Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a competitive virtual game that remains popular even years after its launch, mainly due to the fair aspects and skill-based properties of the same. One of the attractions of this game is also the variety of skins that come with it. This game and its accessories or collectibles are loved by gaming enthusiasts the world over. Here we take a look at skins, their specialties and how they are traded.
Kinds of Skins
- StatTrak Skins
This is one of the categories that include skins based on StatTrack technology. It helps to track kills done by a player and by what weapon. Kill counter resets after trades are done. Since encounters with such weapons are high scoring, the skins tend to be higher priced. Steam inventory usually includes these as expensive components and are put in orange brackets.
- Souvenir
This is another category of skins that come in packages that are designed for the valve or the majors CS: GO tournaments. These also apply to unobtainable or original stickers. In this category, the most expensive skin is the ‘AWP Dragon Lore’ which also comes with stickers like those sold in Boston Major 2018 event when MVP was priced at $61052.63.
- Pricing as Per Skin Rarity
Prices of CS: GO skins are based on their rarity when you wish to sell CS: GO skin. The usual trading pricing principle applies here, skins that are rare being priced higher. Skins are available in loot stashes and even a key for the same costs money. It opens within a price range of $1 to $250. If we take into account the probability percentage of getting hold of a certain skin as acquiring the same from the stash of skins, the general picture emerges as to how it is valued, also considering that there are certain keys required to open it.
CS: GO Inventory
It is usually maintained in the Steam marketplace. Game owners usually own accounts on this platform and their items are listed down here. Those who have opened an account here now and do not have a list of skins or other items here will have an empty inventory. In order to access inventory one needs to log into their account, hover the mouse over community or current nickname and inventory will be one of the options in the drop-down menu. Once inside the Inventory page, all that one needs to do is their items. If one owns skins and other items they would be shown in the bookmark section of inventory.
Here one can view their skins and access information regarding version, design details, features, and other aspects. For instance, normal skins usually have white borders; gloves and knives have purple borders. Souvenir weapons are another category that comes with yellow borders while StatTrak is orange. The bookmark section allows a player to get a bird’s eye view of their inventory and one can sell copies of ‘AK-47’ or ‘Asiimov’ and know from the border colors the kind of items and how many they have in each category.
When one clicks on an item on display details are showcased on the right. Weapon skins usually belong to a certain class in terms of category and rarity as well as name tag. On the exterior level, skin description tends to be immersive which includes the name of the collection; tags that help identify them and so forth. The inventory also has the newest items which will appear on top. The Items are on the first page in an inventory that are active showcases details of recent trades extending up to 8 days.
Active Trading
There are many trading who are active traders, aware of how CS: GO skin trades would take place. Some are aware of but have not taken part in many transactions. Some might own Steam inventory but have not traded their skins. However, CS: GO skins are easy to sell for cash.
Where to Sell?
Once one is familiar with the pricing it is important to choose a market accordingly. For instance, Steam accounts hold personal data of the account holders and it is important that customers know how to keep their web API key secure of their accounts.
Marketplaces
Skins need to be priced as per average trends as well as the trading prices at which they are available at a certain time. Steam has its own marketplace that is operated by ‘Valve’. Here offers are several and high prices characterize the skins. One can browse through the offers; manually find buyers interested in the kind of skin they are selling. In this way, one can talk through a deal and ensure that both parties get what is being offered.
Third-Party Markets
This is another option for skin traders. There are several private owned marketplaces and these platforms offer the advantage of allowing money to be withdrawn after trades. Unlike Steam one can withdraw their earnings from such trades from these marketplaces. CS: GO skins sold through third-party marketplaces need to be evaluated and traders need to ensure that the parties they choose to transact with are trustworthy to carry out the deals to buy or sell CS: GO skins.
Worth of Skins
Skins are usually worth the price that one pays for them but there are ways to get back the cash fast, depending on the way one has transacted and platforms can be chosen if one wishes to get cash for the skins. There are easy ways to calculate the value of inventory. There are handy online tools that help calculate the inventory value of CS: GO items.
Though it might not be precise or totally accurate, it helps to provide estimates of the values of the different items. In order to have more precise estimates, you need to choose the marketplace where you wish to trade. The ‘Steam Community Market’ is the best place where accurate and trending prices are found. Even trades done at third-party platforms rely on the prices found on Steam. The latter also has useful tools like Steam Analyst which helps to know the prices of the skins.
