The Newbie Guide to Using the Trading Post, Auctions Games and Shops.

Updates

Page last updated on: October 29th 2012

Welcome

Hello future rich Neopian!

My name is Haley.

I am here to teach you everything you need to know about making the big bucks from the top 4 biggest ways to make serious neopoints.

I was once in your place. I didn't have much NP, no painted pets, I had a puny little account.

But I began using the Trading Post, and I opened a shop. And in just a few months, Neopoints became easier to make. It's not hard, and it can actually be fun.

Just read my simple and easy to use guide, and you'll have that goal you've been working on done in no time.

(This guide can be especially helpful to Newbies.)

Before You Start

Things you will need before you start.

If you go the restocker/TP route to make alot of NP, I would suggest to have at least 20k to start with. You can't make anything if you don't have a little to start with.

I would suggest to play a few games to earn 20k, sponsor games and the puzzle games pay off fairly well, I'd start there first.

You also need to open your shop, if you haven't all ready. You only have 5 spots for items when you first open it up.






There are alot of words to know before you begin. I've got you covered.


AH (I'm not sure how common this term is) = Auction House

SW/Wiz = Shop Wizard

TP = Trading Post

AUTO = If some one has an item worth say 10k, and they want 8k for it, they would say "I want 8k, but 10k is AUTO."
Which means they will automaticly take the first offer of 10k or more.

K = Thousand

NP/NPs = Neopoint/(s)

SSW = Super Shop Wizard (Premium Member feature only.)

PB = Paint Brush

Reserved = Means you can't bid on it. The player has the lot reserved for someone he/she knows.

Pure = The player wants the full amount of NPs for the item they are selling, not other items worth the amount.

Bil = Billion

Mil = Million

MP = Morphing Potion

RE = Random Event

UB = Unbuyable (Means you can't usually find it in shops beause it is worth more than 99,999np.)

Neopian Shops = Shops run by Neopet shopkeepers in Neopia Central, The Bazzar and other places like this.

User-Owned Shops = Shops owned by Neopets players.

Trans/Trans Potion = Transmogrification Potion

P3(s) = Petpetpet

NM = Neomail

NF = Neofriend. Could also mean 'New Features' as in the News page.

BD = Battledome

R99 = Rarity. The 99 can be any number, starting from 101 and under.
The higher the number, the more rare the item is.

Reseller = A player who buys Unbuyables, and sells them for profit.

Restocker = A player who buys cheap items from Neopian and User-Owned Shops, and sells them for profit.

Lab Map = A map consisting of 9 total pieces.

The map pieces are sold separatly, and the prices vary.

Putting them together allows the player to access secret areas.

SDB = Safety Deposit Box






First things first, you have to search around (Shop Wizard, Neopian Shops, User-Owned Shops or the Trading Post.) for lower priced items, like Bottled Faeries, Cheap Dubloons, Food, Codestones, etc.

A Codestone goes fairly quick on the TP. You can check the prices on the SW. Once you have an item to sell, go to the TP.

Go to the 'Create a Lot' page, and select the item/items you want in that lot. Now, go to the 'Wishlist Box' at the bottom and list what you want for it.

If a codestone (or any item really) write "Best offer above (how much you paid here)."

NEVER pay more than 7k for a normal codestone. Study prices first. Search every codestone's price on the SW and write down the lowest price. This rule goes for all items you buy.

Soon you will see that your lot has 1 or more offers. (If you don't get an offer in 15 mins on one lot, cancel it and post it again.)

Click on the link, if one of the offers matches what you want for that trade, accept it and move on to another lot.


WARNING: Be careful when you accept/reject an item.

Know which button you are clicking, so you won't get scammed.

Once you begin making a bit more money, start buying more expensive items, like cheaper PBs (cheap PBs can be as cheap as 40k-50k).

PBs also go pretty fast if you have the right price.

Make sure you know how much the item is worth when you buy it, to avoid buying an item that is priced more than it's worth.

Sometimes you can post Free lots. This can be helpful when going for the 'Packrat Avatar'.

If you have 10 or so items that you have copies of, you can post them on the TP, to trade for 10 others you don't have.

