Smuggler Archive

Thread: How I avoid problems when slicing An example from last night.

Intelerebel
Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:37 am
#1

Last night, while sitting in Coronet, I get a /tell from someone.....


Someguy: "Hi, I just bought a full suit of composite, can you slice it for encumbrance?"


Me: "Sorry, I can't help ya out today buddy.Try finding another smuggler or catch up with me next time I'm online".




And it ended there. I just saved myself at least 10 solid minutes of tells, never having to worry about dealing with a potential idiot. And in that 10 minutes I had sliced 2 suits of composite for some guy who knew how slicing worked.


This isn't the first time I've done this. You see, anytime I've ever required services from another profession, I've always taken the time to educate myself before taking the plunge. Although I have been known to help out a nub from time to time, I've recently decided to not let it affect my slicing business.


My advice, unless you're really bored, or starving for business.....Let these guys go. Don't worry about them. As slicers, we don't have to worry about market saturation, so there will always be demand. So staying away from potential problem customers can both make your life easier while being able to be more productive.


Cheers!





v==================v AOTA v==================v
. Master Weaponsmith / Master Smuggler .

[ Obsidian Fear Team Leader [
RankorCity
Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:40 am
#2

Or you could have helped an apparently new player by taking 2 minutes andexplaining that slicing is completely random process...



Anxiously awaiting the Firefly MMO
Discuss it at www.firefly-mmo.com
Bosyn-Dallas
Mon Jun 14, 2004 8:51 am
#3

Honestly I would have informed him of our limitations. That way your doing 2 things. 1. making money and 2. Informing a player so the next smuggler doesn't get the same question from him.


What I would suggest is just type up a macro with a brief, "Smugglers cannot choose what type of slice we get it is 100% random for type and percentage.". Put it on your hotbar and there ya go.



*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
Mischa Zarovich - I AM the scum of the Galaxy!
Master TK/ Master Smuggler - Tempest
KaiRan
Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:12 am
#4









Intelerebel wrote:


Me: "Sorry, I can't help ya out today buddy.Try finding another smuggler or catch up with me next time I'm online".





Um... no, that's how you avoid growing your business...


This is how you avoid problems when dealing with un-educated or poorly informed potential clients:


Type:


/alias newCust /rt Not even a Master Smuggler like myself can target a specific slice, there is always a50% chance of either result. Unfortunately, at this time the only thing that actually effects the outcome of the slice at all is the level of the Smuggler slicing for you. Master has the best results, with a 15%-35% improvement on aweapon's speed or damage, and armor can see a 11%-35% increase in BASE effectiveness or a 20%-45% encumberance reduction. The quality of equipment used does not effect a slice outcome, butI use the best available tools anyway, just in case. Ihave 100% sucess rate of improving your equipment by using Molecular Clamps, andyourequipment can only beIMPROVED by slicing, never damaged or destroyed.; /rt I currently charge [enter method of billing here].

Then, whenever anyone asks, simply type:


/tell [name of potential customer] Well...


/newCust

In the end, I find the newer customers less jaded about "lower" slices, and more likely to understand that all slices improve equipment.

Message Edited by KaiRan on 06-14-2004 12:22 PM



jnoh | master smuggler + master pilot | starsider
If you don't want me to "play the forums," then I suggest you make time playing the game more rewarding and less repetitive than "playing" here!
READ THIS before telling me I cannot complain about Smuggler
GOT SMUGGLING? - I AM STILL NOT A SMUGGLER - GOT SPICE?
dorsai78664
Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:03 am
#5


Bate is right and Mischa has a good tip on the macro. At one time, I had two macros hotkeyed. The first was a /say and the second was a /rtell. One set for weapons and one for armor.A nice simple explanation that its random and what to expect as far as results can go a long long way.


The reason for the /rtell is I would just first tell tell the customer /tell Just a sec. I have some info... And then I would hit the macro. Works a bit better than /reply. Not a bad idea to have a /say and /rtell with your rates also.


I completely missed wampa's post right above mine. Also a good tip.

Message Edited by dorsai78664 on 06-14-2004 02:06 PM




COLONEL DRAEVYN TYR
Master Gunfighter : Master Smuggler : Teräs Käsi Master
The Spice Must Flow
Corbantis.Naboo.Theed.-5851.3187


Intelerebel
Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:24 am
#6

I see where y'all are coming from, but take a good look at the number of continuous posts we see every week about the common problems we all face when dealing with customers. Almost every instance happens because the customer was uninformed.


Now, would it benefit smugglers as a whole to educate the general population? Sure. But I can name a few other ways smugglers can help out the profession as a whole. How bout raising prices on both spices and slices? How bout acting like a smuggler and refuse to SPAM starports for business? Only about half of you seem to care about those things.

I charge top dollar, and I give my customers added value by making the slicing experience as suspenseful (and fun) as possible.


I'm a smuggler. I get all the business I need without having to waste my time explaining the much debated nuances of slicing to every newb I run across. Like I said, look at the "Chuckle for smugglers" thread. You'll see all the idiots we gotta deal with on a regular basis.


I f a newb asks me how slicing works, I'll be more than happy to explain it. But if anyone comes to me with a preconceived notion of slicing that is totally false, then I tell them politely to hit the road.Those are the largest majority of problem customers and it's my right (and yours to) to pass up on those customers if I wish. Anyway, when I DO pass up on those slices, what do you think they do afterwards. That's right, you guessed.........they go find the next guy to slice their stuff. So either arguing about having to explain the rules to someone because the smuggler before you didn't, or if you argue that I should do ecplain it to everyone in order to build my business, it doesn't matter.


