   Would they start protesting in the game as well as out of the game?   Phone calls to Blizzard technical support and Customer Service?   Could they even remember how to pick up a pen and paper and write an impassioned letter to save their need to kill more pixels?

Ultimately everything comes to an end.  Even Warcraft will someday dwindle down to one lonely server and two shaman's throwing bolts at each other to see who is the last standing.   What would fill in the void if World of Warcraft actually did shut down?   The new mystical MMOPRG that Blizzard has code named 'Titan'?   Or maybe Guild Wars II.   There have been many contenders to the throne that were listed as the 'wow killer' but non have been able to create regicide to the King of the MMOPRG's.

How would you protest if Warcraft shut down next week?   Or would you just sit back and enjoy your memories?

Good Luck and Good Hunting




Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 


Previous Entries

Tips for the Junk Impaired
Its not being lazy,  it's being unmotivated
Lost Pets for MOP
Leveling Digging, Grass Picking O My
Is it Worth It?
MOP Prep:   Enchanters Pt 1
MOP Prep:  Enchanters Part Deux
MOP Prep: What to save for the Pandas Pt 1
MOP:  Powerleveling Leatherworking in the Vale
MOP Prep:   Prepping the Farmer
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points
MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory
MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff
MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup
MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel
MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment

Two accounts... Twice the Profit???

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 1:07 PM

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Mommar Here.

When I started playing World of Warcraft I was in awe of everything I saw.   Players that could get high damage in raids.   Players who could be on the top of the charts with PVP.   Gladiator titles and epic weapons.

But what put me in awe the most were the legends of players having multiple accounts.  2, 3 even the dreaded 5 box dancing Moonkin (epic funny).   But I never saw that I would need that many accounts. As I progressed in making characters,  and maxxing out their professions.  Discovering new ways of adding to my goblin fortune.  I started filling the 10 slots I had per server rather quickly.  8 leveling toons and 2 banking toons parked in different areas had me wondering whether it was time to take the plunge and pay for a second account.

There are many benefits to having two accounts.  Besides allowing you to have multiple characters from both Horde and Alliance,  it makes sending items across the joint auction house less of a hassle.  If you have a quick enough computer you can just have two versions of Warcraft open and flip between the two.   On busy servers this can become very lucrative.

Then I looked at the downside.  It was an extra 15 dollars from my account.  And if I needed another slot for characters I could open up on another server.  The challenge of making another fortune on another server was very tempting.    Now some gold goblins will swear that to be in the big leagues you must have multiple accounts.   That the markets become wide open if you are able to swap materials across the great divide of factions.  

But in the end i wasn't willing to sacrifice more time to build,  level,  craft just for a few more handfuls of gold (yes,  I know very ungoblin like).   So what was I to do to get items across the auction house?

This is where I made a deal with a friend.  They wanted gold and I wanted materials to sell to the bad guys (yes,  I'm horde all the way).   So working out a deal for 10% of my profits,  we worked out a system to get items to the Alliance.   It's been lucrative all the way.  Items that were available only for the Horde were sold on the alliance AH in a heartbeat.   All in demand and all being sold at a very large markup.  Nothing like relieving the Alliance of some of their gold.

Spending some time on Theunderminejournal.com  I could get a quick idea of what would sell quickly for a large profit.   Later when Blizzard introduced Free to play accounts I grabbed a quick account,  ran a toon to org as my AH spy.   Where I couldn't sell anything with that toon,  I could get a good idea of what to transfer later on in the day.

Does this mean that I think having multiple accounts is a bad thing?  Not at all.  Everyone has the choice on their playstyle.   It can be lucrative to have multiple playing accounts on multiple toons.   It gives a different flavor to the game,  and allows you more flexibility.   But I do not think that it's something that you have to have to be top in the Gold Game.

10 slots full of production can make a lot of gold.   Try it,  you might like it.

Good Luck and Good Hunting

Previous Entries

Thanks Uncle Scrooge McBlizzard
Goblins, Pandas and Blood Elfs O My
MOP Prep:   Prepping the Farmer
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points
MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory
MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff
MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup
MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel
MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment
The Secret For Investing for MOP
I know what the Rock is cooking (in PVP Gear)
How Much Effect Do Bloggers Have?
The Death and Life of Truegold
Time vs Gold Investment
Return to your Essence
Harmony - We Don't Need Harmony
Jewelcrafting dailies or something
Its All Attitude
It's the Little Things
The Doh Club
Psychology of Selling

I know what the Rock is cooking (in PVP Gear)

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 1:17 PM

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Babysitting markets can become a tedious experience.  As we progress to the opening of the gates of Mists of Pandaria,  it's important to know what is still selling in a market and what sales can be slowed down and discontinued.

