How much gold can you make as guild leader?

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER

Most people say they do zero profit and need to put their own gold (where is that coming from) into bids but i dont believe this.

imnotanother

0, usually you put up a lot to secur a spot.

Spend money to make money.

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER

If its zero like everyone says, why would you run a trade guild in first place? And where are the 100 millions of gold coming from guild leaders have?

Tasear

There's no profit. Most guilds honestly run in the negative, especially the non trade guilds. In fact guild taberbs costing 2k makes wonder if guilds were meant to gold sink. Why can't we have a better guild system?

imnotanother

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

If its zero like everyone says, why would you run a trade guild in first place? And where are the 100 millions of gold coming from guild leaders have?

So you can have a store to sell in the first place. You can still make gold as a trader but not as a guild leader.

Tasear

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

If its zero like everyone says, why would you run a trade guild in first place? And where are the 100 millions of gold coming from guild leaders have?

100s million gold is sales from all guild traders. This is gold everyone got in top locations.

To unfortunately run guilds it takes raffles or people who like to run businesses. I find many retired or active business professionals enjoy the system either as owner or merchant. It's quite interesting you can definitely tell difference in quality in top trade guilds.

agegarton

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

Most people say they do zero profit and need to put their own gold (where is that coming from) into bids but i dont believe this.

You don’t believe it? Why is that? Is it because you are fundamentally dishonest and you feel like everyone else must be as dishonest as you?

Or is it because you haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about ?

Aeslief

What does being a guild leader have to do with making gold?

imnotanother

Aeslief wrote: »

What does being a guild leader have to do with making gold?

A lot of players assume guild leaders just skim money off the top.

Colecovision

Get mm and look at the tax collected. It’s terrible compared to the reported prices traders are going for. The funny thing about the accusations (not directly in this thread yet) is that it still makes no sense in terms of effort and income.

What I see (and maybe I’m lucky) is guild leaders that like to lead and help. I see a lot of organizing and farming on their part. Try and really pay attention. When you get that email, see the auction, get your trader because someone bid on time despite having a real life or find a guild hall with tables and transmute station, think of the time that takes. If you’ve ever managed people you get a sense for these things. I have great appreciation for the gms and I’d be surprised if many are stealing gold and selling it. Lol- and even then, it looks like an inefficient way to make real life money.

Let’s get over the little tax thing.

Grabmoore

-2 million/ year.

I lead a social trading guild and even though me and others make profit from sales my combined donations are ~ 1 million for the last 6 month.

The current bids are much higher for almost all spots then the income they generate. It ja necessary to bid higher sometimes, because new guilds flood the market. I have seen bids higher than 850 k for lower interest spots. Those guilds surely don't achieve 28 million + in sales in order to reach the break even point. Most guild leaders are good traders and therefore they grow some wealth. Being a guild leader generates no income.

NordDK

On PS4 trade guild leadership most definitely profits. There seems to be a standard 10k a week dues for every guild with a capital city trader, yet some of these guilds have a difference of over 100 members between their rosters. Inb4 someone claims the guild leaders pay the over 1 million gold difference in the dues each week. In fact, most guild leaders don't pay dues at all once the guild is big enough to get traders regularly.

The guild leaders know how much they can bid and basically guarantee they've got a trader, there really aren't that many guilds out there with hundreds of members each paying 10k a week that aren't getting a good trader. Throwing all the money in the guild bank at the bid would be stupid when you can all but guarantee you can win for less, so they put what they usually do and pocket the rest.

Actually got curious about this myself back when I first got into a guild and did some asking around. Most leadership will vehemently deny making profit and will try to make you feel guilty even for asking, but I finally did find one person honest enough to admit they skimmed off the top. They wouldn't share actual amounts, but tried to frame it as getting a little compensation for "managing the guild". I use quotations because all that actually involved was making sure everyone was paying up, and auctioning off things others donated to make more money. Just mental gymnastics so they didn't feel like a sack of crap for extorting people.

The entire system is honestly terrible, there ought to be a separate bank deposit that can only be used for trader bids to stop the corruption, but frankly ZOS doesn't care, and practically encourages scamming and corruption given how the game is set up, and how little they do to stop it.

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER

NordDK wrote: »

On PS4 trade guild leadership most definitely profits. There seems to be a standard 10k a week dues for every guild with a capital city trader, yet some of these guilds have a difference of over 100 members between their rosters. Inb4 someone claims the guild leaders pay the over 1 million gold difference in the dues each week. In fact, most guild leaders don't pay dues at all once the guild is big enough to get traders regularly.

