How do you feel about random trade offers? (Background story with TL;DR at end)

DragonRacer

A friend of mine relayed a funny tale in which a completely random stranger approached her character, initiated a trade, gave her a bunch of health-boosting foods, gave a thumbs up, and ran off. Like some sort of Good Samaritan thing.

I found that amusing and, honestly, cool enough to try it out myself as a bit of a social experiment. After all, a lot of the provisions you craft to level up that skill result in products that may be of "meh" use to your current level and sell to merchants for almost nothing at all. Rather than waste time getting 1 and 2 coin for these things, I figured they'd serve a better use being given to newer players.

So, I've spent a little bit of time each day being Vulkhel Guard's PS4 version of Santa Claus (particularly since it's a good melting pot of low-level and high-level players).

Made a bunch of stuff to level up my provisioning skills, took stock of what stuff I had and what levels they were good for, then sought out appropriate people. So far, I've found that many people ignore trade offers, which is fine. I generally wait 5-10 seconds before giving up and moving on. Then, it's actually been a pretty 50/50 even split between people who will take the trade and give nothing back (either running away or standing there awkwardly afterwards) and those who offer some sort of item in exchange. I do all this expecting nothing back, by the way. I just want to unload the worthless stuff that might help someone else.

This is also all done silently as well. I find area chat so annoying and largely filled with just a garbled mess of loud noises (especially in crowded cities) that I just can't. I can't. Off it goes. So, there's no mic conversation being exchanged, just using the in-game communication of miming. I've at least gotten in the habit of going to my emote wheel after the trade and doing my personal salute - hand over heart. Especially if they offered an item back to me.

Two of my favorite personal encounters so far have been one newbie and one experienced.

The newbie was a Level 3 Altmer on the starter ship, still in her soul-shriven clothes, who was standing there swinging her sword around constantly. I mean, seemed so new they were still figuring out controls. I initiated trade, she kept swinging her sword, I eventually left. A moment later, she runs up and tags me back to trade. I give her two Roast Pig, something she could use at low level and would give her some decent health for a decent time. She accepted, I saluted, then ran off happy.

The experienced was finding someone who could take my Whiterun Cheese-Baked Trout. It's level 20, so I can't even use it yet, being Level 16. I found a Level 20 Orc sitting on his mount consulting his map, so I prodded him to trade. I offered him my fish, and he surprised me back with two Level 10 pork somethings that also boosted health. So, we fairly traded health-for-health, with him getting something for his level and me getting something leveled enough to be good quality that I could use at my current level. It was also a provision I'd not actually run across before, so that was sorta neat just to discover something new.

I swear I'll get back to doing quests eventually. I mean, they're my main source of acquiring more provisioning ingredients, after all.

TL;DR summary: So, have any of you been approached by randoms to trade? Was it awkward? Would you rather just be left alone? Is there any sort of "trade etiquette" I should keep in mind while doing this? I'm really having a lot of fun with it, honestly, but also wonder if it's annoying to people (given the number who ignore the trade request).

Mojmir

I read the title to be something like entraptment,I'm getting a lawyer

Violynne

I find them extremely annoying, honestly. I know people are looking to trade, but walking into a city and getting bombarded with requests is just tiresome, having to decline them all (and the message never goes away until we address it, something ZoS should consider fixing by removing them after 60 seconds).

The majority of the time, people want motifs and I just don't have any to trade. Then there are those who make asinine trade requests, like giving me two scoops of dirt in exchange I craft them a weapon with traits.

Appearances are everything to me. If you walk up to me looking like a tank, I won't take your call. Come up to me looking like you're trying to play the game but need a little buff, I'm likely to trade (or craft/give stuff for free).

I enjoy helping people. I don't enjoy being taken advantage of.

I will admit most I have spoken with have been sincere. It's just the bad apples who make trading a chore rather than something fun to do.

Xendyn

I would be startled if that happened to me. Especially since you have voice off and didn't respond to a request for clarification.
That's most likely why you get ignores...people aren't used to the random acts of kindness thing and think you're up to something.
That said, I think you're doing a cool thing and if it's fun for you, keep it up!
Thumbs up from me

radiostar

For some reason, free gold is never turned down

DragonRacer

Violynne wrote: »

I find them extremely annoying, honestly. I know people are looking to trade, but walking into a city and getting bombarded with requests is just tiresome, having to decline them all (and the message never goes away until we address it, something ZoS should consider fixing by removing them after 60 seconds).

