r/gtaonline • u/Psychko :Agent_14: • Jan 02 '19
DISCUSSION Special Crate guide
Since it's double $ on crates again, I decided to revisit and rewrite my last post on the matter for anyone who needs some help with this business. Fair warning, this post is looooooooooong...
My Assistant called me about "Something that might interest you. There's some hot product on the market... blah blah blah" - what's this about?
Occasionally while sourcing crates, you'll receive this call from your Assistant regarding a Special Item that's available. Go directly to your office, log into the computer and go to the crate buy screen. You'll notice that in the 1 crate buy block, there will be an item that costs several thousand more than the usual $2k - this is the Special Item. These sell for 5 times their sale price, so they're well worth the expense. Buy the crate, and you'll be given a standard crate mission to complete.
It's worth noting that you cannot sell both your Special Crates and Special Items in one sale. If you're planning on selling your warehouse when full, sell the Special Item beforehand to ensure you have the maximum stockpile bonus.
What happens if the shit hits the fan during my sale?
If the shit does hit the fan and you're attacked, stuff up or a mission is bugged you can find a new session or force quit the game for the loss of only 3 crates at most. Provided you're quick enough and do this before the game records it as a failed sale, all your stock (minus those 1-3 crates) will be returned to your warehouse.
How do I tell if I have a vehicle or loose crates?
Courtesy of /u/Emotional_Masochist
There's a way to tell if you're going to get separate crates or one vehicle, after you get up from the computer from the purchase and you get the banner open your map and check to see if the warehouse that the goods are to be delivered to is visible.
If there's no icon then it is one single vehicle, if the warehouse icon is visible then it's going to be a separate crate mission.
Sourcing Crates
There's a number of different source missions for crates, here's ways to approach each of them. I've also indicated whether the mission uses a vehicle for storing the crates, or if they're loose.
Also the crate vehicle is practically indestructible prior to you jumping in the drivers seat, so don't be afraid to rain down seven kinds of hellfire to take out any NPCs in your way. This does not apply to individual crates on the ground though, they will be destroyed by explosives.
You also cannot pick up crate vehicles using the Cargobob, nor can you destroy the cargo vehicle to drop loose crates like you would with Hangar cargo or Business Battle vehicles. Destroying the vehicle destroys the crates too.
Impounded (vehicle)
This one is fairly straightforward, the cargo has been seized and impounded by the cops and you simply go to the impound lot and steal it back. Apart from the police chasing you, this one is very simple.
Seized while in transit (vehicle)
The cops are being bothersome again, this time they've seized the crate(s) and are transporting it to the impound. You need to intercept the police riot van, hijack it and return to your warehouse. The easiest way to do this is stop and exit your vehicle in front of the police, bringing them to a halt, then you can hijack their vehicle without firing a shot.
Police Sting (vehicle)
These cops just won't give up! This time they're laying in wait for you to collect the crate vehicle, when they'll spring the trap. The giveaway for this mission is the unmarked cars parked in front of your target.
I find it easiest to spring the trap by attacking one of the unmarked police cars and letting them kill me (and losing my wanted level in the process). Then I can steal the crate vehicle without the attaining another wanted level for an easy drive back.
Others prefer to call Lester, but I'm cheap and would also rather keep Lesters service free just in case.
Trackify search (vehicle)
Nefarious thieves have taken your crate vehicle and you've got multiple signals on the Trackify app you need to check to find your gear. Check them all?
There's an easy way. Open the Trackify app and you'll notice that there will be 2 tracking dots immediately visible. Watch closely for a second and a third tracking dot will appear - that's your target. Get yourself over there and steal your shit back.
It goes without saying that an airborne vehicle is a boon for this mission.
You can stop in front of the vehicle (and exit your own) in order to quickly and easily stop and recover your crates without firing a shot. However if you shoot the driver out of the vehicle instead you won't have any gang members in pursuit.
Hijacked with multiple signals (vehicle)
Much like the above, your vehicle has been stolen and there's multiple crate icon targets for you to check until your vehicle is found - but doing it that way is for dummies.
