The Traveling Merchant is one of Stardew Valley’s most iconic characters. Indeed, as the proprietor of the traveling cart, the Traveling Merchant is definitely an interesting individual with a very unique range of stock for players to peruse. However, not all of her stock is necessarily a good deal, and as a result, it’s important to consider carefully whether using the traveling cart will necessarily be a good option for your needs.
Who is the Traveling Merchant in Stardew Valley?
The Traveling Merchant in Stardew Valley is a green-haired character and the owner of the Traveling Cart, a temporary shop that visits Pelican Town twice a week: on Fridays and Saturdays. The cart is pulled by a spectacle-wearing pink pig named Fez and allows players to buy a wide range of items (at fluctuating prices).
Where Can I Find the Stardew Traveling Cart?
The traveling cart can be found to the North of the Cindersnap Forest, just above the lake. Notably, it is open for much longer than Pierre’s shop on the days that it is present, from 6 AM to 8 PM. It is worth noting that the Traveling Cart will also be present during the Night Market (from 5 PM to 2 AM) and the Desert Festival (from 12 PM to 2 AM).
What Does the Traveling Merchant in Stardew Sell?
Unlike most of the shops in Pelican Town, which sell a set array of products, the Traveling Merchant actually has a rotating list of Stardew Valley stock. As such, there are potentially hundreds of different items that could be available at any one time.
The Traveling Merchant’s stock changes each time she visits, and different items may have different rarities or conditions attached to their sale. For example, perhaps the hardest item to find is the Tea Set decoration, which sells for a whopping one million G and only has a 5% chance of appearing from Year 25 onwards. That’s a long time to go without a hot brew!
With that being said, the Traveling Merchant’s stock covers almost every category of item in the game. Some of the different items she can sell include:
- Cooked dishes
- Crops
- Foraged items
- Seeds
- Fertilizer
- Animal products
- Artisan produce
- Bait
- Monster loot
- Resources and materials
- Crafting materials
- Syrups
- Furniture
- Spouse portraits
Given the list above, the main benefit of buying from Stardew’s traveling cart becomes relatively obvious: almost anything can be available. However, crops and forage (etc) are all of a standard quality only, so you won’t be able to
find star grade items at the Traveling Cart.
If you’re playing in multiplayer mode, you’ll also be able to purchase a Wedding Ring recipe from the Traveling Cart. This is only available in Multiplayer and offers the chance for players to marry one another. But don’t let your romantic proposal get ruined by lag and latency; make sure you’ve started with a 24/7 uptime server, such as our premium Stardew Server solutions here at ScalaCube.
Why are the Traveling Cart’s Prices so High?
Whereas the other shops in Stardew Valley have a set price list, the price of items in the Traveling Cart can vary massively. This can sometimes make prices incredibly high compared to the value of the item. A prime example of this is bait, which players can buy at the Fish Shop for 5G (once they hit fishing level 2) or at the Traveling Cart for anywhere between 100G and 1000G.
Is it Worth Buying From the Stardew Valley Traveling Cart?
With the aforementioned price hikes in mind, you may be wondering: is it worth buying items from the Traveling Merchant in Stardew? Well, for the most part, no—but there are a few specific situations in which it could be worth it.
You need a specific item for a quest: If an NPC has posted a request, you may be lucky enough to find the item in the Traveling Cart.
You need something out of season for the Community Center. Completing the Community Center requires a lot of planning, and if you don’t plan properly, you could end up waiting years to finish it. Luckily, it’s possible to find Community Center items in the Traveling Cart, which could help you finish the Community Center bundles more quickly.
You’ve found a bargain! While the Traveling Cart’s prices can be high, this isn’t always the case. In fact, it is possible to find items in the traveling cart for better prices than other stores. For example, Apricot Saplings cost 2000G at Pierre’s, but you can occasionally find them as low as 1,500G at the Traveling Cart. This isn’t true for every item, though.
Other shops are closed. If other shops are closed (such as Pierre’s or the Fish Shop), the Traveling Wagon might still be open. This is because it stays open until 8 PM at night, meaning that there may be items available even when other options are off the table.
FAQs
Red cabbage seeds are not guaranteed in the Traveling Cart / Wagon as standard. However, if you have created a save file using advanced options and enabled the "Guarantee Year 1 Completable" option, these will be available at least one.
The Traveling Merchant shows up between 6 AM and 8 PM on Fridays and Sundays. She also appears during the Night Market and Desert Festival.
Many people assume that the traveling cart prices are a rip off, but this isn’t entirely true. While some items are way overpriced, it is occasionally possible to get a bargain on certain items. Since many items are also exclusive or available out of season, this further makes the prices more worthwhile (in some cases).
Final Thoughts
The Traveling Merchant in Stardew is an incredibly eclectic character, and her unique collection of items can sometimes prove to be a lifesaver. However, it’s important to keep in mind that she’s out traveling with her cart for most of the week, and as such, she only visits Pelican Town on Fridays and Sundays. So, it’s well worth paying her a visit each time she’s around, just to see what she’s got in stock.