The majority of the time, people want motifs and I just don't have any to trade. Then there are those who make asinine trade requests, like giving me two scoops of dirt in exchange I craft them a weapon with traits.

Appearances are everything to me. If you walk up to me looking like a tank, I won't take your call. Come up to me looking like you're trying to play the game but need a little buff, I'm likely to trade (or craft/give stuff for free).

I enjoy helping people. I don't enjoy being taken advantage of.

I will admit most I have spoken with have been sincere. It's just the bad apples who make trading a chore rather than something fun to do.

Aw geez, the notification doesn't go away? Once I walk away, on my end I get a little message that "trade offer has been canceled", so I assumed that was the same for the other person.

As far as appearances, I've been doing this with a female Khajiit in heavy armor that's dyed blue and purple. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

DragonRacer

Xendyn wrote: »

I would be startled if that happened to me. Especially since you have voice off and didn't respond to a request for clarification.
That's most likely why you get ignores...people aren't used to the random acts of kindness thing and think you're up to something.
That said, I think you're doing a cool thing and if it's fun for you, keep it up!
Thumbs up from me

I'm a Khajiit, so thinking I'm up to something is probably understandable.

That being said, maybe I should throw the headset on. It would be nice if we could mute individuals rather than the whole area chat. Just seems to be so much blaring music or obnoxious conversations (rather than useful ones) that it's just an overall unpleasant and immersion-breaking experience.

Masuimi

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Xendyn

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Hardly.
Thread title could use work, at least he uses paragraphs, grammar and spelling. Tells a decent story, too.
More than I can say for the majority of posters.

CidxLucy

A guy had a price for a item.
I make a offer.
The guy then ask for a lower price then I offer.

I ask myself why undercut my offer?

I would of paid the 5k more

I offer 40k for 8 He give it to me for 35k. lol

DragonRacer

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Edited thread title and made the last area a TL;DR. Does that help?

Kinda felt like the question needed a backstory, honestly.

DragonRacer

Xendyn wrote: »

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Hardly.
Thread title could use work, at least he uses paragraphs, grammar and spelling. Tells a decent story, too.
More than I can say for the majority of posters.

Thank you.

Suggestions on the title? Wan't entirely sure how to convey the general idea without making it a mile long, which I figure is equally annoying.

Also, "she", by the way.

JD2013

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Lest we forget a little thing called manners, please.

Masuimi

Sorry for my rude post, but thank you for the TLDR. I opened it expecting a shorter body, so didn't read it but thats prob my bad for being lazy etc.

Anyways, no harm meant!!!!carry on

Xendyn

DragonRacer wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Hardly.
Thread title could use work, at least he uses paragraphs, grammar and spelling. Tells a decent story, too.
More than I can say for the majority of posters.

Thank you.

Suggestions on the title? Wan't entirely sure how to convey the general idea without making it a mile long, which I figure is equally annoying.

Also, "she", by the way.

*bows* apologies.
How about:
Random Acts of Kindness or Good Samaritan Trading.
Don't worry, tho. No matter what you do someone will find fault with it

DragonRacer

Xendyn wrote: »

DragonRacer wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Hardly.
Thread title could use work, at least he uses paragraphs, grammar and spelling. Tells a decent story, too.
More than I can say for the majority of posters.

Thank you.

Suggestions on the title? Wan't entirely sure how to convey the general idea without making it a mile long, which I figure is equally annoying.

Also, "she", by the way.

*bows* apologies.
How about:
Random Acts of Kindness or Good Samaritan Trading.
Don't worry, tho. No matter what you do someone will find fault with it

No worries, I don't exactly have a user name that screams gender, after all. LOL

And the last is too true. Such is life, and especially the Internet. I just largely don't know to be rude. I'll admit to mostly lurking, but overall don't spend a ton of time here, so I'm not as familiar with the community. Every forum has its own personal preferences/etiquette, I've found.

Mojmir

Xendyn wrote: »

DragonRacer wrote: »

Xendyn wrote: »

Masuimi wrote: »

Simple thread title. Huge block of text for post body. Fail thread

Hardly.
Thread title could use work, at least he uses paragraphs, grammar and spelling. Tells a decent story, too.
More than I can say for the majority of posters.

Thank you.

