Doctor Archive
Thread: How much will people pay for a BUFF?
STLpMpNu
Sat Jan 01, 2005 6:00 am
#53
I spent 2 months as a port doc i have my own doc alt i suffer 0 due to the over infaltion of doc buffs. I find it ammusing that you can justify charging this outrageous prices to milk the economy for all it has left while makeing the newer players suffer. We are not arguing skill point required for a proffesion we are arguing the fact that the doctors overcharging in the ports. The old justification was that the proffesions were makeing 1-2 mil a buff session grinding money and docs weren't getting a fair share i can understand that but where is the argument now.
Looters take by far more skill than any port doc. You have to have good armor top of the line weapons you ahve to deal with low drop rates and haveing to fight for loot rights. Rangers/scouts are going to be one of the higher paid proffesions soon. No doubt about it. As for grinding money missions its imopsible to do anymore. To join a solo group is just to get xp there is no profit in it anymore. Think realisticly and stop riping people off.
Airleas
Sat Jan 01, 2005 11:11 am
#54
If you really do not like how doctors are making the noobs "suffer," then why do you not change it? If you have a master doc alt, why not take them to the starport and help to drive down the price. It seems to me like you have some power here, so instead of complaining, why not do something about it?
Airleas Aisling
Master Doctor/Master Swordsman
Gorath
STLpMpNu
Sat Jan 01, 2005 5:47 pm
#55
So its my job to fix other peoples bad business pracitces. I have better things to do than to take care of newbs from crooked docs.
Airleas
Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:20 pm
#56
Not to be rude, but then why are you posting messages concerning buff prices? Buffing docs are not going to bring down their prices unless they see their business going elsewhere. If there is no one buffing for less, the prices will not change becausebuffs are in high demand. People will take what they can get, ridiculous prices or not.
If you have the power to affect buff prices in your galaxy and chose to do nothing about it, then what are you hoping to accomplish in this thread?
Airleas Aisling
Master Doctor/Master Swordsman
Gorath
Airleas
Sun Jan 02, 2005 3:32 pm
#57
Intersting pricing, Thorkahn. 
On Gorath, it seems more location based. You will find docs buffing for 15k about 90% of the time regardless of strength or time in Coronet. The docs usually band together to charge the same so they all make money. I have actually received some nasty tells from them wanting me to drop my price when I have buffed for 12k (2347-2496 3.5 hrs was my starport buffs, thoughI don't do that anymore). In the Outposts, you can usully find buffs for between 10 - 15k depending on how many are buffing (if there is just one, then the price is 15k, if there is competition it is 12k or less). Again, that is usullay regardless of strength and time. It is more difficult to find a doctor willing to buff in the Outposts, whereas there is at least one doctor buffing in the Coronet starport nearly all day.
Hope this helps you as well.
Airleas Aisling
Master Doctor/Master Swordsman
Gorath
TJMaverick
Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:50 pm
#58
I'm going to reiterate what lots of people have said. Supply and demand. If you charge 20k for a buff and people pay for it, good for you. They obviously can afford it. If a noob wan't a buff and can't afford it then it's tough. It's not their right to a buff. We don't have to buff anyone at all. (Personally I do give away quite a few buffs) I'm not saying that this is right but most doctors are doctors for the money.
I think I was the first person, and probably still the only one, on the Corbantis server to offer a choice. I gave 2380's for 15k (the standard price) and 2500's for 18k. There's a choice. On a side note, the 2380's cost me 7.5k per buff and the 2500's 11k per buff. The profit margin wasn't all that great, but only 75% of my buffs we're paid for. A lot went on me, friends, noobs, half buffs for entertainers etc.
Just my random drnken gibberish thoughts on the subject. Feel free to 1 star me for my opinions 
ShakariPsy
Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:37 pm
#59
austin816 wrote:
STLpMpNu wrote:
hurting the new players since they can't afford to get buffed with those prices.
