Tailor Archive
Thread: how do you run your business??
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Akac
Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:50 am
#1
Hi
i am rather new to this game, only been playing it for 2 month. I started on the farstar.
i started out as brawler, TKM, to make sure i had a way of making money, i also started up scout, for the exploration, i just haded to run slow up hills and mountains. I learn fast that i could make a few credits of the hide/bone/meat i harvested from my kills.
well after i mastered TKM, i realiced that i had some skill points left, and at the time i thought i would do somthing cool. ( ie making weapons, or armor) but i learned that i didnt have the money to do that, and there is also ALOT of armor/weaponsmith out there.
So i tryed tailor, got hocked, as they say. Its a realy enjoyable crafting proffession, and i loved it.
as a new player to the game i was amazed and flowting on a cloud when i earned my first 50k, and later on when i earned my first 100k. (ie not given or tipped, but earned) and when i started on my tailor, i had a friend help me with the artisan part, some say it easy, but they do forget that you need the recources and the money to get to the novice in the elite proffession.
So i craft my way up the tailor tree, and i quickly learn that the armorsmith use synth cloth, and the chefs use trims.
I even set up a vendor on dantooine, decorated the area (it was in a guild hall)
as i couldent find eny other players that was tailor that i could be teach from, like i could in TKM (hell its like bruce lee in space) i had to pay my way up to master.... THAT is alot of money. 120k in total, not counting the master.
while i was craftin my way to master i sat down and made a list of all the things i could make, (hand written) looked at the resouces that was needed for each item, and the time i use when making them. and made my self a price list. in that pricelist i have added the money i use the pay the trainer aswell, and i have set a minimum price of 500 credits, unless i sell the things on the bazaar. there i sometimes set the price to 100 credits.
i have even made a list of clothes i can make with bio-engineered components in, and what components i can use in what clothes, and so on. i have also made a sweet deal with a bio-engineer, i harvest meat/hide/bone for him, and i get a diccount on the orders i have. So it look all fine.
Now here is the thing i dont understand.
i had on my vendor a "please read me" item, where i try to tell people that my prices are final, and i also say that i do costum orders. i think i provide a good service to people, i have a bag with 100 units of each tailor component, my crafting tool, crafting station and a deed for a house. i use my vendor to get things like schematics, and other offers, that i can use in my crafting, and i sell larger orders from that. when people have the need for clothes (non-BE) i go to them with my bag, if i cant find a crafting station close to where they are i set down my house, and pull up my crafting station, and make them there clothes. i then redeed the house, and travel to the next costumer. all costum orders i make where the order is over 6 items they get a free bounty hunter pack, to store the clothes in.
i think my prices are fair, i charge 14k for the lekku ys'rak when its made in costum order, on my vendor the price is 10k, 10 crates of synth cloth (250), same serial, packed in a bounty hunterpack, at a price of 24k, if i get a order for a full run of synth cloth or trim i give them a diccount of 5%.
I use my title with pride, i worked hard to get it, and it cost me alot of money, to get it. besides ist alot of fun to go kill banthas with the title "master tailor". If i get a tell for a order (i do get alot of tells) i say to them that they should mail me there order, and they are welcome to go look in my vendor to se if there is somthing they can use there. in general i had around 2-4 coustum orders a day.
i get a few tells from people asking for prices and i have made a mail with some of the clothes listed, and the price for that, when its sold in my vendor, i also explain what the prices are when i do a "travel order".
so here the order day i get in contact with a person who want some clothes, and as he says, prices does not matter, he just want his clothes as fast a it can be made. luckly for him, i had just finished my last order, and i replyed to him that i could make it now, and that i would come to him. and at the same time i send him my business mail.
So i go and he gives me admin in a house he has, so i can set down my station, i pull up a bounty hunter pack and drop it next to the station, and start making the order, it a rather large order (16 items most of them in master series) and i tell him that i will have his order done in 15 minutes. while im crafting, he is out tjekking his harvester. i give him a tell that the clothes are done, i have set them up in a line for show, and left the bounty hunter pack next to the clothes. he then return, i show him the clothes, and tell him what the price are.
and here is where it goes wrong, and i am still realy pissed about it.
out of the blue i get banned from the house and the town, i dont get payed for my work, and i have to drive 3 km to the nearest town in order to get home.
I dont know what when wrong, or why he did what he did, he must have put me on his ignore list, since he dont reply to tells or mail.
But have eny of you ever tryed this?
im still pissed about this, so pissed that i have dropped tailor.
Aynianu
Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:34 am
#2
You sound a little like i started out, when i changed server to farstar.
I did artisan missions to afford my resources and training costs (as finding another tailor on farstar is like finding a needle in a haystack)
Ive now had my shop set up on tatooine/farstar for about 4-5 months.
I use choice as my main selling point. every tailor made item on the vendor, uncommon items in 3-5 colours, more common items in 13-20 colours. As far as regular clothing is concerned there isnt really very often a need for custom orders, i get 100-400 vendor sale emails per day, yet only 1-3 custom orders per day usually.
