Image Designer Archive
Thread: A tuff choice to make... :/
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Jnome
Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:31 am
#1
Well I am Master ID once again...
I now face a tuff choice....
See I am a firm beliver in the No set fee policy, when it comes to IDing... Witch I LOVE!!!!, and changing players looks.. To me Stat migration is the lest ID thing possible.. Granted it does have a valuable place in the ID world. It draws in customers, and provides a decent xp to grinding ID's. As well as a decent income..
But A funny thing seems to happen the momment you get MID, or at least it has happend to my fellow ID's once they hit master ID.. We don't need to preform Stat migrations any longer... I've know one or two that refuse to do them outright anymore.. Can't say that I blame them..
But My problem is.. I want to discourage players from seeking me out for there Stat migrations and direct them to the many ID grinders still needing the xp. But at the same time I'd like them to come to me for there other ID needs.. I've already got a growing rep for being good at ID. At least I have been told this. and have afew regular customers to..
The only thing I can think of to encourge players to seek Novice ID's out for stat migration needs is to Set a fee on my Stat migration service only.. I am really not happy about that Ideal.. It goes againest my views on set ID fees bigtime.. It not a matter of money anymore. Granted I am not intrested in Doing everything free.. There is a sence of fullfillment getting paid for my time. And I get a bigger kick outa watching a customer walk away happy.
/sigh
Just don't know how I am going to handle this issue....
Any advice out there?
Electro
Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:40 am
#2
I hate stat migrations with a burning passion and refuse to do them. It hasn't stopped my ID business in the least for other things, but then I've been an ID since forever and have a pretty good group of long time customers now.
Combat_Medic_to_be
Tue Oct 05, 2004 10:08 am
#3
Once I master I guess I'll probably do them. But only if there is no other business around and I dont feel like playing in the cantina. It is hard. Imo, you should make it a set price for migrations at a level you feel is apropriate when taking into consideration how much you dislike them. That's what I'd do anyway.
NJ62
Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:40 am
#4
I never had set fees until stat migration came about. Fortunately, I haven't been asked for one yet, but I think I will set a fee on them, just to help out my fellow ID's.
If you are used to working for tips, stat migration fees seem to be a viable compromise.
If you are used to working for tips, stat migration fees seem to be a viable compromise.
Bodacio
Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:22 pm
#5
When I don't feel like doing stat migrations, I find it best to go toa busy town without any salons, and keep my "Master ID" tag on. This way, I can still do actual ID work, and use the old "there's no salon here" excuse when I'm asked for migrations. If someone really needs a migration, I tell them to shuttle to the nearest salon, and see if anyone is on duty (it helps if you've passed one yourself recently you can refer to). If no one can help them there, they send me a tell and I follow. I basically explain to them that I was away from the tent to avoid migrations, and help the novices grinding take the stat migration customers. At this point, most people understand the situation (that migrations are tedious, and are a great source of xp for novices), and are pretty understanding, especially when you're willing to shuttle across a planet to help them if no one else can. In my case, the result has been that I either get out of doing a migration, or earn an extra tip for being informative, polite, and willing to fly across the planet to help them anyway. It typically gains you a bit of good publicity, too.
As for charging, I don't mind setting a fee for migrations (typically higher than whatever the current novices charge, simply because I don't need any xp). If you have something against that, then try working for tips anyway. Using the above method, most people will be generous because you've been helpful. You said you had a growing rep, so you can probably operate outside of tents and still retain good business. If anything, referring to novices for migrations will become part of your rep, and you won't have to worry about it as much. Hope this helps.
-Siela (Valcyn)
TechnoCan
Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:52 am
#6
I don't see a problem with setting a fee for stat migration at all. But I think you shouldn't make the mistake to set it too high either. From the point of view of a customer who does not necessary know that you maybe not like or even hate doing stat migrations, but love all the rest of being ID, it's looking pretty odd if you just ask for a tip on one customer and charge some imensive high fee for the next.
As usual it's about finding the right way in the middle 
Jnome
Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:16 am
#7
Bodacio wrote:
When I don't feel like doing stat migrations, I find it best to go toa busy town without any salons, and keep my "Master ID" tag on. This way, I can still do actual ID work, and use the old "there's no salon here" excuse when I'm asked for migrations. If someone really needs a migration, I tell them to shuttle to the nearest salon, and see if anyone is on duty (it helps if you've passed one yourself recently you can refer to). If no one can help them there, they send me a tell and I follow. I basically explain to them that I was away from the tent to avoid migrations, and help the novices grinding take the stat migration customers. At this point, most people understand the situation (that migrations are tedious, and are a great source of xp for novices), and are pretty understanding, especially when you're willing to shuttle across a planet to help them if no one else can. In my case, the result has been that I either get out of doing a migration, or earn an extra tip for being informative, polite, and willing to fly across the planet to help them anyway. It typically gains you a bit of good publicity, too.
As for charging, I don't mind setting a fee for migrations (typically higher than whatever the current novices charge, simply because I don't need any xp). If you have something against that, then try working for tips anyway. Using the above method, most people will be generous because you've been helpful. You said you had a growing rep, so you can probably operate outside of tents and still retain good business. If anything, referring to novices for migrations will become part of your rep, and you won't have to worry about it as much. Hope this helps.
