Has Anyone Ever Sold a Potion?

Gromulus

I can make level 30 potions that in one sip add spell damage, spell crit and restore magicka, and other potions with various other spell and physical dps variations. I tried selling them through different means and have had zero success. I even tried to give them away free in zone chat and didn't have any takers.

Does that surprise anyone? Will potions ever sell?

Malediktus

I doubt anyone buys them. Levelling alchemy (same with provisioning) is just way too easy and quick.

dustyroads13_ESO

The only potions I've sold are the health potions... But it's not real profitable

SadisticSavior

I am guessing they are more profitable at high levels where you are fighting the end game bosses. I would not expect a huge demand for them from lowbies.

Aicilef

As a maxed out alchemist, I can tell you that it's a though market. The low level potions sell badly and the high level potion require Mist cloud, something that is not easily available at this time.

There are some awesome potions out there: potions that add spell crit, spell damage and magicka in one sip or potions that add magicka, stamina AND health, but the demand simply isn't there.

Maybe it will pick up, now that they nerfed the boss-looting (you used to be able to kill & loot the same boss every minute and always get 3-4-5-6 potions) but I doubt it, to be honest.

Wait till most people are at end-game, then you'll see some demand, I hope.

Also, the lack of a market is due to their complete lack of understanding of MMOs: the idea that you can only trade with 5 guilds and /zone is simply horrible for traders. You got to be very, very, VERY lucky that you meet buyers in that extreem small circle.

Malediktus

Small circle - small competition --> large circle - large competition
so a larger circle will actually lower prices

SadisticSavior

Malediktus wrote: »

Small circle - small competition --> large circle - large competition
so a larger circle will actually lower prices

Larger circle = more exposure = more likely to find a buyer.

Lower prices will only react to supply and demand. If the stuff you are providing is hard to make (you need a lot of skill) or has rare ingredients, prices will be higher. Assuming the effect is something people want enough to pay for.

And it sounds like it is. I personally did not give two craps about potions before yesterday when I tried to solo an end boss in a storyline mission. I can definitely see a market for potions. Especially in end game.

Malediktus

Potions are powerful, but then again alchemy is the 2nd easiest crafting to max out, so I doubt it will ever be valuable. They would have to add some super rare recipes or super high skillpoint use to make the best potions for it to work.

Krym

SadisticSavior wrote: »

Malediktus wrote: »

Small circle - small competition --> large circle - large competition
so a larger circle will actually lower prices

Larger circle = more exposure = more likely to find a buyer.

Lower prices will only react to supply and demand. If the stuff you are providing is hard to make (you need a lot of skill) or has rare ingredients, prices will be higher. Assuming the effect is something people want enough to pay for.

larger market means also more people selling the rare stuff dumping prices, more people that will undercut you for 1g. and even then the herbs itself will probably much cheaper so people will just buy those and ask their guild crafter.

Glurin

I'd probably buy potions every now and then if I wasn't saving for a horse. Alchemy is one of the professions I passed on. At least for now.

LastLaugh

grayssonb16_ESO wrote: »

SadisticSavior wrote: »

Malediktus wrote: »

Small circle - small competition --> large circle - large competition
so a larger circle will actually lower prices

Larger circle = more exposure = more likely to find a buyer.

Lower prices will only react to supply and demand. If the stuff you are providing is hard to make (you need a lot of skill) or has rare ingredients, prices will be higher. Assuming the effect is something people want enough to pay for.

larger market means also more people selling the rare stuff dumping prices, more people that will undercut you for 1g. and even then the herbs itself will probably much cheaper so people will just buy those and ask their guild crafter.

A larger market means more buyers as well as more sellers. The supply of rare stuff is already limited by their rarity, and demand generally increases the more rare the item is.

nudel

Wait til ZOS gets around to adding poisons to the game. Then Alchemy will be profitable.

Gillysan

Here are the problems with potions as I see it.
1 - It's something players make that also drops from mobs easily enough.
2 - It's one of the "soft" crafting professions; no research, easy to find all mats, far too easy to level.
3 - You can easily get by PvE without them.
4 - There are no mobs in the world that need any kind of potion to defeat them (Just an idea, would be cool to have some, just give us a handful ZOS, mob you need a potion to become immune to their killer attack. A potion made by a well skilled Alchemist)
5 - It's early in the game, too early to see any trends

I want to expand on #1 specifically. We have shining example of how to make things valuable to players. EVE Online. They have been on a development trend of making more and more items in game available only from players. TESO doesn't necessarily have to go to the extremes EVE has but potions is one I vote for being player made only.