I disagree...there is always some doctor buffing for 6-10k...You might have to look around but trust me, someone will always buff noobs. There is alot of very nice doctors in the game, I'm not one of them. I'm not hurting noobs...if they can't afford it,then go across the street. I'm not a noob helper.
don't care if your scrooge or santa claus what STLpMpNu said if right... I can afford those prices but I know lots who can't....
and u said if your the only one in coronet you charge 30k.... well if your the only one there..... need i say more... kinda makes the go accross the street coment pointless don't it 
you'd get more money in the long run by looking after ppl, as they will come back... sure charge 30k to ppl who can afford it, but for noobs lower the price!
STLpMpNu wrote:
What you don't understand is There was a credit nerf so the idea to charge 15-30k a buff nolonger is supported by people
I do understand the nerf...and thanks for the reply...but people are still willing to pay 30k for a buff when the buff demand is high. Ionly look for starports that have no doctors and then I tax everyone for that same reason. Yes, I would say that I rip people off but it is a free marketplace. I can make more money buffing a few people@ 30k than I do at buffing 10 people @ 10k.
yes but how many repeat customers do u get when there is a doc next to you?????
you may make more credit there and then, but a lot of ppl remember kindness and politness and will return or go to you if they see you, I know I have had quite a few regular ppl come to me when I buffed the public...
Think forward a little and don't just price for now!!
Message Edited by ShakariPsy on 01-03-2005 04:41 AM
ShakariPsy
Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:44 pm
#60
Airleas wrote:
Have you ever been a doctor? Until you realize how much time it takes to gather resources, hunt down resources, experiment with schematics, pay maintenace on factories and harvestors, waited a few days for the factory run to complete and, best of all, actually sit and buff people with your attitude towards doctors, I do not think you can acurately judge how much is too much for a buff.
And as a side note, I am sure you are a nice person (so this is not a personal attack), but it is the people with your attitude that have made me refuse to buff outside my guild. You all just do not getit. I am now only a crafting doctor.
Airleas Aisling
Master Doctor/Master Swordsman
Gorath
your presuming he hasn't and even if he hasn't most public buffing docs buy there buffs from crafting doc like you I know I did lol
cheaper and far quicker than harvesting your own to use....
But then I'm going like you buff within my guild and starting to craft buffs to sell
P.S. hehe same profs as me to
ShakariPsy
Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:53 pm
#61
Airleas wrote:
Well, I just got an offer about 20 minutes ago for Yavin4 avian meat in the Dantooine Mining Outpost for 350 cpu, so obviously this is still possible - at leaston Gorath. To my knowledge, most of the people who hunt for meat do not do missions. Usually they are rangers who scout out their targets, so the nerf does not affect them directly.
certain established doc can pay those prices just those prices really hurt doc's who are trying to get started unless i have a lot of cash or another source of income
Travin64068
Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:30 am
#62
STLpMpNu wrote:
So its my job to fix other peoples bad business pracitces. I have better things to do than to take care of newbs from crooked docs.
I remember when the buffs use to be randomly generated, and people would gladly pay 1cr per point buffed. This was before solo grouping was the thing to do. My current buffs are 2449 to every stat, that would be 14694 for a full set. Most doctors I see have stats about like this and charge 15K. This doesn't seem crooked to me. I know on Sunrunner Avian meat use to cost 20cpu for a good spawn, now it's up to 150+cpu. So the cost of being a Doctor has increased, unless you gather all your own resources.
- Travin
Gunfiter
Mon Jan 03, 2005 6:33 pm
#63
I'm rather new to the doc profession, but here's how I justify my pricing. I try to take into accountseveral factors.
First off, I take into account who else is buffing around me. I live on Corellia, so I usually try to grind out some cash buffing in the Cnet starport. There are usually at least two (always at least one) other doctors there buffing. The thing is, it seems like I'm the only doctor that doesn't start an AFK buffbot script and goto sleep or something. In fact, I usually bark out for business and include the fact that I'm a live doctor and not a bot. The AFK bots must not chomp down on the bivoli like I do, because I usually get around 250 points on top of whatever they're buffing for.
