Guild Wars 2

Is there a gem store item schedule? For example, on my console there’s a clear time of the month each month that items rotate in the discounted or free sections for my subscription. I know which days to login and see what’s available or when I should keep funds in there in order to make purchases.

Edit: I’m mainly concerned with when new skins are added.

Is there a calendar that I should use or will this ever become a calendar?

Is there a gem store item schedule
No.

will this ever become a calendar?
No one knows but ANet and it’s unlikely they’ll ever say ahead of time. If they do put out a schedule it will probably be only announced in the patch notes.

I’m mainly concerned with when new skins are added.
I really doubt that will ever be on a schedule since there can be things holding up a release of a new item.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Is there a gem store item schedule
No.

will this ever become a calendar?
No one knows but ANet and it’s unlikely they’ll ever say ahead of time. If they do put out a schedule it will probably be only announced in the patch notes.

I’m mainly concerned with when new skins are added.
I really doubt that will ever be on a schedule since there can be things holding up a release of a new item.

I forgot to mention also that I’m interested in returning items as well on a scheduled return list.

tigirius.9014:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Is there a gem store item schedule
No.

will this ever become a calendar?
No one knows but ANet and it’s unlikely they’ll ever say ahead of time. If they do put out a schedule it will probably be only announced in the patch notes.

I’m mainly concerned with when new skins are added.
I really doubt that will ever be on a schedule since there can be things holding up a release of a new item.

I forgot to mention also that I’m interested in returning items as well on a scheduled return list.

Answers one and two still apply.

You can check the Sticky above for each day’s offerings, should there be any.

And, there is an app that will alert you to any returning item you may be interested in. I think it’s GW2efficiency, but I’m sure someone will post the correct one, if I have mis-typed.

Good luck.

Ok Inculpatus. I guess that was a hint. ^^

Here’s the site to set an alarm for returning items. It’s not a schedule and it won’t tell you about new items but you can get a notice for a returned item you’re waiting on.

(Copy and paste)
http://gw2timer.com/?page=Account&section=Gem

Bah, took a stab at it. I can never remember which one it is, as I’m not interested. I prefer your thread. =)

tigirius.9014:

Is there a gem store item schedule? For example, on my console there’s a clear time of the month each month that items rotate in the discounted or free sections for my subscription. I know which days to login and see what’s available or when I should keep funds in there in order to make purchases.

Edit: I’m mainly concerned with when new skins are added.

Is there a calendar that I should use or will this ever become a calendar?

They need to make it clear when a item you really want to get goes on sale… Had I known they’d add a helmet with the ice armor, I would of bought it.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Ok Inculpatus. I guess that was a hint. ^^

Here’s the site to set an alarm for returning items. It’s not a schedule and it won’t tell you about new items but you can get a notice for a returned item you’re waiting on.

(Copy and paste)
http://gw2timer.com/?page=Account&section=Gem

Speaking of returning items, is there any logic for this practice? Is there any general merchandise vendor who keeps any of their inventory off the market? Seems like a great way to lose sales.

I wonder why Amazon doesn’t do it………

Target, for one. I’m sure there are a veritable plethora of general merchandise vendors that rotate their stock.

AvaAzul.8290:

tigirius.9014:

Is there a gem store item schedule? For example, on my console there’s a clear time of the month each month that items rotate in the discounted or free sections for my subscription. I know which days to login and see what’s available or when I should keep funds in there in order to make purchases.

Edit: I’m mainly concerned with when new skins are added.

Is there a calendar that I should use or will this ever become a calendar?

They need to make it clear when a item you really want to get goes on sale… Had I known they’d add a helmet with the ice armor, I would of bought it.

Good news the ice crown is still in the gem shop, however you cant wear it with the outfit tho.

Joseph.6578:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Ok Inculpatus. I guess that was a hint. ^^

Here’s the site to set an alarm for returning items. It’s not a schedule and it won’t tell you about new items but you can get a notice for a returned item you’re waiting on.

(Copy and paste)
http://gw2timer.com/?page=Account&section=Gem

Speaking of returning items, is there any logic for this practice? Is there any general merchandise vendor who keeps any of their inventory off the market? Seems like a great way to lose sales.

I wonder why Amazon doesn’t do it………

Artificial scarcity.

A site like Amazon doesn’t do it because you can buy the exact same item lots of other places. It really only works if the exact items being sold can’t be bought anywhere else.

Exclusive cash “shop” items are overrated… Dear Anet, just put every Black Lion Trading Company “cash shop” item up for sale (except seasonal items of course)

I know this isn’t really on the topic of a “schedule” but does anybody here know when the last time Belinda’s greatsword went on sale and how often it shows up on the cash shop? The wiki doesn’t say anything other than the fact that it released in 2014.

