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WoW Auction House Guide: Buying, Selling, Deposits, and Commodities
At an Auction House, search the exact item and compare unit price before buying. Commodities such as herbs, gems, and consumables are region-wide and the interface fulfills the cheapest units first; most non-commodity ge
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Quick Answer
At an Auction House, search the exact item and compare unit price before buying. Commodities such as herbs, gems, and consumables are region-wide and the interface fulfills the cheapest units first; most non-commodity gear remains realm-specific. When selling, set quantity, unit price or buyout, and duration, then check the deposit because expired auctions return the item but generally not the deposit.
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WoW Auction House Guide: Buying, Selling, Deposits, and Commodities
Quick Answer
At an Auction House, search the exact item and compare unit price before buying. Commodities such as herbs, gems, and consumables are region-wide and the interface fulfills the cheapest units first; most non-commodity gear remains realm-specific. When selling, set quantity, unit price or buyout, and duration, then check the deposit because expired auctions return the item but generally not the deposit.
Last Verified: 2026-09-06
Version Scope: Retail World of Warcraft: Midnight / Patch 12.1; evergreen systems
Key Takeaways
- Commodity buyers choose quantity rather than one seller's fixed stack.
- Region-wide commodity supply is separate from realm-specific equipment listings.
- The lowest commodity unit prices are filled first.
- Deposit, duration, and sale cut should be considered before posting low-margin items.
Main Answer
At an Auction House, search the exact item and compare unit price before buying. Commodities such as herbs, gems, and consumables are region-wide and the interface fulfills the cheapest units first; most non-commodity gear remains realm-specific. When selling, set quantity, unit price or buyout, and duration, then check the deposit because expired auctions return the item but generally not the deposit.
| Topic | Verified answer |
|---|---|
| Commodities | Region-wide listings for stackable materials and consumables |
| Equipment | Most non-commodity items remain realm-specific |
| Buyer view | Unit price and total price shown before purchase |
| Seller choice | Quantity, price, and duration |
| Expired listing | Item returns; deposit is generally lost |
Step-by-Step
- Search the exact item and verify rank, quality, quantity, and expansion version.
- For commodities, enter the required quantity and inspect unit plus total price.
- For gear, compare item level, stats, appearance, and realm-specific buyout.
- When selling, inspect current supply and avoid copying a suspiciously tiny undercut without checking quantity.
- Choose a duration whose deposit makes sense for the expected sale speed.
Common Mistakes
- Buying an old-expansion item with the same base name.
- Comparing stack totals instead of commodity unit price.
- Posting a low-value item when repeated deposits can exceed likely profit.
Troubleshooting
Why did the displayed commodity price change?
Another buyer may have consumed the cheapest units before confirmation; reread the final total.
Why is my gear price different on another realm?
Non-commodity armor and weapons generally retain realm-specific markets.
FAQ
Are all Auction Houses connected?
Faction Auction Houses are unified; commodities are region-wide while most non-commodities remain realm-specific.
Can the Companion App sell auctions?
Blizzard's documented mobile feature set supports browsing, buying, favorites, viewing, and canceling; listing sales was excluded from that release scope.
Version Scope
Verified on 2026-09-06 for Retail World of Warcraft: Midnight / Patch 12.1; evergreen systems. Volatile prices, tuning, item levels, seasonal rewards, and live service availability must be checked against the current official interface or notes.
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Sources
Requirements
- Use the version scope named in this guide
- Confirm the named prerequisite or interface state
Steps
- 1
Step 1
Search the exact item and verify rank, quality, quantity, and expansion version.
- 2
Step 2
For commodities, enter the required quantity and inspect unit plus total price.
- 3
Step 3
For gear, compare item level, stats, appearance, and realm-specific buyout.
- 4
Step 4
When selling, inspect current supply and avoid copying a suspiciously tiny undercut without checking quantity.
- 5
Step 5
Choose a duration whose deposit makes sense for the expected sale speed.
Common Mistakes
- Buying an old-expansion item with the same base name.
- Comparing stack totals instead of commodity unit price.
- Posting a low-value item when repeated deposits can exceed likely profit.
How this answer was checked
Sources & Verification
- Blizzard modern Auction House previewofficial
- Blizzard region-wide commodities updatepatch notes
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