TOPIC: Factory Sealed

Kim, yes that is a question on the feedback sheet.<br /><br />Mike, I started to do some analysis based on the XP numbers from year to year but realized that there is danger with this.  It is equally important to know "why" a person didn't come back which like you mentioned could be caused by a number of factors, not the least of which is just the fact that the person couldn't get tickets for that year.  Still it would be interesting to analyze anyway, especially as a function of token sales.  <br /><br />I would guess though that veterans spend more per year on tokens than new players, even if they do have more currently.  Its just up to us to keep the token mixes interesting and fresh to keep the players buying the crack tokens.

<br />Kim, yes that is a question on the feedback sheet.<br /><br />Mike, I started to do some analysis based on the XP numbers from year to year but realized that there is danger with this.  It is equally important to know "why" a person didn't come back which like you mentioned could be caused by a number of factors, not the least of which is just the fact that the person couldn't get tickets for that year.  Still it would be interesting to analyze anyway, especially as a function of token sales.  <br /><br />I would guess though that veterans spend more per year on tokens than new players, even if they do have more currently.  Its just up to us to keep the token mixes interesting and fresh to keep the players buying the crack tokens.<br />

<br /><br />I couldn't agree more that it is essential to keep the token mixes fresh with a large turnover each year.  I think the commons could stay the same with a few changes, the uncommons should have at least 30% - 50% turnover, I think the Rares should have more like 75% turnover, and each year I think the PURPs should have about a 90% turnover (maybe only a couple holdovers per year). 

Changing out tokens every year makes the new stuff more desirable, and it also makes the old (out-of-print) stuff more desirable.  Win-win, I'd say.  I'd even be in favor of turning over quite a few commons every year - different gems, different gear, a different mix of weapons, etc.  Something as subtle as having Animal Hide one year and adding Reinforced Leather the next year is pretty cool in my book.  <br />

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<br />I think one NEW thing of note...token trading sure has taken on an increased audience and an increased value on the UR and more useful items.<br /><br />I recall when 10-15 REDS was hard to fathom for an UR - now we are seeing high 20's for the big items.<br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />I think there are several factors here, four of which are:  <br />- creasing number of "big spenders" on loads of tokens.<br />- The Token Exchange where you can get a Random Purple for 25 Rares.  If that happens, it seems to say that a Chosen Purple should be valued higher.<br />- fear of bidders - "if I don't bid high enough, I'll be out-bid"<br />- Of course, something that should devalue the purpls is this year's Pre-order special and continuing "buy $250 in tokens and get a Random Purp" deals.<br /><br />I'm sure we could start (or continue a previous thread's discussion) an entire discussion simply on the value of Purples and what's behind their current rates.<br /><br /><br /><br />JKW<br />

<br /><br />I think it is wrong to make a person "BID" on a item. When I make a trade or am in talks with someone on a token, or anything for that matter, I get what I want out of it not try and get as much as I can for it. Truly the best deal is the deal that both parties come out happy!! Between John, My largest trade, and Flash, my smallest, I was happy with both. Also just a side note on the type of person I am I didn't get Flash's tokens in the mail on the day I meant to so I through in a little somthing extra! I hope you like it Flash!!! _{Spoiler: I gave him my token bill!} SHHHH!<br /><br />Todd

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<br />I think one NEW thing of note...token trading sure has taken on an increased audience and an increased value on the UR and more useful items.<br /><br />I recall when 10-15 REDS was hard to fathom for an UR - now we are seeing high 20's for the big items.<br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />I think there are several factors here, four of which are:  <br />- creasing number of "big spenders" on loads of tokens.<br />- The Token Exchange where you can get a Random Purple for 25 Rares.  If that happens, it seems to say that a Chosen Purple should be valued higher.<br />- fear of bidders - "if I don't bid high enough, I'll be out-bid"<br />- Of course, something that should devalue the purpls is this year's Pre-order special and continuing "buy $250 in tokens and get a Random Purp" deals.<br /><br />I'm sure we could start (or continue a previous thread's discussion) an entire discussion simply on the value of Purples and what's behind their current rates.<br /><br /><br /><br />JKW<br />