-Siela (Valcyn)
OMG!!!!!!
You soved my problem!!! Thank you!!!!!
I did set a 20k fee on it lastnight.... Mix resoultes. Still did feel uncomforatable with a set fee. I think I'll wear my MID title in towns without a Salon in them lol.. And Not in towns with a Salon I love stopping into the Salon even now. Just to see who the up and comming ID's are. And chat. I understand theboredom they must be facing. Sometimes I even offer to let then ID my alt when I goto bed at nite to help them along..
Stosie
Wed Oct 06, 2004 10:59 am
#8
Great topic.
Unfortunatly, I've done the same. 99% of the /tell's I get are for stat migration work. I live on Dantooine a nice lil player city with a shuttleport I'm trying to open a salon there with full ID and Tailor services mostly for my city and guild players (some 110 people)
I'm trying to open a salon there with full ID and Tailor services mostly for my city and guild players (some 110 people)I get tells often from people "outside" that have done a search for ID and found my name ( I've learned to turn search off when I want to do something else) one man even asked if I would go to C'net and do his stats.. I told him I charge 10k standard fee for stat migrations, and with travel expences there and back.. and time spent I would need 20k, for the entire job, I also told him it would prolly be cheaper for him to head to C'net and check the ID tent as there might be someone already there that could or would do it cheaper for him.
But I did tell him if he did and no one was there or could be found that would do one for him, I would come and do it for the stated price of 20k bank tip
He went and checked and thanked me in tell when he found someone there in the tent that could help.
I didn't feel bad about making the cost high, and then guiding him to seek out other means of doign the migration..
1. I didn't have to stop moving around the stuff in my house to make my salon.
2. I didnt' have to spend 3,500 credits on travel
3. NO STAT migration.
4. a novice got the XP and a nice tip I hope
I was one of the ones that started out with a 10k fee, then went to tip only basis for all work.. but since I've hit MID I have reinstated the set fee for migrations (on chimaera it seems most ID's do stats for 5-15k)
I often will tell someone out front, I only charge for stat migrations because I loathe doing them, and that all other work is free duing this 10minutes.... I'm even thinking of raising it to 12k just to edge it a bit higher and hopefully mean I have to do them less
btw. I will gladly spend 25 minutes or more helpign someone tweek their look.. color's and style for a tip of 5k .. before I'll gladly spend that same amount of time doing stats for 100k
I hate them that much 
SakeO
Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:22 am
#9
I generally charge 20k but, will make some exceptions for newbies and ents or anyone else i think needs a hand up. How I inform my customer of the price has alot to do with how they ask and other cues.
IfI suspect that the price will be contested, I am very direct "I charge 20k for stat migrations"
IfI get a polite request of "how much do charge?" "I usually ask 20k" will more likely be the response.
If I see someone who seem nice to work with or could maybe use a break, I might say "Due to the time involved I ask for 20k but, tip what you can"
I handle most of the business via tells or group chat to avoid quoting different prices for the same work, although I will try to toss the 20k for stat number out in spatial a little , just so people will have it in their heads.
We all decide what our time is worth, 20k is my number. If someone wants to argue, I tell them thast is whatI have valued my time at, polite people may find they are given a break and rude or abusivepeople can't pay me enough. Other changes are fun and fast, so they are generally tip-based.
Being clear from the beginning on your expectations will solve a lot of your problems. As well as keeping the comments directed at your self instead of them. Arguing what is right for you is much easier than what is right for them.
Chasing Amy - Bria
Erann
Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:55 am
#10
About No salon on the planet/city... Are u still sure you want a driod to do stats on the go? our little escape responce won't be valid!
Its true once you become master your desire to impress goes away and it becomes about credits. getting over a shame to charge goes away too when you stat to earn a comfortable amount of credits... I end up dumping all my credits into the city because my needs are few.
and if the person wants Id work soo badly they will come to you. If you have to go to them you shouldn't feel guilty asking them to cover expenses or bank tip partical in advance. 95% of the time the customer makes it very worth my time comming to a Id salan to do stats...
Now....... Once you make it to aurillia.. you cash that 7:1 id experiance in for Heightened sences... keeping in mind you can only bank 85K of id exp before you run out of xp.
Eventually you'll find your self doing ID as a way to pay or fund your traveling or a break from combat.
seemining getting "married" in game has taken me away from the tent too....
Nevs
Thu Oct 07, 2004 8:29 am
#11
I generally keep tabs on the up-and-comers and when someone asks me to perform one, I'll send a message to the up-and-comers and see if any of them want the referral, that usually tactfully handles the situation =)
Myobi
Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:20 pm
#12
Stosie wrote:
Great topic.
btw. I will gladly spend 25 minutes or more helpign someone tweek their look.. color's and style for a tip of 5k .. before I'll gladly spend that same amount of time doing stats for 100k
I hate them that much
ROFLMAO
**ahem**
Um. Me too. 
Dulcenea
Sun Oct 10, 2004 4:29 pm
#13
Myobi wrote:
Stosie wrote:
Great topic.
btw. I will gladly spend 25 minutes or more helpign someone tweek their look.. color's and style for a tip of 5k .. before I'll gladly spend that same amount of time doing stats for 100k
I hate them that much
ROFLMAO
**ahem**
Um. Me too.
ditto
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