Smuggler Archive
Thread: Smugglers: DROP UR KNIVES AND READ THIS
Intelerebel
Wed Jun 16, 2004 6:24 am
#14
I just love the riteous people who think it's morally wrong to charge a lot of money for slicing. I don't dare step into the doctor comparison because I think its apples and oranges. But here's what I know.
They're FREAKING STAR WARS CREDITS.
You can always turn off your PC and go spend your real money somewhere, while making sure you still have enough cash to eat and pay your rent. If you go broke, maybe you'll find yourself out on the street. Life would be very difficult indeed.
Now back to SWG, almost any profession be broke on one day, then have 50,000 credits in their account the next day. Not only that, if you do go broke....guess what. You don't freakin die, or lose your friends, or become an alcoholic, or whatever.
So enough of this riteous bullcrap about ripping people off, or justifying how much to charge. It's complete, utter phooey.
Charge what people are willing to pay. Plain and simple. If people are just as eager to pay 10K - 15K for a 3 hour doc buff as they are eager to pay 5 - 10K per slice for a quasi-permanent enhancement, then fine. I don't have to justify jack-squat.
You wanna be a riteous smuggler? Do whats good for the profession......dont give freebies for sub-20% slices, don't make smugglers look foolish by spamming at starports, and never falsely advertise that tools have an impact on slicing.
bpphantom
Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:19 am
#15
Sell faction. Big money.
Atreyus wrote:
Geevo wrote:
Seventh, I think it is time for you to sit down, think about how to make money and be a Smuggler. Everything does not have to be a "Price Fix" ... Smuggler is one of the best professions in the game and actually does give you the ability to make large sums of money. My highest profit month was upwards of $50MM in net profit.
$50mil credits in a month?! What the hell have i been doing wrong? I thought i knew what a smuggler's job was but apparently i have been screwing it up somewhere. I'm not broke by any means, but i sure wouldn't mind learning from you what you are doing to make ends meet as well as you do
(pulls up school desk and notepad) teach me dude!
Erillion
Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:27 am
#16
<<<<
You wanna be a riteous smuggler?
<<<<
THIS "(self?-) righteous" smuggler has earned 60 million in her career so far .... so I guess I am not doing a lot of things wrong. :-)
And thats without any FP point sales as I am "true neutral".
Have fun
Novarider
Intelerebel
Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:35 am
#17
Erillion wrote:
<<<<
You wanna be a riteous smuggler?
<<<<
THIS "(self?-) righteous" smuggler has earned 60 million in her career so far .... so I guess I am not doing a lot of things wrong. :-)
And thats without any FP point sales as I am "true neutral".
Have fun
Novarider
So what?
DRWolfe
Wed Jun 16, 2004 7:53 am
#18
atytula wrote:We are smugglers. It is expected that we lie.
Geevo wrote:Fourth, The only way I would agree to saying "I don't have any slicing gear on me" is if you actually do not. I would never encourage you to lie. Be honest and tell them what it will take for you to slice their gear.
Ummm. No.
We may lie to get out of a tight spot with the authorities, but we do not lie to customers. Smugglers have to be the most trustworthy businessmen around, otherwise no one would hand over valuable equipment to be modified, or (in terms of actual smuggling) hand over valuable cargo to be shipped.
MaxSteele
Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:20 am
#19
When will people realize that price fixing is an impossibility.
Also,people talk like there's a difference between Master Smuggler A and Master Smuggler B when it comes to slicing.
If I stand next to another Master Smuggler, and we don't say a word to anyone and just slice, the customers may as wellgo to thesame smuggler. Why? Because it doesn't matter which Master Smuggler slices their weapon or armor.
So what makes you a better deal than other Master Smugglers?
w The first reason is availability. This is the #1 reason that a customer is coming to you right now. You are the first on their list, the closest to them, or the smuggler that they noticed first.
w The second reason is previous reputation. I'm quite sure that even today, there are many people who are wary about handing over their Death Watch Bunker E-10 pistol that has a tissue in it to make it shoot for 400 damage. Most everyone seems to know they have to hand over their items to get it sliced, but it doesn't make them any more confident about you specifically handing it back. So previous reputation comes in.
w The third reason is banter. Sure there are people who don't care about this, but the majority of people who come to a smuggler are ....(drumroll)
**playing a game!**
"OH MY GOD! Are you serious? This isn't real? We're just doing this for fun?"