The guild leaders know how much they can bid and basically guarantee they've got a trader, there really aren't that many guilds out there with hundreds of members each paying 10k a week that aren't getting a good trader. Throwing all the money in the guild bank at the bid would be stupid when you can all but guarantee you can win for less, so they put what they usually do and pocket the rest.

Actually got curious about this myself back when I first got into a guild and did some asking around. Most leadership will vehemently deny making profit and will try to make you feel guilty even for asking, but I finally did find one person honest enough to admit they skimmed off the top. They wouldn't share actual amounts, but tried to frame it as getting a little compensation for "managing the guild". I use quotations because all that actually involved was making sure everyone was paying up, and auctioning off things others donated to make more money. Just mental gymnastics so they didn't feel like a sack of crap for extorting people.

The entire system is honestly terrible, there ought to be a separate bank deposit that can only be used for trader bids to stop the corruption, but frankly ZOS doesn't care, and practically encourages scamming and corruption given how the game is set up, and how little they do to stop it.

Thanks, thats the kind of answer i am looking for. not the guildmaster liars all saying the standard phrase - "yeah we make zero profit but spend millions of our own gold and our time into bids and managing the guild" ...for sure you do

redspecter23

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

Thanks, thats the kind of answer i am looking for. not the guildmaster liars all saying the standard phrase - "yeah we make zero profit but spend millions of our own gold and our time into bids and managing the guild" ...for sure you do

So you don't care about the truth, only what you already believe to be true. Got it.

kip_silverwolf

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

Most people say they do zero profit and need to put their own gold (where is that coming from) into bids but i dont believe this.

Why don't you believe it? Do you run a Trading Guild?

I do, and I tell you that, while I can make profit selling, I make absolutely none by being a GM.

We have many awesome people in the guild who purchase raffle tickets each week, as well as donating gold and items. I can't thank them enough for their support. However, with bids being the way they are, a large chunk of the gold I make through selling goes towards topping up the guild bank to ensure we keep our trader each week.

Why do I do it? Because it's a labour of love for a guild that was started with some good friends and has since grown into a decent Trading Guild.

Kodrac

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

Thanks, thats the kind of answer i am looking for.

Misery loves company.

SteveCampsOut

Let us not forget all the gold that guild leader must spend to maintain that "Notable" guild house with all the crafting set stations, mundas stones, transmute stations and everything else spectacular in the guild house that you get to use for free. Do I spend gold on all of it? Yes. Sometimes I spend Crowns which is USA CASH!

SirAndy

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

Most people say they do zero profit and need to put their own gold (where is that coming from) into bids but i dont believe this.

In the 4 years of "The Sidekick Order" me and the co-gm usually have to supplement about 100k in gold each week for a guild trader from our own gold.

Unless you are running a large trading guild, there simply is not enough gold to cover the costs of a trader.

You will have to get donations from members, do weekly raffle events or simply cover the cost yourself.

ArchMikem

Why do you think high end Guild require a weekly membership fee? Guild Leaders lean on their Members to provide a supplementary income in order to afford those Traders. They justify it as the Members paying the Guild in order to have a Trader to sell their stuff in every week. If it was squarely on the GM to buy the Trader the Guild would bankrupt quickly.

Aesthier

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

NordDK wrote: »

On PS4 trade guild leadership most definitely profits. There seems to be a standard 10k a week dues for every guild with a capital city trader, yet some of these guilds have a difference of over 100 members between their rosters. Inb4 someone claims the guild leaders pay the over 1 million gold difference in the dues each week. In fact, most guild leaders don't pay dues at all once the guild is big enough to get traders regularly.

The guild leaders know how much they can bid and basically guarantee they've got a trader, there really aren't that many guilds out there with hundreds of members each paying 10k a week that aren't getting a good trader. Throwing all the money in the guild bank at the bid would be stupid when you can all but guarantee you can win for less, so they put what they usually do and pocket the rest.

Actually got curious about this myself back when I first got into a guild and did some asking around. Most leadership will vehemently deny making profit and will try to make you feel guilty even for asking, but I finally did find one person honest enough to admit they skimmed off the top. They wouldn't share actual amounts, but tried to frame it as getting a little compensation for "managing the guild". I use quotations because all that actually involved was making sure everyone was paying up, and auctioning off things others donated to make more money. Just mental gymnastics so they didn't feel like a sack of crap for extorting people.