This was helpful when I was going for my Packrat Avatar.

Just post 10 items you have copies of.

Then, post a message on your Wishlist like this:

(I am going for Packrat and I already have these items. I would like 10 different items worth the same amount as these. Thanks.)

I got about 200 or so different junk items this way for my Packrat Avatar, and who knows, you may help someone else with theirs.







I don't use the Auctions as much as the TP, but I can still give you some tips.

You know, sometimes you get items from your daillies or REs, that can be worth a few thousand. I usually put them in the auction.

Sometimes you can get an item worth anywhere from 5k or up to several million from an RE. Say you get one worth 50k one day.

Go to your Inventory, click on the item and select 'Auction Item' from the list.

Put the 'Start Price' for 40,000np, 'Minimum Increment' to 1000np, (Meaning it will go up at least 1k with every bid.) Set the 'Auction Length' to 'Two Hours'.

If your item does not get bid on, then try again, the right buyer will eventually see it and bid. If the item goes for less than it's worth, no worries, you got it for free from an RE/daily anyway.

But if you actually paid for the item, watch it more carefully, to insure you get all the NP you paid for it, plus a small profit.

I usually start on the bottom of the first page of the Auctions. Refresh every couple of seconds to update the page. If you see something you want/that's cheap/you need/etc... just click on it.

Bid on the item. If the price has gone up before you could bid, keep trying. Once you bid, refresh EVERY 5 SECONDS! The people of Neopia are INSANELY FAST! They will bid over you in seconds, so you have to be even faster.

Know the price of the item you're bidding on, make sure the price doesn't surpass how much it's worth. You wouldn't bid 2000np for a Race to Riches Scratchcard would you?

If you win an item, you'll get a message sent to your inbox saying what you won, how much you bid, etc.







Now if you have already done some of the TP or Auctions, you should have no problem increasing your shop size to hold more items.

If you are starting here, then I have you covered here as well. Play a few games, ones that pay out well are: Adver-Video, Meerca Chase II, or any of the Sponsor games.

Once you have increased it to at least level 5, you can start selling. Anything you have can be put here, except anything worth more than 99,999np.

Sell those items through TP or auctions. Like I said before, price your items with the SW.

Price slightly lower than the SW, say you have an item worth 5,000np.

The cheapest on the Wiz is 4,989. Price your item to 4,980. That way yours is lower than the lowest on the Wiz. People would buy yours first because it is cheaper.

Once again, PRICE CHECK FIRST! Use the SW to check prices before you sell ANYTHING.

A nifty tip to your shop layout, use a simple layout. Not one with tons of graphics and pictures.

Some users find this annoying, it slows their computer down to load so many pictures. 1 or 2 is perfectly fine, just keep it small and simple.

Like the TP, once you start earning more NP, buy more expensive items to sell.

The best tip for using your shop would be to restock on the Neopian Shops.

Learn the restocking times for one or two shops. Learn the prices and all the items they stock. That way you know when they restock cheap items.

You can earn a bigger profit by restocking in Neopian Shops than you can in User Owned shops.

An easy shop for beginners to use is the food shop, because you can't lose much NP, and food is always in high demand.

A good way to get your shop noticed would be the Shop Ads on the Neoboards. Create a topic, if you have a food shop, the title should be something like "Super Cheap Food Store!".

Always include a few smilies in your post, it catches peoples eyes more than normal topics do.

Usually a rednose or an animated one does well. Since red catches someones eyes more than any other color does. Much like a charging bull runs to the red cape.

Give your shop a title relating to what you are selling. Such as, "Zoe's Super Awesome Food Sale!" or "The Marketplace Food Shop."

If you are not allowed to use the boards, are under 13 and can't use them, or you would rather have a different option. There's always the Notice Board.

Create an Ad', and list the things about you're shop there. NEVER pay 4 Mil for the ad! Always pay under 1k. But most people don't go to the Notice Board anymore, so it may go un-noticed.









There are tons of games that can get you NP. But it's very time consuming.

This is probably the hardest way to earn lots of NP, but really pays off in the end.

I would suggest to find four or five games that you are really good at. Play them over and over without sending in your score (Unless you get a very high one.)

