Request: Add Vendor buy prices to API call
Ruben.5610:
I apologize in advance if this has already been asked, but for me the “Search this forum…” option does not seem to work (even if i search for “API” it returns 0 hits).
Facts:
- The “Items” API has an entry for “vendor_value” (The value in coins when selling to a vendor.).
- Some materials can/must be bought from vendors for either coin or karma (e.g. cooking supplies like 10 Packet of Salt for 80c or 10 Spool[s] of Wool Thread for 160c for other crafting professions).
Request:
I would like to see this information (vendor_buy_price, bought_ammount and buy_type (coin / karma)) added to the “Items” API.
Lawton Campbell.8517:
This is something I’ve looked into previously, and it’s unfortunately not technically feasible to expose via the API. The problem basically boils down to two big issues:
- It’s not possible to determine which vendors are player-accessible. There are some test vendors that you’ll never see which sell things for fairly cheap prices, and no good way to tell them apart from player-accessible vendors.
- Vendor prices are per-vendor, not per-item: different vendors may have different prices for the same item. An example of this are the Dry Top vendors, whose wares are sold for a conditional amount.
Sorry 
Ruben.5610:
Whoa, thanks for the quick response
After i had posted this request i had gone to bed and when i woke up this morning, i realised how narrow minded my request was (i had only started looking in using these API’s yesterday to work out how to call them and i only worked on 1 specific idea).
My new idea might actually work around the issues you mentioned. I would like a Vendor API.
Possible fields would be:
- VendorID (int)
- Name (string)
- VendorType (optional string => e.g. Heart Vendor, Festival Vendor, etc.)
- Map (string)
- Zone (string)
- Items (object array)
- ItemID (int)
- PriceRange (int array => 2 values, highest value first then lowest/same value)
- PriceType (string => coin or karma)
One call to get VendorIDs and one call to get Vendor information. Perhaps even an option to not only be able to search for vendorID, but also for ItemID!?
I admit this will not help with the first issue (the test vendors), i will not ask where they are located or what they are actually selling, but maybe one of those 2 answers may be a reason to recognize them as actual test vendors.
As for the second issue, it should not be an issue anymore.
Lawton Campbell.8517:
I admit this will not help with the first issue (the test vendors), i will not ask where they are located or what they are actually selling, but maybe one of those 2 answers may be a reason to recognize them as actual test vendors.
As for the second issue, it should not be an issue anymore.
A better example was the skritt vendor that displayed the halloween skins available for the wrapping paper raffle. He’s no longer player-accessible, but there’s not a good way (AFAIK) to programatically determine that. Another interesting vendor is the one available with the Tarrktun Personal Delivery Portal which is player-accessible, but not via NPC (when you use the portal there are bulk quantities unavailable from the NPC vendor).
Anyway, it’s really tricky to get right, and because of that it’s a few notches lower priority in my backlog. Also noticed there wasn’t an existing issue for it, so here’s a tracking issue. Can’t promise it’ll get implemented anytime soon, but it’s on the list.
Ruben.5610:
IF, in general, all the vendors that are not player accessible, sell stuff like those 2 you mentioned (skins / special items), i dont see it as a problem. (Yes, it will be annoying they are also in the output, but not a big problem.)
Like the other links that are in the tracking issue, i am mainly interested in getting information on crafting related items (both for crafting stations and, if possible, for the mystic forge).
I think if the API only contained the “Master <profession>” NPC’s and the Heart NPC’s (for cooking items and collection items), we would have a great start (this would leave out Mystic Forge related items, but for now i would be able to “live” with that 
But, since you mentioned there is a backlog, in combination with the formentioned issues, i can imagine this is not a high priority. Still, i am glad it is on the list…
When i get around to it, i will probably create a JSON file with “Master <profession>” items (without locations and such)… Keep up the good work 
DarkMagister.7429:
I’ve asked for this once, and the thing that surprises me more is that there is no user-created list of vendors, like that Mystic Forge list At least I’ve found none at that time.
Sariel V.7024:
I made one per-skin (let me tell you, that was a fun month of wandering Tyria); it’s what got me in to API walking. It only lists the cheapest though. It hasn’t been properly updated for HoT as yet.
DarkMagister.7429:
And I’d be happy to find a list of all material vendors, such as Chef and the like.
Mystic.5934:
I’ve asked for this once, and the thing that surprises me more is that there is no user-created list of vendors, like that Mystic Forge list
you must of missed mine
http://gw2profits.com/json/v3?disciplines=Merchant
hmmm, if you missed mine, what ‘Mystic Forge list’ are you referring to? would love to add theirs to mine.
not 100% complete (I didn’t include most temporary merchants or random weapon skins from karma vendors, for example), but I did include all the usual things you might expect such as food and things needed for other recipes. let me know if there are any you want added.
I also have other recipes (mystic forge, double-click, salvage, charge, achievement): http://www.gw2profits.com/json
DarkMagister.7429:
Oh, many thanks! It was not hard to miss it, since the forum search is dead and 6 ft under.
I actually meant your Mystic Forge recipes list I’ve been taking it from the forum topic here, so haven’t seen that page with other lists on your page.
Mystic.5934:
yeah, I keep changing it and adding things. that’s why I direct people to http://www.gw2profits.com/json so they know what the latest version is and all of the options.
it’s handy that’s the list you were talking about, cause I know that guy, and I already have all the recipes he does