Doctor Archive
Thread: docs need a union to avoid cutting each others throughts!!!
When people ask how powerful my buffs are, I tell them 2k enhance for 3 hours 20 mins (and actually they are a bit higher on both those numbers). I simply refuse to get caught up in a pissing contest over a few points here or there.
Whether it's buffs or laser rifles - a few points one way or the other just isn't worth worrying about.
Unions enforce mediocrity, in game and in life.
The function of a union is to eliminate competition, therefore becoming the "only game in town". This is great for the union members, who have no incentive to be innovative or even particularly attentive to their respective jobs. It is bad for everyone else, who gets a lesser product at a higher price.
Not to mention, there are any number of doctors (like me, for example) who will never join a union. On the rare occasions that I buff the public, I charge what I want to charge, depending on the situation.
Your idea will not work because only a small percentage of doctors will sign on. Most will just ignore you and do what they want, rendering your union pointless.
Witness the now famous "doctor's union" that's been the subject of hot debate on the boards. They are a punchline now, rather than a market controlling force, for that very reason.
I wasn't even planning on selling pets on mount day, but the scammers pissed me off so bad I put my title on and sold mounts anyway. You know what I charged?
15k - 10k for the saddle, and 5k for the really sh*tty pet.
And all the while the scammers were trying to get a million each for the stupid things.
Screw that.
Cablegod wrote:make no mistake..im a independant contractor and i know how unions work, as im not in one...as in real life there are instances where unions are needed (ie. cable tv contracting) for instance... when your one of a few elite contract companies in a metro area (dallas/fort worth) and these pissant / fly-by-night companies come into town and lowball the contracts, cost you your buisness..then there out the door when theyve made there mil and wrecked that particular buisness economy for the ones who are in it for the long run!! this is what im talkin about (these kind of docs, you know, the ones that think ONLY of quick easy cash)...on eclipse server i RARELY see any1 buffing for less than 10k...sometimes 8k, but they only buff for like 1800-1900 per stat... i do buffs because i like to, but i also like money!! im just saying that lowballers only hurt the docs that do great buffs and plan on doing it for an extended period of time..besides, whats wrong with charging 10-12k? its only 1 mission on dantooine (and most planets)..not reasonable?
Making a SIXTY PERCENT PROFIT is NOT lowballing.
If I can make a 60% profit while buying buffpacks instead of making them, then I KNOW that that I'm overcharging even at 6k/buff.
And if someone is selling buffs for double what I charge, then they aren't just overcharging, they are RIPPING OFF. And yes, rip offs ARE unreasonable.
I charge 1k/stat and I know that's too high as it is, because I know that my profit margin is too high. In the real world a 20% profit margin is respectable, and 30% is outstanding.
And I make a 60% profit in-game.
Now, does anyone wonder why the "player driven economy" in this game is completely screwed up? Simple - the players the drive it have screwed it up.
I'll continue to charge 6k/buff even if my costs go up. I will do that until my profit drops below 30%, then I'll raise my prices. I will do that regardless of what anyone else does, thinks or charges.
If my prices happen to undercut yours, then truthfully, I have no sympathy because I -know- how much profit is being made.
There has to be something siad about the time it takes to grind your profession, harvest the good materials, etc.
I personally don't complain when a Master Gunfighter can make 100k in ancouple of hoursusing my buffs.
Message Edited by chuckbaca on 04-28-2004 04:18 AM
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Message Edited by chuckbaca on 04-28-2004 04:34 AM