Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Earning fast money as DE
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MasterDroider
Sun Jan 02, 2005 3:16 am
#1
Yes, can somebody tell me how to earn lot money as DE, m artisan and some marchent?
Atan
Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:56 am
#3
hmmm...
there is no real "fast" way. You could try new things though, like creating like 20+ BOOM R3's and auction them off all at once on the board... no idea if it works 
Lycids
Sun Jan 02, 2005 10:58 am
#4
I have been a Master DE for eight months now and have made about 30 million credits gross, and after the cost of factories, my skill tapes t obe a 12 point DE and a few other things i have about 20 million on hand. Here are a few tips which have helped me build a client base, which is the key to success.
1. Sell maxstorage rating MSE droids on the Bazaar. These little guys are always in demand, peeps both new and old are always looking for more storage! If can make Lvl six storage mods then a MSE will do, if not then stack two lvl fives or fours in ADV. MSE.
2. Back at your shop only stock wha tis in demand. My best sellers since day one have always been Bounty Hunter droids and Medical droids with, 110 Med rating, private crafting station, and Max storage. Be sure to put a variety of droids on your vendor, people love options. The great thing about the BH droids are , the quailty of resources doesnot matter!
3. Keep a vendor in your shop with droid accessories on it. Batteries, repair kits, custom kits, etc... These are not your money makers but this will help keep people coming back if they know they can get all their droid needs at one stop.
4. Last and not least, while you are doing the above things be chasing down those High quality resources. Has taken me eight months to get to the point where i can make 108 rated Harvest droids and 57 power Bomb droids. Be sure to put your name on everything the customer will take with them. Advertise, advertise, advertise.
These have worked for me and have taken time and effort. I am a DE because i love it and the money is just a result of my hard work to a career i love. If this does not sound like your cup of tea, then may i suggest Master Weaponsmith , Chef or Armorsmith which tend to make credits fast.
1StarNinja
Mon Jan 03, 2005 2:59 pm
#5
I've been a Master DE for only a little while now (about2 months). I use Merchants Friend to keep track of my sales and according to it, I've managed to clear about 11 million in DE items in 2004 (I've made about 16-17 million, but I'm excluding non DE items from this figure). That was 44 days worth of when my first vendor went up until midnight when the clocks rolled over.
It is possible to make a decent amount of money being a Droid Engineer however you need a couple of things to do this.
- ADroid Engineer starved server
- Good Location for your vendor(s)
- Harvest your own resources (I've got 3 accounts and I have done lot trades to do my own harvesting of all my own resources so I don't pay exorbitant prices, Most I ever have paid is 8cpu for some Tolium as I ran out)
- Lots of time to searchalmost each and every vendor on your server looking for the elusive "Impossible deal" of excellent resources on your server (I found 180K of Inert Gas with an OQ of 999 for 2cpu and other awesome deals of long dead spawns)
- 4-5 Factories working around the clock to pump out what you need (If you plan on going big, or at least to start to get all your subs completed asap so you don't keep people waiting and you are stocked fast.)
- A Decent amount of startup cash (To pay harvester maintenance and to keep you floating until funds starting coming in on a regular basis). I'd recommend about 2 mill or so.
- Lots of timeto spend crafting
- Lots and Lots of patience
Currently according to Merchants Friend I'm managing to clearanywhere from 400-700K a day in sales (gross, not net).
TheRealTK421
Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:31 pm
#6
/bow
1StarNinja wrote:
It is possible to make a decent amount of money being a Droid Engineer however you need a couple of things to do this.
- ADroid Engineer starved server
I think this is every server.
- Good Location for your vendor(s)
It helps...but it's not a requirement. This can be offset some via level of service,pricingand selection, etc.
- Harvest your own resources (I've got 3 accounts and I have done lot trades to do my own harvesting of all my own resources so I don't pay exorbitant prices, Most I ever have paid is 8cpu for some Tolium as I ran out)
I agree with this, especially for the 'rares'. However, on day to day stuff (Chem for EMMs/EGPs, Low Grade Ore and other stuff)....just find a good mining outlet and buy in bulk. This works even better if you get an 'understanding' working with the mining company.
- Lots of time to searchalmost each and every vendor on your server looking for the elusive "Impossible deal" of excellent resources on your server (I found 180K of Inert Gas with an OQ of 999 for 2cpu and other awesome deals of long dead spawns)
Wow...I do this some but I don't have the patience to be checking all over the place. Maybe I should start.
