Smuggler Archive

:: Gives the Secret Smuggler Handshake::

Scoundrels, Scallywags, Rogues, and other unsavory types:

We know it is hard to make money on Spice, that we sometimes have trouble doing higher end content for good loot money, and our slicing business isn't perhaps what we'd like it to be. But as the smugglers and eternal businessmen that we are, I purpose that we devote this thread to discussing alternative ways of making money. I am hesitant to do this in such a public venue, but I feel the need to spread the love. I feel we should all have pimp rides, huge houses, and MAD Twi-Lek love slaves (be they male or female). Maybe the tips herein will aid us in our quest. Especially with JTL on its way, now is the time to stockpile money so we, as smugglers, can truly do our job once we can smuggle all over the known galaxy. To Begin:

Slicing is the key to our financial success. Now I don't propose to raise slicing prices in order to get money. It does not seem like anything higher then 5 -10K per slice will really work on a large scale. We should keep our slice prices fair (but profitable) because slicing is our foot in the door, as it were. Slicing is the tool which we can use to make a lot of money.

Example: Yesterday I was wandering around South Coronet (a HUGE mall on Naritus) and a guy with a Novice Wepsmith tag walks up to me as I am using a vendor. I could see his legs poking out from under the vendor screen. Eventually he /tells me and /taps me on the shoulder. Very polite mind you.

"Excuse me sir, could you PLEASE (/beg) slice this d18 for me?"
"Look kid, it'll cost more for you to slice it then it's worth"
"How much?"
(I quote my price)
"WHOA! I only paid 500 for it"
"I told you."
"I thought that because (/beg) you were the nicest smuggler in the galaxy, that you would do it for free"

At this point, let me pause for a quick pontification. Now I know it is against every smuggler bone in your body to say Yes to this guy. But as smugglers, we must constantly pay attention. Therefore, I did the following

"You're a novice wep smith right?"
"Yeah."
"And you intend on producing wepongs for people to buy correct?"
"Yeah. I can't make any good ones yet, but soon I will!"
"And you would agree that selling better, sliced weapons would be better for your business right?"
"Of course!"
"Then I'll make you a deal."
"Ok!"
"I'll slice your weapon for free. In return, when you get to the point that you are selling legitamate weapons, you will give me exclusive rights to slice them. You will pay me (x) per slice and another (x) per 25 weps sliced to cover material costs. Any slice under 15% will just cost you materials."
"Hmmm..." /thinks
"Do you have any diea how cheaply I'm slicing them for you? (I quoted him about half my normal fee)."
"Ok deal. I'll add you to friends. Here's my pistol"
"Deal." Get D18, get a 20%-ish Speed slice, give it back.
"Wow thanks! I'll even put your name on the weapons when I make them so people know you did it" (Wish I was joking)"
"I don't necessarily want this advertised if you catch my drift."
"Ohhh riiggghhttt /wink"
"I gott jet. Remember my name kid, I'll remember yours. And remember the favor that I've just done you."
"I will! I promise."
"I hope so. Take care."

So what happened here? I created a potantial cash cow. Now I can't be guarnteed that he ever WILL come and /tell me when he needs me to slice weps. and it may be a whille before he can craft anything worth while anyway, but if you do this often and even one pays off, you could become very wealthy. I'll send him a /tell every other week to see how he is doing. Naturally, this could be repeated with an Armorsmith as well.... My only loss was a mclamp and a few knives, no big deal. It he sets up shop and doesn't contact me, then there are ways to make him cooperative. Perhaps by buying all of his weps, slicing them and selling them on the bazarr for double the cost with a nice note attached, or, to be really mean, buy them and systematically destroy every weapon that he makes. But I don't think that would be a problem, he'll contact me when he needs something sliced, I did him a favor remember? His D18 is now Speed 3.4....

Example: Taking a line from the paragraph above, another good way to make some cash is find cheap weps for sale on the Baz or at a wepsmith (Like dirt cheap 3k FWG's) and then slice them and put them on the Baz for 6000. People will pay 6k for a sliced wepon. I did this and sold 5 in a matter of 1 hour.

Example: This is a money saving technique rather than a money making, but useful nonetheless. Find an artisan with a factory that can make WUK's, AUK's, Knives, M-Clamps, and, if you are still griding Slice XP, Cheap CDEFs and Knives for you to slice and so on. Make sure he/she understands that quality means nothing and that they should use the worst possible materials (perhaps provide your own) Develop a business relationship with this person (free slicing maybe) and then have them mass produce these things for you cheaply. Shop around, get a general price. Once you no longer need slice XP, still have them produce the wepons for you and sell them to novice smugglers or on the Baz for a profit. Most Artisians will be happy to have a regular customer. A good way to find one is sometime speople will put crates of "Slicer Special Cdefs" on the Baz. Buy one, look at the name, send them a /tell or a mail, and get to building that relationship.

Some General Guidelines
1. Never negotiate a deal in Spatial unless you are trying to make a point (can be an effective tool). You don't want to get undercut and this allows you to adjust your price according to client.
2. If you decide to give someone a deal on a slice, make sure they know it.
3. If you are factioanlly aligned, be careful when trading. You don't want a TEF. Don't announce your faction.
4. When you are ready for some business, make sure you have the tool on hands. An underprepared smuggler is a bad one.
5. Wheb you are ready for some business, do a search to see what other smugglers are around. Adjust your prices accordingly. Pay attention to what others are charging. Undercut when possible. Also, if you have someone that needs a container sliced and you no longer need the XP, send them over to a novice, they will be very thankful.
6. If you get a customer that Roleplays (and you don't) START. You will invaribly get more money if you play along. And its fun.
7. When in doubt, Feign death.

Some Aesthetic Concerns
- Always give the secret smuggler handshake.
- Don't slice in your armor. It's poor form. Buy some cool looking clothes. The point is to LOOK shady.
- Stand in corners, go to the back on cantinas.
- Flirt Flirt Flirt


That is all for now. I encourage anyone and everyone to add their own capitalistic money making ventures, tips, and Non-combat related tricks of the trade.

Krex Jarka
Gonzo Smuggler of the Naritus Galaxy.

"Smugglers: We don't make the things you buy. We make the things you buy better."

Krex Jarka
Gonzo Smuggler

"Smugglers: We don't make the things you buy. We make the things you buy better"