Architect Archive
Thread: A question of ethics
Aemen wrote:
Thank you gents, after a few more cups of coffee I'm seeing that I won't be repeating the episode. It is an intresting discussion though.
I understand the arguements, however.. if you are the only one suppling you can charge whatever price you want, at least until demand = supply and equillibrium will dictate the price. An intresting project I may take on some day would be to continue to charge 20k in the early morning and see how much business drops off over a lengh of time.. While not staticital in any way I'd imagine that with game mechanics the way they are (people so addicted to buffs) that there wouldn't be a large drop, perhaps maybe 20 - 30% ah well
Do what you gotta do! lol.
However the other's are right and you'll want to think long term. You're going to need to acquire supplies some day if you ever want to get into the crafting side of your profession, and you will need the hunters of your server. Trust me when I tell you they can gouge the price they charge you for Avian meat MUCH more than you can gouge them with an extra 5k...
DarthMarksman wrote:
vortexala wrote:
The way I see it, really, is if they are willing to pay it then there's no problem. They could've went to Theed to find a doc, or they could've waited around for another Doc to show up. They wanted the buffs right then and decided to pay whatever you asked for.
I don't see it as gouging...just good business *shrug*
I'm going to have to disagree with you. In Business Ethics last semester, they teach you that is what you don't do. Being the only one with an available commodity does justify anabove averageprice for said product.
Not a flame, just an opinion. I think the "they paid it, so there is no issue" attitude is a little too simplistic. I think Doctors that do this will inevitably hurt themselves in the long run, because players have long memories.
Message Edited by Thorkahn on 02-06-2005 08:53 PM
Sunakk wrote:
It would have been unethical had you been the only player that had the ability to gain the skills to buff others. Since anyone and everyone has the ability to become a master doctor, and there were likely other master doctors online, you had no monopoly or majority control. You just took it upon yourself to set up shop and sell your services. That seems ethical to me.
Marrow1 wrote:
Aemen wrote:
Now for the question, is this price gouging? My understanding is that if people are willing to pay the price they are inherently agreeing that the price is reasonable... your thoughts?
You traded short term verses long term gain.
The folks who believe you were out to gauge them will remember you. The next time there are two docs they will go to the other one. The next time they can stick it to you just as you stuck it to them they will.
My advice if you going to be buffing for a while is to figure out what you think is a fair price and just charge that.
Bottom line is that money is easy to make, friends are not.
To be honest, most players don't seem to remember who buffs them. Atleast this is my personal experience in the game.
If you are the only doc in Coronet a saturday morning and you buffs are decent (2500+ for 3h+) and you buff for less then 20k then you are nothing else then a bad bussiness man/woman.
I always try to earn back the money I spend on the buffs during the buff session. If I spend 50k on buffs I will spend around 20-30m to earn the money back doing missions or something. Everyone complains about the bad in game economy. No wonder when me (and the rest of the combat classes) make a fortune hunting and pay a dime for your buffs.
:-)
And yes maybe one doc is charging 50k a buff a saturday morning when no other doc is around, but that doc can afford buffing for 5 or 10k when there are 10 docs around. And I at least won't blame the doc for beeing smart and doing good for he's bussiness. After all whom am I going to sell my wonderfull avian meat to?
Anyways whatever prices you charge for the buffs I think your should continue doing that cause we need you guys. I hope I did not offend someone with my post.
IGN: Lito Esi
Farstar
Fremen_Feyadkin wrote:
Just charge whatever you feel since buffs are nessecary to pretty much any kind of fighting. If only one doc was around and he was charging 100K I wouldnt bother to wait around until another one showed up. Its not like it takes long to get 100K from missions or loot hunting anyway. What I really dont understand is why people complain about the difference between 20K and 10-15K. It takes all of 5 mins to go run2 pikets missions on dant to covera 20K buff and then you still have the other 3 hours to go play.
I would imagine the complaints would come from those not yet having mastered a basic profession. Actually I've been thinking about taking some of my "less than premium" buffs and advertising a secondary price, (say 4K-6K), for those who just want a buff but are also just starting out. Still working on the details of that one. Lately my buffs are 2604 for 3hours 15 mins (which is pretty good for Eclipse) and I've been charging 15K.
The other night I was running through Theed and got a /tell from a player offering me 100K to buff himself and his friend... I took the time out for that one...
Nornerator wrote:
To be honest, most players don't seem to remember who buffs them. Atleast this is my personal experience in the game.
I would have to disagree, at least in my experience. I have lessened the amount of time I have spent buffing in Cnet lately, but almost from the day I started buffing, I have had many repeat customers, and have often loaded in to a stack of tells asking if I am buffing yet. I started selling buffs for 12k per set. Once I saw other doctors offering better quality buffs for less, I lowered the price. As I found better quality buff packs for better prices, and my own skill increased, I was able to offer better buffs for even better prices. Now, when I buff in publlic, I always include disease and poison resists, as well as heal wounds and cure when needed for no additional charge. Especially once I started doing this, I noticed more and more people sending me tells. It would seem to me, that I am not the only one who places the name of a favorite doctor, tailor, or droid engineer on my friend list so I know when I can speak to them directly and get service while I am on.
Just my own observation.
ImpDoc_001 wrote:
Nornerator wrote:
To be honest, most players don't seem to remember who buffs them. Atleast this is my personal experience in the game.
I would have to disagree, at least in my experience. I have lessened the amount of time I have spent buffing in Cnet lately, but almost from the day I started buffing, I have had many repeat customers, and have often loaded in to a stack of tells asking if I am buffing yet. I started selling buffs for 12k per set. Once I saw other doctors offering better quality buffs for less, I lowered the price. As I found better quality buff packs for better prices, and my own skill increased, I was able to offer better buffs for even better prices. Now, when I buff in publlic, I always include disease and poison resists, as well as heal wounds and cure when needed for no additional charge. Especially once I started doing this, I noticed more and more people sending me tells. It would seem to me, that I am not the only one who places the name of a favorite doctor, tailor, or droid engineer on my friend list so I know when I can speak to them directly and get service while I am on.
Just my own observation.
/agree
See my business model above, and it is similar to yours. Just good business sence to me.
SOE could learn a lesson from us on how to treat customers.