Tailor Archive
Thread: Tailors need to unite and charge more
SSquirrel76 wrote:
I know that on Wanderhome, I'm one of the cheaper tailors around. Sometimes I feel bad about this. Normally I don't. Why?
Because I calculated what it costs for me to get my resources, including harvesters for fiberplast and polymer, a fusion generator to keep my big harvesters going, the credits to run the harvesters, and the things I buy in smaller quantities as I don't need as much, and I factored in what it cost to grind my way up, and training. I also run two stores, so I factor in that amount, as well.
What have I discovered? I charge 10 cpu for what it takes to go into an item, with 20 cpu for specific resources (like tatooine wooly hide, etc), and slightly more for each component if it requires identical components from a factory crate. And you know what? In the end, as I am a career tailor and such things will even out, I'm STILL making a rather hefty profit, even though my most expensive non-enhanced item is 4440 creds retail. And sometimes I feel bad that I'm overcharging my customers.
I could probably double my prices and still be the cheapest tailor on Wanderhome. *shrug*
Osethme
I don't do enhanced items, but I do have a price policy.
"I do not aspire nor do I claimto have the lowest prices on the server."
That's my base motto. From there I looked around at web sites/posts/other vendors/bazaar a bit and came up with a price guide based on what I saw/read and some common sense. I found the price per unit formula too complicated so instead I based my prices on level. I have 3 different price charts that work by level and break the clothing down a bit further so that gloves won't be ridiculously overpriced or dresses too low. I have had a few people ask for discounts or complain my prices are too high, but overall most of my customers find my prices reasonable. I charge no less than 1k for anything in the tailoring line (with the exception of belts/gloves and the like) and charge 10k for most Master items. In exchange, however, for my higher-than-holo-grinders prices, I also stock every day and spend time in the shop helping customers. I allow them to try things on, I dont charge for anything they don't like, and I will buy back any item I made for the price they paid as long as it's in perfect condition. I do a good business and rarely have anyone walk away unhappy.
Moral of that story is this: Don't allow others to set your prices. Charge what is fair and reasonable and offer your customers a reason to pay your higher prices.
I think I actually phrased that wrong. Sorry. 
I actually do use a cpu based calculator for prices, but I multiply the chart by a certain amount depending on how busy things have been lately. What I should have said is that I don't base by prices on how much profit I think I should be making per item. I mine my own resources, and so I can make almost everything for around 2-3cpu. I could make 100% profit at 4-6cpu which would be *really* cheap. The problem is that if people found out I made things that cheap I would never get to rest! Instead, I have a vendor which I try to keep fairly well-stocked with popular items. I take email orders of large orders (or if I am not logged on) and try to have them turned around in 24 hours. And most orders I try to do right there on the spot for people who stop in. This gives me the most customer interaction, which is what I like about being a tailor. I try to keep people's waits to less than an hour, so I like to keep the queue very short (especially since I seem to average 30 minutes or more per customer). The customer gets exactly the look that they want without having to wait for a few days to get it. I find a lot of people are very happy to pay a premium for that service and I get to play the way I want to and have a lot of fun! 
Wow, some of you people like math way too much.
I no longer worry when i see a master tailor pimping fleshwraps for 3k on bria for these very issues. I know it can be alarming, and i know that it would be nice if there was a minimum price agreed upon by all tailors, but try not to concern yourself with what others are doing and play the game the way it will be most fun for you
Bluude,
Ah, Ghost town on Dant on Bria eh? I'm living just East of you now. However I retired from running a clothing store and just dabble now. But now that I know about your setup, I have to question a little bit about what you are talking about specifically with regard to undercutters.
Are you suggesting that tailors on the little cities on Dant are charging too little and this is losing you sales in Ghosttown? If that's the case, then I don't agree, simply because Ghosttown is not exactly going to be a hotbed of non-guild business, particularly with the kind of reputation you guys have, and I really doubt that price is going to be a factor at all. I look on the bazar on Dant and often I'll see less than 10 total pieces of clothing available on the entire planet, so undercutting is not gonna be an issue there, lol.
Like I mentioned, I'm on your server too, and ran a shop near Corellia for a long long time, and made money hand over fist there. I never felt that the pricing of other tailors around that planet or that area was hurting me at all, even though my prices are probably among the very highest. But I think the key to all that was simply the location, and the fact that I did a reasonable job of keeping a full vendor.
RandDarkstar wrote:
I love the mabari hat, Padded armour belt, and ubese shirt. I'll take worst quality please! Give me your failures, because they look nice. It's the only belt that looks good on a woman. I'm twi'lek and very slender with hoola hoop sized clothing belts to choose from. Ugh. For whatever reason, the mabari and padded belts work fine.
Anytime I get a fish asking about hats I tell them mabari is the only way to go. Moncalamari look utterly chic in this beautiful hat.
Hehe…personally I hate the Mabari helm, but that's me. I got a failed repair compo helm for my alt when she's on her speeder (my primary actually has real armor—I may be an ID/Tailor, but I do like to hunt the big nasties every now and then) For the belts…yeesh. Female Zabrak, weight at 25 (maybe 30 now, I forget) … I went through my shop and tried on all 17 floor-model belts, just to make sure I hadn'tmissed something the last time I tried a belt—all hula hoops. Maybe once I get around to doing the armorsmith grind with my alt I'll start wearing belts, but until then Eicia goes beltless.