This time, open your map and watch the flashing crate icons. Each few seconds a crate stops flashing, the one that's left flashing on its own is your target - now go and get it!
You can stop in front of the vehicle (and exit your own) in order to quickly and easily stop and recover your crates without firing a shot. However if you shoot the driver out of the vehicle instead you won't have any gang members in pursuit.
Assassinate the target (vehicle)
The seller won't give up the vehicle location until you "do them a favour" and dispose of someone that needs, well, disposing of. You're directed to go to the location of a vantage point from where to snipe your target(s).
Once more, there's an easier way to approach this.
If you're in a vehicle armed with rockets, check the immediate area for targets that you can lock onto, then let loose. The targets will then be identified and you can lay waste to them. If you're without an armed vehicle, you can always go to the vantage point to find where your targets are, then take them out at close range on foot.
Oh, once you start firing the cops turn up (surprise, surprise).
Hijacked in transit (vehicle)
Instead of the cops, some dastardly gang has stolen your precious cargo. Intercept the vehicle, stop it and drive it back to the warehouse with said gang members in pursuit.
As with the equivalent police mission above, you can stop in front of the vehicle (and exit your own) in order to quickly and easily stop and recover your crates without firing a shot. However if you shoot the driver out of the vehicle instead you won't have any gang members in pursuit.
Nasty Hobbitses are guarding your cargo (vehicle)
Once more your crate vehicle has been taken, and it's being guarded by some "nasty people" (this can be with Benson trucks blocking in your target vehicle, or NPC's standing around an assortment of other vehicles). Go there, blow them to pieces and drive your vehicle home with goons in pursuit.
The seller is a little bit paranoid (vehicle)
The seller freaks out and goes to a backup location (why he couldn't tell us this before we arrived at the agreed upon location, we'll never know). Go there instead and drive the vehicle to your warehouse.
Marquis (loose)
We're all at sea with this one. The crates are on a Marquis yacht guarded by goons on two jetskis. Destroy the jetskis first, then the Marquis. Why in that order? If you destroy the Marquis first the crate(s) released can be subsequently destroyed by any explosives used to take out the jetskis.
You'll want a Deluxo or Mk.II Oppressor for this mission, as they're the easiest vehicles to quickly pick up the crates. You can do it with a Buzzard (or any helicopter for that matter), but you'll need to be extra careful to ensure you don't drown your chopper in the process.
Drop Zone (loose)
Go to the target area, drop a flare and wait for the plane to drop the crates. Collect and return to your warehouse, pretty straight forward.
If you start a mission that says "Go to the Drop Zone", but your assistant says something generic, like talking about how the cargo is ready for pickup, then it will be the Merryweather Valkyrie or helicopter theft 100% of the time. credit to /u/Endulos for reminding me of this tip.
Crash Site (loose)
The plane carrying your crates decided it to too hard to drop the crates over the designated zone, so they crash landed instead. The site is guarded by cops who will attack once you're very close. Once you lose them though, they abandon the crash site altogether.
This is one mission where you absolutely do not want to fire rockets at the cops to clear the zone. They're standing near the crates and you'll only end up destroying your own cargo.
Stolen by Merryweather Valkyrie (loose)
This one is a real pain if you don't have armed airborne assets. That canon on the front of the Valkyrie will tear you to shreds...
Destroy the Valkyrie and Merryweather Mercs will parachute out holding the crate(s). Kill them and they'll drop the crates. In a populated session? The Merryweather Mercs and their held crates aren't visible to other players while they're alive, so only kill one at a time to obtain the crate which will then be visible to the whole session.
Stolen by Maverick helicopters (loose)
This time a thieves have taken your crates and are making off with them in Maverick helicopters. Destroy the helicopters to drop the crates. Released crates are visible on the map.
Best to use armed aircraft for this one.
Stolen by thieves on foot (loose)
This time thieves are trying to do a runner on foot with your cargo. Like the Merryweather Mercs above, they and the crates aren't visible to the session until they're killed and their held crate is dropped, so kill and collect one at a time if you're playing solo.
