Tailor Archive
Thread: I am so close to giving up!
Page 1 of 3
Korrack
Mon Nov 08, 2004 8:06 am
#1
I've been a tailor since June and am now considering giving it up, or at least that's how I'm feeling at the moment. I Mastered it rather quickly because of my interest. I love clothes in the game, I change my outfit almost ever couple of days to something new, usually combining it with low encumbrance armor (I'm also working on Armorsmith 4000).
I carry two accounts in the game as a single account won't let me do everything I need to do. My second account is Merchant 4444 (trying to find 500AP) and Dancer 0043.
Since the first day I turned Tailor, I tried to provide items in the game that people would actually want to buy. I spent a fortune on BE tissues and began making a lot of BE clothes, specifically shirts to go under armor with combat tissues. I paid attention to entertainers to see what they were wearing and I made a ton of BE and non BE clothes for them as well. Lots of the popular items, lots of color choices.
I'm in a relatively small town on Naboo (Wanderhome), but I advertise constantly and I know word of mouth gets me business too. I've sat for hours on end in the Theed and CNET cantinas making free entertainer clothing for newbie dancers and musicians. People are happy with my services. I often pick up some slicing business when I'm around too.
What I have noticed, even with the new outfits in JTL is that I'm getting next to no business as of late. I have been checking my vendor stocks thinking that my game mails have been wrong, but it's true, I haven't made a tailor sale in over a week. I've tried ways to entice people to come to my shop, I cut my prices, I offered a ton of JTL items, I offered other vendors selling loot and resources at prices so low I was losing money. I post daily on my galaxy andgalaxy trade forums.Anything to generate revenue.
Recently one of the top tailors on my server retired from tailor, and she sent a bunch of business my way. I got 1 new customer out of it all, and that was an armorsmith for components. Now, I could make a living out of this, but I'm getting nothing from regaulat and BE clothing on vendors. I know people are coming to the mall, I see them shopping for ship parts on one of 4 vendors that carry those parts in the mall.
Has anyone else noticed a steep decline in sales since JTL, or even before JTL? I'm too a point that I'm gonna have to start running combat missions to pay for the resources and tissues I use to make the few minor custom on the spot orders I get. It's getting rather depressing. I have been patient and have tried my best to remain smilie despite my bank account draining money on harvesters, buildings for storage and factories which are making components I may never use or sell.
I dunno what I expect with this post, I doubt it will draw sympathy, I doubt it will allow a realization of what I am doing wrong (I'm not doing anything wrong businesswise). I don't want to resort to spamming at the starport like some others do. Word of mouth doesn't seem to work, and neither do my galaxy trade forums.
I guess I just needed to vent a bit. Thanks for listening?
ASrai
Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:04 am
#2
I sympathize with you. Business has all but dried up in recent weeks since JTL shipped. I was so estatic this weekend when I had three customers email me with orders. THREE! I have pulled up all my harversters already and I am seriously considering pulling up three of my 5 factories. I have enough components to last me a month.
I guess on a brighter note, this slow down has allowed me to start to restock vendors back to the levels I used to have.
I have a feeling once JTL excitement dies down, the village has cycled through once or twice, and people get back into their old routines, our business will pick up again. You just need to hang in there and weather the storm.
I guess on a brighter note, this slow down has allowed me to start to restock vendors back to the levels I used to have.
I have a feeling once JTL excitement dies down, the village has cycled through once or twice, and people get back into their old routines, our business will pick up again. You just need to hang in there and weather the storm.
Gyopi
Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:06 am
#3
Don't feel too bad. I have well established vendors for regular clothing, BE clothing (just outside of Coronet) and weapons (just outside of Theed). The locations are great and they have always been popular, but I am lucky if I have made 300K combined from all of those vendors since JTL launched. A lot of people are going to stay in space until they master pilot. That has kind of taken most of the "achievers" out of the game. Also, phase 4 in the village has just started so a lot of people who are not in space are doing their quests their to unlock another branch. Just hold on for another few weeks and things will get more back to normal.
