Armorsmith Archive
Thread: Thoughts on customers re-selling your armor at a profit?
Page 1 of 3
Darknauv
Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:19 am
#1
Last week some guy buys 15 of my 80 kinetic/68 base composite suits from me so I give him a discount and sell him each suit for 250k instead of 300k. Today, I found out he is re-selling them at 400k. When I sold the suits to him originally he never mentioned this or anything. This made me angry that he sold it behind my back, if he came forward with a business offer I would be happy to oblige. When i sent him an email he acted like it was no big deal and perfectly ok. What i'm asking is if I am crazy or the rest of you armorsmiths would be angry at some guy fordoing thisand maknig a profit of YOUR hard work.
Srednii
Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:35 am
#2
The whole premise of the merchant class is to buy and resell other players goods at a profit.
Quite simply, if other players can buy yourgoods and then sell them for a higher price and make a decent profit, then you obviously arn't charging enough.
Govo
Sat Aug 14, 2004 1:47 am
#3
I think if you feel you made an acceptable profit then its not a problem. It would seem the other guy may have a harder time re-selling your suits. Unless of course you sell your suits at like half the going rate on your server. Personally on Naritus I sell the same suits for 200k on my vendor. I am a fairly new armorsmith, mabey 3-4 months, so my stuff is priced a bit lower so as to establish a customer base. I think similar suits on my server from the more establised smithes go for about 225-250k. Obviously its very difficult to compare prices accross servers.
justapilgrim
Sat Aug 14, 2004 2:28 am
#4
I wouldnt care, the armor should have your brand on it, and it will say who it is crafted by.
the people that bought the armor, will seek you out if they like the suits.
SkinnyManDo
Armor Sensei, tailor, Rifleman, Businessman, RIS specialist, 12 exp points
New vendor:> Prosperity (formerly known as Bartertown) at prosperity crafters mall, right by the x-wing
Visit the Armor Dojo: New Alderaan Dant4219 -2930, 4 armor vendors, resources (doc, AS and grind), tailor crates, Droids by Iciomax, BE tissues by Gatao, deeds/furniture by Butterbean and Jewelia, Weapons by Shobuck, and the Powerball weekly lottery,
Kung Fu Armor:80% kin 69% base (375k) Kung Fu Light: 80% kin 62% base(375k)Yokozuna Composite:80% energy 62% base 4% stun and superlight(425k) Wookie Hunting Armor (NEW) 80% kin 58-62% base or 37% stun/75% kin/58% base (prices vary) 75% ubese, psgs, mabari belts, ubese shirts all in plentiful supply. *Black Mountain and Ceremonial in limited supply*
Droci
Sat Aug 14, 2004 3:25 am
#5
true, but i usually dont like people reselling without consent, but i guess thats why you have to state the product cant be put up for resale or whatever
Craftica
Sat Aug 14, 2004 5:34 am
#6
This has happened to me a few times, and to be honest, it really doesn't bother me at all.
I don't give discounts on bulk sales of armor primarily because it sells so quickly off my vendors. Why would I accept less than my calculated price when I can sell the same volume myself and maintain margin?
If someone can resell my stuff at a higher price, that would be a hint that I am charging too little. Undercharging can bea bad thing, as not only are you leaving money on the table, but in some cases undercharging causes a price erosion that damages the armor market as a whole. This price erosion can make it difficult for newer crafters to break into the armor market with their lesser quality wares, as they have to sell for even less and thus make less profit to grow their business.
My suggestion would be to no longer offer bulk discounts and to re-evaluate your prices compared tothe prices that other smiths sell comparable armors. I do agree that it was a little underhanded for this person not to mention that they were going to resell your stuff, as you at least deserve that courtesy.
GraySeven
Sat Aug 14, 2004 5:51 am
#7
I have no problems with people reselling anything I sell. I set a price that compensates me for what I've done, and if my stuff sells, I got mine. I believe I have someone reselling my fusion power....I sell at 1.8 per, and they purchase 100k's weekly from me. I've never asked and don't really care what he's doing with it. Its his to do with as he pleases after I get my credits...
