Are there any guidelines/tips on "transfer" of accounts?

denubis

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Hi guys, I'm kinda interested on an account that's being sold ingame. I'm unsure if I should get it (I'm still working on the amount anyway, nothing insane mind you), but are there any "scams" out there regarding the "transfer" of accounts? If so, what should I look for to ensure that I'm not being scammed?

To be honest, I don't need another account, but what the heck, I can always use the extra storage, and if you think about it's not like I'm paying another $35 online/$50 retail for another account, it's only ingame "virtual" money. But I AM concerned if the previous owner of the account can still access or modify the account, and if there is a foolproof way to go with the transaction. Any ideas?

I just wanted to know what you guys think, or maybe you guys have had experiences like this and would like to share it with anyone who are interested in acquiring accounts using ingame money. And I've heard of offers of accounts selling from 100k to 500k, is there a "baseline" to pricing accounts?

Right now I'm prioritizing on Fissure Armor, and I can only get the armor or the account. Spend on the account or save for the Fissure Armor? Or just get the account and save for the Fissure Armor after?

Btw, the account is empty, but with a bit of unlocks. And the seller has offered me access to the account to check it, but I haven't done so because I still do not have enough money to be considered a "serious" buyer (IMHO, not the seller's opinion).

Any input would be appreciated!

Batou of Nine

Batou of Nine

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

California, USA

Angel Sharks [AS] (RiP [KaiZ] T__T")

Mo/E

umm, EULA Rule breaking? Someone confirm.

Unless denubis is talking about buying another retail copy off ebay or something... Buying an already used Account is against EULA aint it?

Savio

Savio

Teenager with attitude

Join Date: Jul 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

First off, it's against the EULA to sell/transfer accounts, no matter the cost. Second, you're most likely going to be scammed as the scammer can just change the password on the account sold.

Findariel

Findariel

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

Europe

DVDF

Me/E

Once you log into GW, you can immediately change the e-mailadres that's the username.

No idea why you shouldn't be able to give away/sell your account though. If you don't like the game anymore, why shouldn't you be able to sell it, like other games?

Lasareth

Lasareth

Aquarius

Join Date: Jun 2005

Somewhere between Boardwalk and Park Place

Quote:
Originally Posted by Findariel
Once you log into GW, you can immediately change the e-mailadres that's the username.

No idea why you shouldn't be able to give away/sell your account though. If you don't like the game anymore, why shouldn't you be able to sell it, like other games?
Because you sign an agreement saying you won't when you start GW

Rico Carridan

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Eternal Comrades

E/Mo

Quote:
Originally Posted by Findariel
Once you log into GW, you can immediately change the e-mailadres that's the username.

No idea why you shouldn't be able to give away/sell your account though. If you don't like the game anymore, why shouldn't you be able to sell it, like other games?
Most other (MMORPGs at least) games don't let you sell your accounts, at least not officially. Some take the "at your own risk" approach, but many have similar policies to GW. I think the reason why GW enforces this so strongly is pretty obvious: the people at Anet want to keep getting their weekly paychecks. Unlike most other MMORPGs, GW doesn't have a monthly fee, so the only way they can make money is by selling copies of GW. Obviously, if players are selling accounts between each other, it means money lost to Anet.

Rico

benmanhaha

benmanhaha

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

nowhere!!!

N/Mo

I think its probably because you pay 50 bucks for an account and then for a small amount of work you can sell it for a whole lot more and make quite a bit of profit. I think the company who made the game doesnt want to lose that extra profit. I heard somewhere that a guy canceled his WoW subscription and then found out that Blizzard sold hid account to some one. I believe i heard that in the off topic section.

denubis

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

It is against EULA? I should've read it completely. The guy said he wanted to concentrate on his "other" account, so I'm guessing he already has two. I got the offer ingame from the trade channel, so I'm kinda wary and somewhat cautious on his offer.

Can anyone confirm if it is against EULA? If so then I will have to /ponder this deal

BUT I have heard/read of previous "deals" or "transfers" of accounts from other players using ingame money. I would like to hear from those who have already concluded a transaction which is similar to mine. Anyone?

And is it possible for Anet to "ban" an account for being "transferred" to another person's ownership?

Lasareth

Lasareth

Aquarius

Join Date: Jun 2005

Somewhere between Boardwalk and Park Place

http://www.guildwars.com/legal/rules-of-conduct.html

Quote:
10. You may not advertise the intent to or commit the act of buying, selling, trading, sharing, or transferring access to any Guild Wars account.
Yes, doing so will cause consequences to your account.

Batou of Nine

Batou of Nine

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

California, USA

Angel Sharks [AS] (RiP [KaiZ] T__T")

Mo/E

In general, Yes it is all against the EULA. More specific, do this only at your own risk. Anet most likely CAN ban that account if they get wind of it, or take any other measures they see fit.

Also, at your own risk involves legality. Since players agree to the EULA when they begin playing (whether they completely read it or not), then Anet can justifiably take legal action. OF course, such small claims would be silly, it is still a risk. Just think about what has already been said about Anet employee income. Where does it come from?

my 2 cents.