If I don't explain, and you're pissed because you have to.....then you agree that these people are a pain.

If you say that I should explain in order to build my business, then feel free to thank me for helping you build your client base.


Lastly, I'm not a trainer. There's no "helper" tag on my toon. If y'all wanna start paying me a few credits per week, I'll be happy to set up "Newbie Training Conferences" at the CIty Hall in Coronet.



v==================v AOTA v==================v
. Master Weaponsmith / Master Smuggler .

[ Obsidian Fear Team Leader [
RankorCity
Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:44 am
#7






Intelerebel wrote:

I see where y'all are coming from, but take a good look at the number of continuous posts we see every week A) about the common problems we all face when dealing with customers. B)Almost every instance happens because the customer was uninformed.


Now, would it benefit smugglers as a whole to educate the general population? Sure. But I can name a few other ways smugglers can help out the profession as a whole. How bout raising prices on both spices and slices? How bout acting like a smuggler and refuse to SPAM starports for business? Only about half of you seem to care about those things.

I charge top dollar, and I give my customers added value by making the slicing experience as suspenseful (and fun) as possible.


I'm a smuggler. I get all the business I need without having to waste my time explaining the much debated nuances of slicing to every newb I run across. Like I said, look at the "Chuckle for smugglers" thread. C)You'll see all the idiots we gotta deal with on a regular basis.


I f a newb asks me how slicing works, I'll be more than happy to explain it. D)But if anyone comes to me with a preconceived notion of slicing that is totally false, then I tell them politely to hit the road.Those are the largest majority of problem customers and it's my right (and yours to) to pass up on those customers if I wish. Anyway, when I DO pass up on those slices, what do you think they do afterwards. That's right, you guessed.........they go find the next guy to slice their stuff. E)So either arguing about having to explain the rules to someone because the smuggler before you didn't, or if you argue that I should do ecplain it to everyone in order to build my business, it doesn't matter.


If I don't explain, and you're pissed because you have to.....then you agree that these people are a pain.

If you say that I should explain in order to build my business, then feel free to thank me for helping you build your client base.


F)Lastly, I'm not a trainer. There's no "helper" tag on my toon. If y'all wanna start paying me a few credits per week, I'll be happy to set up "Newbie Training Conferences" at the CIty Hall in Coronet.





Just a couple things:


A) As a smuggler, selling your services, you have to deal with "customers". Its time to get off your highhorse and realize these people are the ones that keep you in armor, in a house, armed, etc.


B) Uninformed? You could have taken two minutes to explain that it isnt a "pick your slice" kind of thing...You dont start the game all-knowing. Hell, I have been playing since launch and just learned that an overt healing a covert doesnt give the covert a TEF....


C) Same as in the real world, same as in the game...Its part of being in the "public eye". Develop patience, or get out of the smuggling game. This sort of attitude will get you nowwhere but bankrupt, here and in RL.


D) See B. Then after helping said newb, you might have a customer for "life". I know I do (have customers for life). They will come to whereever I am because first, I treated them right from the get go, second, I am a pretty lucky slicer, and three I helped them whenever they started the game. And I can guarantee you that I make pretty damn good money as a slicer...


E) Never ending cycle that you could help put a stop to....


F) Then dont advertise your Master Smuggler title...





Anxiously awaiting the Firefly MMO
Discuss it at www.firefly-mmo.com
Intelerebel
Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:57 am
#8






RankorCity wrote:


Just a couple things:


A) As a smuggler, selling your services, you have to deal with "customers". Its time to get off your highhorse and realize these people are the ones that keep you in armor, in a house, armed, etc.


Thats absolutely right. I deal with customers. I deal with GOOD customers. You might believe that any customer is a good customer, and that's where our philosophy differs.


B) Uninformed? You could have taken two minutes to explain that it isnt a "pick your slice" kind of thing...You dont start the game all-knowing. Hell, I have been playing since launch and just learned that an overt healing a covert doesnt give the covert a TEF....


True, I could've taken the two minutes, but instead I was spending that to minutes slicing for another customer, instead of lollygagging around, because my services are in demand.


C) Same as in the real world, same as in the game...Its part of being in the "public eye". Develop patience, or get out of the smuggling game. This sort of attitude will get you nowwhere but bankrupt, here and in RL.


That's not true. I'm not being rude to anyone. The guy doesn't even know why I can't slice for him. Until some major game changes are executed, slicing will always be high in demand.


D) See B. Then after helping said newb, you might have a customer for "life". I know I do (have customers for life). They will come to whereever I am because first, I treated them right from the get go, second, I am a pretty lucky slicer, and three I helped them whenever they started the game. And I can guarantee you that I make pretty damn good money as a slicer...


Sorry mate, only a smallminority are so dedicated that they'll wait to make sure you're online at the same time. The one's who come to you and only you, are probably either getting much cheaper slices, or coonicidentally happen to be online the same times as you.


E) Never ending cycle that you could help put a stop to....


Like cheap slice prices? Like free slices under 20%? Like people not knowing how to sell spice? Like people purposely misrepresenting slicing percentages?Like people who think smuggling means spamming in front of starports? I'm the least of your problems, fellow smuggler.


F) Then dont advertise your Master Smuggler title...


This is a non-issue. I already have an easy way of filtering out who I want to do business with.










v==================v AOTA v==================v
. Master Weaponsmith / Master Smuggler .

[ Obsidian Fear Team Leader [
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