I used good vendor selections over custom orders methods due to how busy you can get doing custom orders, having a good vendor selection people tend to also buy more than they origionally intended, and some people browse my vendors for hours, comming away with 10+ items if i was doing custom orders that wouldnt have happened, he/she probably would have left with the one outfit he/she desired. Also people often look for vendors simply because they want something new, and are unsure what exactly they do want.
As to what happened to you... Im sorry that it happened, thereare people who like to take advantage all over the place. One bit of advice (altho since your no longer tailor i dont suppose it matters now) would have been to get a droid, rather than using his house to craft in. Second would have been to speak to the mayor of the town, and the leader of his guild about what happened. Or alternativly, do what i do and simply refuse to do deliveries, and work from your shop only.
Message Edited by Aynianu on 10-11-2004 01:38 PM
Karmah
Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:39 am
#3
You have every right to be upset, that has to be one of the lowest things I've ever heard of. Doing custom orders is one of the hardest things to do, since everyone want their stuff right now and it's never good enough/cheap enough. You provided an amazing service (tho, may I recommend a droid with a private crafting station in it, instead?) and to lose so much to one a$$hat is unforgivable.
Let me tell you, if you were on my server, I'd log in right now and replace everything you lost, just cus I feel so bad 
You not only did nothing wrong, you are one of the kind of people that make playing the game better for everyone. I am sincerely sorry for you and hope you are able to one day pick up your sewing machine again and rejoin the ranks of tailor.
You not only did nothing wrong, you are one of the kind of people that make playing the game better for everyone. I am sincerely sorry for you and hope you are able to one day pick up your sewing machine again and rejoin the ranks of tailor. /big wookie hug
AllyaEcati
Mon Oct 11, 2004 5:56 am
#4
I keep a well stocked vendor. Doing this usually keeps the annoying customers from sending me tells for "cool outfits,"in fact I've only had one so far that I had to put on ignore. Plus I still get the fun customers that want special orders, are super polite, and tip me well.
You shouldn't let one incident keep you from enjoying being a tailor. 
I have met many more nice people than inconsiderate asses. Next time only do secure trades for your outfits or ask to be paid in advance. This wayyou can make sure you get your money.
I have met many more nice people than inconsiderate asses. Next time only do secure trades for your outfits or ask to be paid in advance. This wayyou can make sure you get your money.
Akac
Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:05 am
#5
well since i only played the game a short time, i didnt have time to fill up my vendor, but there was alot on it enyway. But i didnt start to play this game just to sit a graft all the time, in that thought i would like to try and hunt a kimogila or do the themeparks and so, i am just, well realy pissed and puzzled that people can make them self do this.
its not like the clothes decay, well unless you use it in battle.
but when i look at people pay up to 800k for a full composite armor, or 1 mill for a weapon (yeah i know its a good weapon or a great armor) but they will go back to the weapon or armor smith to buy a new weapon or armor in a few weeks or months. but clothes, that i think i sell rather cheap, last as long as you want it to.
/puzzled
Lunah75
Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:28 am
#6
Ok since no one mentioned it......you so need a droid with a crafting module for clothing. Then you can just call that out, no need for an actual crafting station and a house. My tailor does really only custom orders as it is an alt account and I dont/wont spend the time needed to run well stocked vendors..Ainianu was great at that when she was on Valcyn (huge vendor selection). All I carry is 3 tools, my droid, and my backpack full of components and basic resources. I can pretty much make everything I want except my special schematic stuff without heading to my shop. If you really like tailoring dont let one moron stop you from doing what you enjoy, next time if you dont know the person make sure to trade them and get payment that way. Sorry that happened to you, every galaxy has at least a few extremely rude people in it, looks like you found one in yours.
Your time is what people are paying for more than resources, that and your sense of style if you help them pick things out...what that is worth is up to you. I keep my prices low because I don't actually do tailor to make money, but many times people tip me well ever the amount I ask for when done.../shrug maybe Valcyn is just good tippers! Only other thing I might suggest is check out some tailor shops on your server to check prices, but for custom work remind people they are paying you not only for the clothing but your time and that is a rare commodity!
Oh my bad Karmah did mention the droid thing...but she is right, get one if you continue as a tailor. 
Message Edited by Lunah75 on 10-11-2004 09:32 AM
g0nzo
Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:54 am
#7
I second (or third) the droid thing. I have 5 droids with crafting stations and storage in each of them. This gives me an extra 50 storage on my person. This way I can carry components around for emergencies such as running out of synth (happens more often than I like.) and I keep rarer resources in there so I don't accidentally use up all my titanium aluminum.
When something like that happens, try contacting the mayor of the city (if there is one) or the guild leader (if he's in a guild) Sometimes they can persuade the person to do the right thing, and if nothing else, you are letting them know about his character flaws so he doesn't do it to someone else. Many times people like that get into a guild, get admin rights to a building, and then take everything inside and run off.
