The TRUE purpose of Assistants?

Gidorick · April 2016

Something interesting happened the other day when ZOS released the Elven Hero Armor. I saw the price and thought to myself...

"Hmm... 2K crowns for two costumes isn't bad."

Then I realized that the Nord Hero Costume was 2K Crowns and, at the time, I thought that was ridiculously expensive for two costumes. It seems the existence of the 5K Crown Assistants has sort of "devalued" the Crown to me because comparative to the Assistants, the Elven Hero Armor doesn't seem to be a bad deal.

I haven't bought any of these items, and I do not plan to buy any of them because I believe in speaking with my wallet. I just thought it was an interesting development of my perspective.

How about you? Has the existence of the Assistants changed your perspective on the value of the Elven Hero Armor at all or am I just super susceptible?

strikeback1247 · April 2016

Nope, I still think that most costumes are a waste of money :^)

Nestor · April 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

How about you? Has the existence of the Assistants changed your perspective on the value of the Elven Hero Armor at all or am I just supper susceptible?

Basically, I only seriously consider something if it costs 1000 crowns or less. What other things are priced at have no influence on this.

Now, that being said, I did pick up the Glass Motif because every previous TES character wore Glass Armor, and a Guar Mount, because, well, Rollie the Guar still has a special place in my heart. The Glass Motif was purchased with half price Crowns, and the Guar was purchased because I had a bunch of ESO Crowns.

Madness1 · April 2016

Yeah I know what you mean, it's one of the reasons why in some countries using fake currency is illegal. This is why companies like MS stopped using their old MS point systems to be on the safe side. The problem is as of right now the law hasn't quite caught up to digital products like MMOs completely yet.

So no it's not just you, people are psychologically prone to spend more when they don't comprehend the price accurately. It's one of the reasons why tax is not added to price tags in the US, and why companies tend to use their fake currency systems (when and where they can get away with it). It's all to take advantage.

Asherons_Call · April 2016

strikeback1247 wrote: »

Nope, I still think that most costumes are a waste of money :^)

Change that comment to "all" instead of "most" and I'll agree with you. Lol

Jesters and belly dancers running around get on my nerves just a bit. At least it isn't FFXIV where Santa Claus is running around everywhere at christmastime

Nestor · April 2016

Madness1 wrote: »

It's one of the reasons why tax is not added to price tags in the US

The main reason for that is Sales Tax is different all over the place. Heck, I live in small town and I go 1 mile West the Sales Tax is 50% higher, if I go 2 miles South or West, the Tax rate almost doubles because I live in an Unincorporated part of the County. Taxes also can change based on the type of item that is sold, so the only way to really apply a Sales Tax these days is through some POS System that can keep track of these things.

BlackguardBob · April 2016

Try comparing the Elven Hero Costume with the Thieves Guild DLC.

Both have the same price if you don't have an ESO + account.

Do you still think "not bad for 2 costumes" when you compare like for like?

As for the assistants?

Well that does make me fear the cost of future items like player housing and maybe the more (imagined) exotic items in the barber shop.

5k crowns for anything in the Crown Shop may be OTT but this time next year that may be an average deal.

luen79rwb17_ESO · April 2016

I still think 2k is too high for what is delivered. Especially with the look and feel of the hood for this costume.

Madness1 · April 2016

Nestor wrote: »

Madness1 wrote: »

It's one of the reasons why tax is not added to price tags in the US

The main reason for that is Sales Tax is different all over the place. Heck, I live in small town and I go 1 mile West the Sales Tax is 50% higher, if I go 2 miles South or West, the Tax rate almost doubles because I live in an Unincorporated part of the County. Taxes also can change based on the type of item that is sold, so the only way to really apply a Sales Tax these days is through some POS System that can keep track of these things.

As mentioned it's one reason, all I know is from one of my friends I used to go to college with that moved over their (LA I think). They said their store did a trial run in one of the places they worked (on commission) of adding the sales tax to the price tags of all their products and their total sales saw a decrease.