NJ62
Mon Nov 08, 2004 9:54 am
#4
Well, the thing is, when you have multiple professions, it's perfectly healthy to take a break from one for a while. In fact, you should. You can't do everything at once. So you put tailor on the back burner for a while and do something else. I do it all the time.
Now you're saying "*gasp* you're the tailor correspondent doesn't that mean that you tailor all your gameplay time?"
Well NO or I would have burnt out long ago. There have been times that I've cut off custom orders and didn't do them, or times (like now) when I only do custom orders and don't maintain a vendor. There have been times when I've done only guild orders, or not done tailoring at all for a week.
So consider this a break. Okay, yeah, the break is not on YOUR schedule, but it's still a break and you have more time to focus on your other pursuits.
Now you're saying "*gasp* you're the tailor correspondent doesn't that mean that you tailor all your gameplay time?"
Well NO or I would have burnt out long ago. There have been times that I've cut off custom orders and didn't do them, or times (like now) when I only do custom orders and don't maintain a vendor. There have been times when I've done only guild orders, or not done tailoring at all for a week.
So consider this a break. Okay, yeah, the break is not on YOUR schedule, but it's still a break and you have more time to focus on your other pursuits.
Korrack
Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:12 am
#5
NJ62 wrote:
Well, the thing is, when you have multiple professions, it's perfectly healthy to take a break from one for a while. In fact, you should. You can't do everything at once. So you put tailor on the back burner for a while and do something else. I do it all the time.
My other profession is smuggler. That's just a pie in the sky profession. It serves little purpose in the game 
I spend most of my time socializing.
I spend most of my time socializing.
Urgra
Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:29 am
#6
One way to take advantage of JTL is to work with what people want. For example, I spent a couple hours over the weekend selling colorful flightsuits (fighter, heavy, transport, and the other that no-one buys) to new pilots for 15k a peice. Yes, people get a flightsuit from the mission, but what if they want a rebel suit in black? Or bright blue! Or Purple!!! I made 100k in a few hours that way since many people wanted multiple suits for dressing their vendors.
Right now my character is wearing a pink fighter flightsuit, pink swoop helm, and pink boots and gloves. She looks like a PowerRanger but combined with my Master Tailor tag, people know who to ask to look cool.
Also, the Ithorian wear is selling well. Try the BoboBall Body Suit (or what ever made-up sport it is for hehe) in white and black -- looks just like an Ithorian version of Storm Trooper Armor.
Chyann
Gyopi
Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:48 am
#7
Urgra wrote:
Also, the Ithorian wear is selling well. Try the BoboBall Body Suit (or what ever made-up sport it is for hehe) in white and black -- looks just like an Ithorian version of Storm Trooper Armor.
Chyann
I really want to make Ithorian wear, but it is scaring me! I feel like even if I make a special Ithorian vendor who shouts that the clothes on the vendor are only for Ithorians and put **for Ithorians only** in the names of everything that people will *still* buy it and complain when they can't wear it.
ASrai
Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:57 am
#8
Gyopi wrote:
Urgra wrote:Also, the Ithorian wear is selling well. Try the BoboBall Body Suit (or what ever made-up sport it is for hehe) in white and black -- looks just like an Ithorian version of Storm Trooper Armor.ChyannI really want to make Ithorian wear, but it is scaring me! I feel like even if I make a special Ithorian vendor who shouts that the clothes on the vendor are only for Ithorians and put **for Ithorians only** in the names of everything that people will *still* buy it and complain when they can't wear it.
If after all that and they still complain, then they don't need to be playing a game, they need to be seeking professional help!
NJ62
Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:59 am
#9
Ooh I forgot about flight suits!!! I sell so many of those...
Right now I'm *still* selling cloaks on the bazaar for 5k each. That's not dried up yet and it's a constant source of income.
If you're really bored, you can always go into the resource business. I wouldn't want to do it permanently, but it is a quick way to make some cash.
Right now I'm *still* selling cloaks on the bazaar for 5k each. That's not dried up yet and it's a constant source of income.
If you're really bored, you can always go into the resource business. I wouldn't want to do it permanently, but it is a quick way to make some cash.
