Prices Will Rise, Prices Will Fall

by sykora02

It is the never ending complaint on both ends.

"Can anybody give me an Almost Gummy Rat (lime) for 10 NP because the ones in the shop are too expensive."

"I remember when codestone were only 2000 NP, now I can't even get one for less than 4000 NP."

"I remember when you could sell space map for over 2000 NP, now you're lucky to sell it for 1700."

We hear it all the time. Consumers of the Neopian shops complaining that prices are too high, and on the other side we hear the shopkeepers complaining that the rash of new shops makes all the prices lower. Each side has an equally valid argument. But each side needs to stop their complaining about it.

This is the world of business. Yes, even Neopian Markets follow the common laws of economics and business practices.

Codestones, I've noticed have risen at least 500 NP in the past week. They're under heavy demand. So shop keepers can raise their prices more and still get the sale. People who want them will earn the NP to buy them without complaints generally. It's like that in the out of Neopia consumer market also. People want Harley Davidsons. So Harley Davidson can put out X number a year for X price and still make a profit. They have that power. So do the shops when demand gets high. Don't like the prices? Then don't buy it.

Space Map pieces have fallen 300 NP since I've started selling them. Why? Because they're easy to get and sell. Those 'desperate' for NP are going to mark them as low as possible so that they can make some quick NP. It's easier for them to get a hold of Space Map rather than try and attempt to get a Faerie from the Magic Shop. Look at DVD players. When they first hit the market is was very hard to get them under 300 bucks from what I remember. Now that so many companies are making them, you can find some for almost 100 dollars. The pioneers in DVD players have to lower their prices or they're generally not going to get sales.

Prices are high because items are rare or under hot demand. But prices change. New shop owners, don't necessarily price all your merchandise below everybody else to get the sale. Everybody loses. You lose hundreds of NP you could have gotten if you price like everybody else, and everybody else loses because prices on things like Chia Pops, Chocolate Eyries, and Space Maps go down. Test the market. If you have an item under demand, price is appropriately. You'll get the sale.

Consumers... you have to understand that not all items are going to be 10 NP. A lot of dealers worked hard to get the items they have. Codestones don't just magically appear (well, maybe they do), but they're hard to come by for everybody. Prices will go up and prices will go down. I remember a time when you could buy a Gold Coupon for 25,000 NP.

It's the world of business in Neopia. You just have to go with the flow.