Darkonflare15 · April 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

Something interesting happened the other day when ZOS released the Elven Hero Armor. I saw the price and thought to myself...

"Hmm... 2K crowns for two costumes isn't bad."

Then I realized that the Nord Hero Costume was 2K Crowns and, at the time, I thought that was ridiculously expensive for two costumes. It seems the existence of the 5K Crown Assistants has sort of "devalued" the Crown to me because comparative to the Assistants, the Elven Hero Armor doesn't seem to be a bad deal.

I haven't bought any of these items, and I do not plan to buy any of them because I believe in speaking with my wallet. I just thought it was an interesting development of my perspective.

How about you? Has the existence of the Assistants changed your perspective on the value of the Elven Hero Armor at all or am I just super susceptible?

Not really. I just spend my crowns on what I want. Tbh I do not spend my crowns often so they pile up. So when the hero costumes pop up with the price 2000 crowns it did not bother me because I have plenty to spare and the collector in me want all of the hero costumes thus I get them. I hate buying crowns upfront because I prefer getting crowns over time and saving up so that I could buy something I want hence why I sub. So my perspective never really change since I never really spend much on the crown store but when I do I spend big.

MasterSpatula · April 2016

This is exactly what happened to gasoline prices in America. A couple of years of five bucks a gallon, now suddenly everyone loses their mind at what an amazing deal $3 is!

Or how when JC Penny's decided to stop jacking the price of everything sky-high then having sales all the time. They actually lost money by just having full-time reasonable prices. People value getting a bargain over getting an honest deal.

A lot of marketing is just taking sociology and psychology and applying it very cynically, I'm afraid.

In other words, yeah, it's a very old (and reliable) tactic.

Nestor · April 2016

Madness1 wrote: »

As mentioned it's one reason, all I know is from one of my friends I used to go to college with that moved over their (LA I think). They said their store did a trial run in one of the places they worked (on commission) of adding the sales tax to the price tags of all their products and their total sales saw a decrease.

In a place like that where Sales Tax can approach 10%, I can imagine it would. Especially as people are trained to think that sales tax is always added, so they would expect prices to even be 10% higher at check out, even if the sticker says Tax included. Pricing Psychology is a fascinating science. I sell more on Guild Stores list things at say 299 than I do the same item at 300 (no not undercutting other 300 gold listings).

NewBlacksmurf · April 2016

So I am hard...against the assistants for a 5k price.
I'm hard against costumes of any type for more than 1k crowns.

I did buy the (as someone pointed out to me) its not an Elven Hero cause the hero is "Altmer"...yeah..anyways....

That may be a marketing tactic but it had absolutely no impact on me choosing to buy it.
I didn't buy cause of price or even cause of the lore....I picked it up cause I thought it looked good during the preview.....

later I realized I made a mistake.

See the other thread...
http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/258619/i-love-the-hero-costume-but-one-thing-they-got-to-fix

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/258540/so-whos-planning-on-buying-the-altmer-hero-costume

Autolycus · April 2016

The true purpose:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Gidorick · April 2016

I went to the Crown Store showcase (http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2016/03/30/crown-store-showcase--march-30th-2016) to get the name of the armor, which says "Elven Hero Armor". Does it say something different in-game? (not in a position to check myself)

So you don't think the recent release of the 5K assistants had any impact on your willingness to soften your hard stance on costumes that cost more than 1K crowns @NewBlacksmurf ? What do you attribute to your willingness to pay double what you deemed to be an acceptable ceiling for costume cost?

Volkodav · April 2016

Ya know I used to comment on how high something was priced,or how short a time it was being offered in the crown store.I got my rear handed to me every time.People saying,if you cant afford it,dont play the game.You shouldnt use your money for online stuff,etc.
Glad to see no one here is doing that to anyone commenting.

