Image Designer Archive

Hello everyone!! I do not post often, but I am a little frustrated, so I thought I would get your opinions.

I am a Master Image Designer, (on Kauri). I chose this as my FIRST (not only) profession because I knew it would be really fun to get to give people a new look as well as for myself and my husband. I love changing our hair (mine mostly) for different occasions, hunting, working, out on the town, or what ever.

Since I have reached Master however, there is ofcourse a much higher demand for my services, because everyone knows I have everything.

My problem is this, (for some this might seem like a good thing...lol) as soon as I log in, BEFORE I have even finished completely loading, I am getting at least 20 tells, I have emails coming out the wazoo, and everyone expects me to be at their beck and call!! I don't think so!!!

The other problem I have is just simply very RUDE people. Example: I am out running missions to get XP in Rifle. I always do my missions near my house, so if someone wants to meet me there, I will not be that far. OK...cool...np, works out pretty good. I can still get XP and Image Design too...everyone is happy.

Well, as I am running back to the city to get 2 new missions, "custoer" sends a tell "Hey, can I get my skin color changed?" I tell him sure I can do it in a few minutes, right after I get 2 new missions. He says cool, I am already at your house.

So I get my missions and start running to the house and he sends me a tell "are you almost here yet??? I have friends waiting on me you know" Well, maybe I was just in a bad mood or something, but that REALLY rubbed me the wrong way.

I also have several people who have come to my city, WITHOUT even asking if I am busy or taking appointments, and send a tell saying they just flew all the way from Naboo...or Lok or where ever and where should they meet me. If I happen to be 4000m away from the city, or even on ANOTHER PLANET at the time, they get PISSED.

Sorry, but THAT is not fun!! I LOVE Image Design, but it is NOT the only thing I want to do in this game. I would like to go out and see the sights, run theme missions and everything else that the game has to offer. Why do these people think I am supposed to be sitting in a corner someplace just waiting on them to show up???

Sorry for the rant, but thanks for reading anyway

Master Image Designer, who now has "Novice Marksman" above her head!

Well, it sounds like this is a good problem actually. If the supply is so great, then you should up your charge. This might weed out the people that are rude and let the people that respect what we do have priority.

I do wish that we had a box for payment where the customer would have to pay before the change was made (like the trade box).

Yes, I have talked to a few other people and hopefully there will be a few more of us soon.

Today has also been better. I have spent the day with my husband in the Tuskin Fort, and we had a great time. I just put AFK on with a message stating where I was and to send me an email if they needed an appointment for when I got back. This worked really well, and to my surprise, someone even came all the way from Naboo, made the trek from Bestine to Wayfar and had their hair done.

It will all work out. Thanks for the replies, and listening to my rant/frustration.

Hmm I'm glad my experience hasn't been like yours. I must say that I don't think I've had a rude customer ever.It sounds like you have a booming business and your location and name are well known. Maybe it's time you exanded you business and hired another image designer for your overflow

I agree with Snowstorm, you should hire someone to help you out. =-)

On Chilastra there are a few of us Image Designers... quite a few it's turning out. I know of 2 Masters (I'm sure there are more) and 3 of of us with skills in ID, heck I'm nearly close to Master myself.

Oh and if I were you, I would jack up those prices, add 1k to whatever your prices are. I'm sure this will weed out the rude ones for you... =-)

Here's a suggestion you might want to think about...

When you don't want to be bothered by people pestering you to change their look, don't put the image designer tag above your head. This includes image design novice, hairstylist, image design master, etc.

When they do a search for image designers, you won't show up and you will get a lot less people bothering you when you're busy doing other things.

Works for me.

You probably don't charge for your services I am guessing, and if you are, you are not charging nearly what your skills are worth.

Here is what I charge on Wanderhome and have no difficulties in getting paid for my time:Basic Image Designs:
ID I: 100 credits
ID II: 200 credits
ID III: 300 credits
ID IV: 400 credits


Elite Designs:
Novice Image Designs: 1000 credits

Hair and Markings:
Intermediate: 2000 credits
Advanced: 3000 credits
Expert: 4000 credits
Master: 5000 credits

Face snd Body:
Intermediate: 2000 credits
Advanced: 3500 credits
Expert: 5000 credits
Master: 6500 credits

Master Image Designs:
Skin Color: 10,000 credits
Torso: 9,000 credits
Age 8,000 credits
Other: 7,000 credits

Complete Face/hair/body overhaul: 100,000 credits
Complete Face/Hair overhaul: 50,000 credits
Complete Body overhaul: 75,000 credits

As you've found, /afk is your friend. My message tells people to either send me an e-mail with what they want or try sending tells to two other master IDs on the Lowca server. By and large though, a majority of the players have been really polite. In fact I've only had one person skip their bill, and that was back during the first week of gaming.

-Soon Mot

Master Image Designer

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their responses.

I have taken the "Master Image Design" title off, and use AFK, life is good...lol

There are also a few more people in training, so that will help a lot as well.

Thanks again!

My friend is a master tailor, and has the exact same problem on Starsider. He asked to me play on that server with him, so once it opened again to population inport, I joined in. I finally got to his house yesterday, and he was completely swamped. He managed to pass along 10k in credits, for my trouble in starting a character there - but there was no way he could make the two outfits he'd promised me.

He too gets /tells and tons of mail everyday requesting unique creations. I guess its the price one pays to become a master profession that supplies to others.

Glad to hear your life is getting better

Theo

Good god you charge alot! Hehe...I charge 1000 usually per change.

The only complaint I have about this class is people expecting you to do it for free or travel to other planets to cater to laziness. But most of my clients have been more than willing to pay the small fee I charge for my services and they are willing to come to my house. Usually anyone who asks me why I wont do it for free I explain to them that I paid 144,000 to train it and I would like to break even someday. =)

1,000 is too little.

Would you expect a master furniture maker to charge 1,000 for an item in that box? IDs need to demand, so to speak, some respect. It's no walk in the part to gain our skills, same as everybody else.

I charge 1.5k for char creation hair, 2.5k for unique hair, another 1k for color and 1k for other facial changes each.

I've had zero complaints on pricing and could probably charge more (and often get tipped more as I spend alot of time making sure they look and feel good).

I have had these same troubles since hitting master. My fault, of course, because I did not want to charge a fee. I spend a lot of time in cantinas, and I know that some of the younger entertainers simply don't have the money to pay for the makeover they NEED to get tips, a sad Catch22. I hate to squeeze them dry. I tried suggesting donations/tips, but I frequently get stiffed, usually by dancers and immature fighter-types who want to see everything and then run off having wasted my time as though I have nothing better to do (like dance, finish a spice sale or finish the RP conflict I'm clearly in the middle of). On the other hand, I have been tipped 10k before for a simple hair style, so I know setting a price will bring down the upper-end tips. Sigh.

However I think I will begin to follow the advice of those in this thread and set up a pricing scale. I can't take the tells and emails any more, and I am sick to death of being interrupted when dancing and have idiots say "you get exp so why u need $$". I do not like hiding my title, so perhaps you are right, the fee would drive off the cheapskates...