Smuggler Archive
Thread: What is everyone ripping off er I mean charging punters for Slices these days?
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SensiMillia
Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:40 am
#1
Hey All,
Just wondering, I've not had a chance to play for a couple of months, and have seen a couple of posts where people are talking of charging 10k per slice. I realise this probably varies a lot from smuggler to smuggler and server. Really just want to get a general idea of a average as I've been charging a flat rate of 4k per slice (although have found leaving it up to the customer is generally more profitable!).
There's nothing wrong with a bit of undercutting the competition but I have illigitimate kids to feed from my ill gotten gains, I dont want to bgoing toolow! 
Thanks!
Korrack
Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:43 am
#2
I charge 10k per slice for people I don't know, 5k per slice for people I do know and 0k for guildmates. I get plenty of business at 10k per slice. It all depends on the number of Smugglers around as well as you client's bankroll. 10k is nothing when compared to a doctor buff that only lasts for 3 hrs, the weapon or armor slice lasts the lifetime of the piece.
ConfusedZabrak
Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:45 am
#3
Most Smugglers only charge 10K for a slice if the customers persists on getting something sliced i.e. customers wantsfive containers sliced and the master smuggler is doing something else not related to slicing and obviously a master smuggler does not need the slicing experience. Therefore, the master smuggler names a high price to stop what they are doing to make it worthwhile (money wise) for themselves.
This is my opinion on this subject and you will be surprised on how many people are sometimes willing to pay a high price.
Ternque01
Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:46 am
#4
To be honest, Sensi, many smugglers feel that charging 2-4k isn't worth it. Since spices don't sell like they used to and slicing is all we have to hold onto as far as making cash is concerned, many here feel that they need to be making some cash and literally putting the value into the profession by charging more.
Castor_Smuggler
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:04 am
#5
Well this is my view, and it always has been mates:
When I first started the game back in the day on the Valcyn server, back when Galaxies was first launched, there were 2 Smugglers in the town of Tyrena that was like Coronet is now. Tyrena used to be the center of business, and Coronet a place you shuttled to by accident, in an attempt to get to Tyrena. The 2 smuggler's names were Durrick and Sandara'. It was because of them that I decided to become smuggler (I had always been interested, but these two were so nice that I made my final decision). I have beena Smuggler since that day, never dropping the profession when times got rough.
They charged 2k per slice, armor and weapons; and they cut deals when you couldn't pay.
I charge, 2k per weapon slice, 2.5k per armor; and I cut deals when the person can't pay. And it is enough to pay the bills and get me by.
Now I understand why you all charge so much, but when I see it happening on my server I think it is utter blasphemy. The majority of customers who get you to slice a full suit of armor will tip you considerably over the amount that you would end up charging them. And people who get the slices they want on their weapons are willing to tip over the amount I charge as well. My point is, I have been in financial problems before and Smuggler has always been what I fall back on; yet in times of hardship I have never raised my slices and even now I refuse to. I don't try to keep my prices low in order to compete with other Smugglers (Many of them won't lower their prices that low), I simply started slicing for those flat rates and continue to do so until my character is killed in a horrible speeder accident.
LaughingWolf
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:07 am
#6
I charge 5k per slice usually, "tip what you want" for citizen of the same town I am, and 0k for PA mates.
I have a few contract with a few WS, keeping me busy. As far as random starport slice request, only 1 refused to pay my price.
I sometimes make an exception on my price sheme for new players.
I have a few contract with a few WS, keeping me busy. As far as random starport slice request, only 1 refused to pay my price.
I sometimes make an exception on my price sheme for new players.
SensiMillia
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:24 am
#7
Thanks a lot guys for the comments, really useful, keep em coming.
I'm tempted at the minute with a slight 'linked to inflation' price rise, but have found the 'pay what you feel it worth' policy works well, as someone mentioned you do a good slice the punter wants they will give a good tip.
