CUEmu - Thread Posts

fatgit

Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:23 am

Due to a massive increase in the price of resources in general on Chimaera, I have ahd to re-evaluate my structure.

I make my own trim and containers, and get the PA BE to make schematics for the additives.

I charge 15-20cpu per item. This is to factor in shuttle trips hunting resources, time spent, factory maintenance and power, harvester maint & power etc.

When the devs increased the max selling price on the Bazaar, it was to allow double the number of resources in a stack to be sold : ie. instead of selling 2 stacks of 1000 wheat at 3000cr per stack, they would sell1 stack of 2000 wheat for 6000cr.
What actually happened was people instantly doubled resource prices. So instead of 2 lots of 1000 wheat at 3000cr each, it's now 2 stacks of 1000 wheat for 6000cr a stack - or higher.
I'm starting to see bad stat resources at 6cpu and good stat resources approaching the 10cpu mark.

If I am to keep Chef effective, I have to increase prices, otherwise I may aswell turn into a resource seller, whack down 9 BR 13 heavies & a fusiun, and make 9cpu+ by selling it on the bazaar.

I think this is something almost all non-crafters don't realise. If they are farming resources & selling at high prices on the bazaar, then the end produce is going to go up.
They are the ones more likely to be buying the goods, and have only themselves to blame if prices go up.

Add into that the fact that the SWG economy is fubar, and many people are paying prices like 12million for a skill attatchment, or 7million for a krayt pearl, and you see everyone trying to get a piece of the action, causing inflation.

Many crafters have always sold at a lower cpu than they could get from selling the resources instead, I know I have. But I am so fed up of seeing people splashing out millions on one item, I said sod it & increased prices. If they can afford 10million for a pearl, they can damned well afford an extra 5cpu per item I make.

Numen

Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:23 am

#15

I have given up on a CPU scale. Most non-crafters really don't care that something costs more to make than something else. they look at the bonus they get from it.

Most of mine I sell for about 1k/unit. Things like Brandy, Canepe are 2k/unit. Then everything else is between that. The one exception I've made is smugglers delight. Just no way I would sell a crate for 50k. I haven't made any yet as they are bugged, but I do know it won't be that cheap.

All my prices seem fair as people continue to buy almost anything. Most items are worth 200-300/charge at least so that is why my minimum is 1k/unit.

BTW if I used a cask I would just triple the price because the quantity went up 3 times.

Amandil Morier - Tempest - Master Chef

DogWelder

Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:31 am

#16

fatgit wrote:
When the devs increased the max selling price on the Bazaar, it was to allow double the number of resources in a stack to be sold : ie. instead of selling 2 stacks of 1000 wheat at 3000cr per stack, they would sell1 stack of 2000 wheat for 6000cr.
What actually happened was people instantly doubled resource prices. So instead of 2 lots of 1000 wheat at 3000cr each, it's now 2 stacks of 1000 wheat for 6000cr a stack - or higher.
I'm starting to see bad stat resources at 6cpu and good stat resources approaching the 10cpu mark.

I've noticed this trend as well, and here's how you combat it: simply DON'T BUY the overpriced resources.

There are some really delusional people using the bazaar. Examples from Lowca:

Good reptilian meat (not uber, but good) with 1 stat over 900 and nothing below 700: 120cpu (this has been sitting unpurchased and clogging the bazaar for about 5 days now)

Flowers: OQ is over 800, all other stats in double digits (not a typo):6cpu...and there it sits.

Great Carnivore meat (not the best, but it's pretty darned good), but it's from Dathomir so it's plentiful: I've seen if for everywhere from 3cpu on up to 30cpu, and it didn't help that one of the doctors on Lowca spammed that he wanted to buy it for 40cpu. High supply, solid demand: I've been buying it any time I see it at 5cpu or lower. Those charging more seem to take longer to sell it.

I watch the commodity sales every day. I know the markets and what will sell. I'm starting to make connections with people supplying quality materials at good prices instead of people trying to gouge on the bazaar.

The most successful in every profession will get their resources for less and in turn be able to drop their prices.