- 4-5 Factories working around the clock to pump out what you need (If you plan on going big, or at least to start to get all your subs completed asap so you don't keep people waiting and you are stocked fast.)
To take that even further, use them to work up a healthy number of chassis and clusters you'll be using for your 'ready-made' product. I do this with 'Damage' clusters and 'AutoRepair' (for Tank probots), in addition to my med droids and such. I helps a LOT to have a lot of stuff as ready as possible so you can just crate final deeds.
- A Decent amount of startup cash (To pay harvester maintenance and to keep you floating until funds starting coming in on a regular basis). I'd recommend about 2 mill or so.
I think I got going on about 125k. If you can start higher, all the better. For a 'won't make you rich' profession like DE, it can be key to keep an eye on your finances unless you're offsetting income in other ways.
- Lots of timeto spend crafting
Mmmm...crafting schematics, you mean.
- Lots and Lots of patience
Mmmm...the bane of all new DEs / MDEs, I'm sure. It's important though...especially when it comes to find really good DE-required rares (like high end Tolium, for example).
Currently according to Merchants Friend I'm managing to clearanywhere from 400-700K a day in sales (gross, not net).
One other side suggestion here would be to find a good, well-known Master Merchant that you can trust and wholesale to them. I've started doing this with one of my long-term clients and it's really going very well so far. I crate up stuff for the both of us at the same time, which actually ends up saving me time in the long run. I make less per droid but I sell more...so it all works out.
Plus.........as others have pointed out.......
If you're into DE for the money, you may be in the wrong profession.
Respectfully,
1StarNinja
Mon Jan 03, 2005 4:45 pm
#7
Yeah I should have went a bit further with the factory thing (being at work and posting on the forums is hard to juggle some days 
).
).DE definately won't make you rich (I make a fair bit of money but I could definately make alot more being a WS or AS or even an Arch alot easier).
Definately have those schematics for the cluster modules and Chassis as TK421 mentioned. In the DE 101 sticky there is a list of what is recommended amounts of "stocked" Chassis and Sub components that is well worth looking at. You will end up adjusting that for your needs as time goes on, but those amounts are good to start with.
TK421 does make some very good points (I'm very new to DE compared to most of the guys here, actually this is my first time doing a crafting profession at all and I'm enjoying it).
1StarNinja
Mon Jan 03, 2005 4:53 pm
#8
TheRealTK421 wrote:
/bow
1StarNinja wrote:
- Lots of time to searchalmost each and every vendor on your server looking for the elusive "Impossible deal" of excellent resources on your server (I found 180K of Inert Gas with an OQ of 999 for 2cpu and other awesome deals of long dead spawns)
Wow...I do this some but I don't have the patience to be checking all over the place. Maybe I should start.
Respectfully,
You should see some of the other awesome deals I got. Some of the stuff I found though I was in shock when I did find it, 2cpu was generally the highest amount I paid for anything (I did pay 3cpu a couple times though). I did probiably spend about 20 hours of ingame time searching all those vendors though.
Squygxicus
Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:04 am
#9
I would have to say these guys that are posting are in a very small percentage of total DE's. DE is not really a high end money maker. Unless you have more than one account to really jump start your business. If you want to have lots of factories up, and harvest your own resources and keep a vendor up in a good location, you need more than 10 lots.
Even in my hey day I was selling only 6 - 7 high end droids a month. That was with great walking distance from a 12 point AS, being in a tent with a 12 point WS, and having other assorted vendors nearby, like an 11 pt Architect. (Im 11 points myself). That was also using a bunch of lots one of my guildies gave me when he went AWOL. But he has since left the game and I'm stuck with my original 10 lots. I've tried to give it up twice but darn it, I'm just stuck on making droids.
/shrug, maybe its just the economy on the server I'm on, but people stick their nose up on Probots with 99% HAM and 107 rated combat modules that last virtually forever and sellfor less than a crate of Brandy.