A guy last night in Cnet wanted me to slicehis weapon for him, think itwas a rifle, and asked how much. I said pay what you feel it worth, and he asks for a set price as he had been ripped off before. I asked him what had happened, and he said he had passed something to a smuggler to slice who had said the same, and when he did a 33% dmg slice demanded 500kfor it before he would trade back.I don't know about the story, as seems a pretty self defeating policy for the smuggler to take if he wants future customers but...<shrug>
But anyway really useful to know how everyone plays it.
Btw I don't Post much as the work computers generally screw me up, so am usually limited to lurking ;-), but this is definitely the best forum! <recently Mastered Smuggler smarm tree!> 
Nacouwem
SmugglinZane
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:27 am
#8
I charge 10k per slice or nothing at all. It's simply a matter of what I feel my time is worth. Right now I feel like charging 10k per slice. I don't charge friends, and occasionally I'll slice something for free if I'm enjoying the conversation. This is all moot anyway since I hardly ever travel with tools, and only bring them along if I know I will be slicing.
I will never lower my price that's for sure, but I will never tell someone else what to charge for their slices. I may feel that you don't charge enough, and explain some of the finer points as to why someone should charge more. In the end though, it all comes down to what someone values their time, resources, and skills.
Boycarino
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:33 am
#9
Haven't sliced for the public for so long that I couldn't really say what I charge. Used to charge 5k flat...free for guildies. IF I ever did slicing again I think I'd charge 7k. Meh...dunno.
Yakisoba1
Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:51 am
#10
I charge 6K per slice. I have walked away from 5K per. It's insane to me that someone will pay 500K for a suit of armor and balk at paying 54K to get it sliced. On the other hand, I have also had someone pay me 100K extra to travel to where they were to slice for them.
I have also had one fellow call me a noob, and obviously a new smuggler since I wasn't charging 100 per % increase. He went on to say he knew what clamps and knives cost me, and that it should only cost him 400 credits per slice really. I told him he was paying for my time, and that the last bit of time I'd give him was the time it took to /addignore. Heh. Slicing is fun, except for the times when it's not.
--Yak
Hueghhh
Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:15 am
#11
Boy I am behind the times. I took a year off and used to always charge the standard 100c per%. Now after coming back I noticed that prices of everything have been inflated. However, I didn't think much about it and was still charging 100c per %. It does not matter too much to me because I don't slice all that much anymore but it's good to see what people are charging.
I think I am going to try an experiment this week. I am going to give away free slices and just let the customer tip what they feel like tipping. I'll be curious how many take the free slice and run, and what the average person tips. It would give an idea of what they feel the slice is worth and might make for an interesting discussion on the forums.
Korrack
Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:22 am
#12
Hueghhh wrote:
I think I am going to try an experiment this week. I am going to give away free slices and just let the customer tip what they feel like tipping. I'll be curious how many take the free slice and run, and what the average person tips. It would give an idea of what they feel the slice is worth and might make for an interesting discussion on the forums.
I did that for a week and my tips averaged about 1k each. I got a lot of 500 credit tips per item on armor (4k-5k for a set of armor) and 1 or 2k per weapon. I did a 30% damage on a geo pistol for one guy and he gave me 1k. I increased the value of his weapon by 1 million + credits and I got a whole 1k.
Since then I have charged as above. I really don't care if I slice at all. I'm rather wealthy from other businesses so I don't need money to slice, I need compensation for my time.
zChuckRoastz
Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:12 pm
#13
When I feel like slicing I usually leave it up to them on what amount to pay. Some tip well, others not so well. Those who don't go on the "I didn't see the /tell" list.
Locked containers are a different story, I charge 250k to open a locked container. Why so much? Try running through C'net or Theed without at least one novice smuggler begging for containers to get xp. Some folks get bent out of shape, I point them to the nearest container begger and politely ask them to use someone who needs the experience. If the say they want a Master to open the container, I'll explain to them, any novice using clamps, who can read, can open any locked container with the same efficiency as a Master.
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