Architect Archive
Thread: Tired of the whining?
Here's an idea, don't buy from me!!
Do you walk into a BMW dealership and scream at the saleperson stating that this car is really only worth 5,000 dollars because that's all that the materials cost to build with? No, you don't. You simply look and wish. When and if you get enough money or the right job, you can then afford it. BMW makes profits, they are NOT in the business to make friends.
I'm not an architect to make friends. I'm in it to make master, a PA hall for our guild and PROFIT.
I formally challenge ANYONE who thinks that they can charge .5 or 1 credit per resource for a structure with a slight mark up and SURVIVE as an architect WITHOUT help from others. Let's say the markup is 20%, this would make a medium house sell for 12.5K to 25K credits?
If you can survive charging this little, I suggest selling your plan on Ebay or the like.
Here's the best part, after I mentioned the above stated encounter on our guild's chat channel only ONE person agreed that we crafters "gouge" our customers. Who was it? None other than my guild leader. Bah.
Maybe I'll become a weaponsmith or armorsmith. That way people are more than willing to pay the prices they charge and I'll make MORE profit than being an architect.
Mansutyybacu
I started another thread, but I'll answer this one too. People are willing to pay more for a BMW because there is an obvious quality difference. People will not pay more for YOUR house because it is identical to the cheaper one regardless of what resources you use. You cannot use that comparison effectively for this discussion.
A better analagy might be this: You can go to a 'specialty' store like Bed Bath and Beyond, and buy a certain brand-name pillow for $30. You could also go to Wal-Mart and buy the same exact brand-name pillow for probably $20. People WILL go to BB&B for one reason: smart selling tactics. They offer other incentives OTHER than price which influences the customer into paying more. Quality is the same. If you want to sell your houses for more than the bargain basement price, you need to offer a better 'deal' overall. When someone tells you that you're overpriced, don't get into a verbal conflict. SELL them on your PROs other than flat cost. Give better customer service, add in a couple pieces of furniture, something...
I babble more in my other post if you need more reason to flame me. :-)
The problem that I had was that the person immediately began publicly bashing me. After he started down that path, I refused to make concessions and offer other perks in order for him to want to deal with me. I spend enough time running from harvester to harvester and therefore don't want to 'peddle' my goods like a street vendor in New York City. Either buy it or don't but the only thing I ask is don't be rude when you can't afford my prices.
I agree with you there - most of the architects have enough business to keep them busy 24/7 - they have no need to deal with unruly kiddies /tell flooding them. And it is very rude in general to do that. If I chat with an overpriced dealer, I just say ok, no thanks, and move on. Why comment like that - is does nothing except upset someone for no reason in-game.
On the other hand, that is a GOOD thing. If you can sell your stuff at a higher price, and blow off those peeps, you're in better shape than many others. I've seen architects in town /yell "Medium Naboo House 35k, Large 100k!" - they're desperate to sell, and WILL sell. (I've been known to buy these and turn right around and resell them at a profit. lol)
Just do as I did and make a macro telling them to go buy elsewhere or just ignore them completly. I got tired of responding so I have a gereric responce, "If you want to buy my products then you pay my price, otherwise go find someone else to bother". I am willing to negotiate my prices (but only to an extent because I think my 5 credit per is cheaper than it should be) if they bring me resources but not very much.
I also do not do combines for free if you bring me the resources. I charge a nominal 15 percent overcharge on all resources needed to do the combine.
if anyone tells me I am too expensive, or when i get tells saying I am too cheep.
I always respond, No ablo Anglaise
and if that doesnt get the point accross, I will reply, Selling Houses + or - 1k depending on what they complained at.
people usually get the point by them.
My wares, My work, My prices.
dont like it? your on the wrong server.
I say flame away and send them along. If they don't want to pay my price and have nothing to offer negotiating wise, I just pass on their business. I also takl with other architects in my area to see what they sell for and keep my prices in line with the majority, not with the person who sells to cheaply. It takes a lot of resources for us to sell our products. Someone who sells cheaply will sell out and not be able to keep up with demand. I sell at these prices and have a hard time keepnig up with demand. Last night was the first time I had a real stock ni my vendor. Mostly because I allowed some trade ins on large houses. So I have a couple of mediums and a couple of smalls on my vendor. I can make 2 large or 3 mediums a day, or a PA hall. I have a hard time keeping up with demand, these are my prices on Tarquinas;
Kepp in mind that I am personable in game, offer advice and assistance in using equipment etc... I get a lot of referral business.
Small 12k
Medium 84k
Large 140k
Med Mineral 12-17k
Factories 45k
Med Chem and Gas Harvesters 45k
Solars 18k
Large harvesters and fusion 140k
PLanet specific PAs 375k
Generic PAs 425k
I pretty much stay booked all the time. I am resource bound and collect almost 90k resources a day either from purchasing or harvesters.
Teiwaz
Architect - Tarquinas - Naboo - Kaadala