Vendor prices seem abnormally high

[Nudist]

So I finally found someone to trade with after several hours of gameplay. All items had a value listed, and when I went to sell it, I was shown putting up half the amount, as I would expect. Throw in a 100g ring, and get 50g value. I noticed a staff that seemed really good for the character I was playing, so I went to buy it. Price was listed as 400g, so I figured I should easily be able to afford it. When I attempted to buy it, however, the value jumped up to 1000g. I understand selling things for 50% of their value, but selling things for 250% of their value definitely doesn't seem accurate to me, particularly for 5E.

Is there something else in play here (e.g. Charisma gets a better deal)? My partner was able to see the same staff for 900g. As it exists presently, the entire party's fund was spent to get one item for one character.

[Veldstadt]

Yeah, I'm not sure how the barter system works either. The markup on value is upwards from 100%

[Boink]

High charisma helps.

I'm sitting here with 10k gold already and nothing to spend it on.

[alanc9]

Charisma does help. But obscene vendor markups are a CRPG tradition, aren't they?

[Yew Nough]

Originally posted by Veldstadt:

Yeah, I'm not sure how the barter system works either. The markup on value is upwards from 100%

Definitely a ripoff, I hope buying/selling certain items at different vendors will give different prices, cause as it stands: Not worth using unless you really want something.

[mayrc]

Maybe try a Charm Person ;)

[ioci]

Companions are not very helpful so far. Not only the bargain was just slightly better, but also you have to dump all items you want to sell into that companion's inventory one by one.

[SamYes]

Try person with ruby in inventory, possibly :) And sell trash for free )

[Bransor]

Vendor is charging more than double what the items are work. That's ridiculous. Yet when I sell a item to the vendor, my items don't even sell close to their value. I only get 1/2 or less the value. Something seems very wrong here. values are flawed and negative towards the player and clearly benefit NPC's.