As far as the BE supplements go, I offered a BE in my PA a rate of 10k per crate of light, 30k for medium and 50k for heavy. She in turn offered lower prices than that (which I was grateful for) but if I make enormous profits with them I'm going to turn around and tip her a cut (not a huge cut, but a cut nonetheless).

Right now, with all the factory time it takes to make all the subcomponents and whatnot, I don't think 25cpu is outrageous on high-demand items. I would say less than that on crates of items that take noticebly less time, like Travel Biscuits (which I've actually had a pretty solid demand for).

ScOpEH

Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:43 am

#17

fatgit, we are on the same server, may i ask, what do you sell BE crates of Brandy for? what are the stats? Im trying to establish a network of Master Chefs on Chimaera.

Talron

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BristaAB

Thu Feb 19, 2004 9:45 am

#18

The biggest resource here is for the CASK, not for the food itself

It's not really valid to compare resources where quality doesn't matter with ones where they do

I've quite often seen Crystalline Gemstone on the Bazaar for 2 cpu, even post patch. Even at 3 cpu+ it's available, it's affordable and it's very little work to acquire in large quantities

High quality resources, especiallymilk which is used in your first example,unfortunately aren't available in that quantity or at that rate

So you have to organise the harvesting as well as make the financial transaction, putting strain on your time, your lots, your suppliers

[Black] Style is everything - so is winning [Black]
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PBN

Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:17 am

#19

I normally try to avoid pricing discussions, as I find it tiring to continually have to justify myself. However, since we are discussing strategies, not numbers, I will go over the scheme that I employ.

First, I do not like either of those methods, as neither accurately represents my thoughts as to my CHOSEN profession. The first, as it falls short in what is involved in the food manufacturing, the second as it promotes the idea of "the greedy chef".

I use a method which is based upon something I refer to as buff*minutes - simply put 1 point of enhancement for 1 minute. I track the following on an ongoing basis:

My costs for organic, inorganic and creature materials

Factory costs (power and maintenance), as well as percent downtime

Factory time used in creation of components and subcomponents

Additional purchased subcomponents

Current doctor enhancement pricing (roughly 1 credit / 240 buff*minutes at the moment)

I keep a spreadsheet with the run size, effects, materials, runs, etc. The spreadsheet calculates total cost per crate, as well as equivalent doctor charge for a similar enhancement. I then set the price based upon equivalent doctor price or 150 percent of cost (50 percent markup) whichever is greater.

The only addition I plan on adding to the above is a factor for filling. Any items where the filling rate is greater than the enhancement duration, I will be applying the ratio towards the enhancement to denote that the enhancement cannot be "maintained". For example with Gorrmorl I can keep the effect of 2 on a constant basis (filling 39%, duration 35min +), yet with Breath of Heaven, the filling time will be roughly 18 minutes for a 7 minutes. The effective enhancement would be given as 7/18 of its actual.

Misterie

GadonThek

Thu Feb 19, 2004 12:41 pm

#20

I like too keep things simple. I calculate exact costs to make the product(inc factory expenses etc), then I tack on, what I fell, is a fair margin of profit going by how much time/effort it took to make and what quality the final product is. Im not in this to make money, and I dont think its fair to have a set price scale based on CPU, regardless of the quality of the food, so I can adjust what I feel is fair at any time, because I dont have to mess about with calculations or formulae, I just say "hmm, this batch aint quite as good as last time, Ill cut 2k from my profit"

PBN

Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:12 pm

#21

Laeir wrote:
Every combine takes your valuable game time to deal with and should be reflected in the cost.

I had to remark on this one. This is the reason I emphasized chosen above. This is right along with the argument that pricing should be based on what a hunter makes. I'm not a hunter. I'm spending my valuable time doing what I find most enjoyable... crafting food. I suppose that is where I differ than many. I do what I enjoy, getting paid for it is a benefit. As long as I can break even, I'm ahead of the game.

Now... Would I like the funds to buy the really good attachments for better experimentation? definitely! If I charged more, I probably could. As it is, I'm amassing a collection that were given as gifts from those who appreciate my efforts and the fact that I am reasonable in my prices. As for the other crafters' charges. I make enough to replace my armor as needed. My weaponry was free. I support myself with about half a million, a million in reserve at any time. Most importantly, though, I love what I do? Why should I make others pay for that?