Power to the crafter! :salute:

Gillysan

Actually I think the same should be done for provisioning. Granted the food & drink is better quality made by players but this doesn't go far enough. My alternative suggestion to ZOS is to cap at what level potions and food drop in the world. I think L10 would be perfect.

gothickaiserub17_ESO

If your eating that white grabage looted/store bought food or drinking potions that only do 1 thing at a time your missing out

I'm always using blue quaility (Magicka + Health) food (last an hour gives a good chunck, 140 at Lv.20, gets to 300 by cap) thats several enchants or levels worth

As for Potions they are worth it, your healing potion when looted gives 1 resources. My potions heal Hp (with 4 bonus healing ticks) magicka and stamina all in one go (and are so easy to make there is no need to conserve) I also have emergency potions (Health + CC immunity + Invis(aggro drop) and many more

andrantos

While food provides a substantial buff, I think many players are moving quickly enough through lower level content that they do not even think about it.

I think demands for food, especially blue and purple quality will pick up in the end-game as it will be useful to all... pvp, raids, adventure zones.

I have been able to sell food but very rarely at levels 15-25.

kelly.medleyb14_ESO

Malediktus wrote: »

I doubt anyone buys them. Levelling alchemy (same with provisioning) is just way too easy and quick.

^ this and the game from 1-v14 is so fast and easy that there is no need for potions or gear, only max level stuff will sell.

Xexpo

the market for lvl 30 potions doesn't exist .. you don't need fancy pots at that level

v5 potions, however, sell very well in my experience

Natjur

Normal potions drop so often that no one really uses any player made potions until they get to V5+ and doing the hard stuff where the normal dropped potions no longer cut it any more

Also the costly part of the potions is the herbs, so potions cost the same to make no matter the level of the potion, so why waste resource making L30 potions (as L30's will not pay 9k for a stack) but make the V5 potions instead and they will sell for 9k

V5 potions sell well and normally for 9-10k per stack. Good sellers are

Tri pots (Restore health, mana and stamina)
Mage pots (Restore mana, Add Spell Crit and Spell Damage)
Tank Pots (Restore health, restore stamina, unmovable)

poodlemasterb16_ESO

Natjur wrote: »

Normal potions drop so often that no one really uses any player made potions until they get to V5+ and doing the hard stuff where the normal dropped potions no longer cut it any more

Also the costly part of the potions is the herbs, so potions cost the same to make no matter the level of the potion, so why waste resource making L30 potions (as L30's will not pay 9k for a stack) but make the V5 potions instead and they will sell for 9k

V5 potions sell well and normally for 9-10k per stack. Good sellers are

Tri pots (Restore health, mana and stamina)
Mage pots (Restore mana, Add Spell Crit and Spell Damage)
Tank Pots (Restore health, restore stamina, unmovable)

You left out attack pots, my VR10 NB son uses em' up. Luckily my Alchemist has been maxed out for a long time.

Weapon Damage, Weapon Crit and Stamina.

There are less known ones as well. The reveal potions, the 4 sec invisibility, the 30%+ speed, I could go on.

DenverRalphy

I sell a lot of the Invis, Unstoppable, Restore Health pots. Apparently there are a lot of PvP players who like to have a supply of "I'm outa here" potions for those moments when things get ugly.

Islyn

Gromulus wrote: »

I can make level 30 potions that in one sip add spell damage, spell crit and restore magicka, and other potions with various other spell and physical dps variations. I tried selling them through different means and have had zero success. I even tried to give them away free in zone chat and didn't have any takers.

Does that surprise anyone? Will potions ever sell?

vr5+ ones sell - I admit - I am a part-time 'pot' dealer
+ (don't go getting all OMGZORS ZOS - you know we call em pots :P )

TheBull

I spent about 30k on tri-pots over the last week.

OP level to max, make as many 100 stacks of the triple stat potions as you can, go to Cyrodiil, say wts tri-pots 9k, profit.

driosketch

I don't know about selling, but I have bought potions before. Yes, from a guild kiosk, and yes, lower level ones. I needed something stronger for a series of alts who had out leveled the looted ones they were getting. Of course, that was a while ago, and I don't think I ever exhausted the bunch I bought.

Islyn

TheBull wrote: »

I spent about 30k on tri-pots over the last week.

OP level to max, make as many 100 stacks of the triple stat potions as you can, go to Cyrodiil, say wts tri-pots 9k, profit.

lol 10-11k.

kimboh

Yes, I have bought and sold potions.

Artis

Islyn wrote: »

TheBull wrote: »

I spent about 30k on tri-pots over the last week.

OP level to max, make as many 100 stacks of the triple stat potions as you can, go to Cyrodiil, say wts tri-pots 9k, profit.

lol 10-11k.