Available for 3 days
Fancy Winter outfit: 700 gems

Sale ending soon
White Wings glider combo

Bonezz.4961:

I know this isn’t really on the topic of a “schedule” but does anybody here know when the last time Belinda’s greatsword went on sale and how often it shows up on the cash shop? The wiki doesn’t say anything other than the fact that it released in 2014.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/Gemstore-items-new-sales-discounted-prices/page/10

This thread is updated when items go in/out of the gem store. Looks like the last time Belinda’s Greatsword was up was at the end of April.

AvaAzul.8290:

Exclusive cash “shop” items are overrated… Dear Anet, just put every Black Lion Trading Company “cash shop” item up for sale (except seasonal items of course)

While I do, of course, personally prefer items being continuously on sale I can also see why ANet does it. It’s because if an item is always for sale then there will be no pressure to buy since you can always buy it tomorrow, the next week, the next month. Businesses want the money now, not some time in the indefinite future. In addition, items being always there leads to them being ignored as boring since things you see all the time are not as interesting as things that you haven’t seen in weeks or months. Artificial scarcity forces the player to buy now rather than one day in the future (or not buying it at all because they quit the game or use their money outside the game).

Now, I know that the rebuttal is that Player A wants the item now and ANet is missing that sale. However if the number of sales through artificial scarcity is higher than the number of sales through constant selling then a business is going to use artificial scarcity.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

<snip>

Now, I know that the rebuttal is that Player A wants the item now and ANet is missing that sale. However if the number of sales through artificial scarcity is higher than the number of sales through constant selling then a business is going to use artificial scarcity.

or equally likely, Player A never knew the item was ever available, so doesn’t chase the return. Only those who constantly study the gem store items but have a hard time deciding to buy are affected by artificial scarcity.

Further, while it’s easy to notionalize some sort marketing benefit from artificial scarcity, there can’t be any comparative data on it. ANET has always done it that way, so there’s no baseline on just listing everything continually and letting the sales flow to compare against.

Joseph.6578:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

<snip>

Now, I know that the rebuttal is that Player A wants the item now and ANet is missing that sale. However if the number of sales through artificial scarcity is higher than the number of sales through constant selling then a business is going to use artificial scarcity.

or equally likely, Player A never knew the item was ever available, so doesn’t chase the return. Only those who constantly study the gem store items but have a hard time deciding to buy are affected by artificial scarcity.

Further, while it’s easy to notionalize some sort marketing benefit from artificial scarcity, there can’t be any comparative data on it. ANET has always done it that way, so there’s no baseline on just listing everything continually and letting the sales flow to compare against.

Businesses can use statistics on various selling models from other games and brick and mortar stores to see buyer’s responses to scarcity, both artificial and real, and non scarcity to see what model brings in the most money. They teach this sort of thing, using statistics and models, in college to business majors.

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Businesses can use statistics on various selling models from other games and brick and mortar stores to see buyer’s responses to scarcity, both artificial and real, and non scarcity to see what model brings in the most money. They teach this sort of thing, using statistics and models, in college to business majors.

While “businesses” can, my point was ANET has not.

It is impossible to guess what sales one missed while the product was not offered for sale. ANET has never had a longrunning continous offer of several products to establish such a baseline. I’ll offer as example nearly half of the glider skins, or perhaps an even greater portion. They have been made available for a short period of time and then are gone.

Joseph.6578:

Just a flesh wound.3589:

Businesses can use statistics on various selling models from other games and brick and mortar stores to see buyer’s responses to scarcity, both artificial and real, and non scarcity to see what model brings in the most money. They teach this sort of thing, using statistics and models, in college to business majors.

While “businesses” can, my point was ANET has not.

It is impossible to guess what sales one missed while the product was not offered for sale. ANET has never had a longrunning continous offer of several products to establish such a baseline. I’ll offer as example nearly half of the glider skins, or perhaps an even greater portion. They have been made available for a short period of time and then are gone.

Well if ever ANet decides that their system isn’t bringing in the money that is projected by the business model then I’m sure they’ll change it, possibly to one where items stay longer in the gemstore.

Joseph.6578:

It is impossible to guess what sales one missed while the product was not offered for sale.

On the contrary, it’s very much possible to guess. There’s lots of analysis and controlled tests on artificial scarcity. It’s an art more than a science, of course, but then so is everything else about selling virtual items: what price do you charge? do you offer periodic discounts? permanent ones? is it easier for people to have a choice of 20 (or limit it to 7)?

There’s lots of well-written business studies about it all. Unless ANet hired an incompetent team to run the gem shop, I’m sure they are at least as familiar with the results (and what happens in comparable industries, businesses) as any of us.

Since none of the items actually exist until they are purchased, I find it underhanded that artificial scarcity is a marketing ploy for the gemstore. Although, I find all marketing to be dishonorable, the attempt to manipulate people into buying things they do not need or to create a desire for them to have something they didn’t want before. Rather than just selling a quality item or providing a quality service for a decent price. But hey, that’s capitalism for ya.