CUEmu - Thread Posts

Misterpink54

Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:42 pm

Do most tailors chage a fee for time spent working with a customer? I am a fairly new master tailor and am finding helping people to be pretty time consuming. Just wondering what other tailors charge or if they do. Also I end up destroying lot of things that just isn't what a customer wants. I don't think I should charge them for those but I do absorb the loss.

Milarella

Fri Feb 20, 2004 2:58 pm

#2

For me, it depends on the customer. If they're nice, have a quick, easy request and know what they want, I usually don't charge for time, unless they dragged me away from something else. If they're curt, don't know what they want, don't even have a general description for what they want (i.e. "something cool" or "what do you have?"), then not only am I spending all this time on them, I'm not enjoying myself at all. I play games to enjoy myself, so I'm gonna charge for that. How much? Depends on them, really, and just how bad they are.

If someone gives me free reign to make them a neat outfit with some kind of parameters (like a guildmate recently asked me to make him look like a commando, in all black), then I'll have tons of fun with it and probably won't charge much for the time spent (in the case of friends, not at all).

As for extra items, it depends on if it's my fault or theirs. If they give me a piece of clothing to try and match, and I mess it up, that's my fault, so I pay for it. If they are vague or unclear and saying things like "NO!!!!! The other poofy shirt!", then that's their fault (I always offer web resources), and they pay.

Sorry, this probably wasn't too helpful lol.

kegboy

Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:19 pm

#3

I don't charge at all for time spent (unless he REALLY ticks me off with multiple remakes) I spent 3 hours with 1 guy last night (while training others and making the odd small item inbetween) it can be really worth it as I wound up making 40k because he was happy I'd spent so much time helping him out.

It all depends on how YOU feel more about it. I just don't mind spending time witha customer if they're polite and corteous. Anyone giving me the "but I REALLY REALLY need it NOW" while I'm with a customer gets the "find another tailor" request if he keeps bugging then it's /addignore.

ArthurDentOnBria

Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:38 pm

#4

The face-to-face interaction with customers is what I enjoy most about being a tailor, so I try to encourage it, not discourage it. I have the "ultimate liberal" policy when it comes to that, charging nothing for my time, making lots of "do-overs" and "here see how this looks on you" type of stuff. When you do this, one of two things happens.

1) You have a very appreciative customer, you have a fun session helping them, andwhen they leave you leave with a great feeling of accomplishment and a customer who has an amazing amount of loyalty to you. Tips vary a lot here, but 10k-20k would probably be a pretty average tip. Also, these types of people tend to tell their friends who also tend to be equally cool and appreciative types, and pretty soon you have an awesome customer base that you enjoy serving.

2) You have a customer who is completely indifferent to this sort of good treatment. What happens here is that you have a single frustrating session with them, make virtually no credits, leave feeling you've accomplished nothing and completely wasted your time, but also leave with the knowledge that it will never happen again with that person. If the customer asks for a follow up session, I'm always "too busy".

ArthurDent - former Bio Engineer, Tailor, and Droid Engineer
Account cancelled 7/8/05 due to game breaking bugs in these professions that have been neglected for FAR too long. Last day July 27 2005
custom tailoring and droid orders welcome. "making Evil products since July 2003"
Achiever: 80%, Explorer: 60%, Socializer: 46%, Killa 13%

AylaJewel

Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:49 pm

#5

I also have never charged my customers for time spent.. altho most of the longer session customers will tip generously in thanks to my patience

I also have vendors so any rejects just help me stock the vendors and really are not wasted at all for me.

I have had the odd session that turned out to be a total waste of time for both parties, but they are few and far between, the successful sessions definitely outweigh and make up for them!

Aylara Ahagi

Master Tailor

ShadowBrak City, Dantooine

Corbantis

ImpSlave

Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:23 pm

#6

AylaJewel wrote:

I also have never charged my customers for time spent.. altho most of the longer session customers will tip generously in thanks to my patience

I also have vendors so any rejects just help me stock the vendors and really are not wasted at all for me.

I have had the odd session that turned out to be a total waste of time for both parties, but they are few and far between, the successful sessions definitely outweigh and make up for them!

Aylara Ahagi

Master Tailor

ShadowBrak City, Dantooine

Corbantis

This has also been my experience. Perhaps I've been very fortunate, but I'm always tipped generously (once for 100k, had to ask the customer if they really meant all those zeros) for taking the time to work with the customer on a personal basis. I also get rewarded by good word-of-mouth advertising and repeat customers.

___________________________

Ae'linor - Master Entertainer
(Master Dancer, Master Image Designer, Novice Musician)

Viviane Risant - Master Tailor
(Master Artisan, Master Merchant, Interior Designer)

ZahrIna

Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:15 pm

#7

The general rule of kindness goes a long way is usually how it works for me. I have had one instance that I spent ages getting something right, and not for lack on my knowledge but this shade is a bit darker or maybe could we try this to ok I like this pair of SHORTS lol. You grin and bear it sometimes.. no tip... but I'll never help that person again either. One other scenerio, I was in a fitting. A lengthy one we had both set an hour aside for. I get a tell that I am needed NOW. Not possible, email me and I will ge back to you. "You don't seem to understand, I have multi millions and when I say now, I mean now." After I laughed hysterically )in type and to him of course, I advised him it would be 1million for the sit in and 5k markup on all items. I then reminded him that HIS money was not Worth MY time.

It happens.. it's all in how you handle it. Coninsidently, I recieved an email from him later requesting a yellow smock and to email him when I could get around to it. My reply? I don't see me having the time.

Ahh.. let me add a positive one in there though... I'm checking harvs and omw to hang out with my husband(no one disturbs hubby time). I get a /tel omg omg Z I can 't believe this.. I forgot a wedding I must attend in 20mins, black tie. Okie.. calm down.. do you know what you want, Oh yes.. this dress in this color.. please if you could meet me in Theed and do this.. I wouldn't ask unless it was an emergency.(they have those in game?) Oki hun.. I'll brt and well get you fit and off... 1 dress/shoes and necklace.. total charge around 9k.. total tip 25k. So use your best judement.

Message Edited by ZahrIna on 02-20-2004 08:20 PM

Zahr'Ina :::: Formerly of Everquest~7th Hammer (4yrs), Everquest II~Steamfont (launch) and Starwars Galaxies~Eclipse (Launch). Choosing to ENJOY my playtime. :::: I wish nothing but happiness to all who remain. Ran out of patience: 6/15/05. Husband and wife team. Four accounts and two station passes, terminated.

Crudson

Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:47 pm

#8

Invested time is all part of the profession in my opinion. If a customer is getting to me I normally vent in tells to a tailor friend to calm off...

Smi

Misterpink54

Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:07 am

#9

I am starting to get the hang of it. I haven't been charging anything for time. I am finding most people I help very williing to help me if they themselves have some kind of business. If I can leave a customer completely satisfied I see that it does come back to me in other ways, not just monetarily. There are few who do waste my time. But I just move on to the next person who usually turns out to be really nice.

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