Tailor Archive

This thread is rediculous. While it's on a topic that is near and dear to a lot of tailor's hearts, realize that this thread was started by a guy who doesn't sell on the bazar, that lives over 5k from the nearest starport on Dantooine, isn't on the map, puts his shop in Ghosttown where no rebel will venture, is supported by perhaps the largest PA in the game, discounts all his clothing when selling to his PA, and has said numerous times on other threads that he's made very little money as a tailor but instead makes him money by selling vehicles. Now I'm sorry, but what are you telling us about the tailoring economy on Bria?

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Gyopi wrote:
I do kind of resent being accused of being a rip-off artist because I do not set my prices as low as other people. I have enough money to be comfortable and by your arguement I should just figure out exactly what my resource cost is and sell at that price so everyone could afford any clothes they want to. After all, I don't need to make any more money anymore! But the fact is that resource prices are not always the most important thing in setting prices. After all, a $1500 Louis Vuitton handbag is not 100 times better or more expensive to make than a $15 purse from walmart, but people are willing to pay those prices. I personally set my prices so that I have just the workload I want and I can also have fun playing the game.

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I agree with this completely. My main problem with those who charge low is their statements whenever the topic comes up that folks who choose to price higher and not base pricing entirely on resource costs are ripping off our customers. If I'm ripping them off so much, I don't see why I have so many repeat customers willing to trek all the way out to the middle of Rori just to visit my vendors.

By charging a little more, I earn a profit margin that I think is entirely appropriate for my knowledge, experience and the variety I try and offer. I'm trying to run an upscale boutique, not a bargin bin. When I first hit Master Tailor I raised my prices, because I decided that my much better color selection made my clothes worth more than they had been. I think it's one of the best business decisions I've made. My prices did turn off a few people, but the kind of customer who wants to haggle over a 1000 credit discount on a high level item is not the kind of person I want to deal with anyway. The kind of customers who think fashion is worth the money are often much more fun to work with.

It's just a different philosophy. Some folks want as many customers as possible, I'd rather have as many really cool customers as possible instead of just anyone. Of course I always give great deals on my lower or mid-priced clothing for new characters or low level entertainers because they're often so fun to work with. But my pricing for regular customers is just high enough that it usually turns away the "clothes aren't worth much because they don't do anything" crowd. Which is exactly the point for me.

I've definately posted against undercutting in the past, but to me that word means folks who charge at or under cost because they don't need the money (which would include most of the hologrinders, can't wait until they go away). People who price based solely on resource use have never cut into my business, not even when one opened a shop 300m from my previous location. I disagree with the way they price, but it doesn't affect me. And it's not like my pricing affects them in any way, so I always resent the attitude that my prices are a rip-off.

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Subcriminal wrote:

Sorry if this sounds harsh, not trying to offend anyone but the worthlessness of tailoring is part of why I'm leaving it behind.

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Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya....

Some people will be the Wal-Marts, some will be the Old Navies, some will be the Rodeo Drive. Everyone's plays the way that satisfies them.

I'm not a Walmart tailor, I run a Rodeo Drive shop. Call me a rip-off artist all you want, but funny how for every complaint about my prices I hear 20 compliments. I have many repeat customers and while I am not rolling in money, I am not poor either. Why should I be? I provide excellent service, a professional and comfortable atmosphere and well stocked vendors in exchange for what people pay for my goods. I charge 10k for Master items and I'm proud to say it will be a cold day in hell when I lower them to compete with some clueless holo-tailor who does not think that TIME spent should be factored into prices as well as expenses incurred (harvestors, vendor/house maintence/resource expense/etc). Obviously anyone that says otherwise has never run a real business and has no clue how to do so. Running a business is all about making a profit. Period. Making a profit does not make you a "rip-off artist" or greedy, it makes you a sensible business person.

Try running a business in the real world where you charge less than what it costs to produce something, see how long you last before the bill collectors come and shut you down.

ooh... another price thread O.o

just let others charge whatever they want. some people believe in selling cheap, and i believe in how much my time is worth. i'm not *that* expensive, people still think my stuff is cheap, and i get my share of happy customers. i'm fine with that

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Dex1138 wrote:

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Subcriminal wrote:

Sorry if this sounds harsh, not trying to offend anyone but the worthlessness of tailoring is part of why I'm leaving it behind.

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Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya....