GoldMemberBria
Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:16 pm
#10
Okie,
I'm on your server and definitely need some things. I don't generally bother with clothing vendors because I've found there is virtually no chance of having the items/colors/bio bonuses combinationsthat I want, but I'll contact you for an order.
As far as getting your name out there though, I generally follow the wanderhome galaxy trade pretty closelyand can't say I've ever noticed your ads. In looking through your posts now I can see that you did post some, but they never have "clothing" or "tailor"in the title of the ads, so they didn't catch my eye. That is something you might want to consider 
Also, although you mention that you are at "Storm Haven Mall" in your sig, your sig doesn't actually give any clue as to where such a mall might be found. It's a big galaxy out there,so that makes it difficult to find . Just some suggestions, because you asked.
. Just some suggestions, because you asked.
Korrack
Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:27 pm
#11
GoldMemberBria wrote:
I'm on your server and definitely need some things. I don't generally bother with clothing vendors because I've found there is virtually no chance of having the items/colors/bio bonuses combinationsthat I want, but I'll contact you for an order.
Yeah, I have a sign up inmy shop for people to contact me. It didn't work.
GoldMemberBria wrote:
As far as getting your name out there though, I generally follow the wanderhome galaxy trade pretty closelyand can't say I've ever noticed your ads. In looking through your posts now I can see that you did post some, but they never have "clothing" or "tailor"in the title of the ads, so they didn't catch my eye. That is something you might want to consider
I've posted 3 or 4 threads, Most of them about the mall itself. It's difficult to place an advertisement in the Trade forums as it disappears behind the 1000 threads of people selling ship parts and resources. I personally feel bumping a thread 50 times is in bad taste I know people read them, I got as many hits on the threads as others get. I more want to make sure the mall does well than just I. I'm not in this for the money, I just don't want to waste my time. I need to figure out how to catch eyes.
GoldMemberBria wrote:
Also, although you mention that you are at "Storm Haven Mall" in your sig, your sig doesn't actually give any clue as to where such a mall might be found. It's a big galaxy out there,so that makes it difficult to find
Yeah, my sig sucks right now. I'm trying to work on a new one. I used to have everything listed in it including waypoint, and even directions "Get off the shuttle in Storm Haven Naboo and head east. It's the large Mall you run into before you hit the city outskirts." I need to work on that too.
This isn't all about money. I'm wealthy and I often just give away clothes and money to friends and people I meet. For me I guess it's about wasting time and trying to figure out if this profession is worth it really. I put time into it, and get little out of it. It would at least be better if I was getting rich. It has been pointed out to me many many times that I should place my shop in the mass of structures south of Coronet on Wanderhome. That's a great idea, but I live in Storm Haven with my guild that I am in. I'm not gonna abandon my friends and move to Coronet.
Anyway, I'll see what happens, just more of a vent than anything else. Thanks for the suggestions. Just at a bad point I guess.
Urgra
Mon Nov 08, 2004 2:02 pm
#12
Well, money is good, but it isn't everything. It took me 5-6 months before (just last night) I made the 3 millions mark (woohoo!). Half of that was from over-tipping by people in my guild. I guess what I am getting at is that you might want to spend some times thinking about what you really like to do. Here are some possible things and ways to possibly meet them.
1) Make tons of cash:
a) Make friends with a Bio-Engineer or become one yourself. If you spam (Master BE/Tailor) at starports, you will make tons.
b) Always keep the bazaar full and advertize your name and location on your clothes (e.g., "by Chyann: Astro City, Lok")
2) Be able to log on just for fun without committments:
a) Get rid of your store and help out a profession of your choice (e.g., become the Theed Cantina's personal tailor for new entertainers -- maybe pick up novice ent so you can dance along with them).
b) Put up one of your non-Master tailor tags in a major city (e.g., Clothier).People will ask for clothes but you wont get hounded for BE stuff (maybe you like BE, but I really hate it hehe).
3) Get known for something:
a) Search frantically to get to know as many tailors on your server as you can. Let them know that you are focusing on one type of clothing (e.g., formal wear, jewelry, factory crates, etc.) and start a referral business.
b) Make an extra-special attempt to give people more than they ask for. This could be a friendly attitude or, like I usually do, a free pair of shoes with every outfit (you cannot buy a new dress and not get shoes to match!).
