Bio Engineer Archive

I just reached Master yesterday and I'm ready to start charging people I think. My only problem is I don't know what a fair pricing policy would be. What do you normally charge?

Myself and three master image designers follow the pricing scheme on this webpage, created by Kink.

(http://www.zinckiwi.com/id/)

So far so good, I've had minimal complaints of overcharging, and receieved quite a few over and above payments. We got tired of being stiffed basically and set up a price scheme together. I can honestly say I could roleplay ID as my only profession and be able to afford a house and other goodies, mostly from the 3k hairstyles. We do a 50% discount for pure entertainers, and fix people that ended up with bad ID jobs or game bugs for free.

Most of my server has cost sheet they work from developed by Natashia, with discounts for other entertainers. It averages out to 1000 credits for each major change.

I work for tips. By telling folks to tip what it's worth, I don't mind telling folks to leave me alone if I don't want to be pestered. And it doesn't stop me from getting the 10K+ tips. I do charge annoyance fees. You bug me, I'm going to want money up front.

I'm really grateful for the two websites that have hair syles on display. I now often make a practice of referring folks there whenever possible, and charging folks that can't or don't want to look at the websites.

I have recieved from 30 credits to 25K credits. I find it's best to take tips. But the thing is you get shafted a lot, then all of a sudden you get a really good one. Thing is you can easily out price your self. So I do it for tips.

Let me know how it goes for you.

Bossa Nova

Always donation, unless it a full body makeover or something, then we work out a price thats fair

I personally have been wandering a lot and keep my prices listed in my Bio so I can have people examine me for them. I've been charging 1000 per face change, 1000 per hairstyle with free coloring, 500 for just a color. 2000 per body change (height, weight, torso), 2000 for markings either style or color and 3000 for skin color. Perhaps I've been undercharging.

At this stage I do a lot of traveling and stop at many cantinas. There are quite a few dancers who can't afford more than a few thousand credits, and this most recent patch has hurt that in some ways as low level destroys don't pay nearly as much.

I do get more from some people. People who want me to travel to them definately seem to pay more. I received 10k to go run just outside of town to fix a guys chin. (Common problem with Human Males is Chin when they just think they don't look right. They usually don't have any at all.) And usually the more combat heavy classes will pay more as they don't change their look all that often and are usually wealthier. It really depends on the client.

The quick list for Lowca pricing is

Hair:1-5K

Hair/frill color 2K

Facial changes:1K eye color and lip color are 2K

Height, Weight, Muscle: 5K

Boob job, age, head size : 10K

Tatto/ pattern/ spot: 5K

Marking color: 3K

Lekku or ridge style 1K

These prices work great, there are almost 30 IDs on Lowca, and while we encourage our non masters to offer discounts so that they can build themselves a client base, the master follow these guidlines along with whatever personal discounts or specials they want to offer. Contrary to what some will tell you, we DO get tips above and beyond our price list, and because of our organization anyone who stiffs us is blacklisted, so no one else has to waste their time on a deadbeat. While multiple changes can stack up in price no one change is so costly that even a noob can't earn the credits in an hour or so doing missions and gaining experience.

My advice is to contact the other Image Designers on your server and find out their prices. The more you guys work together, the better thigns get for all of you.

-Soon Mot

Master Image Designer

Lowca, Naboo, Theed

I think I'm going to start offering discounts to people who will just trust my judgement and let me pick the changes... Will make things easier. =)

This is something I've been pondering the last few days. After spending 30 minutes on perfecting someone's look and getting tipped 20 creds I decided it was time for a pricing structure.

Currently this is what I'm charging:

1K per change if you know what it is you want
2K per change if you are unsure and would like to experiment.

I find this lends itself to a better ratio of credits over time. I honestly don't mind spending huge amounts of time helping someone get their look down just right, but the pay should be better as well. It doesn't feel right to charge someone 1K to change their hair to red when they're happy with the very first option and then charge someone 1K who takes 20 minutes deciding just which hairstyle he wants.

I haven't decided yet whether this is the structure I'll stick with, but I've been getting great responses thus far (besides the usual "What, you don't do it for free?" responses =P).

Discounts also apply. Anyone who's been hit with the default character model because of a bug I'll fix for free. Pure entertainers get a discount as well (usually half price).

This thread is helpful...I have been contemplating a pricing plan. Right now if someone asks how much they owe me, I tell them to tip me what they feel is fair, and I mention I usually get tipped anywhere from 1k-5k.

In some cases though--I guess I need to announce that I do charge for my services...before I start.

I worked on a Wookie's patterns and colors for quite a while before he said "Oh by the way, do you charge for this, because i only have 23 credits, and I really need to buy a new rifle." And to me, so far Wookie patterns and Zabrak tattooes are the toughest things to work on. With the slider its hard to keep track of things.

Other people get the change, and tell me thanks, and go on their way. If they are nice it doesn't bother me *too* much, but I was hoping to help fund my tailoring with my Image Design services.

I like that idea, Snowfarmer.

I don't mind getting less for a quick change, but when I spend a half hour with someone, I hope to get a little more for my time.

first pf all id like to say OMFG! i cant believe you are all ripping yourselves off!

1k to change someones avitar!?!?! why not just go do a delivery mission.

ok lets see here you pay an architect 150k for a large house right? now lets say you supply that archie with the 35k worth of resources needed, your paying 115k for his 60 seconds of labour right? whats the difference? i dont charge less than 10% of that for my time.

now i dont know about you guys but i spend max 10 mins per 3 days looking at my house. So how often you think i have to stare at my ass? ALL the time. so if u not happy with your appearance then your running around the game with the **edit**s. So take into account i spend upto 25 mins with some customers, how much would you pay now? answer = 13k for comlete redesign? crazy? well tell that to the 117 customers i have in my database. the cheapest thing i do is lipstick and eyeshadow for 2k

Thats right, patience,advice and good service go a long way. And i now have 117 happy customers that are happy to help me when needed. smugglers for cheap spice, tailors for cheap clothes, and that archie? well i got my large house for 50k what about you?

remember patience, advice and service. a few polite manners don tog far either.

(ps i have left out my name server and details of my service out for obvious reasons. but i will say this, ive just hit the 500,000 credit mark from ID only.)

My only advice would be that no mater what you plan on doing make sure you tell the customer first.

I normally work on a tip only model but I expect people to tip! I mean honestly at leat 20 creds something. But on time I sat down with a guy and worked on his look for like 20-30 minutes and then once he was happy he just said "Sorry I've got no money, maybe next time." and walked off.

Now I don't hold it against him as I never said sure I"ll work on ya, but it will cost, but none the less I was peved when it first happened so I"m just saying make sure the customer knows what you charge or that you require a tip before you begin work.