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And just what areyou trying to imply? I've been a tailor practically since launch and I haven't been happy with it for a looong time, and decided I don't want to waste my time anymore. Got a problem with that, hun?

This is such a tired argument. Charge whatever you want to assure yourself the level of business you want, and be done with it. It's silly to argue there's some kind of "right" price for an article of clothing based on materials used and time spent making it, especially since most people on most servers have more money to spend than they know what to do with. In my experience, customers generally want what they want when they want it; price just isn't much of an objection for them. I think the last time I had a complaint about my prices was back in August sometime. So whether you sell high or low is irrelevant. Charge what you want to charge and you'll sell things as long as they're anywhere within the realm of reasonableness.

I stayed out of this for a while, but my gods, this is pathetic.

Just the other day someone mentioned the overall maturity of tailors to me and I agreed. After reading this thread from start to finish I am almost embarassed to be associated with the profession.

1. Everyone, not just those I would consider trolls, but vertern posters who have been polite, understanding and mature in the past have helped to turn this thread into name-calling and just plain ugliness


2. There have been several posts on prices and what Tailors should price clothing at. I doubt that there will ever be a uniform decision. In EQ the economy is based on what the players are willing to pay for an item. Because crafted items aren't the best items in the game, are in fact the smallest portion of the commodities, it's like comparing apples and oranges, yet I will do just that. Someone sells an item at X plat in EQ because someone will eventually buy it if it falls in the average range, in SWG the the crafters determine how much they sell an item for.


3. Because SWG makes it possible to be a viable crafter even when you are offline there is no strong commraderie between all of the crafers. If we hung out in game in one area, prices would become more uniform over time.


4. Can we call a halt to price discussions? None of them ever end well, they usually turn into petty name calling and stop being about the actual topic.

Who cares what Soandso charges for their clothes, it would nice if they put more worth into their time, but since they don't there's nothing that can be done. Accept it, understand that eventually those that charge significantly less will get burned out, or go out of business, especially if they are charging a significant amount less for enhanced clothing. Just sit back and let it happen on it's own. SWG's economy is relatively young, it will take a while to get to a point where most of the prices stop fluctuating, but until then can we as a profession agree that this is an incredibly hot topic, like religion and politics and will just cause issues if brought up again? Please?

I put a lot of thought into my system of prices, I thought about charging per unit of resource or setting specific prices for master level items.

But at the end of the day I am a tailor because I enjoy making the clothes and outfitting the person. So I work by Tip system. I make the outfits and get the look the customer wants, model it for them as the items come out of the tools then trade them so they can try them on themselves, then I say tip me whatever the outfit is worth to you.

Yes, ive been paid 200 creds for a master item, it happens...but I have a list of those customers in a notepad next to my pc and they wont have my time wasted on them again. I enjoy tailoring and getting paid for it is a bonus. For every 200 cred tipper that takes me an hour to clothe I get the 50k tipper for "can you just do me a quick X item" . My costs are covered easily and I have a lot of fun doing the profession I enjoy.

However BE clothing is a different kettle of fish, as I have to buy all my augments they come at a fixed price. I tend to overcharge for those as it can be a hassle to get all the needed parts and usually have to scour the galaxy gathering the augments. I dont really enjoy the BE side to tailoring as the range of items that can be enhanced is too small. Im sick of making all black camo pants with +melee/+stun defense items so I charge way more than should be neccesary. I would rather spend an hour with a newbie outfitting them so they look "cool" for 500 creds the whole outfit than spend 5 mins putting together another 50k set of BE clothing.

Im not in this for the cash, im in it because I enjoy it. Making people happy with a set of "cool threads" is where I find my enjoyment.

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Subcriminal wrote:
And just what areyou trying to imply? I've been a tailor practically since launch and I haven't been happy with it for a looong time, and decided I don't want to waste my time anymore. Got a problem with that, hun?

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I'm not implying anything. I'm just saying if you're leaving we won't miss you. I'm not sure why people who are leaving (a profession or the game) feel the need to vent to the community before they do so, but it's your right.

Cool, is that a promise?

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Irenik wrote:

I for one will NEVER be buying another piece of clothing madde by another characters tailor in this game.

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A little bitter, perhaps? You think that we are the most despised? We argued AGAINST death decay. Don't go blaming us for issues you don't like in the game. The developers will change things as they see fit, and hardly ever as the community wants.