I personally have sold a lot of PVP gear with my Leatherworker and my Blacksmith.  Between buying inexpensive materials on the Auction house,  and my cartel providing materials.  Production has been continual over the past year and a half.  It was easily the #1 continual seller on many servers.

Even now PVP gear sells,  and it brought into my mind exactly why it's still selling.  We are still almost a month and a half from the expansion release.   Most players are taking their wowcations due to being bored with the repetition of questing or dungeoning.   Others are taking their family vacations,  spending more time with their children and friends.

But there still exists a dogged community of players that are leveling up new toons,  getting them PVP geared and beating the pixels out of each other.  These are our target audience when it comes to sales of PVP gear.  Where the days of 4000g sales per piece are long in the past,  there are still good opportunities of producing items for 150g or less.  The main pieces (Chest,  Pants,  Helm) many times can still sell for 750 to 850g.

There is a caveat when taking advantage of this.  Going out and crafting 10 pieces of [Vicious Pyrium Breastplate] takes a chance that you will sell those for a profit before the release of Mists of Pandaria.  If your server is still very active in PVP events then it isn't an impossibility.  But many servers you may sell one or two,  ending up with 8 in your inventory looking for a home.

To me the best strategy would look at what is selling on your server.  Through the magic of TheUndermineJournal.com you can look at your individual server needs,  and plan accordingly.  Also look at just how many are listed by your competition.   It's a safe bet that a undercut war could break out at any point.   Being back to babysitting duty on a new money making progress can add just one more chore with little reward.

There is a skill in downsizing production to maximize profit while minimizing risk.  Research will be your best guide towards that.   Research on what your server is doing,  and where it's plans are between now and the Panda Infestation.

Good Luck and Good Hunting

Want to get in contact with me? . Email me at Dragonbearjoe @ gmail. dOT com or find me on twitter at "@JMTCMommar" or leave a comment here. You can find me hanging out on the Shandris Server, chat me up and I will buy you a glass of juice. 

Previous Entries

How Much Effect Do Bloggers Have?
The Death and Life of Truegold
Time vs Gold Investment
Return to your Essence
Harmony - We Don't Need Harmony
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points

MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory

MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff

MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup

MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel

MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment
Jewelcrafting dailies or something
Its All Attitude

It's the Little Things

The Doh Club

Psychology of Selling

Time Vs Gold Investment

Posted by J.E. Douglas at 9:11 AM

0 comments View Comments

Your Time if valuable.  Whether you spend five hours a day playing warcraft,  or 1 hour.   Each minute you spend doing your gold making chores,  raiding,  questing,  talking with friends or visiting your local Orgrimmar pub.  Each of these tasks eat up your time.

Being a Gold Guru means to discipline yourself to try to make the most of your time spent.   This applies especially to your normal daily chores.  Each crafting item that you add to your listing causes you to invest a little bit more time.

This is where the idea of keeping track of your time becomes very important.   Take a stopwatch,  and use it to track where your time is used.   How much time do you keep at the auction house.  How much time is used questing.  How much time is used to level alts.  Now in no way am I saying you have to go into minute detail,  but general numbers might give you an idea of just how much time you use in different areas.  

After you have a healthy amount of data,  you can do a quick analysis and see just where improvements can be made.   Can you cut some of the lower selling items to pursue other avenue of sales?   Can questing be more valuable to you than running dungeons?   Or is everything your doing right now the best you can do.

Don't forget in your measurements to add enjoyment in the game.   Yes,  making gold can be fun.  But running with friends can be just as enjoyable.   Farming might not be the most profitabe at times.   But it can be enjoyable to just farm and talk to friends over Ventrillo.  The measurements really end up being based on your playstyle and the goals you have set from the start.

Tracking your play style can give you insight on just where you can incorporate small changes for big gold goblin rewards.

Good Luck and Good Hunting

Return to your Essence

Harmony - We Don't Need Harmony
MOP Prep:  Get to the Points

MOP Prep:  Reduction in Inventory

MOP Prep: Stuff to Gold,  Gold to Stuff

MOP Prep: Setting the Lineup

MOP Prep: Setting up the Cartel

MOP Prep:   Zero Balance Investment
Jewelcrafting dailies or something
Its All Attitude

It's the Little Things

The Doh Club

Psychology of Selling