Suggestions on the title? Wan't entirely sure how to convey the general idea without making it a mile long, which I figure is equally annoying.

Also, "she", by the way.

*bows* apologies.
How about:
Random Acts of Kindness or Good Samaritan Trading.
Don't worry, tho. No matter what you do someone will find fault with it

that font is just all wrong

Mirelurk

I don't bother inviting people to trade when I'm giving away stuff like that.


I just port to a relevant city, look around until I see somebody who looks like they could use the stuff and send them a surprise email.

Tholian1

Mirelurk wrote: »

I don't bother inviting people to trade when I'm giving away stuff like that.


I just port to a relevant city, look around until I see somebody who looks like they could use the stuff and send them a surprise email.

I would prefer if people did this.

I ignore random trade invites all the time. Why can't they talk to me first or message me?

Nova Sky

On the PC/Mac side, my guild (The Dark Sisterhood) will, a few times a month, go into a lower zone and initiate a game of Hide and Seek with the zone.

Basically, the first player to find us wins anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 gold along with an assortment of other goodies. It generates a lot of goodwill, helps build the ESO community and has even brought some new folks into the guild.

I wish we could do that on the console side of ESO, but only having voice chat makes that nigh impossible at the moment.

DragonRacer

Mirelurk wrote: »

I don't bother inviting people to trade when I'm giving away stuff like that.


I just port to a relevant city, look around until I see somebody who looks like they could use the stuff and send them a surprise email.

Oooooh, that's a much better idea! Thanks for the input, will switch over to that instead. Less hassle to them.

Shad0wfire99

If you try to randomly trade with me without an actual trade discussion ever taking place, I'll never make a trade with you. Go away forever.

firstdecan

Wow, life is very different without text chat. Whenever I want to give stuff away I can say in zone chat "Free to first whisper: ......."

I just got my last toon up to VR rank recently (8 toons at a minimum of VR1). As that 8th toon outgrew his soul gems, I would just give them away in chat (I probably had 100 or so of each type, gave them away in batches of 20-30).

On the PC side, I find people who make random trade requests very annoying. I also find the random group \ friend requests very annoying. I think it's just courteous to chat a bit before soliciting someone. Without text chat, I don't know how I would react, although I would probably still be annoyed with people constantly prodding me when I'm trying to play a game.

RAGUNAnoOne

Sorry if that was you, I was getting things ready for a friend before I had to log off. besides random trade without prompting does seem a little rude. Isn't there something in the emote quick chat menu that displays "Want to trade?", you can use that so we have a warning.

Asherons_Call

About as much as I like random friend and group requests. I mean really? Do you walk up on someone in the street and say "hi let's be frens lol"

Enemy-of-Coldharbour

I don't like them. I always assume they are trying to scam me.

SirAndy

DragonRacer wrote: »

Like some sort of Good Samaritan thing.

This is where a working zone chat can do wonders (I'm playing on PC).

I frequently give away stuff that i can't or don't want to use but may have a use for someone else. Treasure maps are a perfect example, people are always looking for those.

And i go back to the starter zones every once in a while to offload stuff like lockpicks and potions etc. I usually give away stacks of 50 of them to newbies.

SirAndy

double post ...

waterfairy

I get approached with random trade invites, usually in Elden Root when I'm busy crafting and don't have my headset on. The other night someone put a barbaric motif on the table, I declined because I knew they were expecting a large amount to be offered in return, then they put a primal up for trade, again I declined and hit the emote to say "Low on magic"...they got the hint.

I've given out random free things this way and someone gave me a Bosmer motif back when I still needed it which was awesome.

ZakuBeta

I made a VR3 or so bow once with a trait for piercing armor. I tried to give it to the first VR person I saw, now mind you I am only level 42 at the time, but I do this frequently with stuff I craft for earning the XP for my skill. It takes me longer to give things away than it does to make them. So now I just decon them again or sell things if I need gold. I like the mail idea, but how do you do that on the Xbox one?

TortUred_mAlice

DragonRacer wrote: »

A friend of mine relayed a funny tale in which a completely random stranger approached her character, initiated a trade, gave her a bunch of health-boosting foods, gave a thumbs up, and ran off. Like some sort of Good Samaritan thing.

Just give me a confirmation when you can... Was your friend near the bank in Daggerfall, Glenumbra?
Because I did the exact same thing :')