Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: Droid Pricing, sort of a guide.
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Straker_Atrella
Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:05 pm
#1
Been a while since we have had one of these threads, and with many new people coming in, price questions seem to get asked a lot.
First thing to consider is that all servers are different. Some servers are considered "rich" others less so. If a set of Composite armor normally sells for 350k on one server, yet 200k on another, obviously Droids and other prices should scale as well.
One thing to remember though is that no matter what server, people will still make the same amount of money running missions. With a full set of buffs, a master combatent can make a million credits every 3 hours. So no matter what server, there are credits out there.
The following are things to consider when pricing a droid or supply.
1. Resources used.
Obviously, if more resources are used, you should be paid for them. The quality of the resource matters as well, if you paid 30 cpu for a resource, you need to ensure you get your money back. In my opinion this is more something that you should use to ensure your covering your costs, rather then using to price your Droids. Take a look at CPU costs on weapons, armor, foods, and other stuff. You will see that those are going for obscene amounts. Make sure your costs are covered, consider this, but weigh other factors more closely.
2. Difficulty to make.
If something takes 10 factory parts and 20 minutes to make, and something else takes 2 factory parts and 2 minutes to make, there is a much different time investment. Again, this is more of something for you to consider, rather then base a pricefrom. Ensure your getting paid adequatly for your time, yet other factors weigh much heavier.
3. How long the item will last, and resale possibilities.
This one is HUGE. Droids effectively last forever, so when you buy one, you have it for life. People pay 300k+ for armor that will wear out, millions for weapons that will wear out, 100k or more for crates of food that will be eaten. So obviously, ifpeople are willing to pay money for stuff that will wear out, what makes you think they wont pay a decent amount for something that will be there forever. If you sell a "Utility Droid" that has a Med mod, all 4 crafting mods, and a storage droid to somebody. They will have that droid FOREVER, no matter what profession they do, they will never need another crafting droid again. This should be considered strongly.
4. What the droid will be used for.
Another large factor. Some of our Droids are used for "work" others are used more for fun or luxury purposes. If the Droid is a worker, will it make it's owner money? Harvesting Droids for example can make their owner millions of credits, they know this, they will happily buy a good Harvesting droid. Doctors can sell buffs, it only takes a few sales, then their droid is covered. Again, it will last forever, everything else is pure profit. Yet the opposite is true as well. Entertainers for example don't make much money, their droids are just for fun, price accordingly. If the droid iwll make it's owner money, make sure you get your money as well.
5.How good is your item?
Some of our items quality matters, and others don't. For the ones that quality matters on, charge what your item is worth. For example, if you KNOW your combat droids are not as good as what others are selling, or the server can make. Don't charge top of the line prices if your droid isn't top of the line. If you lie to your customer or mislead them, they wont be back. Honesty and fairness sell more droids then deceit.
6. What others are charging.
I'm all for a fair market, new people need a chance to get into the business as well. However, quite often people make the mistake of thinking that if they drastically undercut others prices, they will sell more droids and build a clientel. They lose money. If the standard cost for one type of droid is 50k, then you sell the same droid for 25k, you just lost 25k. You need to sell 2 droids to make as much as you would have. There is a reason that 50k is the standard cost, people are willing to pay it. If people walk into your shop and want a med droid, they are going to buy a med droid (assuming you have what they want.) They will pay 50k or 25k, or whatever, as long as the amount is fair. Everytime you sell a droid for drastically cheaper then what others are, don't think that you made money. You lost money, you lost the difference between the standard cost and what your charging. If you start low then try and raise your prices later, people won't come back.
7. What the market will bear, and how fast things move.
If you really take into account items 1-6, our droids should cost a LOT more then what they do now. Especially when you figure what people pay for items that wear out. When you consider all of this, a good droid should go for 200k+, yet they don't, they simply will not sell at that cost. Honestly, this is a hole we dug ourselves into. If you weigh all of these points, then charge 200k for a droid, there will always be somebody who totally ignores all of them. They will sell the same droid for 30k. Obviously, people will buy the cheaper droid. Yet ironically, the person selling the droids for 30k, sells lots of droids,yet makes little money. Quite often they quit. People got used to the 30k droids, they don't want to go back to paying what the droids are really worth at 200k. People undercutting prices, coupled with droids not being as usefull in the begining, are a large part of why DE's don't get their true value out of their droids. Sobasically when pricing new items, it is better to start high then low. People are always happy to see prices come down, yet not happy to see themgo up. If they are moving toslow, they may be to high, to fast, priced to cheap. Yet as I said, easier to move them down then up.
By considering items 1-7, you will have some decent guidelines to priving your droids. Plus at the same time, you will be a healthy part of the droid economy. If you don't follow them, or only follow certain parts, like number 1 charging by CPU only, you are not onlyfurther ruining the droid economy, you are losing money.
My pricing system.
Keep in mind this is for Scylla, it may not work for your server, ours is considered a "rich" server.
Chasis: 10k flat cost. Some like the R3 (15k) cost a little more, other like the BLL or power droid, I charge 40-50k for just the chasis. MSE droid? Yep 10k, at least for my non-detonation versions. Their going to have even that MSE droid forever. Detonation droids are harder cause they wont be around forever. Other then that though, 10k a chasis is a good starting point.