Misterie

Vayde_Aren

Thu Feb 19, 2004 2:31 pm

#22

Hm, I might be one of the few non-masters [yet!] commenting.

I've never done pricing based on cpu for resources. I've always done it based on buff amount and time to calculate a per-dose, then multiplied accordingly. I never went with an added cost based on resources UNLESS it was a planet-specific, type-specific one, whihc tended to incurr a small per-use added amount, not much to speak of. And I never include factory cost, simply because I'm going to maintain my factory with power and credits 24/7, whether it's cooking or idle. I never notice that cost to myself and never passed it on before.

However, now i thinkI will be adding the cost of non-chef components +10% for my trouble. I have some contacts for regular supply on some, not on others, but it's still a damned annoyance that I cannot keep what I have skill-wise and make my own stuff.... I really didn't appreciate that. If there's any component I can't make myself, that's a cost to me for sure, plus the bother of finding someone to supply it. Iprefer independace, and this revamp took that away from me, so, it's gonna cost someone, because tracking down another artisan or vendor is pain in my ass.

One thing this puts in my way also is, what do i do with foods that give a HAM bonus, but not a buff number [ie, wookie roar, xp bonus, less wounds on clone]? Well, they actually have a number, but the bunch of them don't really provide a range which is applicable across them. Your survey bonus can be 40%, but your xp bonus can only be 5%... that's not accurate from the book but you get what I'm saying. When it comes to these, I'm going to have to ballpark it completely and see where it sells, then maintain that level.. and I'm gonna start high. Some of the skill-based buffs are just so bloody important, that they will be at a premium. What that premium will be, the market must decide for me. Lastly, the HUGE sellers of the moment will be priced via the market, and perhaps a little lower than most to encourage business [since, as I said, I am not a Master yet, though I did max the Culinary line first for the best quality I could do].

VAYDE AREN
R

Gremlintooth

Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:48 pm

#23

Hi all, pretty good discussion here, and i hate to say it im a dimwit when it comes to math and usually just check these boards to see the general consensus on what food sells for how much, and skip these formulas that keep coming up. I'm a master Chef on Valcyn and i was wondering if any of the other Master Chefs reading this post are on valcyn and could give me a general idea on what a crate of Good Vasarian Brandy goes for. and i'd just like to get in touch with another Master chef just to compare notes or to get info from time to time.

i've been planning on pricing my brandy around 300k a crate 1) cause its really good and 2)cause its been a real pain to get all together, hunt down a BE that wont rip me off for additives and everything else involved. Just wondering if thats beeing a little greedy. not going to be selling any until i get some feedback here.

And my two sense about pricing on alot of the new chef food. the formula's make sense i guess but it seems like everyone wants to call you a stinking rip off for trying to get some profit on what your selling. I just thing the Consumer's arnt taking into account ITS NOT JUST RESOURCES, some of the things we need are stupidly time consuming unless we are just buying everything. And i think they are forgetting we just dont magically have the resources and POP theres the brandy. Alot of running around and waiting on BE's,Trim(if your using casks) resources to be harvested etc....

thanks for your time

and if your a MC on Valcyn plz send me an ingame emailjust need someone i can throw a question at time to time.

Oni

Master Chef

Valcyn

SirVimes

Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:53 pm

#24

I got a question for you all....

I have brandy that is made with decent but not great materials and no BE additives. They are, I believe, +170 for 42 minutes.

What would you sell these for?

SirVimes

Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:55 pm

#25

Oh, and these are made with small glasses.

neinnunb

Thu Feb 19, 2004 5:19 pm

#26

SirVimes wrote:

I have brandy that is made with decent but not great materials and no BE additives. They are, I believe, +170 for 42 minutes.

What would you sell these for?

my current price is 980 creditsformy non-BE brandy with not that great fruit and berries. (my prices change almost daily up and down)

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Thread: CHEF FOOD PRICING DISCUSSION (Chefs only please)