FFF_WarRaven

FFF_WarRaven

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2005

Behind the black shroud.

FFF

R/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lasareth
http://www.guildwars.com/legal/rules-of-conduct.html



Yes, doing so will cause consequences to your account.
1. Go buy another account.
2. It's a scam
3. You have already broken it.
4. Get fissure armor
5. Expansion may include more slots come next year.

:::End Transmission:::

denubis

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Straight to the point, LOL

Thanks all! EULA FTW!

dargon

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2005

The Seraphim Knights [TSK]

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by denubis
Right now I'm prioritizing on Fissure Armor, and I can only get the armor or the account. Spend on the account or save for the Fissure Armor? Or just get the account and save for the Fissure Armor after?
Given that FoW (Obsidian) armor will require you to spend game gold and the account real $$$, I assume you're thinking of buying gold from ebay etc also to get your armor. I say don't, why would you spend real money on something that has no value except in a game. Aside from the fact that the only difference between FoW/Obsidian armor and Droknars or 15K/Ascension armor is appearance. Are you really so vain that you're willing to spend $x for a few different pixels?

Pevil Lihatuh

Pevil Lihatuh

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Yorkshire, UK

R/Me

not to mention buying in-game items for real-life money is also against the eula

EternalTempest

EternalTempest

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

United States

Dark Side Ofthe Moon [DSM]

E/

I would not buy another existing account (besides the EULA) you will have to buy 2 copies of chapter 2 and once chapter 2 comes out you will get at least one more slot (possible more) let alone unlocking across two accounts.

denubis

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Oct 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by dargon
Given that FoW (Obsidian) armor will require you to spend game gold and the account real $$$, I assume you're thinking of buying gold from ebay etc also to get your armor. I say don't, why would you spend real money on something that has no value except in a game. Aside from the fact that the only difference between FoW/Obsidian armor and Droknars or 15K/Ascension armor is appearance. Are you really so vain that you're willing to spend $x for a few different pixels?
nope, i'm not an idiot to spend real life money for ingame stuff. sheesh. i was just asking if i should get it using ingame money, and people said "RTFEULA", and i did, so it's a closed topic

Quote:
Originally Posted by EternalTempest
I would not buy another existing account (besides the EULA) you will have to buy 2 copies of chapter 2 and once chapter 2 comes out you will get at least one more slot (possible more) let alone unlocking across two accounts.
yeah i came across that issue too when people were thinking of getting another account for "storage". getting two expansions is not pretty (for my wallet anyway).

as with all things licensed:

RTFEULA.

'nuff said, thread closed

Bjornulve

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Nov 2005

R/Me

Originally Posted by dargon
Given that FoW (Obsidian) armor will require you to spend game gold and the account real $$$, I assume you're thinking of buying gold from ebay etc also to get your armor. I say don't, why would you spend real money on something that has no value except in a game. Aside from the fact that the only difference between FoW/Obsidian armor and Droknars or 15K/Ascension armor is appearance. Are you really so vain that you're willing to spend $x for a few different pixels
Though I would never do it myself, It could be cost effective for a person to spend $$ on game gold if it takes less time to make the $$ than it would to aquire the gold in-game.. Time is money. just my two bits

coolsti

coolsti

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Denmark

When you buy an account to GW you are buying a license to use the software, which in this case is the game itself which is in part on your own PC but mostly is on the servers operated by Anet. Normally when you purchase a license for a software, you are not allowed to transfer ownership. One could perhaps argue the legalities of such a restriction, but I would assume Anet is just following these usual guidelines.

This rule against transfer of ownership protects you (from being scammed) and Anet (from having to deal with customers who got scammed). It is also probably an important part of the economic viability of such a game as this, where server time is free. If one was allowed to just sell the game when tired of it (will that ever happen I wonder?) at some point in time there would be a lot of new players, but no new income for Anet to keep up the support of the game servers. That is an economic model that just would not work, i.e. the game GW would probably never have been offered in this case.

BTW a lot of people buy a second account in order to play more than 4 characters. I share a second account with my wife. Means that we will need to buy 3 upgrades when the expansion comes out. Oh well!

Hockster

Hockster

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2005

What about selling an account that has never been registered? I bought a couple extra retail packages before I knew I could have multiple characters. Is there anything against reselling unused, unopened packages at the original retail price? Or for that matter, ingame items?

HOXMAN

HOXMAN

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

TN, USA

Amber Order [AMBR]

E/Me

if an account has not been registered and the new cd keys have not been used then all you have is the game in a box or a few of them.. and you haven't signed anything if the accounts have not been accessed.. so.. you can sell the boxed games i'd imagine or give them away as xmas/chanukah/kwanza gifts.. as for selling ingame items outside the trading formula, that's against the rules..

Hockster

Hockster

Banned

Join Date: Jul 2005

Not that I would sell for in game stuff, not here anyway.

C??rilia

C??rilia

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

None

I've heard of many people complaining about scams in similar trades. (The most beautiful thing is that since you are breaking the EULA by selling your account you can't even complain!

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

Closing this thread as the question has been answered and it's not good to dwell on these topics for too long.