The way you interact with a customer goes a long way to whether or not they are coming back to you. If you make their slicing experience enjoyable through whatever means, you will have a repeat customer.
w The fourth reason, and as you can see, it isat the end of the list, is price. Why? Just run through the previous 3 reasons:
s If there are no other smugglers on or around the person currently, you arethe one available. You charge what you want, and if they want a slice, they will pay it because you're available
s If they haveworked with you before, you havebuilt up some trust. They come to you first.
s If you have entertained the person, and they want that type of experience again, they will come to you.
So if you want to charge 2000 credits, or 10,000 credits for a slice, go for it. It does not matter in the grand scheme of things because the price is the lowest factor in whether or not someone comes to you for a slice. Work on the other factors you personally have control over, and you can charge what you want to charge.
Nononsense
Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:23 am
#20
Intelerebel wrote:
You wanna be a riteous smuggler? Do whats good for the profession......dont give freebies for sub-20% slices
This is why I slice for free: because it bothers people like you.
Intelerebel
Wed Jun 16, 2004 10:38 am
#21
Great post, Max.
Although I'd be willing to argue that reasons 2 & 3 could be switched.
Like you, I've long given up on pricing cartels. But because my personal preference is to charge more, I support those who do.
That being said, the "Banter" aspect has won me quite a bit of business. I always try to add a special touch during slicing in order to increase suspense andstress, as well asto add a "fun" element into the slicing experience.
I typically screen my customers just before slicing to try to get a feel for which items are most important to them and what kind of slice they may be looking for. This helps me prioritize which items to slice first and which to slice last. This info also helps me send /tells which build suspense for the items which are sliced last. The great part about it, is that the high-suspense creates a memorable experience which people come back for. Any suspense you can create for your customers also opens the door for some comic relief or tension breakers which enhance the experience. I have 5 or 6 emotes macro'ed that I use specifically for moments like this and my customers love them. Most people walk away from me after paying for my services feeling more fullfilled than if someone just took their stuff, sliced it, gave it back and said thx now pay me. The other advantage is that other people inevitably witness the fun and residual slices can be had there as well.
Although taking the extra steps necessary to create this experience can be taxing on your keyboard, I find it to be quite rewarding from a business aspect, from knowing that I've added "my little extra" to the game, and from a personal fun level too.(Honestly, I get so involved in stressing people out that I find myself all stressed out too. It's quite a rush).
Anyway, just my 2 Cr.
atytula
Wed Jun 16, 2004 11:10 am
#22
DRWolfe wrote:
Ummm. No.
We may lie to get out of a tight spot with the authorities, but we do not lie to customers. Smugglers have to be the most trustworthy businessmen around, otherwise no one would hand over valuable equipment to be modified, or (in terms of actual smuggling) hand over valuable cargo to be shipped.
I think the word you are looking for is honorable. Everyone expects a smuggler to lie and cheat. He is only in it to make money. The way a smuggler makes the most money is to lie and cheat and not get caught. If you make smugglers look like saints, then you are giving us the wrong image roleplaying wise.
As for the equipement modification thing, smugglers (and smuggler fakers) had stolen equipment in the past and I believed they were banned for it.
MOD123
Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:26 am
#23
"Damn it feels to be a gangsta (Smuggler)"
- some rap band/artist I should know
I love being a master Smuggler and can't wait for the Publish 11 to actually do some smuggling. I am currenlty charging a flat rate of 5k a slice on bloodfin for my services. I'm thinking of "going pro" and also raising my prices as well.
I also want to roleplay and get more out of the game so I'm going to play a criminal. We're smugglers after all not boyscouts, not all of us are going to be honorable, not all of us are going to play by the rules. That's like in real life...I'm not a cookie cutter player I'm an individual dammit...
With that said I must say I haven't had any real bad experiences slicing. Some people who didn't know it was a random process, but no real problems. I can't believe how trusting players are though, just handing over said items and occasionally credits to a known stranger without a second thought. (I think we've all been tempted just to take the items and run...but that would damage the profession...oh but wait we're criminals!)
My opinion is play the game your way. Think for yourself...don't always listen to what others tell you.
thanks all and be safe out there...
