open/close all folders
Live-Action TV
Liv: You did hear the part about the apocalypse, didn't you?
Don E.: Sure did. That's what called leverage. I'd think that preventing the end of the world is worth $25,000.
Liv: I don't have that.
Don E.: Come back when you do.
Don E.: Sure did. That's what called leverage. I'd think that preventing the end of the world is worth $25,000.
Liv: I don't have that.
Don E.: Come back when you do.
Video Games
"It doesn't matter how many times you save the day, a good merchant still won't give you a discount on weapons and armor."
— Talon, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning
Wakka: We gotta pay?! If we lose, you'll die too, buddy!
Rin: I have faith in your victory.
Wakka: Gee, thanks!
Rin: I have faith in your victory.
Wakka: Gee, thanks!
— Aboard the Fahrenheit, Final Fantasy X
"Sorry, Uncle Donald. No family discounts!"
— Huey, Dewie and Louie, Kingdom Hearts
"Hey, big guy! How're you doing? Rowf of the Badge Shop here. Thanks a bunch for shopping at my place. You're a cool customer! To show my gratitude, I'll be waiting for you with all my stock 0% off!" -Rowf
— Letter to Mario, Paper Mario 64
Bestovius: Well, then. As the ancient prophecy fortells... I, Bestovius, will bestow upon you the ancient secrets of dimensional flipping. ...For a nominal fee of 10,000 coins!
(Beat)
Tippi: But that's preposterous! You can't charge to teach the hero of the prophecy!
Bestovius: Why not? Even the great and splendiferous Bestovious has certain... expenditures. Why should the hero get the world delivered to him on a well-garnished platter? These heroes think they can get away with shaking people down for free skills! A mere 10,000 coins should be nothing for a hero of the universe.
(Beat)
Tippi: But that's preposterous! You can't charge to teach the hero of the prophecy!
Bestovius: Why not? Even the great and splendiferous Bestovious has certain... expenditures. Why should the hero get the world delivered to him on a well-garnished platter? These heroes think they can get away with shaking people down for free skills! A mere 10,000 coins should be nothing for a hero of the universe.
— Super Paper Marionote
Vincent: I have been ordered to assist you in your quest. I've brought potions with me, but, well...
Jonathan: Well? What?
Vincent: It's a matter of... economics.
Jonathan: Well? What?
Vincent: It's a matter of... economics.
"You greedy son of a bitch! We're out here trying to protect your sorry ass, and all you can do is think of ways you can rip us off?!"
— Ashley Williams, Mass Effect
"'Course I'm on your side. But I still have to sell the stuff. Just pick what you want, I'll handle the Rubies [sic]."
— Merchant, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
"Sorry, Link. I can't give credit. Come back when you're a little, mmmmm, RICHER."
— Morshu, Link: The Faces of Evil
"Whoa, this isn't a charity, friend! Pay with somethin', will ya?! You'll pay, one way or the other."
"Just so you know, the gold you pay me doesn't line my pockets. Much of it goes to buy the raw metal I need to melt down for weapons and armor. The rest — well, all I can spare — goes to Malah and Qual-Kehk for other supplies."
"You've saved my documents! My accounts! I know exactly who owes me how much!...Don't expect any discounts here though."
— Rilesdorf, Ocean's Heart
Webcomics
Black Mage: Shouldn't I get some kinda discount on these spells? It's in your best interests that I get them, y'know. My use of those spells will stop you from getting killed by a dreadful monster. From outside our reality.
Magic Seller: These are the prices and like a fence or a short hedge, there is nothing you can do to get around that.
Magic Seller: These are the prices and like a fence or a short hedge, there is nothing you can do to get around that.
Shopkeeper: Sword's still 500 gold.
The Chosen One: I'm saving the actual world here!
Shopkeeper: Ooooh, why didn't you say? 500 gold.
The Chosen One: I'm saving the actual world here!
Shopkeeper: Ooooh, why didn't you say? 500 gold.
Web Original
"Even though the city direly needs them to solve its ghost problem, it's still going to charge them. Perhaps most ludicrously, there is an entire store dedicated to selling ghost catching supplies. The world is on the brink of ending, and they are still charging in a business-as-usual fashion...Ghostbusters is the only game I am aware of in which the world can end because you were too poor to buy gas."
"I have never hated a video game character as much as I hate The Tinker right now...NO I DO NOT HAVE 250 BUCKS AND EIGHT KEYS AND I'M OFFENDED BY YOU ASKING."
