History Main / NoHeroDiscount

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'' zig-zags this trope. If you perform enough heroic acts and get your [[KarmaMeter reputation]] high enough, shop prices start going down (to a maximum of 50% at 20 reputation) as the shopkeepers realize you're probably going to use the ludicrously expensive items for a good purpose (on the opposite side, being evil makes store prices higher). You still sell items for less than a fraction of what they're being sold for, and nobody ever just ''gives'' you items no matter your need. This creates a few plots holes, such as Drow (evil underground elf) merchants giving you lower prices based on your heroic deeds on the surface, as well as having to buy items from a priest in an elven city you're currently saving from an EvilSorcerer.

* Princess Peach can't even catch a break from ''her own subjects''. In ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'', Toad is pretty annoyed if she asks for something in his shop and doesn't have enough Coins, and the worst part is, this game has an AdamSmithHatesYourGuts rule in regards to Vibe Tea and Tough Coffee. (Sure, the Mushroom Kingdom is in it's DarkestHour with both Mario ''and'' Luigi being held hostage, but the guy can't fudge the rules for the Princess, right?) [[spoiler:(Although Peach ''can'' get infinite coins if you know the "trick".)]]

* ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition'' averts and actually justifies this. When Francis York Morgan recovers [[NiceGuy Keith Ingram's]] prize gutiar (itself an InfinityPlusOneSword, [[NotMakingItUpDisclaimer seriously]]), he gives York a Gold Membership card to the store he owns, which gives nets its owners a permanent 50% off discount at his store. As Keith himself explains, he's now selling you the items as ''zero profit'', meaning that you're paying wholesale cost; charging York any less would see Keith actually ''losing'' money, which - considering that Keith and the other townsfolk [[WrongGenreSavvy are not aware they're in a]] CosmicHorrorStory, is insanely generous.

*** From the game's Web site:

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': In "Spin the Bottle", Connor saves a prostitute from a vampire and she offers to have sex with him to thank him. He gets turned off when she demands he pay her for it. When he points out that he just saved her life, she is unmoved, so he leaves.

* ''TabletopGame/RogueTrader'' averts it, hard. The question isn't "Can we afford that gear?" It's more like, "Can we equip those ten thousand soldiers with that gear?" The answer is usually, "Take it out of petty cash."

* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': In the ''Pyramid'' article ''Supporting Cast: A Nation of Shopkeepers'', one of the sample characters is Quentin Quinn, a TravelingSalesman for a WeirdWest setting, whose Serendipity advantage means he always has ''exactly'' what the [=PCs=] need ... but will expect them to pay for it, regardless of the circumstances. In the accompanying scenario, the train ''he's actually riding on'' is being attacked by werewolves, and he ''still'' insists that, since someone's paid in advance for the silver bullets he's carrying, he can't let the [=PC=]s have them, even temporarily.

* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': In the ''Pyramid'' article ''Supporting Cast: A Nation of Shopkeepers'', one of the sample characters is Quentin Quinn, a TravelingSalesman for a Weird West setting, whose Serendipity advantage means he always has ''exactly'' what the [=PCs=] need ... but will expect them to pay for it, regardless of the circumstances. In the accompanying scenario, the train ''he's actually riding on'' is being attacked by werewolves, and he ''still'' insists that, since someone's paid in advance for the silver bullets he's carrying, he can't let the [=PC=]s have them, even temporarily.

* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': In the ''Pyramid'' article ''Supporting Cast: A Nation of Shopkeepers'', one of the sample characters is Quentin Quinn, a TravellingSalesman for a Weird West setting, whose Serendipity advantage means he always has ''exactly'' what the [=PCs=] need ... but will expect them to pay for it, regardless of the circumstances. In the accompanying scenario, the train ''he's actually riding on'' is being attacked by werewolves, and he ''still'' insists that, since someone's paid in advance for the silver bullets he's carrying, he can't let the [=PC=]s have them, even temporarily.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'': Averted for once with Lurelin Village. The town has been leveled by pirates by the time you come across it. Once you've defeated the pirates and helped rebuild the village, the inhabitants ''do'' give you stuff for free in thanks.

Happens especially in web-based Flash Games: You may be the chosen one, they may plead with you to save their village/island/country/''world'' from destruction, but unless you rustle up an incredible amount of money (from behind the InsurmountableWaistHeightFence maybe?), you'll never get the best armor and weapons that you would need to do it with.[[note]] Then again, since [[TheChosenOne Chosen Ones]] are likely to have some repute, [[FridgeBrilliance wouldn't it make some degree of sense to advertise that the equivalent to a celebrity shops at your store?]] [[/note]]

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'': Justified in regard to Purah and Robbie, the two Sheikah scientists who give you upgrades and items based on ancient {{Magitek}}. They'd ''like'' to give that stuff away, but the [[AfterTheEnd collapse of the central government of Hyrule in the Great Calamity a hundred years ago]] cut them off from the regular funds and resources they once had for their research, so Link must fork over rupees and Ancient parts for their services.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/SlimeForestAdventure'', but in an unusual way. You're ''not'' a hero, you're a local farmer. You don't actually become a "hero" until after you've [[SaveThePrincess Saved the Princess]] (and even then, you only become a member of the royal guard rather than a famous hero).
** At the same time, the king {{invert|edTrope}}s this. If you bring him some evidence that you've actually got a shot at saving the princess, he'll just ''give'' you an axe to replace the [[ImprobableWeaponUser hoe]] you've been using.
* Zigzagged in ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'': Sheldon will not give you a discount just because you're saving and[=/=]or have saved the city; however, he does let you borrow all of the weapons you need and even gives you non-tournament-legal versions that are more powerful than the ones in the multiplayer.

** Justified in that he honestly doesn't care that Spyro is saving the world. He just wants the gems that Spyro's been getting.
* Lampshaded toward the end of ''Videogame/StarOceanTheLastHope''. The Morphus, an ancient and advanced race of galactic guardians, have recognized you as a group of remarkably powerful heroes, and have made you the spearhead in their strategy to prevent the destruction of the entire universe. However, if you approach their own weapons-vendor, he will curtly inform you that "Despite the impending end of the universe, we unfortunately cannot offer you a discount..." But actually it's averted -- you ''can'' get a 10% discount in this and every other store, if you help the owner with a few {{Fetch Quest}}s.
** You can find or [[ItemCrafting craft]] several vending machines for your ship. Yes, you still have to pay full price for the items even when you own the "shop."
** Also {{lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''[[VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory Star Ocean: Second Evolution]]'' by an NPC mercenary at the Lacuer Frontline Base, who's planning to steal the equipment he needs to fight the monster army invading the country.

* Inverted in the ''[[Anime/TimeBokan Time Bokan Royal Revival OVA]]'' where the [[{{Franchise/Gatchaman}} Gatchaman]] team walks into a noodle shop owned by [[{{Anime/Yatterman}} Boyacky]], make an order, eat it, and then not pay. When Boyacky asks for 380 yen(about 3 bucks), they just stare at him, while slurping up the last noodle, and walk out. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiKbQofZEFc Superheroes never pay!]]