Got some yesterday in Craglorn for 8k. Would never buy for more than 10. @TheBull, who and in which campaign sells them for 9k?

TheBull

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE GOLD GO TO CYRODIIL AND SELL TRI-STAT POITONS!!!

Pyatra

TriPots are always in demand in PvP, may take a bit for people to contact you depending on what's happening on the battlefield.

poodlemasterb16_ESO

I built an Argonian NB last night. He is to be a potion guzzling monster. My Alchemist has been level 50 for a long time and he can produce huge amounts of potions.

I believe you can get a build like this down to no cooldown. You need some cooldown reduction Enchantments and the Argonian and NB passives.

Kungfu

Whoah whoah whooooooah...
Sorry for my novel here, but I have to write it out to explain. There are plenty of buyers on the NA server for VR5+ tri-pots.

@Artemis‌ and @TheBull‌
I'm glad you guys find your potions so cheap... but honestly, your price preferences aren't going to be honored at those rates for much longer. The prices are going up - I sold over 1200 tri-pots total last week alone for an average of 132.6g each. That does range from my 10k stacks selling early in the week up to 14k stacks. The math gets funky because I only sell 350 pots and pocket 50 for myself but it's solid math, I assure you.

By Saturday night of last week, I'd sold all the pots I put on the vendor the previous Monday night. Demand may actually drive prices above 14k.

But then, part of it is that gatherers have to start coming to grips with their herb pricing. There's so many idjits out there putting crap herbs up on guild vendors for 200g a pop. lmao



@Gromulus‌

Sorry man, I have to reply immediately after reading the first four responses. I'll go back and read the rest later. (EDIT: Everything above @Gromulus is actually me going back and reading & responding).

I COMPLETELY disagree with the first few posters. I sell potions ALL the time. The market isn't tough - at VR10-ish and above, that is.

I will agree that selling lower level potions definitely has zero profit potential for all kinds of reasons (they're too easy to make yourself, the freebie ones drop in abundance if you've got a good build, etc.) but the top-most level of potions have four that are in high demand.

Spend 3 - 4 hours in Thornblade and I guarantee you'll see a few people beg to buy tri-pots.

I get three types of potions for myself for free and I end up with a small profit every week for doing so. Here's the how & what of it all:

1. Tri-Pots (Panacea of Health)
   • Instant and over-time recovery of all three stats. Definitely the most popular of all potions. I buy as many materials as I can below my mark price (see below) and I gather all the waters myself. I won't tell you where because I need those areas to NOT start looking like Cold Harbor.
     
     This particular potion sells for anywhere from 110 - 140 ea. (11k - 14k per stack) via our guild vendor (**** SHAMELESS PLUG **** The Dark Merchant's - usually in Elden Hollow in Grahtwood **** SHAMELESS PLUG **** ).
2. Panacea of Weapon Power
   • These buff Weapon Power, Weapon Crit, and recover stamina. The potions rarely sell for more than 40 - 50g each (4k - 5k per stack) but they're made using three of the more common herbs: Dragonflower, Blessed Thistle, and either Wormwood or Water Hyacinth.
     
     If you farm your materials for Tri-Pots, these are really just icing on the cake, monetarily speaking.
3. Panacea of Spell Power / Spell Crit
   • These buff Spell Power, Spell Crit, and recover magicka. Same as above... these use more common materials like Corn Flower, Lady's Smock, and ... er... one other one.
     Only difference here is that these historically have sold for a little bit more than weapon power pots. I think only because there have been more magicka builds up until recently.
4. Detection Potions
   • These are the hidden gems of spell power potions, in my opinion. I get these for free by crafting them out of all my leftover materials. They give you Spell Crit, Magicka recovery, and +28meters of detection for 10sec. And they end up being free.
     
     For a stamina build, stealthing NB, it's really nice that these potions are throw-away.
5. Weapon Power / Stam / Heal Potions
   • On my last experiment, I found a great little combo for a stamina build here but I have not yet memorized the potion. It's an awesome potion combination and it didn't use any of the tri-pot mats, if I recall correctly. Or maybe it used Mountain Flower... not sure... but that's the most common of the three anyway.
     
     I'll have to do more on this and maybe I'll remember to report back, but this potion has been one that I got a "free" 300-stack of last round out of my "crap" leftover mats.
     
     Only problem with it is that this stupid thing seems to pop me out of stealth when I use it. I should post about that...

Now then, having said all of that, the most important things are:
- Calculate your max value for profit and never buy herbs for more than that value.
I PvP ... A LOT. So I calculate it all out to net myself 50 free Tri-Pots out of every 400 I make. Knowing that they sell for 11-14k per stack, I can calculate my range using these equations:

([pot stack sale price] / 100) = Individual Potion Price. We'll call this "IPP".

