Edited by Kristy West
Firstly, I would like to point out the Mystery Island Trading Post is an easy source for making neopoints! In my five and some years on Neopets, I have made 90% of my neopoints on the trades.
Following are some tips on how you can become an expert Trade Surfer too!
First and MOST importantly KNOW your prices! You wont make much money offering over the value of the trade. It’s simple, if you are unsure of the value of the lot you want to bid on. LOOK IT UP! I always keep a second page open, set to the Shop Wizard.
Next, do NOT believe what people are saying their items are valued at (refer back to rule #1).
Many times I have seen things like This is worth 600K (K means 1000np), but I will let you have it for just 25K! Bid Fast before it goes!!! They are asking you to bid fast to discourage you from checking the items true value. Again ALWAYS know what you are bidding for. The practice of lying about items values is not only dishonest, but considered scamming. And we ALL know what happens to scammers right?? BRRRRRRRR its coldddddd!!!
Next, if you see a trade saying “Offer 500K on my Pile of Dung and I will give you my account with 6 paintbrushes in it!!!” If they had 6 paintbrushes, they would be right there in the trade lot.
If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is 😉 There is a little button under each trade that reads “Report this lot”. If you see a trade like that, use this button.
Another point I would like to make, and a personal rule for me is, I always bid fairly. There are many n00bs/Newbies out there that have no idea of the items value. If you can pick up their codestone for 200np then that’s great. I just don’t play that way, but that is your own preference.
I aim to make 10-30% on my trade offers. That means if I pay 10K for a lot, I aim to make around 11-13K. Using this method, I am always fairly close to the asking price.
More expensive items can earn you more neopoints. If an item is worth 500K, you might pick it up for 470K. Not too far from the value, so it’s a fair price, yet if you have patience, you can re-sell it for its 500K true value. An easy 30K profit!
My next point is a very simple one. If you type “blah blah blah” into 10 trades, then go to Faerieland you will NOT find 1,000,000np on the ground! You will however, find your account frozen for spamming!!!
My pet hate on trades: People that stretch the trade pages out by typing FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE etc etc.
This makes it REALLY hard to check the rarity of the items, and also to bid on lots, and hit the “next 20″button. Its not a major problem, but please take into consideration fellow Neopetters!
Last but not least, Practice Makes Perfect! The more you trade, the more you learn about item values.
Trades are a great and fun way to make neopoints! Well….what are you waiting for?
Get to the trades!
Happy Neopetting! – dikembe1