— George Weidman on Enter the Gungeon (Super Bunnyhop)
"By the end of the game you are renowned everywhere as the Legendary Heroes, every surviving government and authority figure has rallied behind you, the fate of the world is obviously hanging in the balance, and out of nowhere random passers-by give you a pat on the back and heartfelt good luck wishes. However, shopkeepers won't even give you a discount, much less free supplies for the final battle with evil."
— The Grand List of Console Role Playing Game Clichés, "Adam Smith's Revenge"
Worker: I’m sorry, ma’am, but it seems like your credit card isn't working. Would you like to pay in cash?
Customer: What? That’s not possible. Try it again.
Worker: [after trying a few more times] Do you have a different card? This one might just be having problems. Or you could just pay in cash?
Customer: No! I don’t have cash. Just give me the items.
Worker: I can’t do that, ma’am.
Customer: Why not? I need them to stop the world from ending!
Worker: Sorry, I still can’t.
Customer: What sort of a monster are you? If the world ends, you’re to blame!
[the customer storms out]
Customer: What? That’s not possible. Try it again.
Worker: [after trying a few more times] Do you have a different card? This one might just be having problems. Or you could just pay in cash?
Customer: No! I don’t have cash. Just give me the items.
Worker: I can’t do that, ma’am.
Customer: Why not? I need them to stop the world from ending!
Worker: Sorry, I still can’t.
Customer: What sort of a monster are you? If the world ends, you’re to blame!
[the customer storms out]
"Legend of Zelda is an interesting case, along with every other game that has a (group of) destined hero(s) guided by prophesy to save the world. Strictly speaking, if they are the only people in the world capable of stopping the evil overlord from ushering in a A Thousand Years of Darkness then it makes sense to give them everything that is not nailed down or on fire that might be even remotely useful to them.
My own general rule is if the PCs are on a quest to save [large population] from [horrifically bad fate] then they have the leeway to loot n' plunder them thar tombs."
My own general rule is if the PCs are on a quest to save [large population] from [horrifically bad fate] then they have the leeway to loot n' plunder them thar tombs."
— Commenter JayTee
using this trope as justification for tomb robbing
using this trope as justification for tomb robbingBest of all, as the hero of the rebellion, the man who destroyed the Programmer and wielder of one-fifth of godlike power, all of your equipment is now provided for free.
Hahahahahahahaha, just kidding. That never happens.
Hahahahahahahaha, just kidding. That never happens.
"Oops! You can't ride the subway with no pass!" What, are you kidding me? He's Superman! He needs to buy a FUCKING TICKET?! It's like, "Yeah, we know you're trying to save the city, but you still need to pay for your ride."
— The Angry Video Game Nerd on Superman (NES)
Western Animation
Peridot: Didn't we save the Earth? We should have access to everything on it by right!
Lapis: Or at least get a discount.
Pearl: Saving the Earth from Homeworld is its own reward.
Peridot: You know what else would be a reward? A reward! [high-fives Lapis]
Lapis: Or at least get a discount.
Pearl: Saving the Earth from Homeworld is its own reward.
Peridot: You know what else would be a reward? A reward! [high-fives Lapis]
Digit: Tina, Motherboard's future is at stake. Would you please give us the Kappatron for 123 snelfus?
Tina: Can't, the rate for a Kappatron is 250.
Tina: Can't, the rate for a Kappatron is 250.
— Cyberchase, "The Snelfu Snafu, Part 2"
Squidward: Five dollars, please.
Mermaid Man: You got it, bucky. [rummages in his purse and pulls out a metal nut] Will this cover it?
Squidward: No.
Barnacle Boy: Listen, big-nose, that guy's been saving your butt since before you were born! Don't you got a living legend discount or something?
Squidward: This is a restaurant, not a lending library. And who are you calling "big-nose", big-nose?
[the pair stare each other down for a moment before Barnacle Boy retrieves a $5 from under his hat]
Barnacle Boy: Well, next time danger threatens, don't expect any help from us!
Mermaid Man: You got it, bucky. [rummages in his purse and pulls out a metal nut] Will this cover it?
Squidward: No.
Barnacle Boy: Listen, big-nose, that guy's been saving your butt since before you were born! Don't you got a living legend discount or something?
Squidward: This is a restaurant, not a lending library. And who are you calling "big-nose", big-nose?
[the pair stare each other down for a moment before Barnacle Boy retrieves a $5 from under his hat]
Barnacle Boy: Well, next time danger threatens, don't expect any help from us!
— SpongeBob SquarePants, "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy IV"