IPP * 350 * 0.9 = Overall Profit (or "OP") -- Why the 0.9, you ask? This factors in a buffer for external costs you don't predict - like COD fees, guild vendor fees, etc.

OP / 300 = Individual Herb Price -- because you can make 400 pots from 300 herbs.

To put this in perspective, let's say yesterday I sold Tri-Pot stacks for 11k. 11,000 / 100 = 110each.
110 * 350 = 38,500 * 0.9 = 34,650.
34,650 / 300 = 115.5 (round up to 116).

So, now I know that I can buy Bugloss, Columbine, and Mountain Flower for anything less than 116 per herb and still (a)make a little money and keep 50 pots for myself or (b)make a little more money and keep 25 pots for myself or (c) so on and so forth.

When I do this, I actually try to make sure I post them on the guild vendor for 11,000 PLUS whatever the cost is for posting & the guild cut. I tell people all the time I will pay their CODs because I benefit directly from their gathering work. Similarly, I pass on the posting fees because buyers at guild vendors benefit directly from not having to track me down or wait until I am on to buy their pots.

Now then, you CAN use the same equations for weapon power, spell power, and detect pots but I wouldn't bother. I don't think you should be buying those mats, personally.

From those, you should be able to net at least 3k per stack of weapon power which turns out to about 9.5k per 300 herbs (remember we're talking 9k for 350 potions - you want some, too). Using the math laid out above, I suppose we could buy some extra mats if needed. But I don't. With these, whatever I end up with, I take about 1/4 or 1/8 for myself and sell the rest at about 30g (plus vendor or COD fees) per potion.




We have to account for real-life marketing a little here:
1 - It's better to have product on your vendor at slightly higher prices than it is to have an empty vendor. At least at higher prices, people will learn what you sell and may begin to come back. Even if you break even and walk away without any potions, it's good business to have potions available for sale on a reliable vendor.

2 - Some mats cost more and sometimes they all cost more than you want to pay. Rule #1: Never pass up a columbine, bugloss, or mountain flower (EDIT: **IN THE WILD**). When you do have to buy, columbine may cost you 120, 130, 140, or even 150g. Bugloss, too. Mountain Flower is usually a lot cheaper. But let's work this scenario a bit to show that it's still possible to profit.

I bought 100 columbine and 100 bugloss for 150g each. I then bought 100 Mountain Flower for 110g each.
My total cost for 400 tri-pots is now (200 * 150) + (110 * 100) = 30,000 + 11,000 = 41,000.
Add in 10% for COD costs and / or vendor fees: 41,000 * 1.1 = 45,100.

Assuming I want to keep 50 potions for myself, I will need to sell each potion for: 45,100 / 350 = 128.9g or 129g for vendored pots.
Or... for potions I sell via /zone chat, we leave out the "* 1.1" part: 41,000 / 350 = 117.1g or 118g (always round up because costs should flow one-way only. From the gatherer through to the producer and finally on to the consumer).

We like round numbers, so I will use 130g or 120g each. Thus, I end up with 13k per stack for tri-pots on my vendor or 12k per stack if you buy directly. (EDIT: a tiny note here -- notice that I make more money per potion AND sell at a lower price if I sell directly. (130g per minus the real value of 128.9g per = a profit of 1.1g per potion via vendor. But 120g per minus the real value of 117.1g per = a profit of 2.9g or 290 per stack via /zone chat))

This way, I have not had to farm anything except my waters, I have made some herb gatherers richer, I have made customers happy with their tri-pots, I have stuffed 50 potions in my own pocket, and I've made an overall profit.

Myths to debunk -
** No, I'm not making thounsands of gold per sale AND getting my potions for free. You can actually do one or the other, though. I choose to get potions out of the deal because I use them heavily. Because of that choice, I'm usually only profiting a couple of gold per potion. However, note that I am not losing money and I'm ending up with potions. Assuming the supply of potions (oops) herbs is consistently available, I would be able to scale this to a point of infinite profitability... if it were possible.

** You CAN make TONS more money by farming your own materials. I just got sick of doing it because I'm only on during prime-time hours most often and my only real choices are fighting for mats in Cold Harbor (frustrating) or scouring the landscape for mats at a much slower pace. I choose not to do this as it's not how I want to spend my game time. But it's definitely more profitable on BOTH sides: (a)you make more per potion because you don't pay anything for the materials and (b)you get money and other materials while you're out farming... especially if you get out of Cold Harbor & go to areas that have mobs.