The entire system is honestly terrible, there ought to be a separate bank deposit that can only be used for trader bids to stop the corruption, but frankly ZOS doesn't care, and practically encourages scamming and corruption given how the game is set up, and how little they do to stop it.

Thanks, thats the kind of answer i am looking for. not the guildmaster liars all saying the standard phrase - "yeah we make zero profit but spend millions of our own gold and our time into bids and managing the guild" ...for sure you do

I would agree that there are some who use their guild to amke profit but also add that there are alot who don't.


Calling anyone who doesn't meet the criteria you are looking for a liar is just plain idiocy.


So "Could" a guild leader make extra gold off of running a guild? Absolutely!

"Could" a guild leader go millions into the hole running a guild? Again Absolutely!


To actually make money off of it one would require enough players who trade.

There are ways to do that by hosting events (raffles, Duel contests with entry fees, etc..) and a Guild Leader could also implement a membership fee but not all guild leaders do these things.

To be honest, because I don't get a lot of time to play I stay away from guilds that charge membership fees or have a fee like requirements as do a healthy chunk of other players.

So as a Guild Leader you need to balance getting a good location for your trader (the better the location the higher the price) against the welfare of your membership (people who are getting ripped off won't stick around long).

Not all Guild Leaders can balance that well enough to generate the amounts needed to continually skim the top and that is out of the amount who would want to in the first place.


Availability of top end trading guilds will vary between platforms so there is another difference as well. Which platform has the more corrupt individuals playing? Who knows.


Again I will agree that some guild leaders are corrupt and some aren't but I don't really think you came here with an honest question in the first place.


If you really feel that all Guild Leaders are corrupt and they are all stealing from their membership then what are you waiting for?

Start a guild and start raking in all that cash you believe everyone is lying about.

VaranisArano

Clearly I'm not corrupt enough.

Being an officer in a trading guild hasn't gotten me anything but a constant spot to sell my stuff (I make plenty of money that way), the urge to donate items, whispers from people who want their notes updated for absences, and the occasional responsibility to say "Guys, either cool it or take the drama to whispers - no one wants your argument playing out in guild chat."

I'm technically exempted from the weekly sales or raffle tickets requirement, but I've never failed to make the sales requirement so that's a moot point.

kargen27

The trading guilds I have been in actually have spreadsheets members can check. They show sales, donations, raffle entries, auction participation both buying and donating items and other things. In the guild history we can see deposits and withdrawals. Many of the members that generate a lot of gold through sales donate a good sized chunk back so we are sure to keep our trader. Looking at the deposits the top members including the leader tend to deposit the most. The top members carry the guild because not everybody has good sales every week. They make gold by keeping members of the guild happy thus insuring we get a prime spot each week.

And they coordinate several events each week so we have something to do other than just farm for things to sell. No way I would want to help run a trade guild. I have enough headaches being an officer in a social guild.

sylviermoone

I rarely make gold.

I list stuff for sale, that gold typically pays for my raffle tickets or gold donations to the other guilds I am in.

I spend 30 or so hours a week managing my guild, and this is because we have an awesome team helping with day to day tasks. Most days I am lucky to do much more than crafting writs. Before we had such awesome officers, this was easily 40-50 hours weekly.

80% of my tempers, flowers and other valuable material wind up going to the guild to use as prizes. I once won a gold furniture pattern in a raffle from another guild; I then used it as an auction item the following week in my guild. I donate all my master writs to my guild to purchase crafting stations for our guild hall.

I don't make gold being a GM. Everything I have, for the most part, goes to supporting my guild.

I don't run a guild to be rich; I run a guild because it gives me joy to create a community in which people can come together. I run a guild because my officers and my guild members BELIEVE in our community. I run a guild because those 500 people inspire me to keep running a guild. I run a guild because that community is a respite from the sh*t of the world for some people. I run a guild because my members are like my family.

kip_silverwolf

sylviermoone wrote: »

I rarely make gold.

I list stuff for sale, that gold typically pays for my raffle tickets or gold donations to the other guilds I am in.

I spend 30 or so hours a week managing my guild, and this is because we have an awesome team helping with day to day tasks. Most days I am lucky to do much more than crafting writs.