Van_0S · April 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

Something interesting happened the other day when ZOS released the Elven Hero Armor. I saw the price and thought to myself...

"Hmm... 2K crowns for two costumes isn't bad."

Then I realized that the Nord Hero Costume was 2K Crowns and, at the time, I thought that was ridiculously expensive for two costumes. It seems the existence of the 5K Crown Assistants has sort of "devalued" the Crown to me because comparative to the Assistants, the Elven Hero Armor doesn't seem to be a bad deal.

I haven't bought any of these items, and I do not plan to buy any of them because I believe in speaking with my wallet. I just thought it was an interesting development of my perspective.

How about you? Has the existence of the Assistants changed your perspective on the value of the Elven Hero Armor at all or am I just super susceptible?

My friend, assistant is one thing and an elf/ nord hero costume is another.

I don't see any difference in the price , that is Assistant price = hero costume price.Both have different purposes and use, as well both of them are highly priced and lame.

So,If they add a sexy bunny costume or some sexy clothes then it worth being over priced.

Katahdin · April 2016

Nope, I think both are too expensive

This

Autolycus wrote:

The true purpose:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Volkodav · April 2016

YurtTheSilentChief wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

Something interesting happened the other day when ZOS released the Elven Hero Armor. I saw the price and thought to myself...

"Hmm... 2K crowns for two costumes isn't bad."

Then I realized that the Nord Hero Costume was 2K Crowns and, at the time, I thought that was ridiculously expensive for two costumes. It seems the existence of the 5K Crown Assistants has sort of "devalued" the Crown to me because comparative to the Assistants, the Elven Hero Armor doesn't seem to be a bad deal.

I haven't bought any of these items, and I do not plan to buy any of them because I believe in speaking with my wallet. I just thought it was an interesting development of my perspective.

How about you? Has the existence of the Assistants changed your perspective on the value of the Elven Hero Armor at all or am I just super susceptible?

My friend, assistant is one thing and an elf/ nord hero costume is another.

I don't see any difference in the price , that is Assistant price = hero costume price.Both have different purposes and use, as well both of them are highly priced and lame.

So,If they add a sexy bunny costume or some sexy clothes then it worth being over priced.

Plus,..the Hero costume only costs 2000 crowns,the assistants cost 5000 crowns.There is a whole lot of difference in pricing there.

Van_0S · April 2016

Volkodav wrote: »

YurtTheSilentChief wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

Something interesting happened the other day when ZOS released the Elven Hero Armor. I saw the price and thought to myself...

"Hmm... 2K crowns for two costumes isn't bad."

Then I realized that the Nord Hero Costume was 2K Crowns and, at the time, I thought that was ridiculously expensive for two costumes. It seems the existence of the 5K Crown Assistants has sort of "devalued" the Crown to me because comparative to the Assistants, the Elven Hero Armor doesn't seem to be a bad deal.

I haven't bought any of these items, and I do not plan to buy any of them because I believe in speaking with my wallet. I just thought it was an interesting development of my perspective.

How about you? Has the existence of the Assistants changed your perspective on the value of the Elven Hero Armor at all or am I just super susceptible?

My friend, assistant is one thing and an elf/ nord hero costume is another.

I don't see any difference in the price , that is Assistant price = hero costume price.Both have different purposes and use, as well both of them are highly priced and lame.

So,If they add a sexy bunny costume or some sexy clothes then it worth being over priced.

Plus,..the Hero costume only costs 2000 crowns,the assistants cost 5000 crowns.There is a whole lot of difference in pricing there.

The price is the same due to their purpose and usefulness!!!

For example, you buy an expensive car that performs less than your customisable car.

NewBlacksmurf · April 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

I went to the Crown Store showcase (http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2016/03/30/crown-store-showcase--march-30th-2016) to get the name of the armor, which says "Elven Hero Armor". Does it say something different in-game? (not in a position to check myself)

So you don't think the recent release of the 5K assistants had any impact on your willingness to soften your hard stance on costumes that cost more than 1K crowns @NewBlacksmurf ? What do you attribute to your willingness to pay double what you deemed to be an acceptable ceiling for costume cost?

