Vendor System & Bartering — The Elder Scrolls VI Guide

Interacting with Vendors

Vendors are found in most settlements, from bustling city markets like the Imperial City Market District to remote outposts such as the Stonewall Inn in the northern wilds. Each vendor specializes in certain types of goods:

• General Goods Merchants: Offer a wide array of items, including basic supplies, crafting materials, and common equipment. Examples include Fargoth's shop in Balsi's Trade Goods in the Imperial City.
• Blacksmiths: Primarily deal in weapons and armor, offering repairs and upgrades. Look for them in larger towns like Skingrad.
• Alchemists: Stock potions, ingredients, and apparatus for potion-making. The Arcane University often has specialized alchemical vendors.
• Enchanters: Sell enchanted items and offer soul-trapping services.
• Innkeepers: While primarily for lodging and information, some may buy or sell minor goods.

To interact with a vendor, approach them and initiate dialogue. A trade window will appear, displaying your inventory and the vendor's wares. You can buy items by dragging them from the vendor's list to your inventory, or sell by dragging items from your inventory to theirs.

Bartering & Persuasion

Your ability to haggle effectively is influenced by your Speechcraft skill and your Disposition with the vendor. A higher Speechcraft skill unlocks more persuasive dialogue options and can lead to better prices.

• Disposition: This is a numerical value representing how much a vendor likes you. You can increase disposition through conversation, giving gifts, or completing quests for them. A higher disposition generally leads to better prices.
• Persuasion Minigame: When attempting to haggle, you may encounter a persuasion minigame. Choose your dialogue options wisely to increase the vendor's disposition and achieve a favorable outcome.
• Vendor Refresh: Most vendors' inventories and gold reserves refresh daily. If you can't get the price you want, return later.

Maximizing Profit & Savings

Smart trading can significantly boost your coin and equip you better.

• Sell High, Buy Low: Always try to sell items to vendors who specialize in them (e.g., sell weapons to blacksmiths). Similarly, look for specialized vendors when buying.
• The Art of the Deal: For valuable items you wish to sell, consider investing a few points into Speechcraft. Even a small increase can shave off a few septims on purchases and add more on sales.
• Quest Rewards: Many quests offer gold or unique items as rewards. Prioritize quests that offer substantial financial benefits.
• Loot Wisely: Don't hoard every item. Regularly clear out less valuable loot to make room for more profitable finds. Items like Daedric artifacts or rare crafting materials fetch high prices.
• The "Fences": For stolen goods, you'll need to find specialized "fences" who operate in the shadows, such as those found in the Thieves Guild. These vendors will buy illicit items, but often at a lower price.