Its like the classic Amway pitch. Everyone has heard of the "million" dollar earners but no ones ever seen one! (no offense to Amway salespersons)
Zorkk
Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:42 am
#10
To make money fast, I'd suggest getting out there and selling droids!! hang around starports barking a sales add every few minutes. You'll get lots of questions, so make sure you can answer them and it helps to have crated subcomponents ready too 1 factory could put out 25-50 of the base 8 subcomponents that you should carry quite quickly ('cept the adv droid brains), then it's only 5 mins or so to make a droid.
and it helps to have crated subcomponents ready too 1 factory could put out 25-50 of the base 8 subcomponents that you should carry quite quickly ('cept the adv droid brains), then it's only 5 mins or so to make a droid.Just like most things in this game, ppl want instant gratification. If they've been meaning to buy a droid, but haven't bothered looking around, you'll get a sale, or 2 , or 5, ina couple hours easy. Offer to deliver if it's going they are in a rush.
No one see's that amway salesman until he's knocking at your door.....
Z
Crustyfur
Tue Jan 04, 2005 3:16 am
#11
TheRealTK421 wrote:
Plus.........as others have pointed out.......
If you're into DE for the money, you may be in the wrong profession.
I am sorry mate but I have to Disagree. I have been a DE for 1 month and I have grossed over 10 Million, just in December. How? Market Research and Advertising.
I dont overprice my stuff and I dont give it away etheir. After all we spend alot of time crafting and looking after harvies right?! I use efons prices myself from his website as he is on a different server..
http://www.therondesign.com/efon/prices.html
I wont get into a row about the "I am not in the game to make money" players but, PLEASE stop selling things for cost. It hasnt effected me but the amount of times i get told "I can get that 110 Med R3 for 5k off such and such". I tell people to go buy them, then and they do. Although crates of 25 Unprogrammed Droid Command Modules being sold on the Bazaar for 5k do make a healthy return and save me having to make them.
The Long and Short and Curlies of this post is..... You can make the Proffession what you want. You just have to be determined and build up a name for yourself. Know your market!
Happy New Year.
CuoreDE
Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:18 am
#12
1StarNinja wrote:
I've been a Master DE for only a little while now (about2 months). I use Merchants Friend to keep track of my sales and according to it, I've managed to clear about 11 million in DE items in 2004 (I've made about 16-17 million, but I'm excluding non DE items from this figure). That was 44 days worth of when my first vendor went up until midnight when the clocks rolled over.
It is possible to make a decent amount of money being a Droid Engineer however you need a couple of things to do this.
- ADroid Engineer starved server
Out of 9 vendors, on Naboo,on the planetary map under droids, 3 are mine. One of the others the DE is rarely online.
- Good Location for your vendor(s)
I specialize in BH droids and have a shop 650M outside of Kaadara on Naboo. I sell about 10 crates of BH droids a day, on average. This includes Seekers, Arakyds, and Bomb Bots. Adv R3's with 1 combat and 5 auto repair sell very well to BH's.
- Harvest your own resources (I've got 3 accounts and I have done lot trades to do my own harvesting of all my own resources so I don't pay exorbitant prices, Most I ever have paid is 8cpu for some Tolium as I ran out)
Friend dropped my mall and factories for me, so I have all 10 of my lots free. Also a Master Architect so I have an almost unlimited supply of harvesters.
- Lots of time to searchalmost each and every vendor on your server looking for the elusive "Impossible deal" of excellent resources on your server (I found 180K of Inert Gas with an OQ of 999 for 2cpu and other awesome deals of long dead spawns)
Found 100K of 917 OQ Tolium for 5cpu and 100K of 992 CD Copper for 7cpu on a vendor of a someone that was leaving the game.
- 4-5 Factories working around the clock to pump out what you need (If you plan on going big, or at least to start to get all your subs completed asap so you don't keep people waiting and you are stocked fast.)
Ran 4 factories for about5 days straight and made at least 100 of every subcomponent. Now I just need to make additional runs when I start running low on this and that.
- A Decent amount of startup cash (To pay harvester maintenance and to keep you floating until funds starting coming in on a regular basis). I'd recommend about 2 mill or so.
Friend gave me a guild hall for a mall. Another friend dropped it and paid maintence, plus gave me several heavy harvesters.
- Lots of timeto spend crafting
With 4 tools going and most modules and sub components in crates, I can craft about 20+ droids in an hour.
- Lots and Lots of patience
I've been patient. Now it's paying off. I'm getting a reputation of filling orders quickly and with fair prices. I would say that I make a good daily profit, but I'm still working on getting my name out there.