4) Be someone who others depend on:
a) Meet a bunch of Chefs (Trim), Armorsmiths (Synth, FP, RFP, Armor Padding), etc, and cut fantastic deals with them for factory crates of what they need -- keep your prices low (maybe 20% above cost) so they feel comfortable buying the materials rather than picking up some tailor skils to make them themselves. Don't get caught making schematics though! That will ruin all of your fun.
b) Get guild-matesinterested in clothes. Have a few sales for guild members (make sure all guild-mates are on your friend's list and advertise for a "one-day sale -- everything 1/2 off for guild-mates!") You can also give all new guildies a new set of club clothes so they see how fun it can be.
5) Change of pace:
a) Pick up another profession and let people know casually that you also make clothes. I picked up ID with the aim of being able to give complete make-overs. What I didn't realize is the capitve audience I have during stat-migrates. During stat-migrates, I let people know I am a Master Tailor and I can make clothes for them while they are waiting. This has been really fun and rewarding.
b) Another profession that would work well would be Doctor (at least to Stimpack Chemist). Doc vendors get a lot of business. If you had a stim-pack vendor that also had clothes in it, people would impulse buy. If you don't want to pick up a selling profession, maybe a crafter guild-mate wouldn't mind teaming up with you in some way to sell stuff. This way you are relying more on your Merchant skills.
Come on guys, what other things could Korrack do? We don't want him to leave!!!
Chyann
Message Edited by Urgra on 11-08-2004 01:05 PM
Mystyrys
Mon Nov 08, 2004 2:31 pm
#13
/comfort hug
Yup, yup. After the initial new clothes rush and full JtL going live the next week, and planetside became a trampoline tospace...I found myself with more free time on my hands. Sales slowed to a trickle, with occasional spurts of insane shopping sprees. I keep restocking the hooded cloaks, cargo vests, revealing skirts and all flightsuits.
Our mall is just outside Mos Espa, so we get quite a bit of traffic, but mostly to the shipwright's vendors.
So. I decided it was a vacation and worked on other things I usually never have enough time to do...
Went to Espa cantina and am almost Novice Musician now. Reb Pilot trainer is in the back of that cantina. Lots of traffic through there. And everyone's got black bar disease. Running for Mayor so also been having fun meeting and greeting JtL newbies and *cough* recruiting for citizens and guild. Redecorating the mall. Organizing storage - downsizing massive overload of junk piles. Refilled crates vendor to bursting (sales brisk due to the GrooveFest 6 celebration next weekend. Huge Trade Show and party. Armorsmiths cleaning me out of RFPs, SCs and FPs as fast as I can fill it back up)
Have had more time to play my alts, both old and new ones from second account.
Intrepid alt: Almost Mastered TK. Couple more buffed trips to Endor with my guildmate YoQuero TacoBell the Attack Chihuahua Bothan oughta' do it. 
Gorath alt: Master merchant already, just mastered Artisan and picked up Nov Tailor and Nov Architect. The Resource selling business has been very good to me! Preparations to place my new shop in Mos Exile and stock vendors progressing quite well. Going to be a general store. Xibi Dee Doo Dah's Doo Dads. Ran around Bestine a bit with Xian - MID, and had a bunch o' fun too! When she ain't cuttin' yer hair, she's out slicing and dicing with her swords.
Ran around Bestine a bit with Xian - MID, and had a bunch o' fun too! When she ain't cuttin' yer hair, she's out slicing and dicing with her swords.Kettemoor alt: Got a couple more boxes in CH, did missions until I could afford to buy that cool painting of the crashed Lucky Despot.
In fact, I've been having soooo much fun doing all this other stuff, I am seriously thinking to do just what NJ has done. Fire my vendors. Travelling tailor/mail orders only.
Okie, if you know anyone who has an alt on another server who would enjoy helping you out: start a newbie and go have some fun of a different color. It's been a most refreshing change of pace for me.
Page 1 of 3