Don't let one bad customer ruin the proffession for you. I have found that there are a lot more good ones than bad ones. 
gesikah
Mon Oct 11, 2004 10:29 am
#8
Putting my hand in for the droid too. Don't know how I could have made it this long without my davinci. And if you consider all the money you're spending redeeding your house, you will be saving bookoos in the long run. All a droid costs you is batteries after the initial cost.
As for what the guy did, it was inexcusable, period. I would definitely try to get in touch with his mayor and if he is the mayor, then some of his guildies. You might even consider talking to an csr about it.
Just a couple of suggestions to keep this from happening in the future: Always use the secure trade for tranferring of items. That way you retain control until you have the money in hand. If it is just for their approval, simply tell them that you will be more than happy to remake anything they aren't 100% happy with, as best you can. If someone says they don't have the cash, ask them to bank tip you or say you will gladly wait while they run to the bank. As you increase your business and bank account, of course you can become more lenient with this, but until you are well-established financially, you really probably should take some measures to protect yourself.
As for what the guy did, it was inexcusable, period. I would definitely try to get in touch with his mayor and if he is the mayor, then some of his guildies. You might even consider talking to an csr about it.
Just a couple of suggestions to keep this from happening in the future: Always use the secure trade for tranferring of items. That way you retain control until you have the money in hand. If it is just for their approval, simply tell them that you will be more than happy to remake anything they aren't 100% happy with, as best you can. If someone says they don't have the cash, ask them to bank tip you or say you will gladly wait while they run to the bank. As you increase your business and bank account, of course you can become more lenient with this, but until you are well-established financially, you really probably should take some measures to protect yourself.
Aynianu
Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:02 pm
#9
only just noticed your on farstar too. dont suppose you could give me this guys name in a PM could you? be nice to know.
NJ62
Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:15 pm
#10
Yes:
Step 1: Collect underpants
No that's not right.
Step 1: get a droid. They are fairly cheap. The problem is finding a droid engineer, but usually any doctors or crafters will know one.
Step 2: get revenge. Many servers have loosely-formed crafter associations. For example, on Scylla, whenever someone stiffed me, I would tell the 10-12 tailors on my friends list. I would tell my guild, who would ban that person from every shop in the city - and the city. Sometimes, we would ban the person's entire guild, as a message of solidarity.
The point is, this person is going to do this to someone else. Don't let him.
Step 3: profit. Set your own terms. Why go to someone else's house? Let him come to YOU for a custom order. Put the finished order on your vendor, or insist on payment in the trade window, or a banktip before accepting.
I'm sorry this happened to you, but you CAN have nice tailoring experiences. And, trust me, we've ALL had the client from hell. See the tailoring horror story collection.
Step 1: Collect underpants
No that's not right.
Step 1: get a droid. They are fairly cheap. The problem is finding a droid engineer, but usually any doctors or crafters will know one.
Step 2: get revenge. Many servers have loosely-formed crafter associations. For example, on Scylla, whenever someone stiffed me, I would tell the 10-12 tailors on my friends list. I would tell my guild, who would ban that person from every shop in the city - and the city. Sometimes, we would ban the person's entire guild, as a message of solidarity.
The point is, this person is going to do this to someone else. Don't let him.
Step 3: profit. Set your own terms. Why go to someone else's house? Let him come to YOU for a custom order. Put the finished order on your vendor, or insist on payment in the trade window, or a banktip before accepting.
I'm sorry this happened to you, but you CAN have nice tailoring experiences. And, trust me, we've ALL had the client from hell. See the tailoring horror story collection.
RandDarkstar
Mon Oct 11, 2004 11:51 pm
#11
The crafter droids are your friend. I have 5 with 10 item storage and 4 crafting stations in one. I keep most of my components in there and don't worry about inventory space much. When someone asks for a custom order - it goes on my custom order vendor, and I email them the waypoint. If they want delivery, I can do that too, but I insist on delivering to another vendor, or trade window where you have some control over what you get. Most times, I don't insist on payment until the customer has tried them on and tested the clothes to see if they like it.
nurTsunami
Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:03 pm
#12
I was got stiffed, not on an order but some other jerkiness in game. I and my friends pooled our money and put out a bounty on the planet channel on his head, payable on receipt of a screenshot of his death. It didn't work, even though we offered some 500k. But it made me feel better at least knowing that his name was out there being associated with being a jerk. Probably not the most dignified thing to do, but unfortunately I have found this game offers little recourse for wrongings. My advice is first, follow the advice given above about gettinga droid, never working in a place where you don't have admin control, only trading through vendors or the trade window, etc.but second, remember his name, and when/if they ever get player bounties in game, be first in line to put one on his head!!!
Yeah, I can be evil sometimes >: ) bwhahaha
Akac
Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:24 pm
#13
thank you all for your advise.
it might be a bad solution to it, but i am planning my revenge and i will take up tailor again. right now im just refilling my resources, getting some fondings.. you know all that stuff we missed when we all started in this game.
and i will take up tailor again. right now im just refilling my resources, getting some fondings.. you know all that stuff we missed when we all started in this game.
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