Shipwright Archive
Thread: I think this resolves the low-ball pricing for me
I'll have to think up a better one next time. 
Message Edited by IIscandar on 03-17-2005 02:45 PM
"You take this way too seriously."
Indeed, that could be true. In defense of my seriousness, I have this to say. Before I became a shipwright I'd always thought crafting was a silly idea. Why on earth would anyone want to craft items for a living? With such a huge galaxy out there, I'd miss so much just sitting in my shop building things. So, I went about my ways making the bulk of my credits from missions. I took up doctor and let me tell you, I did not enjoy getting by the crafting line of doctor. Then one day my guild asked if anyone was going to try shipwright when jtl came out. I said what the heck, I'll do it. Little did I know it would open up a side of the game I'd never seen before.
Before, as a master pikeman, master doc, I could pretty much spend my whole game time alone if I wanted. I did buy my buff packs from the guild, and even bought some brandy so I could go out into the wilds and stay as long as I wanted. Now, I was in quite a different situation. This was business of my own, not just contract work for npcs. I depended on other vendors and customers now for my principle income.
I learned about resources, what makes them good vs bad. I took on a few investors who helped me get by in those early days in exchange for ships and components. I found where to look for info on the latest spawns. I invested in tools and harvestors. I planned what to make, what resources to use and what to save. I used good customer service skills to improve the chance of repeat business. I learned what ship parts were good vs bad, who wants what, and carefully watched the market to see where prices would land. I began to get a stock of good resources right about the time I mastered. I crafted my first 102speed engine to be quickly followed by 104 and was like WOW THIS IS FUN. I never knew there was such an amazing example of economics in swg. Granted there are a lot of things about swg's economy that make it very different from the real world, but still it is a very intricate and player driven system. Prices of some things effect prices of others. If you play your cards right you can get good deal on resources so you can increase your profits. Spend enough time and you can get your own resources and in turn bring up your profits. Have good customer service and quality parts and customers will return and that increases your profits. I getexcited when I make good components. I get upset when I make bad ones. I love hearing "wow man that armor you made is great" or "I didn't know players could make weapons like these".
So yes, this whole shipwright thing has got me hook, line, and sinker. I'm almost feel like I'm playing a different game. I may never be the richest shipwright, but I do run a successfull business in cyberspace. I get a charge out of that hehe. It is so complex, I feel like I am in training sometimes.
In the case of the post you are responding to, I was trying to solve this "lowballer" issue for myself. Seeing parts and ships go for less than I was charging was really starting to upset me. My character is a shipwright after all and has a business to run. I want to be successfull for all the time I spend at the crafting tool. Well, it seemed that many other players were having the same thoughts, and several personal attacks were being thrown around concerning this issue.
When I had the thought of the bmw, it kinda solved it for me. It deflated the whole issue and I was able to accept it. I hoped it might do the same for others, so we could get back to business.
By responding to your post I may be adding more evidence to my "taking it too seriously", but I couldn't help elaborating a bit on why I do.
Message Edited by IIscandar on 03-22-2005 12:03 AM
LERepairDroid wrote:
I am not sure about lowballing... but I can't charge someone 10cpu for something when I make millions of credits selling stuff at 1,2,3,4 and 5 cpu. There is no point. I have fun being a shipwright, I only maintain 1 vendor tent and I spend most of my game time trying to keep up with restocking my vendors in that one tent... and finding something to do with all the credits I have. I tell all my customers that they need to look at the stats of the stuff they are buying, then the price. If some other ship wright has better stuff, at higher prices and you can afford it- don't buy stuff from me! I didn't start shipwright to get rich, I did it because I saw that so many people were paying so much for ships and components that I didn't want my guild memebers to HAVE TO pay those prices. There are many in my town/guild who only get TOP quality items and they don't buy from me unless I happen to have rash of great resources spawns... which doesn't happen much. And I wouldn't want them to buy from me unless they were getting what they wanted at a price they thought was fair. So, keep your customers informed and let the credits fall where they may and stop complaining about lowballing... I sell all my standard Mark V ship components for 10k. Thats 2cpu... and I still have MILLIONS of credits... what does tell you? If you want to get rich...well I don't know, charge 10cpu I guess... I am rich enough I think.
If I could I'd give you 5 stars. I like the way you talk to your customers and keep them informed. Not to mention your desire to help people with lower prices.
"stop complaining about lowballing..."
I couldn't agree more !