Chef Archive
Thread: Vendor updates delayed, what would *you* want?
Page 1 of 2
sciguyCO
Sun Feb 13, 2005 9:46 pm
#1
Tiggs made a post saying that the proposed vendor search update has been pulled out of the update schedule for more work.
This is mainly an effect on Merchant itself (rather than any of the particular crafting profs that use Merchant skills to sell stuff), but I thought I'd run a mini-poll here. I also think it's a good idea for people concerned about this to make their opinions heard on the Vendor change thread in "In Development" (If you haven't already) and the various threads going on over in the Merchant forum.
So, I'd like your opinions (choices are not all-inclusive, feel free to add your own):
1) What would you like to see added to merchant/vendor functionality?
- Easier restock? (kind of a "duh" suggestion, but it was the first thing I thought of).
- Region/Planetary/Galaxy search for item name only?
- Region/Planetary/Galaxy search for item name and details only?
- Region/Planetary/Galaxy search for item name, details, and price?
- Item delivery?
- Vendor-run auctions?
- What functions should be "free" with any vendor, what should require skill investment?
2) What don't you want changed/addedto merchant/vendor functionality?
- Item delivery?
- Region/Planetary/Galaxy search for name/details/price?
The crafting correspondants are definitely aware the strong reaction this proposal has had, and are working to make your opinions heard to the devs (in addition to the devs monitoring the public threads). I just want to get a good handle on what the various chef opinions are.
Eerif
Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:00 pm
#2
my two cents
1) I want to be able to hold my shift button down and select multiple items in my inventory first of all.... but I dont think that's related.... sooooo
Galaxy search for player name and type of sales, type of sales acting like they have on the player map. Wouldn't show any items, price, details, just the name of the player who owns the vendor and what type of thing is on the vendor as well as giving a waypoint. Secondly, I think a galaxy wide display of all the person's stock by looking at the person's vendor should be applicable. Item delivery however at a 5% cost to the player.
Yes, vendor run auctions would be good, however an increased auction function on the bazaar would be better (maybe a seperate "auction" terminal?) so that auctions would get more publicity.
Skill requirements would fall under the advertising line for these, none free with any vendor, all merchant skills. Maybe combine the Hiring line with Management and put in an "Auction" line allowing the player to list an increasing amount of auctions on the auction terminal at an increasing price limit, adding features like buyouts at "Auction I".
2) Item delivery and galaxy/planetary/region search from the bazaar are bad ideas. Only those who undercut others would succeed, thus driving the price on items down, reducing the amount of people willing to play these crafting professions. Item delivery should come at a cost if it is implemented
Was rushing this response so I apologize for any grammar/spelling errors.
*tips hat to sciguy*
Glad to be of service!
KappaStang
Sun Feb 13, 2005 10:34 pm
#3
At most, maybe allow items to be seen but no stats or prices. Just see who has what stocked.
No item delivery, unless at a heavy cost (25%).
Vendor run auctions sounds good.
If they do introduce galaxy wide listings, then it should be a master merchant skill, however I am against galaxy wide listings (maybe planet wide listings, but still not thrilled).
I'm not sure what should be based on skill point investment exactly, but the profession definately needs alot of help.
Eerif
Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:05 pm
#4
The problem with showing the name that I see is that people will just start to put the stats and price in the name. Kinda defeats the purpose....
Toolboxx
Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:09 pm
#5
-Well of course we want to be able to stock stuff easier, selecting multiple items at once to be posted at the same price is a MUST. Even selecting stuff in general (such as moving 20 crates of casks and 40 crates of alchol into a factory easier....man its a pain the way it is now).
-I think if the changes went though as proposed initally, it would KILL many crafters off, just kill them. The search should display vendor location, and what they have in stock with NO stats or prices. It would be great if they would even go to the extent to make it so the generic name shows up instead of what the crafter named the item. For example, i simply add "[MMM] Power" to the beginning of all food names, but some people list stats in the name. To make it so it doesnt list stats at all the generic name should show up.......[MMM] Power Halva vs Halva.
-Item delivery should not even be in question, this would make the point of a shop pointless. Might as well be able to run a shop from the bazaar at that point.
-Vendor-run auctions would be cool, but i think specific auction terminals at large npc cites and player run cities with a shuttport would be great. The starter of tha auction being able to set all rules, just like we do on fourms. And these auctions would be able to be viewed and bid on from ANY auction terminal. Tho for pick up the winner would have to report to the specific location where the item was originally listed.
-in terms of skill requirements, i think novice merchant should be able to display shop location and generic names of what is stocked for all to view from bazaars and other vendors galaxy wide.
-I think the system is better now than it would be with proposed changes, it would just kill off some crafters. Im not saying i would be affected by it, it might even boost my sales as i sell stuff pretty cheep with great stats. But overall it doesnt sound fair for the community. My above ideas are much better 
Message Edited by Toolboxx on 02-13-2005 10:09 PM
KappaStang
Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:25 pm
#6
Eerif wrote:
The problem with showing the name that I see is that people will just start to put the stats and price in the name. Kinda defeats the purpose....