I'm 100% sure it had no impact.
Why did I buy the new costume....well other than having 20k in crowns left over.....I thought it would look good when I previewed it but soon after, maybe 5 mins, I regretted the purchase

But oh well I still have over 17k in crowns (I bought exp scrolls for the exp cake stacking)

Gidorick · April 2016

@Volkodav demonstrates my point perfectly...

Volkodav wrote: »

Plus,..the Hero costume only costs 2000 crowns,the assistants cost 5000 crowns.There is a whole lot of difference in pricing there.

This is the important word here... ONLY. Did we say "The Nord Costume ONLY costs 2000 Crowns"? No... and THAT is the point I'm making. Will we at some point say the Assistants ONLY costs 5000 Crowns because something has come out that is 8000 Crowns?

Gidorick · April 2016

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

I went to the Crown Store showcase (http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2016/03/30/crown-store-showcase--march-30th-2016) to get the name of the armor, which says "Elven Hero Armor". Does it say something different in-game? (not in a position to check myself)

So you don't think the recent release of the 5K assistants had any impact on your willingness to soften your hard stance on costumes that cost more than 1K crowns @NewBlacksmurf ? What do you attribute to your willingness to pay double what you deemed to be an acceptable ceiling for costume cost?

I'm 100% sure it had no impact.
Why did I buy the new costume....well other than having 20k in crowns left over.....I thought it would look good when I previewed it but soon after, maybe 5 mins, I regretted the purchase

But oh well I still have over 17k in crowns (I bought exp scrolls for the exp cake stacking)

So an abundance of Crowns is the reason @NewBlacksmurf ... I would bet ZOS is pricing items to be Crown Sinks. So that those who are ESO+ subscribers think exactly like you are thinking. "Eh... I have a bunch of crowns... might as well."

Interesting.

NewBlacksmurf · April 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

@Volkodav demonstrates my point perfectly...

Volkodav wrote: »

Plus,..the Hero costume only costs 2000 crowns,the assistants cost 5000 crowns.There is a whole lot of difference in pricing there.

This is the important word here... ONLY. Did we say "The Nord Costume ONLY costs 2000 Crowns"? No... and THAT is the point I'm making. Will we at some point say the Assistants ONLY costs 5000 Crowns because something has come out that is 8000 Crowns?

I think you're trying to pull a meaning out of choosing certain words for an argument towards your point.
You can make that argument but even if it's supported and accepted as logic by everyone, that doesn't make it true.

Whomever desires to pay whatever for crown items is always going to be a case by case decision which may or may not be impacted by other prices. For me....there is nothing in this game I can't afford that if I buy, it would have any detriment to my finances. Now....that doesn't mean....go buy it because for me, I buy based on my personal perception of value. I NEVER buy based on a deal or cheapest price. Either I want it, and I have the money so I buy or I don't want it and I don't buy (in this game).

There are times when I buy something and maybe 2 days later it's on discount, I say....dang I wish I had waited but that's because the value I had on the higher price was O K so definately a lesser price will make sense. Also, when the bag upgrades and crown exp scrolls went on sale, I purchase like 50 of each. To me the huge discount was the right price and IF ZOS recognized that, they would recieve more purchases from someone like me.

It's not always about sales and discounts that drive ppl to buy. Many times it's just that the price and value are so out of line that a clearance sale is the first time customer perceive the item of value to purchase.

I believe that logic is more of what is going on.
Li
Tied time item for X price that some customers have asked for, for over 2 years is perceived waaaaaay different than an assistant that literally only does half of what the community asked them to be created for.

MaxwellC · April 2016

Honestly to me I believe it's a business strategy to get rid of the excess crowns thus making players buy more when future content/crown store items come out. Remember we had that crowns half off day?