Currently according to Merchants Friend I'm managing to clearanywhere from 400-700K a day in sales (gross, not net).
This is great advice.
Cuore
DarkRenown
Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:14 am
#13
Well, I'll throw in my advice/experience.
DE (for me) was a costly profession to start up. I spent a great deal of money and time just gathering the resources necessary initially.
I then spent a lot of time using 2 factories to create sub-components (EMM, EGP especially).
All this time I was supplying my guild mates with droids, and doing custom jobs (spamming sadly)
Anyway, after gettign Master DE, I estimate I spent about 2 weeks checking out the competition on several planets, checking out these forums for advice and tactics, and then finally setting myself up with a Vendor.
My basic premise was quite simple. If your competitors have it listed on their vendors, then it probably sells. Most experienced DE's (in my experience) specialise in a small number of Droids for their vendor. This is simply because their is such a wide variety you can make, you cannot possibly supply everyone. So you have to make the choice, do you do High Quality, low volume droids, or, Lower quality but High turnover droids.
This is what I found.
Accessories
Droid Batteries - These always sell. Sell them by the crate.
Custom Kits - Again, they were popular, less so now due to the increased lifespan, but they still sell well.
Repair Kits - I get a low turnover of these, but the advantage is yuo can get away with one decent factory run to keep stock.
My Droids
BH Droids (Arakyds and Seekers) - generally sell well. As a previous poster said, they are easy to make, can use low quality resources, and good factory runs. The only reason I have stopped producing these is that I am also a Shipwright, and am using my Factories fully on that at the moment.
Storage Droids - They do sell well on the Bazaar. I tend to put a few on the bazaar, and some more on my vendor (at a higher cost).
Medic Droids - I sell the ever popular Storage, Crafting, Level 6 Med droid. They sell well for a good price. Normally I get 150K on these alone a week.
Barker Droid - These are growing in popularity. I sell maybe 2 a week, but they are cheap (both to make and sell)
Harvester Droids - Scouts/Rangers do buy these, but as they last forever, the turnover on these is low. Good profit if you can get a corner of the market.
Combat Probots - No idea why but these have grown in popularity recently. I sell them as fast as I can make them. Good profit, but very time consuming to make.
Astromechs - Just venturing into this market, seen some good sales. Easy to make, using Storage and Data modules. So popular for 2 reasons.
I run 1 house, 1 MP Ship, 2 factories, and 5 harvs. I am lucky enough to have guildies help out with spar slots, so in effect I can double my harvs up to 10 when good resources pop up.
I have been playing for about 6 months (just over), and mastered DE in my second Month. So excepting start up time, with my one vendor on Corellia (1km outside Coronet, very nice spot) I have made just over 12 Mill in the last 4 months. I am currently operating on working capital of about 3 Mill, using all other profit to buy tapes, etc.
I will say that my goods vary from High Quality (when I have the resources) to medium quality. I know very well of at leats 2 other DE's on Chimeara who have some superb droids, and hence I don't compete with them if I can avoid it, they are, after all, famed for their droids.
I know very well I have missed sales because I have taken a couple of breaks from the crafting needed to keep my Vendors stocked. Also, I knwo I don't offer a very wide range of droids for sale (Occasionally I sell Boom Boom droids, but very poor sale son these). Plus, moving house I lost my connection for a month, so my Vendors all ran dry.
Anyway, I think a 6 Mill profit (at least) in 4 months is good. It is fine for me, I have enough money to run a good business, contribute to my guild as needed, and put up some cash for guild competitions etc.
My biggest problem, as with many DE's, is the crafting time it takes. I vary from doing endless factory runs of sub-components to try and get some decent stock levels up, to sitting for a good 3 hour session making 40 or so droids to stock my vendors again.
Hence why I have also taken the Shipwright path. Gives me a chance to take a break from Droid crafting and play with new components.
Finally, I am a DE because I love droids. I am always happy to help customers when I can, and to do custom orders when asked. I really enjoy this games crafting sessions, and apart from the Vendor restocking grind which I do once a week at least, I enjoy making my little droids. Most of my custom jobs are for guildmates, or friends of guildmates, and these I don't charge for.
It's important to remember 2 things about selling. Word of mouth works very well. Keep your Vendor stocked, no stock and people won't come back.
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