Merchant Archive

So I recently started my career as a merchant. I don't have to worry about ad barking or some of the other major gripes merchants have, as I don't have access to that stuff yet anyway. Still... I'm starting to wonder how this class managed to make it this far in the game.

Vendor Fees are killing me ... My vendor doesn't get that much business, but I need to use it to get established. Why am I paying for product that is 'sitting on the shelf'? I understand the need for money sinks, but come on... Why should the merchant be paying for the cash glut when it is the artisans and the combat types with all the cash? Charge us a sales tax, either when the item is sold or (even better) when we place the item up for sale.

As it stands I am actually loosing money on sales. If something doesn't change in the next few weeks I will have to seriously concider abandoning the class in an attempt to find something more worthwhile. I really hope it doesn't come to that.

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TheUrbanPrimate wrote:

So I recently started my career as a merchant. I don't have to worry about ad barking or some of the other major gripes merchants have, as I don't have access to that stuff yet anyway. Still... I'm starting to wonder how this class managed to make it this far in the game.

Vendor Fees are killing me ...

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Hmm, I thought NPC vendors that you get as novice merchant were more or less "free". They seem to be for me anyway, and I have probably 200k worth of product or more in them and I put in a couple k weeks ago and they still are not depleted of maintenence yet (although my house is another story).

I dealt with many problems after I made it to Novice Merchant. I actually went bankrupt twice! I started to think of it as a real business (very small, light business anyway). I found a way to keep my vendors up while supplementing my income to cover the overhead. I started selling CDEFs, tools and resources on the public bazaar, just 2 or 3 at a time for a couple hundred credits or so. And I did crafting/surveying missions.

Then one day my products caught the eye of a weaponsmith and I was able to create a few great resource deals with him. I now sell his products, along with another weaponsmith's, in my store. I'm always looking for new business partners and finding new ways to attract new customers. Sure there are many merchant "features" that do not work well or work at all, but you have to think outside the box.

Today my business is doing well, I am primarily a resellerselling tools, resources, furniture and a variety of weapons. I don't rake in 1mil per day or per week, but I cover all expenses and can travel and do other things in-game without worring about the finances.

good luck,

Otiamo