AtPlay
Sat Aug 14, 2004 10:50 am
#8
Darknauv wrote:Last week some guy buys 15 of my 80 kinetic/68 base composite suits from me so I give him a discount and sell him each suit for 250k instead of 300k. Today, I found out he is re-selling them at 400k. When I sold the suits to him originally he never mentioned this or anything. This made me angry that he sold it behind my back, if he came forward with a business offer I would be happy to oblige. When i sent him an email he acted like it was no big deal and perfectly ok. What i'm asking is if I am crazy or the rest of you armorsmiths would be angry at some guy for doing this and maknig a profit of YOUR hard work.
Well, I gotta ask you...did you price your armor and did it sell? Why should it matter if someone bought it to resell it...they paid your prices?
I honestly dont care if someone buys my armor and resells it, because I still make a profit. I also dont offer bulk discounts, which I think is the real reason you are upset. Offer the discount, but only if someone buys 3-5 sets.
When someone comes along and buys that much armor from you, you have to be suspicious. If they buy 2 or 3, its most likely for their own personal use...but 15 suits?
Yoshiie
Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:58 am
#9
I had this going with a certain wookiee. At first I was mad because I thought he was actually using it himself, but fact is that is how thefree enterprise works. I have no problem withpeople selling my stuff, just not going sell for less anymore for reasons stated above. If I offer discount for certain patrons or even free to the rangers that hunt for me, I personalize withtheir name on it.
Tecar
[THC Incorp]
Dragon Coast, Talus, Chilastra
RisinSunIchi
Sun Aug 15, 2004 7:02 am
#10
I had a customer ask to purchase 25 suits at my price of 212k per suit, and after I got to his planet and checked his shop I was convinced not to make the sale. The customer was a coronet spammer, appears to make his/her living mainly off loot components, crystals, etc. When I got to the shop a km out, there were crates of armor from various smiths around, and the vendor had poorly sliced armor from a bunch of smiths. I cancelled the order right there.
I make my name on high quality and low prices. If a player's first sight of my armor is some poorly sliced pieces on this guy's vendor, at high prices, they're NOT going to seek me out.
I feel that in the future I might do special orders this large for folks, maybe even if I knew they were resellers, I'd just name all the pieces "NOT FOR RESALE". LOL. Not 'Not for Resale' Left bracer, just "not for resale", every piece.
I make my name on high quality and low prices. If a player's first sight of my armor is some poorly sliced pieces on this guy's vendor, at high prices, they're NOT going to seek me out.
I feel that in the future I might do special orders this large for folks, maybe even if I knew they were resellers, I'd just name all the pieces "NOT FOR RESALE". LOL. Not 'Not for Resale' Left bracer, just "not for resale", every piece.
Starpilots
Sun Aug 15, 2004 7:54 am
#11
dont give discounts... because of this reason..... have banned 2 people out of my shop who did buy buffpacks from me and sold it for 1,5x the price at Mining outpost on dantooine... just got a backpack on my vendor with reselers will be banned from this shop.
I like to have one of the best priced vs quality but people taking advantage from some ones work makes me
especialy if the don't ask bevore selling
I like to have one of the best priced vs quality but people taking advantage from some ones work makes me
especialy if the don't ask bevore selling
amishgangsta
Sun Aug 15, 2004 1:12 pm
#12
If you are selling your armor at profit and it has your name on it.. all you are doing is selling more suits faster and getting advertisement from the re-sellers if people like your armor.
Niven2k3
Sun Aug 15, 2004 3:34 pm
#13
My Armor is priced in such a way, that people would find it very hard to re-sell and make a profit.
However, if they did, then I would not be bothered.
I myself used such techniqures as a merchant a long time ago.
That is, all a merchant can really do.
Page 1 of 3