Architect Archive
Thread: My pricing structure and why i do it ^_^
I refuse to sell any item for less then 5 credits a unit(excepting if they supply their own materials at which pointI do it for 1cr per unit), as this covers my costs such as extracting and time. but where my price structure changes is when items have nested combines. If it has one combine i add 1cr per unit to the final cost of the item , if it has more nest combines I add +2 per level to a max of 10credits per unit. I don't sell much but on the other hand i have 600,000c in the bank due to the fact then when i fail i made enough money on the stuff i made to cover the lose. I find that combine items are the ones i lose the most on so i might as well move that loses over to the customer
basic item 5cr/unit (unless someone actually tries to negotiate then that base can drop to 4cr/unit)
basic combo item 6cr/unit (5+1)
advanced combo item (2 nested combines) 8cr/unit (5+1+2)
etc (would be 5+1+2+2 my max)
any comments on this idea? Please no going on about undercutters. I can live with them - i just don't sell much low level stuff is all
I agree... I don't sell below 5 cpu for anyone but town mates... For things that take components, rare resources, or factory parts I charge a larger cpu (only for the parts that are better). Example if 90 regular units and 80 hide uniits, I do 5 x 90 +80x8 = $1,250.
For hide I chrage 8 cpu, wooly hide 15cpu, Identical electronic components 20 cpu, wood 7cpu, components (non identical) 15cpu, identical (for deeds) 10 cpu,
Kind of hard to explain, but it makes sesnse to me. My base is 5 cpu, anything that is more work for me to do or get than regular gets a higher cost per unit.
At www.SWGMidgar.com if you click on Jine Vendor on the side you can see all my prices.
No flames from me.
I believe the bottom line is you need to sell at a price that makes you happy (and, we would hope, a profit). You cannot chase every sale... if you do that, you will lose money and still not get the sales. If someone undercuts you, so be it. Compete on service, not on price. That's what I've been doing, and it has been working.
--Celinda
Sounds like its working for you.
How long have you been an architect? I'm just curious how long it took you to build up your bankroll. Did you have any trouble getting started? Or were you able to sell small houses for 15k-20k (or whatever your exact price is) and if so then when was that?
I get insulted when I offer large houses for 150k.
I'm pretty much done with this profession anyway. I'll still keep most of the skills if sony decides to help this profession a bit. I'm just switching over to pure mineing. 4c/unit isn't hard to get at all if you know what to extract.
Other servers are better but when you have a few large PA's selling heavys for 100k and PA Halls for 150-200k it just isn't worth the effort anymore. Not a clue if they still are but they advertised 50+ heavys and 10+ Halls a week ago or so.
Sales i admit are slow for me, but at least when i make a sale I make a profit. You are right it did take me quite a while to start making my bankroll. I had to subsidize myself with hunting for the longest time (collected a 10-20,000 fp as well while doing it) But what i did while i was learning was make modules and such and built a huge stock pile of things such as wall modules and structure modules - which i am now working my way through on items that I sell.
I have always refused to sell small houses. I can't see anyway to compete in that market as so many grinders make em and just dump them onto the market.
currently -
73 wall modules in stock
90 power structural modules
7 ore mining units
5 manufacturing units
3 harvesting mechanisms
8 power cores
4 structure storage modules
all from my grind (sure they are low quality but at least they are useful when i build big structures)
so instead of wasting time and resources trying to make small houses for sale on the market I built units that i needed for later (sure it creates a huge inv but i have like 10 packs i carry ^_^(hope they don't add insurance soon!!!)
so any more questions? btw: if i make 1 sale a week i am happy because i didn't lose money and i still have time to do other things in the game such as hunt and dance. (sure i wish i was super rich like weaponsmiths or fairly rich like armorsmiths but this mirrors reality only a certian segment becomes mega-wealthy)
Hmm lets see... I sell my items at these prices and have very few problems and 1.6 million in the bank. My cash has gone up and down since release and while I am not hurting for money I do not consider myself rich. I sell all I make and do not work myself to death doing it. I have found whats to me a comfortable level. I am always friendly and if I have the materials will make requests immediately. I don't lose money and I purchase most things like steel or aluminum, gas, copper on the market. I stick with mining my own ore since it is the largest resource used in our constructions. I have had very few complaints about my prices and im getting people I don't know in my shop on a regular basis so I am assuming word of mouth is good.
Heavy harvesters 160k
Medium mineral/solar 15k
Medium gas/chem/floral 20k
Small harvesters 1k
Small homes 15k
Medium homes 65k
Large homes 150k
Factorys 40k
PA hall if you can convince me to build it 450k
Heh 12.6k resources for 20k is a nice price
Tempest wrote:
Medium gas/chem/floral 20k
My prices are:
Medium House: 100k @ 4.85 cpu
Large House: 225k @6.29 cpu
PA Hall: 500k @ 8.27 cpu
-----
Medium Mineral/solar: 20k @ 4.78 cpu
Medium Chem/gas/flora/heavy Water: 45k
Heavy Harvesters/Fusion: 155k
Factories: 55k 5.79 cpu
I have been playing for only about 6 weeks. I worked my way up the skill tree all by myself. The only help I currently have is a friend lets me use 5 of his lots and I buy wall modules from several different novice architects at 3 credits per unit. I harvest most of my own resorces with 11 heavy harvesters.
I currently have 3 million in the bank and orders for about 8 heavy harvesters to complete by tomorrow. I have averaged about250k profit a day for the last 2 weeks and have had tons of fun along the way!
What's the secret? Advertise! I don't mean stand in the city and shout over and over, that's just annoying and demeaning. I have never resorted to such. I have made friends and happy customersfrom every planet and every profession who advertise free of charge by word of mouth.
Another thing to remember is, there are a lot of people out there who are willing to pay a little more for fast delivery, good service and a friendly face. If you charge 2 credits per unit and take a week to deliver you will lose business. If you charge 8 per unit but do not provide sevice, fast delivery and are friendly you will fail.
So in the end, price isn't really the important part. Provide good service and have fun and you will succeed.
on shadowfire, a newer server you can barly sell for 3cpu
every one and their mother is trying to sell for the cheapest they can!
i saw a solar gen up for 5k
that like 1cpu. **edit**!
i said 130k for a large house the other day and i was laughed at, its so sad!
my prices:
medium mineral - 16k
small house -10k < get a lot of laughs
medium house - 60k
large house - 120k
factory - 40k
med gas/chem - 35k
i don't make heavies, so i dont have a price =(