Architect Archive

I would like to hold an open discussion about standardizing pricing for architects.

I am a novice architect now, and I dont really know what to charge.

I sold a "small corellia house" for 10k, that seemed to be the going price, however,

That house cost me FAR more than that to build, because until last night I had not started mining my own resources, and the ore alone probably cost me that 10k.

So what should I charge? It seems fair to do it per resource, maybe 5 per resource because almost every resource costs 3-4 per on the market, and its not cheeper by much to mine your own, and shouldnt you get something for your trouble?

Maybe someone could make a website, that standardizes item costs across the board, with even a javascript item calculator to tell you what to charge based on resources used and their rarity (i.e. copper is cheep, steel is not, aluminum is 6-8 per, etc)

Post your thoughts/ideas.

Keep in mind, if we standardize the pricing, we all make more money. Its called pricefixing, its illegal in real life, but not in star wars galaxies The vendors all agree to charge the same price, and the populace has to pay it.

Check out www.swgcraft.com, if you haven't already. There is a good calculator there to help you cost your jobs, and find a good fair price. You can calculate resource costs, power costs, and item costs.

I agree pricing can be flakey. When I was a newb architect, I had a hard time moving product. Someone in town announced 'looking for a small house xxx...', so I /tell them "I'll sell you one for 4k" to which the reply came 'not when I can get it on the bazaar for 3k!' If you can find a small house on the bazaar for 3k, then why are you looking for a lower price than that?! Sure enough, someone had gotten desperate enough and started putting small houses for sale on the bazaar. Yet at other times, I've had people pay 12k and walk away smiling!

I guess the point is don't sell products to everyone who offers to buy them. If they aren't even covering the cost of resources (ideally more), then tell them you can't do it. Someone else will pay your asking price eventually. The market fluctuates radically at times. Ride out the times when there are too many houses available, and sell resources on the bazaar, or make furniture, or whatever.

What alot of architects also don't take into consideration is the value of the item. I mean, a fusion generator? That thing will set up a miner for quite some time. He can take it everywhere and not worry about energy for a looong time.

So why do we price it level with the cost of resources?

We shouldn't.

Same thing with houses, all harvesters, factories, and the like. They should be priced according to their demand. I mean seriously -- those weaponsmiths and armorsmiths are going to be wanting a factory. Don't price it 3:1 or 4:1. The big ticket items shouldn't be anything less than 5:1.

There's just no value to the small house anymore in the market, that I don't even like wasting my resources on making one. I'd rather dump that stuff into large harvs or factories.

Also, architects - don't rush to be able to build a large house. If anyone has their savvy on, they're going to be buying mediums and smalls for storage, what with the item count vs lotspace being all wonky on PA halls, large houses, etc.

Our guild tore down our PA hall the other day and moved into medium houses with smalls as storage, each one of us. Frees up lots, and you get the same amount of space (more on a personal basis even - what with 5+ people wanting to share a PA).

Few tidbits of information

#1 Communism is dead, the government ( SOE ) is not going to fix prices, and that is a good thing. I realize no one mentioned this yet but I thought I would snip it before someone did.

#2 This is not OPEC , this is not a few elite architects deciding what prices will be for everyone. However Acer would like to think he is OPEC alone ( just teasing Acer ) No this is a whole lot of architects trying to keep their business afloat in a declining market. You are trying to get others to agree to drown with you, no thanks.

#3 This is a fee market, an open market. I can set my prices at a level that woks for me, and if it take customers away from you than that is good because this is a declining market and there are not enough customers to go around.

#4 If it takes you over $10,000 to make a small house then you are doing something wrong. It takes me less than half of that. In fact I could sell small houses for $5000 and make a profit, I don’t need to yet, but I could. How many old architects are ready to compete at that level? I know quite a few young ones that are ready.

Business is war, we are in competition for a shrinking customer base, excuse me if I do all I can to keep my business afloat, and not worry one second if it hurts your business. If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Pricing will fluctuate as long as there are architects skilling up. It's cheaper to sell a house at 3000 cr than to make structural modules and delete.

One observation, though. I have a Master Dancer. Early on it was impossible to get a tip, because the cantinas were full of dancers/musicians skilling up. Now that most of the entertainers have levelled and there aren't a new crop, there is a need for entertainers such that I'll get tells when I'm checking my harvesters to come in fora 3000 cr tip.

So, when the current architects get bored and start working on something else, those that really enjoy the profession will make their money. And, when architects start disappearing, prices will get high, new architects will show up, and the 3000 houses will pop up on the Bazaar because these guys are skilling up.

Dr Dave, I have not seen a small go for $3000, but I dont doubt that you have.

Ihave beenselling smalls for 8k to 9k myself from the begining and nearing Master archetect and makeing a large profit on each sale. I do not see myself raising prices as I reach the top, in fact I may lower them a bit. I have never had to sell at a loss evenwhen grinding. I am now selling heavy harvestors for 90k and very large profits.

But I suppose there are some that do sell at a loss.