- some rap band/artist I should know
I love being a master Smuggler and can't wait for the Publish 11 to actually do some smuggling. I am currenlty charging a flat rate of 5k a slice on bloodfin for my services. I'm thinking of "going pro" and also raising my prices as well.
I also want to roleplay and get more out of the game so I'm going to play a criminal. We're smugglers after all not boyscouts, not all of us are going to be honorable, not all of us are going to play by the rules. That's like in real life...I'm not a cookie cutter player I'm an individual dammit...
With that said I must say I haven't had any real bad experiences slicing. Some people who didn't know it was a random process, but no real problems. I can't believe how trusting players are though, just handing over said items and occasionally credits to a known stranger without a second thought. (I think we've all been tempted just to take the items and run...but that would damage the profession...oh but wait we're criminals!)
My opinion is play the game your way. Think for yourself...don't always listen to what others tell you.
thanks all and be safe out there...
Rogue135
Thu Jun 17, 2004 1:18 am
#24
Erillion wrote:
Yes ... a smuggler lies, cheats, steals .... to / from victims and authorities.
However .. to his CUSTOMERS (that includes high level crime bosses and intelligence agents) (s)he is very reliable, dependable and honest. And why ? Because you would be DEAD if you cross these people. MAYBE they allow you one messed up mission ... but not more. These are hard core criminals and professionals, that take no nonsense and smear you all over the place if you displease them.
Yes, you could cheat some customers. But the word WILL get out. You live by/through/from your reputation. Good reputation means more profits. So if you mess with your customers, you mess with your profits. Han Solo NEVER intentionally tried to fail Jabba ... and tried to get on his good side even after the first assassination attempts. And neither did one of his smuggler friends (expanded universe) mess with the Hutts.
Smugglers are no White Knights ... but reputation is as important to us as a fast blaster !
Have fun
Novarider
Couldn't have put it better myself...
"Eagles may soar, but weasles don't get sucked into jet engines" - random quote I thought fit here, hehe
Erillion
Thu Jun 17, 2004 12:46 pm
#25
Yes ... a smuggler lies, cheats, steals .... to / from victims and authorities.
However .. to his CUSTOMERS (that includes high level crime bosses and intelligence agents) (s)he is very reliable, dependable and honest. And why ? Because you would be DEAD if you cross these people. MAYBE they allow you one messed up mission ... but not more. These are hard core criminals and professionals, that take no nonsense and smear you all over the place if you displease them.
Yes, you could cheat some customers. But the word WILL get out. You live by/through/from your reputation. Good reputation means more profits. So if you mess with your customers, you mess with your profits. Han Solo NEVER intentionally tried to fail Jabba ... and tried to get on his good side even after the first assassination attempts. And neither did one of his smuggler friends (expanded universe) mess with the Hutts.
Smugglers are no White Knights ... but reputation is as important to us as a fast blaster !
Have fun
Novarider
atytula
Mon Jun 21, 2004 9:47 am
#26
Erillion wrote:
Yes ... a smuggler lies, cheats, steals .... to / from victims and authorities.
However .. to his CUSTOMERS (that includes high level crime bosses and intelligence agents) (s)he is very reliable, dependable and honest. And why ? Because you would be DEAD if you cross these people. MAYBE they allow you one messed up mission ... but not more. These are hard core criminals and professionals, that take no nonsense and smear you all over the place if you displease them.
Yes, you could cheat some customers. But the word WILL get out. You live by/through/from your reputation. Good reputation means more profits. So if you mess with your customers, you mess with your profits. Han Solo NEVER intentionally tried to fail Jabba ... and tried to get on his good side even after the first assassination attempts. And neither did one of his smuggler friends (expanded universe) mess with the Hutts.
Smugglers are no White Knights ... but reputation is as important to us as a fast blaster !
Have fun
Novarider
No-one should be dumb enough to mess with a hutt. But the average joe that you deal with on the streets is not threat. You try to get every penny out of them, and a smuggler doesn't have to tell the truth to every lowlife that crawls up to them saying "can you slice some stuff for me". It is like when someone comes up to you on the street and says "can you spare some change". How many people say "Sorry, I don't have any" when in fact they do? I am sure this is the average person. Smugglers are more so this way. We pick our business, but we don't tell potential business "No, I won't slice your stuff". We say "don't have the supplies" that way we look like we want there business but just can't accomadate them,