Smuggler Archive
Thread: How DARE we raise our rates for slicing??? {gasp!}
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Osuss
Tue May 25, 2004 5:27 pm
#27
Man bottom line is as Smugglers we are underselling ourselves so badly compared to the rest of the messed up economy. I mean we provide one of the best services in the game, we basically improve anything that we slice...... 5k is what I charge and I feel like I'm rippin myself off, I get a couple 20 and 30k's a day with no complaints.....
shalidar
Tue May 25, 2004 5:42 pm
#28
Charg'em 10k per slice, as it costs me teh same wether they get 10% or 35%. If they complain about it, charg'em 15k
OdiousEncounter
Tue May 25, 2004 6:17 pm
#29
Price of buffs on Gorath just jumped to 12-15k for a whole set. It always amuses me when people complain about my 5k price while waiting in the buff line.
LorenzoMh
Tue May 25, 2004 7:43 pm
#30
If Sauer (who's on my server btw) wants to give away slices for free, I'd be more than happy to send everyone that bugs me for slicing requests over to him.
Anyways,I stopped slicing for the public, because I got tired of all the people that complained about the price, or the result. I get the impression that there will be people that even if you always got 35% damage slices, and only charged 500 credits a slice, they would still complain about the price and the results. I'm just glad I stopped relying on slicing for my entire source if income, because if I did, I wouldn't be able to make any money with all the hologrinder smugglers and the millionaires who just slice on a whim.
ami2raw4u
Wed May 26, 2004 12:24 am
#31
In my limited experience... (Chimaera Server)
I havent been a master smuggler terribly long, maybe 2-3 months. Like most I started by charging 100 cpu/% as a 'slicer' and even for awhile into Mastery. After experimenting with different resources in tools, I personally am one to use the best I can get my hands on and even advertise as such. One other Master of the trade even gave me grief saying my advertising was misleading and set up shop next to me slicing for FREE!! At first I was really angry, but figured I'd use it to my advantage by running around Coronet likea chicken with my head cut off screaming that he was doing free slices. Once I got him good and stacked up with people waiting for slices, I went into the starport advertising like I had been previously, and finding that people were willing to pay rather than wait. LOL I dont know what his problem was. It's not like I was charging anymore than everyone else saying that my slices were any better. Oh well...
Back to the mainstream discussion. I began thinking economics. The resources I was using to make my tools, I could easily sell for 3cpu and in some cases 5cpu or more. By continuing to slice at 100 cpu/% I was actually shortchanging myself. For about the last month, I've been charging 200 cpu/% with little or no resistance, and rarely advertise anymore. In most cases, customers pay more than what I actually charge. Of course, like any good smuggler, I've got my old regulars that have been with me while I was up and coming. As to be expected, I have a difference set of pricing for those people since they are always a pleasure to deal with, arent demanding and rude, and never gripe about the occassional bad slice.
I'm a firm believer in charging at whatever rate you can get. Being in the sales profession myself, I spose I just believe in a performance based rate since the smuggler profession is set up like it is for the service of slicing. Smuggler is a profession that should be run like a real-life business. We differ from every other in that we offer a SERVICE and not a PRODUCT (not counting spices since SOE basically screwed us on those w/ the chef revamp). Its important to remember this because you are selling yourself and personality just as much or more than the slicing.People are definitely willing to pay more for your company and conversation than the guy standing next to you that just wants to take their moneyand have them be gone. Guess that why it amazes me to hear some of the experiences people have had in this profession. Other than the one I stated above, that truly is the only negative experience I've had. AND IT WAS FROM A SMUGGLER!!! Anyway, hope this helps some of you, and have a great day!!
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