Shipwright Archive
Thread: I havent sold a single ship yet :)
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Malitevv
Thu Nov 04, 2004 12:08 am
#14
Knightcrest wrote:
If someone is really looking for Ships or Ship Components they will look under all of the categories until a Ship one is created. Equipment and Components seem to be working really well for a couple people I know on various servers. Just add something to do with ships on the first part of the vendor name and it will get visited
Malitevv wrote:
You do realize that registering a ship vendor on the planetery map doesn't work correctly don't you? there is no "ships" category in the planetary map's vendor list. so vendors registered as ship vendors don't appear on the planetary map at all.
Tanks wrote:
Hmmm,
Are you on the planetary map? Do you have a merchant barker droid? Is your vendor close to one of the starter locations?
My vendor is getting visited just fine. And there IS a ships category. It just doesn't work.
fatgato
Thu Nov 04, 2004 1:06 pm
#15
This is what I did to help new players out I spent time to write out a , New players guide to Shipwright and made it into a multi email . Coverring Chassis, components , upgrade kits. and also info on how to place it in your ship and any other pertent info. I have had many players like that because they knew absolutely nothing about it . In Beta I was a Master Imp pilot and near master priviteer, I had 4/4/4/4 so I have a good grasp on flying and also crafting since I did that as well.
CapnKate
Thu Nov 04, 2004 1:29 pm
#16
It may just be that I was the first(or possibly first three-- I'm not sure) MSW on our server, but I've never had a problem. I ran around with my tag up for a couple days and got buried in tells, handled what I could, shifted overflow to Novice SWs I knew, and the like.
Now, I do most of my business through my shop. Much of it is through a vendor well-stocked with loot and extra parts that I didn't see fit to include in an order (because it had a slight failure, or whatever), an most of my high-ticket items are custom orders. I am easily one of THE most expensive SWs on Kettemoor, as I charge 10cpu for Chassis and 20 for components while many of the big crafter guild malls are selling as low as 3 cpu. Which, fine, they're welcome to it. I have a reputation as one ofthe best, if not THE best cutomer experiences on Kettemoor for shipwrights. People know they get the best stuff when I craft for them, they know I don't cut corners on them if they deal with me instead of the vendor, and they know that I'll work for them until the know exactly what I need.
I say all this to make this point: Word of mouth is powerful. It can make you, it can break you. I have my vendor registered, i have a sign out front, and sometimes I wear my master tag(more often, I wear my Teir 4 pilot tags, though). That's *it*. But I get steady streams of people who "heard you're awesome" "was recommended by a friend", etc. Likewise, People will tell friends when a crafter isn't worth it. If you're having trouble pulling good sales or any at all, in addition to what's already been said... you should think about what people might be saying about you. Maybe people on your server hate shoutspam and barker droids. Maybe noone reads Auction chat. Maybe doing these things are hurting you. Perhaps you're selling too cheaply, or not putting out product that meets expectations. And when i say selling to cheaply... some people like stuff that goes for what these 3 cpu SWs are pricing. But I hear a lot of people (at least on my server) look at those prices, and say "I wonder why so cheap? What aren't they telling us? This CAN'T be good quality-- you don't pay these prices for quality." And so on.
I see two keys for this business-- Find something of value to provide that isn't common, and do NOT sell yourself short. If you don't think your time and product is worth more than 3-5 cpu, neither will your customer. they'll assume the quality, both of product and service, is low, whether it is or not.
My advice? you need to get a few customers, and you need to make them pleased. Don't do more than you're willing to do in the long run, but do something they'll remember you for. make a few really nice ships for some friends. Tell 'em to send people your way in return for cutting them a price break. Offer to do trade-in for old equipment and resources or loot to help knock the price down for those that need it. People remember, word spreads, and a million or so worth of "cutting people a break" in return for resources and things you can put to good use and profit turns into millions in grown business.
Now, I do most of my business through my shop. Much of it is through a vendor well-stocked with loot and extra parts that I didn't see fit to include in an order (because it had a slight failure, or whatever), an most of my high-ticket items are custom orders. I am easily one of THE most expensive SWs on Kettemoor, as I charge 10cpu for Chassis and 20 for components while many of the big crafter guild malls are selling as low as 3 cpu. Which, fine, they're welcome to it. I have a reputation as one ofthe best, if not THE best cutomer experiences on Kettemoor for shipwrights. People know they get the best stuff when I craft for them, they know I don't cut corners on them if they deal with me instead of the vendor, and they know that I'll work for them until the know exactly what I need.
I say all this to make this point: Word of mouth is powerful. It can make you, it can break you. I have my vendor registered, i have a sign out front, and sometimes I wear my master tag(more often, I wear my Teir 4 pilot tags, though). That's *it*. But I get steady streams of people who "heard you're awesome" "was recommended by a friend", etc. Likewise, People will tell friends when a crafter isn't worth it. If you're having trouble pulling good sales or any at all, in addition to what's already been said... you should think about what people might be saying about you. Maybe people on your server hate shoutspam and barker droids. Maybe noone reads Auction chat. Maybe doing these things are hurting you. Perhaps you're selling too cheaply, or not putting out product that meets expectations. And when i say selling to cheaply... some people like stuff that goes for what these 3 cpu SWs are pricing. But I hear a lot of people (at least on my server) look at those prices, and say "I wonder why so cheap? What aren't they telling us? This CAN'T be good quality-- you don't pay these prices for quality." And so on.
I see two keys for this business-- Find something of value to provide that isn't common, and do NOT sell yourself short. If you don't think your time and product is worth more than 3-5 cpu, neither will your customer. they'll assume the quality, both of product and service, is low, whether it is or not.
My advice? you need to get a few customers, and you need to make them pleased. Don't do more than you're willing to do in the long run, but do something they'll remember you for. make a few really nice ships for some friends. Tell 'em to send people your way in return for cutting them a price break. Offer to do trade-in for old equipment and resources or loot to help knock the price down for those that need it. People remember, word spreads, and a million or so worth of "cutting people a break" in return for resources and things you can put to good use and profit turns into millions in grown business.
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