Area Search (loose)
Something's gone wrong! (seeing a pattern here?) Everyone's writhing around on the ground in their death throes and your crates are nowhere to be seen. Search the area to locate the crates and return them to your warehouse.
This is another mission where you do not want to fire rockets at targets, which are right next to your crates. Time to put the boom boom toys away and do this one on foot.
Oh, and gang members will chase you on this one.
Sale Missions
There's only a handful of sale missions, so this one is a shorter read.
How many vehicles are provided depends on how many crates you're selling:
• 1-9 crates: 1 vehicle• 10-29 crates: 1-2 vehicles• 30-111 crates: 1-4 vehicles.
Delivery vehicle upgrades:
You can upgrade your land, sea and air based delivery vehicles, and any upgrades purchased apply across all warehouses you own. How do you buy the upgrades? Look for the workbench located in any of your warehouses -> Workbench visual
Delivery Truck (Brickade)
- Armour Upgrade - $230,000
- Bulletproof Tires - $95,000
Delivery Planes (Cuban 500 and Titan)
- Armour Upgrade - $190,000
- Anti-Air Jammer - $300,000 (requires co-pilot to activate)
Delivery Boat (Tug)
- Armour Upgrade - $265,000
- Speed Upgrade - $170,000
Aircraft: 1 Titan or 1-4 Cuban 800's
This can be 5 or 10 drops, a single delivery or 4 drops with the final revealed after the 4 are completed but these are by far the most prone to being bugged (crates won't drop or will drop and won't register as such). If this happens, find a new session immediately.
You can also have NPC Buzzards or Valkyries guarding some drop zones (or if you're lucky, none at all) which will shred your Titan in short order if you don't have help.
If you're playing solo, there's a Buzzard parked near your Titan. Jump in the Titan to reveal the drop zones, then transfer to the Buzzard to scout out and deal with any enemies at the drops. Now return to the Titan to complete the delivery proper.
The single delivery usually has NPCs ready to attack you where you're to land the vehicle, so land well short and either sniper them or call in an armed vehicle to dispose of them first.
Tug Boat
This is by far my favourite. A single tug and only a few minutes to deliver the goods to a single drop off location.
You might have NPCs to kill where your Tug is located, along with a couple of goons on jetskis chasing you or occasionally a helicopter with armed passengers but these are rarely an issue.
You're the most vulnerable to other players, so if selling in a populated session, I use Off Radar to get to the Tug Boat, then Ghost Organisation just before I take the helm to start the delivery.
Brickade
This also comes in a variety of mission types. It can be single drop, 5 drop or locate the drop area via Trackify. If you get the Trackify delivery, jump into an airborne vehicle to locate the drop, then return to complete the delivery.
The only real concern here is getting the Brickade stuck on an object, which will destroy the vehicle in short order. If this happens and you have a Up n Atomiser, use it to push the Brickade off immediately, otherwise find a new session to save your sale.
You might have NPCs attacking you during the delivery, police may be notified of your intentions or you might have to protect the your cargo upon delivery from a few waves of NPCs, but it's nothing too demanding.
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u/Endulos PC Jan 02 '19
Drop Zone (loose)
Go to the target area, drop a flare and wait for the plane to drop the crates. Collect and return to your warehouse, pretty straight forward.
You're gonna want to add a caveat to that one.
If you start a mission that says "Go to the Drop Zone", but your assistant says something generic, like talking about how the cargo is ready for pickup, then it will be the Merryweather Valkyrie or helicopter theft 100% of the time.
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u/Psychko :Agent_14: Jan 02 '19
I knew I forgot something with that one, cheers for the reminder. Added in with credit.
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u/Endulos PC Jan 02 '19
I feel bad for nit picking lol
Hijacked with multiple signals (vehicle)
Trackify search (vehicle)
Hijacked in transit (vehicle)
Just to note, that all of these you can use the "shoot the driver out of the vehicle" method.
However if you shoot the driver out of the vehicle instead you won't have any gang members in pursuit.