80% of my tempers, flowers and other valuable material wind up going to the guild to use as prizes. I once won a gold furniture pattern in a raffle from another guild; I then used it as an auction item the following week in my guild. I donate all my master writs to my guild to purchase crafting stations for our guild hall.

I don't make gold being a GM. Everything I have, for the most part, goes to supporting my guild.

I don't run a guild to be rich; I run a guild because it gives me joy to create a community in which people can come together. I run a guild because my officers and my guild members BELIEVE in our community. I run a guild because those 500 people inspire me to keep running a guild. I run a guild because that community is a respite from the sh*t of the world for some people. I run a guild because my members are like my family.

Well said @sylviermoone
I am in your guild and know first hand the hard work & dedication you (and others) put into AUT, to make it the totally awesome guild that it is, not only for trading but also for a friendly and helpful community. You do a terrific job and I, for one, truly appreciate it. Thankyou!

OP, if you really believe that GM's make a pile of gold simply by being GM's, then start your own trade guild and reap in the (perceived) rewards. I think you'll quickly discover the truth..

notimetocare

imnotanother wrote: »

0, usually you put up a lot to secur a spot.

Spend money to make money.

This. Unless Guild leader is scum

sylviermoone

kip_silverwolf wrote: »

sylviermoone wrote: »

I rarely make gold.

I list stuff for sale, that gold typically pays for my raffle tickets or gold donations to the other guilds I am in.

I spend 30 or so hours a week managing my guild, and this is because we have an awesome team helping with day to day tasks. Most days I am lucky to do much more than crafting writs.

80% of my tempers, flowers and other valuable material wind up going to the guild to use as prizes. I once won a gold furniture pattern in a raffle from another guild; I then used it as an auction item the following week in my guild. I donate all my master writs to my guild to purchase crafting stations for our guild hall.

I don't make gold being a GM. Everything I have, for the most part, goes to supporting my guild.

I don't run a guild to be rich; I run a guild because it gives me joy to create a community in which people can come together. I run a guild because my officers and my guild members BELIEVE in our community. I run a guild because those 500 people inspire me to keep running a guild. I run a guild because that community is a respite from the sh*t of the world for some people. I run a guild because my members are like my family.

Well said @sylviermoone
I am in your guild and know first hand the hard work & dedication you (and others) put into AUT, to make it the totally awesome guild that it is, not only for trading but also for a friendly and helpful community. You do a terrific job and I, for one, truly appreciate it. Thankyou!

OP, if you really believe that GM's make a pile of gold simply by being GM's, then start your own trade guild and reap in the (perceived) rewards. I think you'll quickly discover the truth..

Awww, thanks for you kind words, @kip_silverwolf!! right back at ya.

Tabbycat

I'd be surprised if Guild leaders turn a profit if they are running a trade guild. I imagine they dump quite a bit of their own gold into the pot in order to secure Guild Traders on a weekly basis for their guild. Some members of trade guilds are a fickle bunch that will leave as soon as the guild loses its trader.

Mitrenga

Not at all. Most of them that I know lose gold and sometimes € / $ (through the crown store - for mundus stones for example). Buying a large guild house, getting all stations inside it, put interesting stuff. Upon all, your guild/s can not make the same tax every week and put your own gold to counter YOLO bids. A solid leader with a close knit team make all these things possible while all the members enjoy being there. I can see that many leaders put a part time job time in their guilds, even more when a major release on the horizon.

Did I mention you have to sacrifice loads of time? So, kudos to all leaders & officers - from the smallest to the largest trading guilds around.

kadar

You're probably on to something here. I'd say everyone here is collaborating in a large scale plot to hide the truth from you.

MilwaukeeScott

DRAGON_KILLER_HUNTER wrote: »

Thanks, thats the kind of answer i am looking for. not the guildmaster liars all saying the standard phrase - "yeah we make zero profit but spend millions of our own gold and our time into bids and managing the guild" ...for sure you do

On PS4, I'm the GM of Fishy Sticks Of Agility. We're 2+ years old with 450+ members.

We never charge fees but always have a Trader in a city.

I put a minimum of 400K a week into our Guild Bank to insure we ALWAYs have a Trader in a city.

EVERY WEEK

disintegr8

Guild masters of most good guilds do it for the love.....and sacrifice a fair bit, whether it be time, gold or both, do keep the guild running.

I cannot imagine a guild master making a profit just from running a guild but if the guild is good and it's members are happy, good luck to them.