NewBlacksmurf · April 2016

Gidorick wrote: »

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

I went to the Crown Store showcase (http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2016/03/30/crown-store-showcase--march-30th-2016) to get the name of the armor, which says "Elven Hero Armor". Does it say something different in-game? (not in a position to check myself)

So you don't think the recent release of the 5K assistants had any impact on your willingness to soften your hard stance on costumes that cost more than 1K crowns @NewBlacksmurf ? What do you attribute to your willingness to pay double what you deemed to be an acceptable ceiling for costume cost?

I'm 100% sure it had no impact.
Why did I buy the new costume....well other than having 20k in crowns left over.....I thought it would look good when I previewed it but soon after, maybe 5 mins, I regretted the purchase

But oh well I still have over 17k in crowns (I bought exp scrolls for the exp cake stacking)

So an abundance of Crowns is the reason @NewBlacksmurf ... I would bet ZOS is pricing items to be Crown Sinks. So that those who are ESO+ subscribers think exactly like you are thinking. "Eh... I have a bunch of crowns... might as well."

Interesting.

No....don't skim read

I was one of those who asked for the costume waaaaaay back.
It finally came out so I'm like YyyEeeeSssss and I previewed it and was like....well it's aight.

Then after I purchased....meh, shoulda passed.
Having an abundance of crowns didn't make me upset about the purchase

Gidorick · April 2016

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

I went to the Crown Store showcase (http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/2016/03/30/crown-store-showcase--march-30th-2016) to get the name of the armor, which says "Elven Hero Armor". Does it say something different in-game? (not in a position to check myself)

So you don't think the recent release of the 5K assistants had any impact on your willingness to soften your hard stance on costumes that cost more than 1K crowns @NewBlacksmurf ? What do you attribute to your willingness to pay double what you deemed to be an acceptable ceiling for costume cost?

I'm 100% sure it had no impact.
Why did I buy the new costume....well other than having 20k in crowns left over.....I thought it would look good when I previewed it but soon after, maybe 5 mins, I regretted the purchase

But oh well I still have over 17k in crowns (I bought exp scrolls for the exp cake stacking)

So an abundance of Crowns is the reason @NewBlacksmurf ... I would bet ZOS is pricing items to be Crown Sinks. So that those who are ESO+ subscribers think exactly like you are thinking. "Eh... I have a bunch of crowns... might as well."

Interesting.

No....don't skim read

I was one of those who asked for the costume waaaaaay back.
It finally came out so I'm like YyyEeeeSssss and I previewed it and was like....well it's aight.

Then after I purchased....meh, shoulda passed.
Having an abundance of crowns didn't make me upset about the purchase

I didn't skim... I was using your previous statement. Perhaps I'm putting focusing too much on the phrase:

NewBlacksmurf wrote: »

I'm hard against costumes of any type for more than 1k crowns.

I was taking that just wanting the costume isn't enough to make you go against your hard stance against costumes of any type being more than 1k crowns... or maybe it is. That's why I asked for clarification. If you have this list of costumes in your head that you're willing to pay more than 1k for then I wouldn't think you'd use the phrasing you used... a hard stance that has a list of exceptions isn't a hard stance. While desire was a contributing factor for you wanting the costume, I didn't think that was what convinced you to pay twice your ceiling.

That's why the abundance of Crowns stood out to me as being the deciding factor.

From what you said, though, I take it that you would have bought crown packs to buy the costume if your Crown purse was empty.

And that's fine... like you said previously, we all have our own motivations for our purchases and we can't apply one person's reasoning to another. That's why I made this thread... to discuss these things.

Like for me, the perceived cost of the costumes went down in, what I feel, a direct response to the 5K assistants. Previously my "wow... that's expensive" ceiling was 3000 Crowns... now it's 5000 crowns.

I do admit that having over 5K crowns myself I have bought some things that I wouldn't have otherwise. Money burns when it's in pocket.