Modules: 10k a module as a start. I tend to scale the quality and non-quality resources on the final droid.
So just using 10k for the chasis (or more for harder ones,) then 10k per module gives me easy numbers to work with. An R2 with 3 modules is 40k, an R3 with 6 is 75k, a BLL with 3 is 80k.
NOW I take a hard look at numbers 1 -7. Then I scale the droid appropriatly.
My combat and tank droids use expensive copper (had to buy,) 1000 OQ fibro, plus they have armor. Yet at the same time, they really don't make their owners much money. Although Combat mission pay well. So after considering everything, I add 5k, for a good resource cost to get 80k.
For Med and Crafting droids, quality resources don't really matter. Yet people NEED them, plus they make their owners money. So in the end, for these droids 1-7 cancel each others out, and I stick with my flat chasis and module costs.
Entertainer Droids, quality doesn't matter, Entertainers don't make much money, they don't need the droid. 10k off the price, so 65k.
Harvesting droids. Quality matters, good resources, armor, makes their owner money. Add 10k to the the droid. My Harvs are better then others on my server, I could jack the prices up even more, but number 7 makes sales slow down. They move at a decent rate at 85k.
The list goes on and on. The 10k chasis, and 10k per module cost really translates well for many droids, because they all have pluses and minuses. If you use that, then scale, most peoples prices will end up about the same. I may scale up 5k, you may scale down 5k, a 10k difference on especially an 80k droid is not bad for the economy, nor your wallet.
In summary.
We also need to think of the future. If JTL is done right, droids will be needed, perhaps as a single buy, perhaps as a resale item. No one person (or couple of people,) will be able to handle the droid load of the entire server at once, even though we may wish we could. If people are used to buying 30k droids from you, they are going to want to keep getting 30k droids. Some changing of prices will be one thing, but will only work so much. Overcharging and undercharging is bad for everybody.
Mayweed
Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:11 pm
#2
Very good guide. Since I started with droids, I have been using this pre-made droid pricer to price mine up.
http://www.undeadfish.com/droids.php
Seems to be reasonable prices, and useful to use if your lazy 
But after reading your guide, I think i'm going to re-evaluate my prices somewhat, and agree with much with what you have said. Very informative and useful post.
But after reading your guide, I think i'm going to re-evaluate my prices somewhat, and agree with much with what you have said. Very informative and useful post.
Straker_Atrella
Wed Sep 01, 2004 3:47 pm
#3
I just went and played with the link that you gave. Pretty handy. The end prices arn't to far off what I consider fair at least on the high end droids. Yet how it got there was odd. It charges 15k for armor, yet only 5k for combat modules for example. It doesn't factor in quality resources though really.
On the low end droids, it will give you prices that honestly are really to cheap. I don't think that ANY droid that isn't limited use and will be around forever should ever be less then 20k. Even if it is an MSE droid with level 6 storage. Those 10 storage slots will be used by that character as long as he wants them too. If you have enough crap, that you actually need 10 more storage past the 110 spaces on you, then 20k is probably chump change.
Zorkk
Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:14 pm
#4
Excellent post Straker!!!!
some comments from a newbie.... I've only been playing for 2 months, this is my first MMORPG, and I had no 'guide' for pricing my droids. I looked at that undead fish site, but I did not like their pricing structure, or how it was done. I saw J'vee's site when it was still around, and I was notimpressed with his pricing either! WAY TO LOW!
So i basically had to come up with my own pricing structure. I took into account just about everything you have in your post there Straker, and this is basically how i worked it out...
All droid price is based on chassis... i don't care what I put in them.
Adv MSE = 15K and go up from there to 100K for a BLL droid. Advr3's are 80K, doctor r2's are 60K. r4/5 are in the 40-50 range. Right now on all my vendors i have (unless they sold ROFL) 2 of each type of chassis as an item storage only droid. This allows people with money, that want a cool looking droid, to buy one, yet will let the people with little to no money (or cheapass players) stilll get a droid that they need. I also stock doctors droids in price ranges from 15K mse's with just med/storage or med/food craft up to the BLL for 100K with item/food/storage.
I can say i've been sucessfull, not everyone buys the cheapest droid they can. I do sell 100K item storage BLL's about 1/week which shows that some players are interested in how their droid looks, just not what it can do.
I do say, i HATE seeing people selling droids for cheap cheap cheap... 2K for a med droid... 30K for a full autorepair tank... ugh! they're short changing themselves, and in the end the rest of the DE's on the server! but that's what happens with a player run economy I guess
Again, nice writeup, and I hope it influences DE's to reanalyze their pricing structing, perhaps even get more active in your server's DEnet which could easily establish a good pricing type guide for that server. I would love to be able to selll droids at their true value of 200K for a good probot, but alas, i don't see that day ever comming.