Prices and pricing will come down to how many architects are actually still making things as a business, and not as a hobby.Hobbiest architects are the guys that are making things for their friends, and occasionally selling them off: Ie is their second profession andnot their main means of support. That said, if there are 10 architects in Tyrena selling houses, it'll drive the prices down. If there are ten architects on Corellia then the guy that sells for the lowest will get the most business, he may sell for less, but will sell more, and some how still manage to cover his costs.

Daylin how much do you sell large houses for?

Dayln, dammit, you need to get your arguements straight. You advocate selling at a huge cut under other architects, but then post that you're selling heavies at 90k? What gives? I'm calling you out, I want to see a price list from you.

You're claiming you think 1-2 CP/R is fine, but 90k is a little under 3. So what happened to make you sell at 3, eh?

Here's a clue, these are my prices, and people don't have a problem with them when they can get the item immediately. All these prices are around 4 CP/R because on Starsider, the guild architects who started to sell low in the begnning for xp ruined it all.

Basically, if you have the item they want in stock, right there, they're going to pay for it. It's not worth their time to go looking for another architect for a 20k price difference when they can make that up in half an hour. You're selling yourself and the rest of us, short.

Structure----------------------------------------Resources---------Price
Deed for Chemical Extractor---------------------12,115------------50k
Deed for Deep Crust Chemical Extractor-------24,490-----------100k
Deed for Equipment Factory----------------------13,430------------55k
Deed for Food Factory-----------------------------13,550------------55k
Deed for Fusion Power Generator ----------------26,065-----------110k
Deed for Heavy Min. Mining Installation----------27,770-----------110k
Deed for Heavy Natural Gas Processor-----------22,495-----------90k
Deed for High Eff. Moisture Vaparator--------------7,990------------35k
Deed for Large Corellia House---------------------37,334-----------150k
Deed for Large Corellia House (St 2)--------------37,334-----------150k
Deed for Large Gen. Planet House (St 2)---------37,334------------150k
Deed for Large Generic Planet House-------------37,334------------150k
Deed for Large Naboo House-----------------------37,334 ------------150k
Deed for Large Tatooine House--------------------37,334-------------150k
Deed for Medium Coriella House-------------------20,600 -------------85k
Deed for Medium Gen. Planet House (St 2)-------20,600 -------------85k
Deed for Medium Generic Planet House-----------20,600 -------------85k
Deed for Medium Naboo House---------------------20,600-------------85k
Deed for Medium Tatooine House------------------20,600-------------85k
Deed for Micro Flora Farm------------------------------250------------750 creds
Deed for Mineral Mining Installation------------------3,607-------------14k
Deed for Moisture Vaparator--------------------------3,865-------------14k
Deed for Naboo Guild Hall---------------------------55,768-------------350k
Deed for Natural Gas Processor---------------------12,115-------------50k
Deed for Personal Chemical Extractor----------------250-------------750 creds
Deed for Personal Mineral Extractor-------------------250-------------750 creds
Deed for Personal Moisture Vaporator-----------------250-------------750 creds
Deed for Personal Natural Gas Processor--------------250-------------750 creds
Deed for Small Corellia House------------------------3,388--------------12k
Deed for Small Corellia House (Fp 2)-----------------3,388-------------12k
Deed for Small Corellia House (St 2 Fp 2)-----------3,388--------------12k
Deed for Small Corellia House (St 2)-----------------3,388--------------12k
Deed for Small Gen. Planet House (Fp 2)-------------3,388-------------12k
Deed for Small Gen. Planet House (St 2)-------------3,888-------------12k
Deed for Small Generic House (St 2 Fp 2)------------3,888-------------12k
Deed for Small Generic Planet House-----------------3,388-------------12k
Deed for Small Naboo House---------------------------3,388-------------12k
Deed for Small Naboo House (St 2)--------------------3,388-------------12k
Deed for Small Tatooine House-------------------------3,388-------------12k
Deed for Small Tatooine House (St 2)------------------3,388------------12k
Deed for Solar Power Generator------------------------4,430------------14k
Deed for Structure Factory-----------------------------13,550------------55k
Deed for Wearables Factory---------------------------13,550-------------55k
Deed for Wind Power Generator--------------------------260------------750 creds

As far as "grinding", I did it all the way to master artisan, and I refuse to do it for architect.

I dont build something unless I am selling it. Resources just cost too much to throw away like that.

On the other side, if any of you use huge quantities of walls or something, I would be happy to grind them on your resources

Viper..

You are confusing the fact that I defend they guy that sells at 2 cr per with what I actually sell at.

My argument is that no one has the right to tell another what to sell at. I stand by that, Now I personally sell at jsut a bit under what many others usually sell at. Some guys sell at a LOT under what others sell at and they have a perfect right to do so.

I have also argued that one can make a profit at a much lower margin than what is considered normal now. But I am not crazy, I may defend them, and I am fully prepared to compete at 2 cr per or less, but I am not there yet, I will go there when I need too.

My prices currently range from 2.8 cr per to 3.5 per unit. A couple of really small items like personal harvestors I sell at 4per unit. Most of my larger stuff is selling at 3per unit.

I could just sell the resoruces, but I find this a lot more interesting, besides I expect the bottom to drop out of the resource market real quick. I think it is starting to happen already on some servers.