MaxwellCrystal wrote: »

Honestly to me I believe it's a business strategy to get rid of the excess crowns thus making players buy more when future content/crown store items come out. Remember we had that crowns half off day?

This is an interesting thought. I wonder if ZOS ever looks at "Crown purse amounts" when they're pricing items. If there are a LOT of players sitting on a LOT of crowns, maybe they're willing to charge more.

acw37162 · April 2016

Assistant exist to provide convince to players and to make ZOS money.

Once you buy crowns they have your money and could care less what item in the crown store you spend it on.

I bought a bunch of crowns when they went on sale, they are just sitting there burning a hole in my PS4 waiting for the ancient Orc motif to drop and the dro-mathtra Senche mount.

And I still have a bunch just waiting, the only reason I mention that is to make the point I wouldn't pay 5000 crowns for an assistant if you gave me the 5000 crowns which you did because I have been subbed six the game launched on PS4.

The price point on the hero costumes is disgusting.

The price point on the assistants if *** ridiculous. I'll support the game financially because I play the game and have some disposable income but the price of the assistants is insulting.

It's almost more then I paid for your game, twice. And there is no way you can say the lead and developmental time on assurances is 2X the cost of the whole game.

As long as people buy them they don't care about tho.

Oh_Skrivva · April 2016

I never once but crowns. Only have accumulated a large sum from being subbed since launch. Only thing I have bought are costumes that look good or atleast better than bound armor so I can cover up that hideous thing. For some odd reason no costume was able to "cover up" bound armor for my sorc. Apparently my sorc for some reason whilst equipped with a costume would instantly lose it after I enter combat no matter what . Once combat is over I check my costume which supposedly says it's still equipped but is no where to be seen on my character. I have to un equip and equip the item again to make it re appear. So wearing one is kind of pointless if it's gonna disappear anyway. But the optimist in me thought, maybe just maybe a different costume will do the trick. After costume after costume purchased (6-8 I believe. Luckily they are purchased from the gifted crowns from being subbed) failed. I became to doubt I'll ever be able to cover up this abomination of a armor. Til last night. I thought maybe I should try one more costume. My sorc is a altmer. The new costume is the elven hero costume. Maybe just maybe this will be the one. 2k crowns later..... The eso gods have blessed me with the miracle of finally obtaining a costume that did the trick! Yeah 2k crowns is definitely a high price to pay. But if I didn't have those free crowns and knew for sure I can cover bound armor with that costume for my sorc. I would have gladly paid. I am certainly happy with my "purchase" of this item.

DaveMoeDee · April 2016

Costumes seem overpriced to me at 5 crowns. I would buy the banker assistant for 5k before I would buy any costume for 5 crowns. I would also buy the banker at 5k crowns before any mount or before any motif. The banker will be useful for as long as I play the game. It will never get played out.

Tommy1979AtWar · April 2016

MaxwellCrystal wrote: »

Honestly to me I believe it's a business strategy to get rid of the excess crowns thus making players buy more when future content/crown store items come out. Remember we had that crowns half off day?

It's logical, I mean if they give ESO+ members 1500 crowns a month at a cost of £120 GBP per year for basically renting the dlcs then they have to price items way higher than their worth in order to make it both look as though the customer is getting something for nothing and turn a profit from non ESO+ players at the same time, I wouldn't say there's a great deal if anything in the CS that's worth a customer buying on a monthly basis and if subbed long enough they've already bought all they wanted from there so they have to create a crown sink for members who save their monopoly money, over priced items that people have asked for are a perfect way of doing that.

Player housing and barber shop will probably be another way for them to do that, 20,000 crowns for a house, 1000 crowns for a table, 500 crowns for a chair etc etc, people have asked for it so why not, it'll pan out the same way in the forum as it always does with half the community saying "woo hoo awesome ty ty" and the other half shaking their heads and facepalming.