Confused about "sale" on Gem Store..
Yes, when the timer runs out those items will no longer be offered. I think some of them have been off the shelves for a while and just came back for this sale. That, or we got notice they were leaving soon and this is the timer to that point.
On the bright side, other things may rotate in or even have new things added.
Anet uses the word “sale” both for stuff on sale and stuff that returns temporarily.
A “sale” in the gemstore is therefore not always to be interpreted as “lower price”.
“On sale” for the gem store either means a price drop or available for limited time
Then they should say “Available for a limited time” or something, not “on sale”. “On sale” implies a price break in normal usage, not limited availability.
Then they should say “Available for a limited time” or something, not “on sale”. “On sale” implies a price break in normal usage, not limited availability.
This would indeed be less confusing..
I’m not sure about other dialects but in British English it’s completely correct to use ‘on sale’ to advertise both an item being sold for a discounted price and an item being sold at all where it wasn’t previously.
Usually the context makes it obvious which one is meant, but in this case I agree it’s a bit confusing unless you happen to remember exactly which items were not previously available.
I assume it’s the same in American English and whoever was writing this didn’t think about the fact that using both meanings together could be confusing.
“Life’s a journey, not a destination.”
In American English “on sale” is almost always referring to a price discount. In very specific contexts and sentence structures it is still used to indicate availability, but none of those are applicable to anything online.
“For Sale” would be more appropriate for normal-priced items that are soon going “Off Sale”.
Quaggan Crisps for sale, 800 gems! Sales ending soon!
Last call, Quaggan Crisps on sale, 600 gems! Sale ending soon!
The word loses some meaning each time one reads it.
/quaggandeficiency
So far I’ve been under the impression that items on “sale” on the Gem Store are lower than normal price, for a specific time (24 hours for example). Now it says there are several items on “sale” with a timer (“Sale Ending Soon!”) but as far as I can tell they’re all still original price..
Am I missing something? Are they being removed after the timer runs out? Is the displayed price wrong?The items in queston:
http://i.imgur.com/xH7Sbvf.png
For the English language “on sale” can mean “you can buy this item” or “this item is at a reduced cost”. Both are right and to determine which is being used you have to look at the context. Sunglasses that have been unavailable that you are now able to purchase would mean they are on sale.
ANet’s use of “sale” is entirely “proper”. It is, however, foolish.
In American & British English, “sale” refers to both discounting and simply making something available. Notable example: people ask all the time when the next iPhone is going “on sale” (i.e. when is the first day they can buy one) as well is when is the iPhone going “on sale” (i.e. when can we get it for a discount).
However, as everyone here seems to agree: it’s confusing. The point of language is to communicate clearly. The point of marketing is to communicate in a way that encourages people to buy more. The use of the word “sale” in both contexts defeats both those goals.
I recommend that ANet’s marketing team restrict the use of the word “sale” to when there’s a discount from the usual price. “Available now” and “limited availability” are perfectly good terms for when an item returns to the gem shop for a limited time.
ANet’s use of “sale” is entirely “proper”. It is, however, foolish.
In American & British English, “sale” refers to both discounting and simply making something available. Notable example: people ask all the time when the next iPhone is going “on sale” (i.e. when is the first day they can buy one) as well is when is the iPhone going “on sale” (i.e. when can we get it for a discount).
However, as everyone here seems to agree: it’s confusing. The point of language is to communicate clearly. The point of marketing is to communicate in a way that encourages people to buy more. The use of the word “sale” in both contexts defeats both those goals.
I recommend that ANet’s marketing team restrict the use of the word “sale” to when there’s a discount from the usual price. “Available now” and “limited availability” are perfectly good terms for when an item returns to the gem shop for a limited time.
Hmm strange, here where I live most people understand the concepts and differences between “for sale” and “on sale”. Maybe anet just needs to make it clearer which is which or even explain the two different concepts to the general population? O.O
the general word “sale” out here means it is at a lower price, no different context or anything.
if anything, “limited supply” would be the more proper use of words, lowers confusion.
“tickets will be going on sale in 3 days”
This doesn’t imply a discounted price just that an item will be available for purchase.
“house for sale”
This doesn’t imply a discount either, just that an item is purchasable.
However when you mix and match discounted and just available items it looks like an attempt to deceive.
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