Second, I have to make a profit. I'm too new andhave too much going on in the game right now to craft out my own uber buffs, so I buy backpacked sets. This, coupled with the cost of bivoli (shop Chickenboy! Best tasting bivoli in the galaxy), means that I can afford to buff for 2440 and 2550 and only charge14K. This is very reasonable when compared the AFK buffbot's 2200 for 10K. In addition, it affords me the opportunity to provide a small discount to guildies and friends who have helped me get where I am today.
Third, mitigating circumstances. One of the benefits of not running an AFK buffbot is that I can communicate with the customers. This means that if I have a line forming, I get the occasional VIP buff request and end up charging 50K for the line cut buff. Just one of these every one or two buffpack purchases can make a big difference. If I'm wandering around the city and someone asks me for a buff, I usually serve them up right on the spot. If they just want a 2200 buff, I'll buff 'em for 10K. If they want das uber buffage, and I have to eat some bivoli, I charge them 15K to cover the cost of having to eat some bivoli for (potentially) only one buff.
The way I see it, the cost of buffpacks isn't going down anytime soon, and I don't foresee myself having the time to craft my own buffpacks anytime soon. 14K seems to be an acceptable cost for the buffs I provide, and the customers are willing to pay it (probably more if I asked). If I had some way to get the word out and ensure a steady stream of customers, I would actually buff in a med city for 2700 and charge 16K (someday I'll figure out how to get that goin'). For now, as long as I can give good buffs, good customer service, and turn a tidy profit, both myself and my customers will remain happy.
So, to sum it up, I have to agree with other posters and say that there isn't anything unethical about "overcharging" for our services. The supply/demand economy will equalize itself and rise/drop slowly over time.
STLpMpNu
Mon Jan 03, 2005 7:27 pm
#64
TJMaverick wrote:
I'm going to reiterate what lots of people have said. Supply and demand. If you charge 20k for a buff and people pay for it, good for you. They obviously can afford it. If a noob wan't a buff and can't afford it then it's tough. It's not their right to a buff. We don't have to buff anyone at all. (Personally I do give away quite a few buffs) I'm not saying that this is right but most doctors are doctors for the money.
I think I was the first person, and probably still the only one, on the Corbantis server to offer a choice. I gave 2380's for 15k (the standard price) and 2500's for 18k. There's a choice. On a side note, the 2380's cost me 7.5k per buff and the 2500's 11k per buff. The profit margin wasn't all that great, but only 75% of my buffs we're paid for. A lot went on me, friends, noobs, half buffs for entertainers etc.
Just my random drnken gibberish thoughts on the subject. Feel free to 1 star me for my opinions
When buff stats were random 2800+ people didn't pay more than 8k for buffs 10k was a outrageous price. And you were laughed at if you wanted 12k. Its not a question of supply and demand its a question of overcharging. The prices of the packs you pay for has not increased the crafting docs didn't raise there prices. Just the port docs. If cost of meat goes up which raises the prices of packs you pay for goes up then i have no issues with you raiseing prices but this isn't the case. You are simply charging more because you have it in your head that you can take advantage of people who do not have a doc alt of there own. Or that there are no docs logged in. This is just another money grab attempt and i am just tired of seeing it.
Thorkahn
Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:13 am
#65
I can understand how you feel, and I felt that too.
So I decided to do something about it. I started another account and grinded to Master Doc.
Found a way to make some money selling stuff other than buffs. Bought my first buff pack and went on the street to start selling.
Now I have worked my way through the process of becoming more self sufficient and work with other toons to accumulate resources.
Until you go through this process yourself, you will never appreicate what it means and takes to be a Master Doctor.
Not to mention the fact that the total cost and EFFORT to make and sell buffs is not free.
I value my time do you value yours. Every person involved in the process wants to make money and be compensated for their time.
All those costs go into the pricing of buffs.
You want to make good money, spend your next three hours online hunting what ever creature has the best avian quality on your server and charge the docs what I now see is 75 to 150 cpu. That is outragous.
GOES BOTH WAYS.