Z
Kleston
Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:04 pm
#5
You guys are still selling yourselves cheap. Musicians can make a better profit than DE's at some of the prices I've seen on various servers. If you want, use my price list. It's in full detail of every item (except the one made by the musicians as that can vary depending on the musician).
http://bmo.jezolution.com/viewtopic.php?t=155
Lycids
Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:42 pm
#6
When i started selling droids, i first went around to the local shops around the planet i have my shop on. Was surprised to see that alot of the shops around me had no droids or very little selection. I must say that your guide is right on to what i tend to charge for my droids on my particular server. While my stock moves slow it does move, and i notice the same names popping up on sales receipts. I like to think i am building a clientele but only time will tell. In meantime will enjoy role palying a DE and chasing those elusive quality resources. OH lidium Ore how you evade me.
Straker_Atrella
Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:02 pm
#7
Kleston wrote:
You guys are still selling yourselves cheap. Musicians can make a better profit than DE's at some of the prices I've seen on various servers. If you want, use my price list. It's in full detail of every item (except the one made by the musicians as that can vary depending on the musician).
http://bmo.jezolution.com/viewtopic.php?t=155
Kleston, how can you say I am selling myself cheap? Your droids are priced around half of what mine are. I'm not saying your prices are wrong, I just don't understand you saying that I'm to cheap, yet your price guide is even cheaper.
Just logged in and I sold 8 droids today while I was at work, priced from 30-80k. Plus 8 of my 20k storage mse's (new Jedis) probably. This is a sales rate I can live with.
Kleston
Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:02 pm
#8
I've been a master DE for a long time. I started out with my prices lower, and raised them because I was tired of killing myself for next to nothing. To this day I have people buying droids from me as opposed to other DE's for two reasons.
1 - I talk to my customers and stay friendly with them.
2 - I can answer every question there is about droids in detail. And what I do not know, I research and give them the results later.
I'm currently not crafting droids as I needed a break. My clients understand, and are eager for my return, especially with JTL coming in a few months. Most of them know I'm going to be selling Adv R3's with piloting parts in them for 100-200k. And rather than look for something cheaper, they're still planning to come to me.
When you keep your clients informed, they'll buy no matter the price. And when they realise that hand crafting a SINGLE R3 Adv takes over an hour, they're far more than willing to pay what you ask.
Kleston
Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:05 pm
#9
When I said selling cheap, I was referring to the general community. I know there's DE's that sell for more than me even. It's how it goes. I just hate seeing people buy from DE's for next to nothing, get junk, and not know what to do. Sorry for the mis interpretation though.
Imaladris
Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:27 pm
#10
Funny thing is to often I hear 55k FOR AN ADV R3 DROID!!! Thats too much! I know for a fact that is a low price. The combat rating is 600 and ham is +4300. That was my price for a long time. I recently have raised it some. I still hear that. My response is always this.... Do you hunt? Customer: Yes? Do you pay for buffs? Customer: Yes? How much each day do you spend on buffs on ave? Customer:24-36k a day? Well do those buff last you forever? Customer: No? Well my droid last forever....
Customer: Good point!
Straker_Atrella
Wed Sep 01, 2004 11:56 pm
#11
Imaladris wrote:
Funny thing is to often I hear 55k FOR AN ADV R3 DROID!!! Thats too much! I know for a fact that is a low price. The combat rating is 600 and ham is +4300. That was my price for a long time. I recently have raised it some. I still hear that. My response is always this.... Do you hunt? Customer: Yes? Do you pay for buffs? Customer: Yes? How much each day do you spend on buffs on ave? Customer:24-36k a day? Well do those buff last you forever? Customer: No? Well my droid last forever....
Customer: Good point!
Yea, I once had a customer who wanted an R3 combat droid, to help him on his Jedi grind. WhenI told him 80k, he came back with "I just did DE for my grind (so obviously, he knew EVERYTHING about it," so I know that is like 35 cpu, I am not paying that.
I then replied, that composite armor suit, how much did you pay for that? "300k, was his answer."
"How often do you need to replace it on your grind?" I said.
"About every 2 weeks." he replied.
Then I hit him with MY numbers. "So your willing to pay about 45 cpu for armor that will last about 2 weeks, yet you wont pay 35 Cpu for a droid that will last forever?"
He bought one for himself, and one for a friend.
Buzz1096
Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:46 am
#12
Very excellent post.
Believe it or not, my system for pricing is almost exactly the same on Chilastra, except I use 6-8k instead of 10k for top level modules. Just our economy on Chil, not a statement on the worth of the droid. But my system is the same, I take into account the utility of the droid.
One thing that always bugs me is our BH droid pricing. Chilastra is nice in that we have some baseline BH droid costs. Adv MSE detonation droids are 6k, arakyds are 8500/crate and seekers are 7500/crate. Same on every vendor just about. Only problem is when you take into account the resources and factory runs it takes to make these items effectively, you find that at those prices DEs dont really make much - especially if you pay a percentage to a merchant. Try raising the price and there is a BH rebellion. I wish there was a way we could make them undersand that if they would pay 15-20% more for these items, they wouldn't be so hard to find.
Straker_Atrella
Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:38 am
#13
Yea BH droids are sort of a sore spot with me as well. I was selling them very well for 7k and 8k, I was happy, the bH's were happy. Then people started selling both types for 4500, which didn't make any sense to me.
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