Architect Archive

First of all, let me start off by saying that I am a Master Architect, but I mainly do orders for my guild. I run a mining crew of 10, and that eats up most of my time.

The facts:
Architects need ore
That ore is used to make walls
Walls need structure modules
Structure modules and walls take a lot of factory time to make

The idea:
Instead of selling the raw material (ore and steel), sell the work in process (walls). My initial thought was 12k per wall (4cpu) for orders less than 100 walls and 11k per wall (3.66cpu) for orders greater than 100 walls.

Pros:
I increase the effective value of my resources by adding value for established architects.
Those established architects do not have to waste factory/game time on the structure modules and wall modules.
Frees up the architects lots so that they can focus on gathering the high end minerals for the ore mining units, etc.

Cons:
Those grinding architect often sell walls much cheaper just to get credits to continue the grind.
Ore and steel can be obtained for 2-3cpu. Some might not feel that the factory/game time saved justifies the cost.

I think I can overcome the Con by establishing relationships and providing the product in crate form rather than in single form. What do you guys think about the pricing? If I were on your server, would you be interested in something like this? All constructive criticism is appreciated!

I think if you provide fast turn-around on orders, and even offer delivery you could have a booming business. I myself when grinding my way to master architech made only walls. I admit I sold them at cost, but I only sold to two different masters, and they in turn trained me. Like an apprenticeship program. I never had a problem selling them every wall I could crank out.

I think that if your target audience is solo architects that you might have a winner there. It does depend on the economy on your server and what finished goods are going for. Although I'm solo, I do use my wife's lots for shop and factory so I can have all 10 of mine for harvesters. I don't know that I'd use this service 100% of the time, but certainly for times when I've had the chance to bid on large orders, or had several medium orders back-to-back, I'd consider using this.

If archs can afford it you have an awesome idea. Typically if I buy ore I buy in quantities of 100k or higher and get it for under 2.5 credits per. I have a tough time selling finished products at over 4 credits per. The cheaper you go, the better your business. If you sould walls at 8k or so I would buy tons.

I can't really justify selling the walls for much less than 3.5cpu. Main reason is that tending the factory will be a pain, costs money, and I can sell ore and steel for 2.5-3cpu in raw form. Of course everyone would be knocking down my door at 8k per wall, that is in most cases cheaper than the raw material!

The other opportunity cost is that I canput those same harvesters on high quality WS materials and get 4-6cpu in raw form. I know that an architects finished products don't go for more than 3-5cpu in most cases, that is what makes the pricing of raw materials and WIP so hard from my perspective. I would see this service mostly useful for an established architect that wants to continue their business but doesn't necessarily have the time or desire to tend the factories and constantly scour the planet for ore. I appreciate the comments thus far, keep 'em coming!

Selling high grade materials is always a better money maker than anything for architects.

If there isn't any good metal around and you find 60% plus of ore, grab some and sell crates of 100 structural mods.

At the profits I expect I would never pay that high a price for walls ( shrug )

For me, it would be better to just sell the resources rather than the wall. I can grind out wall way faster than a factory can (so much practice at it as you know).

well this type of business u are thinking of setting up... is a mass volume business in which ... you make your money selling bulk.. I am on your server and i have hired 2 seperate master arcs and all they do is supply me with walls.. I buy everything they want to offer me.. Id buy yours too.. but i dont think you want to sell them for 7500.. IF u do great ill give you a waypoint to my vendor.. 100 walls a week is 750k .. If u look around easy enought there are plenty of ore suppliers that will sell u ore for 2 cpu.. if you buy 200k + chucks at a time.. which would be right up your ally,.. @7500 that gives you 1500 per wall to maintain factory and make a profit.. takes 17 hours for 1000 mods.. then takes .. 3.4 hours .. to make 100 walls.. thats not much .. maitainance.. If you could find 10 arcs to buy 100 walls a week.. that would be roughly 1 mil profit after (heavy) allocation for costs,, for 2 days of work .. and really.. all it is is 11 schematics to make.. and loading a factory 11 times ..

oh add one more thing,,, keeping the prices this low.. also allows the arcs you supply to keep their prices low making it easier to sell there product .. thus needing more walls...

me for one thinks it rather stupid of you all, always looking to go deeper, always looking to go a bit cheaper, but i ask you what money you really make?

I buy my stuff at 3cpu and sell it at 8cpu and I always have a stocked vendor, but i always make sales too... even in my shop on lok that stands in the middle of nowhere...

I would think a price pitched between 8-10k per would be the right level, I would buy at 8k regularly, at 10k if I was in real need. But generally I don't find it too much trouble to make walls for myself. I run 2 factories, and at least one of these is loaded up each evening before I log off to run 1000 structural modules ready for the next day. I rarely run out of walls, but I concentrate on harvesters rather than the large buildings. If I made more things like PA Halls etc then I could certainly see a potential to buy. One thing to be remembered though is that there are many hologrinders who will happily make all the walls you might need in return for resource cost payback plus xp plus training.

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Bahamanut wrote:

me for one thinks it rather stupid of you all, always looking to go deeper, always looking to go a bit cheaper, but i ask you what money you really make?

I buy my stuff at 3cpu and sell it at 8cpu and I always have a stocked vendor, but i always make sales too... even in my shop on lok that stands in the middle of nowhere...

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hmmm... not always its about wanting to sell cheaper but having to sell cheaper.. you are lucky yu dont have a firmed up server where people think that they should get even heavy harvs with max BER for 2,5 cpu.. ITs about adjusting.. and if they can buy 100 walls a week or more it looks like they have done just that.. must becareful when u call someone stupid.. most cases you make yourself look that way ...