Just practice awhile until you get them down. Learn all about them, find and read guides.

(Can't find a guide? Ask the Help chat on the Neoboards.) and learn the cheat codes to gain extra lives, get power ups, etc.

I would provide you links, but I have no clue what kind of game you would be good at. I'm sure you will find a few that you can master in no time.

There are several sponsor games that pay out very well. There is a section specially for these games in the Games Room. Such as Adver-Video, and more.

Neo-Quest I and Neo-Quest II are another option. They are mini RP games that you can play.

Key-Quest. This game (if you win) can hand out codestones and tons of other prizes.

Habitarium is another game that you can play, leveling up can earn you NP.





Skeleton Kitty says 'Welcome to the Store of Terror!'




A good tip for running a store would be to constantly have some kind of a sale. Even if it's 10% off. It grasps peoples attention.

A good shopkeeper and message are a must. (not really a 'must', but it look's nice (: ) Have a cool shopkeeper. Make him/her the store mascot. Have them say something cool, Like the image above.

Participate in Sale Day, Sale Day is the 3rd of every month, and everything in the Neopian Shops is 50% off. You can pick up some nice things that way. But remember that everyone is on then, you must be quick.

Do your daily activities. Like Tombola and Coltzan's Shrine. They give out prizes if you win, even some daillies give avatars.

Be smart and research. Study prices, learn what time the shops restock and what items are rare. This tip can be helpful when making NP, restocking and even to avoid being scammed.

The Stock Market is also another option to make NP, but only if you have at least 15-20k to start with.

I have no experience with this method, and I wouldn't recommend using it unless you know what you're doing, or have read a guide.
Since it can be very complicated with all those numbers, I highly recommend using a guide before you start with this method.







This is a list of medium to high paying games.

Master these to earn NP, and sometimes even trophies, avatars and prizes.

There are many more games to be played, but these are a few of my favorites.

Adver-Video

Any Sponsor Game from the Games Room 'Sponsor Games' Section.

Destruct-O-Match

Meerca Chase II

Wheel of Slime

Habitarium

Key-Quest

Neo Quest

Neo Quest II

Sakhmet Solitare

Pyramids










There are literally hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of items in Neopia.

If you are a shop owner, usually you have to choose what you are going to sell.

I have put together a simple, easy to use list, to help you learn what is easier to sell.

If an option has a * mark beside it, look below for the reason.


For New Shop Owners:

New Shop Owners usually sell one or two options from this list. Some of these items are typically in high demand, so they should sell quick, and it's harder to take a loss.


Food

Bottled Faeries

Codestones

Cheap Dubloons

*Packrat Items

*Random Items

Advent Calender Items

Toys


For Average, Everyday Players:

Players who know most of the prices of the items they will sell typically sell one or two options from this list.


Anything from the above list^

Food

Wearables/Backgrounds

Stamps/Coins/Charms

Furniture

Bottled Faeries

Codestones

Plushies

Toys

Battledome

*Packrat Items

*Random Items

Scratchcards

*Plot Items

Books

*Faerie Quest Items

Petpets

Neggs

Collectable Cards

Medicine


For Experienced Players:

Players who know everything about Neopets, all the item prices and know the tricks of the trade usually sell one or two options from this list.


Anything from the above list^

Paint Brushes

Map Pieces

Petpetpets

Morphing Potions

Unbuyables

Stamps/Coins/Charms


*Some users stock random items, usually whatever they find while exploring Neopia.



*Some users also sell what are called 'junk' or 'packrat' items.


These items are very easy to sell. In order to obtain the 'Packrat Avatar', you must stock your Safety Deposit Box with 1000 different items.


Since there are so many Neopian's who want this Avatar, packrat items are sometimes highly wanted objects.


*Plot Items are items that were originally bought from the prize shop of an old plot that was on the site.


*Faerie Quest items are items the Faeries ask for during quests. Some users stock their shops with these items.


Some users sell items that fit a shops 'theme'. Such as a 'Bakery', a 'Coffee House' or a 'Toy Store'.








By now, or in a few months you should have a large amount of Neopoints. It will take a while, I won't lie, but it can be fun as well. Congratulations! Until next time, -Haley.






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