Doctor Archive
Thread: Buffing for Cash. Some thoughts.
First, let me say that this post is strictly regarding how to maximize buff profit. It is not intended to say that every doc should charge this amount or that amount or give any moral reasons as to why a buff should cost this or that. This post is strictly to give folks some things to think about when they are buffing to make money.
I have buffed over 1500 times and here are a few of the thinks I think about when doing so to make money.
1. Never think about a buff price based on the cost of the buff. That is the wrong side of the coin. Think of the price on what your customer is willing to pay. They set the value/price. Your goal is to anticipate that value and to not undersell it.
2. Buffing in Coronet for cash
A. You’re the only one there.
Start off higher than normal. Then lower your price as the line thins out. The goal is to catch as many Uber players as you can that are willing and able to pay a high price. When you done with them then drop the price a bit.
Set some min. price in your head and don't drop below it. If your at the min and no one is in your line go do something else and then come back.
B. Your not the only one.
i. There is a long line at the other doc.
The demand is high so jack up the price. Many people will be happy to pay more not to have to wait in line. Never under cut the other doc. It is just bad form and you will sell yourself short.
ii. There is a small line at the other doc.
They have a good price, use it if it is equal to or above your min. If it is below then go do something else.
iii. There is no line at the other doc.
Lower the price. Don't, however go below your min. Yes your undercutting the other doc but they have no customers anyway so it is not like your taking any. Let them know what you plan to do.
3. Buffing in a high mortality location such as Dath, geno cave, etc.
Charge more. There will be lots of clones looking for buffs. It will be cheaper for them to pay your higher price than to travel to get a cheaper buff. The odds are good you’re the only doc buffing for cash.
4. If they ask you if your buffing charge more. They have just told you that they really want the buff.
4. To buy or make your own packs
A. If you have lots of uber stuff and a good network of resource gatherers then buy all means make your own. You will save some cash. You can also make money by selling the packs you can't use.
B. If you don't have a good resource support system then think about buying them. On a per pack basis most of the money in buffing is in the administration of the buff not in making the packs. Remember that you can spend xx time gathering resources or spend it buffing for cash. Figure out which makes you more money.
5. Get to know other docs. You can never get price fixing on a large scale but you can often work with other docs to raise the price on a short term. Just send them a tell "hey what are you charging, I was thinking XXX, how about you?" Then agree on a price.
6. Get to know other docs for resources and waypoints. Lowers the cost of resources for both of you.
7. Educate your buffies. People will pay more when they understand that in a 3 hr buff they can easily make much more than the cost of the buff. They need to think about what the buff enables them to do that they can not do without it.
8. Remember, your not just selling a product your selling a service. Make it fun. People are much happier paying someone they like than someone they don’t.
Again, exact numbers are meaningless. Ever economy is different.
If you have other good thoughts that I have missed let me know. If you disagree with anything let me know.
Marrow
I see your point on most of this - but I still need some sort of base guideline on how much to charge for buffs... then I can alter this price to fit the circumstances you describe. After another thread, I'd settled on the 1cr per point buffed, which got my set of D & C buffs at 7196 cr, which seemed high even for FarStar, considering duration of 1.5 hours on the secondary stats. I've discounted to 6k to take that into account, and use this as my current 'base' price.
Your points about adjustment based on location, though, were enlightening. Much of it was common sense, though sadly often overlooked!
It's simple man...
Anything under 2k but above 1.5k for buff stats should be 8k per buff.
Anything better than 2k but lower than 2.2k is 10k per buff.
Anything over 2.2k is 12k or more per buff.
Simple. Nothing lower than 8k unless they are1k buffs, then you choose your own price somewhere below 8k. This is frouned upon though, so do not be surprised if other docs give you crap about selling sub par buffs. Lol.
This way everyone is happy, and no one feels ripped off or likethey are giving buffs away.
It reall makes me mad to see someone selling killer buffsfor anything lessthan 10k per, because then I feel like I am ripping people off selling mine at 8k when they areat 1900 - 2000 per stat.
homebreu wrote:
It's simple man...
Anything under 2k but above 1.5k for buff stats should be 8k per buff.
Anything better than 2k but lower than 2.2k is 10k per buff.
Anything over 2.2k is 12k or more per buff.
Simple. Nothing lower than 8k unless they are1k buffs, then you choose your own price somewhere below 8k. This is frouned upon though, so do not be surprised if other docs give you crap about selling sub par buffs. Lol.
This way everyone is happy, and no one feels ripped off or likethey are giving buffs away.
It reall makes me mad to see someone selling killer buffsfor anything lessthan 10k per, because then I feel like I am ripping people off selling mine at 8k when they areat 1900 - 2000 per stat.
Just my humble opinion.
Heh if only it were that simple. I admit it I use premade buff packs. I just got Master Doc and didn't have the resources available to make my own, but that is changing. With my med droid BE Clothing and 3 staggered brandies I was hitting just over 2k per stat. I was sittin on Dant buffin for cash when asked how much I was charging. I explained 10k per set, 2k buff per stat and lasting almost 3.5 hours for each stat. I was then told that my buffs were "more in line with a 9k price than a 10k price". I sat there thinking to myself fine, if you wanna pay for the ticket to Coronet pay 8k for the same stats and wait in line for 15 minutes or longer it's no skin off my nose. Oh, and by the way, that was another MD telling me this.
Now in response I have sold my buffs for 9k but only for two people and that was before I truly understood what a great product I had. So I refuse to compromise my prices just because someone thinks my price is too much. I'm already on my third stack of premades and I've only been buffing for cash a total of "maybe" 6 hours real time.
So for all you new docs out there don't get discouraged when you see someone selling buffs for 8k or even less. If you have a quality product don't compromise on your price and much like field of dreams "if you buff them, they will come".
Ok, here is a real life example that just happend last night.
I was on Dant waiting ona friend to go hunting so I thought I would buff a few folks for cash while I wait. I noticed a doc with a long line. He is spaming 7k for 2.4k stats.
So what does rule 2.B.i state? Rase the price. In a hunting place like Dant this rule is even more true. People are in a hurry. They want hunt for cash not stand around waiting on a buff.
So I stat that I am buffing for 10k a set and my buffs are 2.2k. I quickly get a note from someone say "your should lower your prices. XXX is selling them for 7k". I chuckle.
In seconds I have a line for my lesser quality buffs at higher prices. One guy even tipped me 15k and said thank man I really did not want to wait in that line. All my customers were happy to pay a little bit more to get on with their game.
Marrow