Junior Member
Steam:
76561197992829835 Steam join date: Sep 25, 2007
Steam Level: 20
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Public
Well I will try to provide both sides of the equation. First, lets admit that the vast majority of traders here and on tf2 have tried to make a profit. I know cuz I've dealt with many of you and have spend inordinate amounts of times lookin at tf2outpost, tf2tp and tf2items browsing around and seeing what you actually paid for the shit you're trying to peddle. With the very nature of the mannconomy, some will make the profits and some will lose out in value.
I"ll start from the vantage point of the bud seller. There is about 100,000 buds, 200,00 bills and 10,000 max heads total in tf2. stats.tf2finance.com There is about 50,000 unusuals.
At first glance, it would seem there is way more promos than unusuals. However, the average price of an unusual I'd hazard a guess at is 10 . Stuff like flames tc's and cloudy moon samureyes driving up the average price. Thus you have to say something along the lines of 500,000 in promos would be needed to cover the spread.
Even if you go with a lower number and assume the average price of an unusual is 5, that's still 250,000 in promos to cover every unusual. There would seem to be about balance with the number . YET, the vast majority of buds belong to a small set of owners. In backpacks with buds/bills, max heads, most (80%+) only have 1 bud or 1 bill with only 10% of the population even having 1.
So we're talking about a small set of people here with multiple buds. Of those people, how many want to spend it paying buyout on a stormy carouser? Most buds that are horded are intended for profit as they are HARD to get. Some spend actual money on buds, while others spend alot of time.
So yeah, when I do post "I'm not paying buyout" its due to the fact that I'm compensating myself for the time/work spent getting multiple buds/max/bills etc. Many unusuals are got by spending a few keys. Moreover, of all the owners of multiple buds, how many want your unusual? Of them, how many want to be nearly stuck with it? Of them, how many want it at this particular time?
If your unusual isn't something that is especially sexy, you don't have much leverage to hold to a certain price when, lo and behold, 5 more of your unusual are for trade.