Playing The Auction House

[SugarChick]

So you need to make a little extra gold in game and you're not quite sure how exactly to go about it.

With the info I'm about to give you even at a very low level you can start making some gold by using smarts over grinding.

This is the very basics if you're totally new to the auction game.

First you'll need to download the latest version of auctioneer, you can get that here: http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-a...uctioneer.aspx

Once it's downloaded and installed (you download it into your Interface/Addons Folder) and you're sure to activate it after you login (using the addons button on your character screen) then we're good to start.

Now that it's installed and working let's head to the auction house.

You are going to need to scan the auctionhouse multiple times over the course of about 2 weeks in order to get an accurate "reading".

So once you click on the AH guy you'll notice that your window looks a little different. At the top left you'll see a "play" looking button that when you mouse over it then it says "click here to start/resume scan....".

Click that button and let it run - it can take anywhere from a few minutes up to almost 1/2 an hour depending on how many items are on your servers auctionhouse.

Typically I will scan the AH right before bed or before I leave to go out. It is important to get scans throughout different days and times of the day to get the best overall view of the average cost of items. If you only scan Sat morning then those are the only prices it will register and AH prices will vary throughout the week.

So do a full scan of the AH at least a few times a week for about 2 weeks.

Now Auctioneer has stored up a database of information that tells you the average cost items go for on your server. When you open up the AH you'll notice on the far right of the item there is a percentage. If the item is at 100% that means it's at average cost. If that percentage is higher or lower then that means the item is going for cheaper(if its a lower percentage) or overpriced (if it's at a higher percentage).

This helps in a few ways - 1) you can quickly identify items that are cheap that you can resell and make a profit 2) you're not going to get screwed because you put up something for 1g that sells for 100g.

Armed with this extra knowledge you can start to rule the AH!

Auctioneer also makes it really easy to post multiple items - often items will sell cheaper as a single item versus as a stack. Ore is often the opposite(sells better as a stack).

So what you want to do is start taking note to discounted items, purchase them and resell them.

A HUGE easy way is any profession leveling mats. For example - something like malachite that a level 1 can get sells for 1g on my server. Lowbies will often put up these mats for very cheap(say a few silver) assuming that is the cost. As someone with the knowledge you can quickly scoop this up and resell it.

Now making a profit off that, at least a good profit, would take awhile. Start small and work your way up. Avoid gambling and buying an item for hundreds of gold unless you're SURE it will resell.

For example - battered hilt sells for about 10k on my server - if I saw one up for 6k and I had the gold I'd want to buy it knowing I will probably get 10k but at least 8k and make a nice 2k profit.

BEWARE of "fake" items. You need to be smart and 'outsmart' the system. Sometimes grays/whites will be up on the AH for a lot of gold - this is due to gold selling and chinese farmers. This puts fake information into auctioneer making items seem like they should go for more then they're actually worth.

If an item looks like it will make you a profit but there are a bunch up(when it comes to gear, etc.) don't do it.

Know what will make you money - watch Ah prices during the week, then watch the weekend. Often cloth will go for cheaper during the week - then the weekend hits and you can pretty much name your price.

There are ways to auto-scan the AH for great deals which I"ll explain later.

For now try getting your hands wet by taking a few initial steps - watch the AH and before you know it you'll be making good gold reselling items without leaving the AH!