However just to note, that you have to do it unnoticed. Like snipe him from a distance away. If you outright shoot the driver, it'll cause them to spawn anyway.
Likewise, it's not a sure thing. They might show up anyway.
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u/Psychko :Agent_14: Jan 02 '19 edited Jan 03 '19
Don't be, I'd rather have people point out information I've errantly omitted.
However just to note, that you have to do it unnoticed.
I haven't been finding that this is the case while I've been sourcing this week. I'm not sure if it's changed or if I've just been unusually lucky.
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u/Emotional_Masochist Sputnikcode / Paleto Bay Bakery Jan 02 '19
There's a way to tell if you're going to get separate crates or one vehicle, after you get up from the computer from the purchase and you get the banner open your map and check to see if the warehouse that the goods are to be delivered to is visible.
If there's no icon then it is one single vehicle, if the warehouse icon is visible then it's going to be a separate crate mission.
I found this one to be really useful because generally I have my favorite motorcycle and a pegasus buzzard sitting outside my office so I can see which one I'm going to need to use before I even leave the office.
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u/grenade71822 Jan 02 '19
Also, if you have completed Act 3 of doomsday, you can lose the cops for free. There is no telling how much money I have saved doing that.
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u/BigCam22 Jan 02 '19
I thought I knew all there was about crate selling and I'll give it to myself, I was aware of most, but you did shed light on a few things I did not know.
A super helpful post great for new players or those who only do crates during double money and tend to forget.
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u/Hughjarse Jan 04 '19
Why was this post removed? it was very helpful.
/u/Psychko did they say why?
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u/Psychko :Agent_14: Jan 04 '19
No idea, I haven't had any correspondence with the mods regarding it. Perhaps a few people reported it and it's been flagged by the automod?
Cheers for the heads up, I'll message the mods and see if I can get it reinstated.
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u/TheRealMrNinja PC Jan 02 '19
Does anyone have insight into the " transaction failed because inventory or price data is invalid " error when sourcing crates? I've gone as far as to reinstall the game yet I cannot buy any. I've seen this error when sourcing vehicles but not with this.
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Apr 28 '19
how often do the rare special crate missions trigger?
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u/Psychko :Agent_14: Apr 28 '19
They're entirely random.
I've half filled my 2 large warehouses and haven't had a call yet, other times I've had 3 special items while filling them. It just comes down to luck.
You'll only receive the call if you're doing crates at the time (or have recently). I've had one player advise me that you're assistant can call while you're doing I/E, but I'm yet to experience that myself.
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u/Dravarden Jan 02 '19
you forgot to source the special crate trough the terrorbyte because it gives you 3, unless that was fixed
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u/Viasu Jan 02 '19
I already did so much special cargo mission this week that I lost the count. Stl, I was able do learn something thank to you. Have my upvote kind sir.
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Jan 02 '19
i've noticed that even if i switch session instantly my crates disappear(
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u/Psychko :Agent_14: Jan 02 '19
Try force closing the game instead. You also have to switch sessions before the game classes the delivery as failed. If you crash a delivery planne for example, force closing would be a better option.
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u/Toboe_Irbis Jan 02 '19
also to speed things up:
park terrorbyte next to 1 of your WH (almost on drop zone). When flying with single crates on op mk2, after last crate sourced enter op mk2 and enter tb with it. If you have car delivery - call another car - op mk2 will wait for you in terrorbyte.
After choosing mission it TB wait a bit for call. Answear it and disconnect phone fast. Then enter op mk2 and you leave terrorbyte fast. If you enter op mk2 when you are on phone - leaving tb is slower.
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u/ntc1995 Jan 02 '19 edited Jan 02 '19
I immediately find new session when I encounter aircraft sales mission. It’s too much risk and plus my flying is not great. You only lose one crate if you back out but if you accidentally slam the aircraft into whatever terrain, you will surely lose all of your crates. Not worth it imo
Edit: I forgot to thank you for making such an informative post, very useful and there are so many things I didnt know until you mentioned it. Like how you let them cops kill you instead of calling Lester.