<br /><br />I think it is wrong to make a person "BID" on a item. When I make a trade or am in talks with someone on a token, or anything for that matter, I get what I want out of it not try and get as much as I can for it. Truly the best deal is the deal that both parties come out happy!! Between John, My largest trade, and Flash, my smallest, I was happy with both. Also just a side note on the type of person I am I didn't get Flash's tokens in the mail on the day I meant to so I through in a little somthing extra! I hope you like it Flash!!! _{Spoiler: I gave him my token bill!} SHHHH!<br /><br />Todd<br />

<br /><br />Ideally what you're saying is true, Todd, but I have had many examples this year (and I know others have as well) where I have been in talks for a trade with someone, and the trade seems to be going smoothly, and then before I know it I get an email from them saying that the trade is off because someone had made them a better offer (quite often phrased as "an offer they can't refuse") and they'd accepted it.  Sometimes it was even at the point where I thought we had an agreed-on trade and we were at the point of exchanging addresses.  So it is a very valid concern that if you don't make your starting offer high enough, the next personal message you'll get from the potential trader is that they've already completed the trade with someone else.  To be honest, it was happening enough to me this year that I was almost tempted to stop trading completely because it was getting so frustrating to have trade after trade fall through. 

<br />Also just a side note on the type of person I am I didn't get Flash's tokens in the mail on the day I meant to so I through in a little somthing extra! I hope you like it Flash!!! _{Spoiler: I gave him my token bill!} SHHHH!<br /><br />Todd<br />

<br /><br /><br />Chuckle.<br /><br /><br />

Bleh.  If someone asks me for a trade, I will always work with that person to try to make a deal.  If we can't work something out that's good for both of us, THEN I will offer any of that stuff to the next person who asked.  But once we have started talks, I'm going to see what we can do.<br />I've made some trades that seemed to be heavily in my favor, others that were in favor of the other person... all that matters in the end is that the 2 people involved in the deal are happy with the results.  <br />

The important thing to remember about a TRADE is it is not a done deal until both parties agree to all terms and say something like "DONE DEAL" or "it is a deal."  I'm blown away at what some people think is a deal and what really is nothing more than just "talks" in my opinion.  Like Jammies, I try to keep things on the table and working towards all terms...but sometimes they just don't work out.<br /><br />It is nice when two people can lock out others and agree to make any/all terms work - but sometimes greed comes along and a better deal wil break that up.<br /><br />AND the flip side of course, dealing with someone who is clearly taking advantage of an offer - nothing puts me off more than someone just looking to pick things up to re-sell.  Luckily this is rare in our community.

Yeah; I try to use the terminology "Done Deal," "is this a done deal," and the like when I'm ready to indicate that the trade should be finalized.<br /><br />This year, I've added some more "in-person" trades to my trades.  I was just a little worried about people backing out, especially if they are ordering more tokens and might find what they want in their next batch of tokens.  I think, however, that those I have such trade agreements with now are honorable folks, so I think we are all covered this time around.  <br /><br /><br />JKW

Well rest assured the 5 -1GP tokens you traded me will never switch hands again, unless of course you need them back for some reason. *HUGS*

I know I've done quite a bit of trading over the last few months.  And now I'm selling a bunch of tokens on eBay to raise some cash for the GenCon trip.  But I certainly hope no one feels that I've taken advantage of them by trading for stuff to sell.  Generally, if you've got something that I want to trade for, it's going to be for my personal collection.  Most of the trading I've done is to fill in a set of Plats for myself and a set for my wife (and I still don't have any Plat Iridescent Spindles).  But sometimes I'll trade for something that I need and then, after ordering more tokens, I end up with one or two extras.  That's happened a couple of times, and I don't mind at all.  I just hope no one's offended if I sell of the extras later on.  It may look like you traded me something and I turned around and sold it, but that's generally not the case.<br />

Arcbat,<br /><br />I was sure not thinking of you when I posted that - sorry if anyone took that post too harshly.<br /><br />It was in reference to my 100 GP sale of +1 weapons...and people targeting the higher ticket ones for re-sale profit.<br /><br />The whole point of that sale was to quickly get some GP for reserve BARs and get +1 weapons into the hands of those that needed them, but could not afford (or wanted to pay) more than 100GP for them.<br /><br />G