Ebay your way to the Burning Crusade beta
by David Nelson 
Oct 13th 2006 at 10:00AM
In the least shocking news of the year, some folks lucky enough to get a Burning Crusade beta invite are selling their beta keys on Ebay. The auctions are most definitely getting bids, and the current going rate seems to be in the neighborhood of $200 or so. While not cheap, it is a little more reasonable than the $300 Murloc pet beta key cards that have been making the rounds for the past year. Of course, by saving $100 you don't get the Murloc pet, which is a bit of a bummer. I am not against anyone trying make an extra buck. Sure, some of the sellers are using the cash to finance their upcoming PS3 or to payoff their bookie, but others might actually use the money to, you know, take care of their families. But at the same time, I don't think Blizzard handed out the keys so people could profit from them.
What do you guys think? Would you buy one? Or is spending $200 to experience a beta that might last only a month a little extravagant?
Filed under: WoW Insider Business, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Karza Oct 13th 2006 10:40AM
i would definetly not buy one. Now that i check the ebay, i sold my bc beta key for too low price (i sold it for 50euros yesterday). I quess some people are simply so anxious about testing the game, i don't blame them. :)
Arras Oct 13th 2006 10:53AM
100, 200, 300 seems a little steep for a beta key and is probably against Blizzard's EULA or at least against the spirit of it.
I'd rather save my money and wait a month
Lambp Oct 13th 2006 11:15AM
The excellent plan!
Psyclerk Oct 13th 2006 11:47AM
I don't think anyone selling a beta key is doing so out the need to provide for their families. I would hope that if someone was in such dire straits, they wouldn't be paying for a WoW subscription to begin with (and thus wouldn't have gotten a beta key).
Lee Oct 13th 2006 11:56AM
A fool and his money are soon parted. Selling your ticket to beta doesn't hurt anyone elses experience (Unlike gold farmers). I say sell away... I'm just not buying it.
meh Oct 13th 2006 12:33PM
Supply and Demand working as intended =)
Someone out there in the millions of subs is probably rich as hell...and the few hundred dollars is pocket change for them.
Tim Engelbart Oct 13th 2006 1:09PM
This is the ultimate proof that shows how fucking spoilt this world is.
Spending $200 on a something that will be useless in 30 days.. :/
LOL Oct 13th 2006 1:19PM
I spend hundreds of dollars on women that are useless after 20 min.
uproaredwhy? Oct 13th 2006 1:30PM
whats with the snive negative reaction to someone elses use of there earned money? Its not your money. They earned it.
People spend money on stupid crap all the time. How many of you parents blow cash on toys your kids hate in 30 min of play? Plenty.
Lance Oct 13th 2006 1:58PM
Not that I see any creative commenting on this post to begin with, but I still feel that it is my duty to respond.
In my opinion, the selling of keys is more the issue than the buying, just as it is with the commerce of gold. To sell a key that Blizzard has given you in order to help them test their product, lends to the idea that there is no particular difference between nooblet-griefer-duelshire-gamer-guy or über-naxx-raid-leader-gamer-guy's abilities to accurately test the game's new content and features. I feel that this is sorely mistaken, and that Blizzard has made better choices on whom should test their wares than someone's pocketbook (or lack thereof) ever could.
Buying the key? Now that's a horse of a different color. To buy a key for an astronomical price (in most people's eyes) after the key is already on the market, is completely at the discretion of the individual, and that discretion should come without persecution. Like #9 stated; it is, after all, their money to spend.
Gamerz22 Oct 17th 2006 11:18AM
There are people, in the Beta which I have access to as well, asking what to do with their extra key, which there ya go, they sell.
Now, I think this could be taken as a TOS abuse, as this would be paying to access ingame resources...
Anyways, gotta love having friends that have beta keys ;) But, to be true, the Beta is cool, but I'd rather just pay $40 for buying the expansion when it comes out, which I see being Late November being the Beta is necessarily incomplete.
ray Oct 14th 2006 1:52AM
I used to play a lot before I quit a few months ago.
But I did go to Blizzcon (sold murky for 325$), and now I'm stuck with a beta key.
So if I can get a couple hundred for it, why not?
I invested almost two years into wow (sold lock for 1500$), and it was fun while it lasted. But now I don't have the time or desire to play, but other people still do.
I remember the feeling wow gave me. It was great. But now I don't want to play. So if someone wants to drop some money on it, then so be it. I could REALLY use the money.
I tried ebay and they keep taking it down. They even have you fill out a survey now before placing an ad (if you had something taken down recently). The trick is to put things up on the weekend.
Anyway, I don't think Blizzard should be so hard on people who are just trying to make a few dollars. But on the other hand, I understand that they have to for legal reasons.
boneyard Oct 14th 2006 6:36AM
blizzard should put extra effort on stopping these auctions, such auctions are so against the purpose of giving out these keys for free so people can help out.
Dan Oct 14th 2006 6:28PM
I don't really see what the big deal is. I know if I had one I would probably sell it.
Like someone said earlier supply and demand at its finest. Besides if you were not going to be using the beta key anyway I don't see how you not playing the beta would help Blizzard test it out.
It seems to me that someone that would pay for a beta key would want to get their money worth and they probably end up playing for many many hours which in turn helps Blizzard test out the expansion which is the whole goal of giving out beta keys anyway.
My 2 cents.
ray Oct 15th 2006 5:50PM
update :
sold my beta key for 235$
thank you ebay
the Giddy Gamer Oct 20th 2006 12:23PM
Since Blizzard chooses to utterly disregard (disrespect) their fansites, and have not provided any beta access to WoW fansite owners, purchasing a beta pass is pretty well mandatory for those of us who don't want to be obsolete overnight when BC is released.
Thanks for the great site!
the Giddy Gamer
www.giddygamer.com
knoptix Oct 25th 2006 3:01AM
Sold my beta key for $1,000 =)
Charles Morel Oct 28th 2006 10:12AM
If your serious about leveling and helping ur guild while being one of the first to hitting the amazing end game content, plus tier 4....u want beta.
1. Beta has been extended to Jan 07, and i don't doubt that it will again be postponed till March07.
2. 3 more months of playing TBC is enough to get a HUGE level leap on anyone else when retail comes out. Remember the 10-20 high levels on ur server in like 2 weeks when retail WoW came out, killing everyone and having the most fun...beta players.
3. If your in a progressing pve guild, when retail comes out...u would know exactly where to go, and what quests to do, to get a huge headstart toward endgame content, flying mounts, and T4.
I say TBC key's are worth it now that beta has been extended till Jan. and maybe even longer, unless of course you're not going to play WoW anymore.
Mark Oct 31st 2006 6:51PM
I'm selling one TBC beta key! tanarus4u@aol.com if interested
Moomilk Jan 2nd 2007 11:27PM
I think that anyone is entitled to spend there money as they want.. Which I also belive that if someone wants something bad enough first to just see how bad ass it is they are going to buy it.. Even if it means only using it for a month or two... I personally would rather just wait until all the bugs are fixed.. So I wouldnt have to wait for them to take down the servers fix it and put them back up...
Just My 2 Cents