Good call, did not even think about it and I put the stats on the name. I'm just totally against the proposed changes to listings.
Ochiir
Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:30 pm
#7
KappaStang wrote:
Eerif wrote:The problem with showing the name that I see is that people will just start to put the stats and price in the name. Kinda defeats the purpose....
Good call, did not even think about it and I put the stats on the name. I'm just totally against the proposed changes to listings.
One idea would be for the search function to only show the generic name of the item, for instance no matter who made it shows as Vasarian Brandy. This way people could at least check vendors to see if they have what they are looking for without destroying business for people with lesser quality products.
Toolboxx
Sun Feb 13, 2005 11:39 pm
#8
as i said in my post like 3 up...
-I think if the changes went though as proposed initally, it would KILL many crafters off, just kill them. The search should display vendor location, and what they have in stock with NO stats or prices. It would be great if they would even go to the extent to make it so the generic name shows up instead of what the crafter named the item. For example, i simply add "[MMM] Power" to the beginning of all food names, but some people list stats in the name. To make it so it doesnt list stats at all the generic name should show up.......[MMM] Power Halva vs Halva.
Minotauro
Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:48 am
#9
I think it would be cool to be able to stock any vendor from any vendor. I dont craft in the same city i do most of my selling, and it would be nice to be able to be standing at one vendor and be putting stuff up on a different planet.
Also the obvious move more then one item at a time
And just a merchant change in general....no SP's required like politician is now.
Kansalis
Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:42 am
#10
I think a Galaxy-wide search function would be a definite bonus, but it should be implimented in the same way as the Bazaar. ie if you buy an item it goes into the stockroom of the vendor you bought it from. There should be no deliveries at all, so the 'Malls' idea is still feasible to a certain extent.
Vendor-based auctions are a long time overdue IMO. We should have had these from the start. The functionality is in the Bazaar system already, so why not extend it to Merchant Vendors without the price limits? Perhaps having a skillpoint requirement outside the normal 'dabblers' range, so only Master Merchants are able to hold auctions.
Multiple-select for sales listings and general inventory management is another thing we should all be pushing for 
Batman_TWB
Mon Feb 14, 2005 4:54 am
#11
Great points all around but dont think the new features should be a Master only. I have mastered merchant, but currently have 0/0/0/4 so I can run my buisness and have TKM so I can guild hunt and do some FS grinding. I would gladly readjust my skills for new features but would be disappointed if they were in Master. I am anot unlocked nor can I afford a 2nd account, so why should I be punished as well. Dont hoard the cookies, just make it so ya can use it if ya drop it.
waffle2626
Mon Feb 14, 2005 6:18 am
#12
I'd honestly be happy with a re-stock button, then they can throw whatever they want at me 
OK not quite...but seriously, I think just listing the name with a 5-10% cost to the merchant to do so would work well.
OK not quite...but seriously, I think just listing the name with a 5-10% cost to the merchant to do so would work well.
xDiggerx
Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:11 am
#13
I appreciate that your asking for input and I trust these do get passed on. Thanks!
Must haves
- restock button. This should include multiple options with the default relisting an item, on the same vendor it came off of, for the same price it was previously listed at......AND, this should also include and copy over the description of the item if the seller took the time to describe anything about the item. For instance when selling used harvestors I always include the maintenance and power on the harvestor then I show that removed from the asking price and what the harvestor is really costing them. This might seem small but I think having the description carry over is beneficial. As it is now I can cut and paste generic description items over but I don't take the time during restocking to rewrite a detailed specific item description.
- more vendor space, at least at Master Merchant. If your a master merchant why even have limits of vendor space? or at least make it significantly higher than what others get at lower merchant levels.
Nice haves
- restock button with a price change option. Same as above, but this time you can be prompted to make a price change. Maybe a section that you could pre-set for the listing price......"relist items at 10% reduced price" would repost your item when you hit "restock" but automatically drop the price by 10% (or whatever percent you list) from what it was previously listed for on your vendor.
- transfer of items from the output hopper to the input hopper or to your inventory, AS A "LIKE" GROUP. So you click on a cask with a set serial number. You then on the radial menu are able to pick "select all like items" which would be those same casks with the same serial number. You can then "move to input hopper" or "move to inventory".
On the new proposed vendor issues. Having a national listing with what is available on a vendor I think can improve sales for everyone. Showing the description of the item is a good idea, not the generic "vasarian brandy" approach. I don't think that the price of products should be listed. Granted some will start including price in the title, but if using the text filter the $ could be blocked, and key words like "price", "cost", etc.. this could be minimized. If the price was shown galaxy wide or even planet wide then suddenly sales will become a huge price war. Delivery of an item without visiting the shop? BAH! You trying to kill our businesses? I keep my prices low on some items to get people into my shop, it's the same thing most stores in RL do. I depend on people buying other items they see on my vendors even though they came to my shop for one specific item. WE MUST keep people traveling around planets and visiting our shops/vendors. If we want to allow people to purchase from our vendors global or galaxy wide, that could work, but they really need to travel to the shop to pick it up. Have a wp show up in their datapad when they purchase the item or if they request the vendor wp from the shop listing.
Page 1 of 2