Can a runner actually "over" charge people?

There is definitely a standard price, but it is up to you if you want to accept it. Standard cost is 1k if there are plenty of runners, but if there is no one else you can always price gouge desperate people for 4k. I could try and charge 7.9k for ectos, but it doesn't work because a ton of people are willing to sell for 7k. The only reason you can overcharge on runs is because you can either wait an hour to find a runner or pay an extra 3k. I'd rather just spend the 3k, I pay extra for items and sell them for less than what they are worth just so I don't have to spend time spamming. They aren't paying because your run is worth 4k, they are paying to get the run right now.

I don't even understand why someone would whine about a price on anything. Don't like it, don't pay it. No one is going to change their price because you had a little cry about it.

rofl thx guys all of u but essence are agreed upon. ;p

Then again when people wanna lower my price, i usually take much convincing, but then again a lot of my prices are usually around what other people are charging for the exact same service.

I'd always pay an extra 2-3k if i realy needed the run, but what are the dervs trying to pull charging 20k for droks? I seen them doing this 3-4 times now, I do agree the runner has say on the price but there it obviously a limit.
If you are new to gw and find yourself at beacons, even 2k is hard to come past, nvm 20k..

If you are new to GW, you shouldn't even be getting a run. Should be playing through the content.

But I agree with everyone else. There is no set price for anything. We as a community decide what things are worth to us.

FAIL

learn2supply+demand

there is no such thing as "normal price"

Exactly, new people shouldn't get a run, ever. They miss out on the game.

Consensus=normal price=equilibrium price=price set by the interaction of supply and demand where everyone who wants the commodity can get it at that price and everyone who wants to sell the commodity can sell it at that price.

Basic premise for capitalism is that the market will regulate itself and set prices accordingly.

In general I agree with this sentiment, but if I were starting from scratch, and planned to play through all the campaigns, I'd get a run to Lion's Arch, walk to EotN for the first 3 L20 heroes, level to 20 myself without doing any of the quests or missions, then go back to Ascalon and blow through Proph.

Run to LA for 1k is a stupid low price for what you get out of it.

Here is a professional opinion for you. I have been running for well over two years and have had many price quarrels so here I go.

People generally base price on two criteria.

1. Difficulty
2. Overall distance

Now this applies to most runs. For the Droknar's Forge run for example, it has become increasingly easier over time to do reliably and to do faster, but the distance hasn't changed. This run used to go easily for 8k but now the price has settled down to 2k.

The difficulty of the Gadd's Encampment run has not changed ever nor has the distance. It is not very difficult and the distance is not very long, so it merits a low price...around 1k is fair.

Now as an individual, you have the 100% right to charge what you wish. But if it goes out of the reasonable bounds of the two criteria above, you will be harshly criticized by others.

Because of this (and other reasons), I suggest you do your runs for tips. If you do not want to run for tips, ask around to see what people would willingly pay for a certain run. Make your own price based on those answers.


I will give you an example. There recently has been another runner in Sunspear Sanctuary (other than me) advertising that he is running from Sunspear Sanctuary to the Kodash Bazaar for 25k. This price is ridiculous and he gets mocked and laughed at by most people in the Sanctuary. I came along and started a group for tips and I got a full 8/8 group. He questioned my motives (why I run for tips) and told him it was because I get more customers that way and sometimes (if you impress the customers with skill), it sometimes brings out the generosity in people.

In my opinion, 4k is overpriced for a simple and short run from Vlox's Falls to Gadd's Encampment. You should take my advice and try to find fair prices that the majority of people will pay.

Hope this helps.

It's a typical example of someone not knowing how to speak English. To "overcharge" someone means to charge more for something than you said it would be. For example, if you told someone you would work for $4 an hour, then you worked for 3 hours and charged them $15 (instead of $12).
In this case, it would be if you told the players that you would run them for 4k and then you asked for 5k at the end. Saying you want 5k at the start, and receiving 5k for it, is not "overcharging". Also, asking for 5k when they think it should only be 4k, is NOT overcharging.

Other than that, you can ask for whatever you want, as long as you are up-front about it. If they think it's too much, they can "just say no" (thank you).

Except that most runners are going with teams of 7 runees for a total of 7k. If this runner was willing to do the run for a single individual at a time when a group could not be formed, I would have to say 4k was fair. Sometimes people have to pay a little more if they want the run "right now" instead of waiting for a time when more are available.

There are always guidelines to these sort of things but they are just that guidelines... If I dont feel like waiting all day to get something Ill toss in a couple more k just to get it and move on. I have better things to do and its not like its hard to come up with a plat or 2 to make up the difference.

Would I pay 4k for an easy run... prolly not. Would I flame you for charging that much? Nope, at most you may end up with me haggling over price.. you want 4k, I may say 2.5k, you say 3.5k and I may say 3k.

Eitherway I wouldn't listen to anyone saying that its wrong... supply and demand... thats how economy works especially in a game with a market.

not quite. price in a free market is the intersection...blah blah blah. not everyone who wants it may be able to buy, and not all units may be sold.

but there's no "normal price" like what essence is suggesting

If I want to pay 20k and you want to charge 20k, problem?

I'm not saying capitalism is bad....but it does tend to lend itself to greed.
This is really neither her nor there considering we are talking about GW (a fantasy world) and not the real world.

Maybe it's just my sense of morality kicking in....but I don't really care for taking advantage of others.

For certain things in GW.....I'd have to diagree with you...

How much is an ecto? normal price=1-2k variance of what the rare mat trader sells/pays

...a Z key? normal price depending on the market 5-7k

...a Droks run? tips-5k

..a party point? 75g-150g

WTS 1 ecto 20k...even if someone buys it ...is overcharging...(yikes buyers remorse)

Wts zkeys 20k/ea...if its the last key someone needs for title..it could happen..does it mean they weren't over charged or did not over pay..? no

Charging 20k for a droks run " " " "

etc...etc....

Over the course of time yes "normal" prices become evident. When something is first released..there is a time of uncertainty and chaos where the is no "normal price" but over time prices will settle to a level of normality.

Extrapolating makes logic much easier.

OP suggests that "runner sets price, hence runner's price is never wrong, take it or leave it". That may sound reasonable, but apply real numbers, and you'll see the flaws of the argument.

We can disagree on whether 4k is unreasonable for a Gadd's run from Vlox. Fine. What if the runner asked 10k? 40k? 40e? Suddenly not so hard to judge whether it's too high, is it? It's still well within the "runner sets price, hence there is no normal price" argument. Conclusion: the argument is invalid. There is such a thing as a reasonable ("normal") price. If you're unwilling to charge a reasonable price, you are overpricing.

If someone spams they want a Grotto/Droks/Slavers/Wtfe ever run and no one is offering, I will definitely overcharge them.

It is simple economics, opportunity costs, etc.

I was paid 35k for a emergency grotto run before.

15k for someone that couldn't get a runner for NM ATFH.

10k for that end desolation NF mission.

There is no set price for anything.

If I want to convince someone their R8 sword is junk and buy it for 5k, that's just more money for me.

those are normal prices due to supply and demand, not normal price due to "i think that's fair." kath hammers did not stay at your normal "1.5k" when the title update came out. their prices rose due to increased demand.