Tailor Archive
Thread: Tailors and the Economy
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AllyaEcati
Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:03 pm
#1
I know we discuss pricing a lot but...last night I had about 15 extra minutes before I logged off, so I decided to check out the local competition. I found most vendors didn't carry the variety and stock that I do, most weren't as lavishly decorated,none hadprepackaged outfits, and nobodysold fashion armor. I was pleased with all my findings in comparison to my shop, with the exception of the pricing. Some of the prices are what I consider to be insanely low. I found one vendor that didn't have a single item over 2.5k and there were a lot that were pricing items for 250 credits.
Now I'm a little obsessive with about my shop (if you all haven't noticed already.) I restock almost daily...sometimes I may let it go a few days. Iprint out lists of what's sold thanks the The Merchant's Friend, so I always eventually catch up. I don't bother to price based on cpu, mostly I price on skill level, and some items that are a pain in the behind carry a markup. With the exception of speciality items, my prices generally range from 500-6000. I think this is reasonable. A new player could easily buy pants, shirt, and shoes for 1.5k.
A lot oftailors seem tosay it's not about the money, yet I don't think you'll see any other type of product in this game that carries such low prices. I think even powerups cost more than what these people are pricing the clothing for, and thoseare consumedin minutes! I mean, I could loot 250 credits of an NPC! I was half tempted to wipe out the vendors (especially the Ithorian since mine needs some work) and resell the clothing. It would have saved me some time.
I guess my question is what is the motivation between pricing items so low? Sometimes I curse the person that comes and buys 20 items off my vendor in one shot. With prices that low, a player could wipe out an entire vendor...it doesn't seem very fun to me.
Ipita
Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:21 pm
#2
I set up a nice "shop" too, more of a showroom to be honest, as i concentrate on custom orders only ...
I gave up to call for a specific price and ask the customers to pay for my efforts whatever they think is ok for them (and their purse)
This way even a newbie can buy a complete new outfit for his majori (sp?) melon ... this crazy thing noone needs ...
And the wealthier will pay i bit more, if they aren't too greedy.
But as a vendor seller you definetly want to set a fixed pricescheme. Prices around 500-6000 cr seem more than fair in my opinion, even if counting in cpu-based scheme (that must be around 10 cpu in general)
But you are right, tailor items are underprized ... Good we can use the needles to poke some critters too
I gave up to call for a specific price and ask the customers to pay for my efforts whatever they think is ok for them (and their purse)
This way even a newbie can buy a complete new outfit for his majori (sp?) melon ... this crazy thing noone needs ...
And the wealthier will pay i bit more, if they aren't too greedy.
But as a vendor seller you definetly want to set a fixed pricescheme. Prices around 500-6000 cr seem more than fair in my opinion, even if counting in cpu-based scheme (that must be around 10 cpu in general)
But you are right, tailor items are underprized ... Good we can use the needles to poke some critters too
lastditch
Fri Nov 19, 2004 2:55 pm
#3
I agree. I'm master tailor and often I'll get asked for a certain clothing item, I'll give a price and I'll get "I found the same part but w/ the wrong colors at this shop for 500 credits" I'm just like O_O damn it costs me more money to run the identical components in the factory and the resources needed just to make it.
NJ62
Fri Nov 19, 2004 3:14 pm
#4
I think a lot of people are focused more on the almighty c/p/u than on time. Once you realize that time equals money, it comes out to a far higher price than factory-produced items. Yes, it only cost me 20 credits to mine that fiberplast, but I had to babysit harvesters, then make schematics for panels, then put the panels through the factory, then decorate my shop, then restock my vendor with things that fell, then take stock to figure out what is missing, then create your item, customize the color, and label it, stick it on the vendor. And that's if we're not sitting there chatting about a custom order which takes even longer.
Gyopi
Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:48 am
#5
NJ62 wrote:
I think a lot of people are focused more on the almighty c/p/u than on time. Once you realize that time equals money, it comes out to a far higher price than factory-produced items. Yes, it only cost me 20 credits to mine that fiberplast, but I had to babysit harvesters, then make schematics for panels, then put the panels through the factory, then decorate my shop, then restock my vendor with things that fell, then take stock to figure out what is missing, then create your item, customize the color, and label it, stick it on the vendor. And that's if we're not sitting there chatting about a custom order which takes even longer.
I'm seeing the people who play shipwrights come around to this idea. I have seen several posters on that forum say that they should be charging more because they have to hand make their items. This is something we have been saying for a long time!
Atoja-Ertaw
Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:57 am
#6
I only do custom orders and requests from guild members, for the most part as I just don't see any draw for clothes on a vendor. I sell an average of 3-5 packs a day and those are usually BH packs. The rest of the clothes, even if B-E enhanced just sit on the vendor forever.
Vastar
Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:39 pm
#7
I imagine the low cost of making clothing and the relative ease, as far as resource hunting goes, both contribute to folks severely undercutting. On top of that, regular clothing isn't the most profitable product so resellers (merchants without Tailoring skills) tend to ignore that particular market. That'd be my guess anyway. My advise to you is to buyout the Ithorian clothing and keep your place well stocked, if you'd like. I would anyway. 
Imperial-devotie
Sat Nov 20, 2004 3:05 pm
#8
I've got to agree, filling a vendor with a varity of clothing is becoming pointless i'm for ever re-pricing it so it sells, but at the same time being mindful not to lose money. The main problem is there are so many colour options and i know i'd have to have pretty much one of every volour available on the vendor just to get one sale. It seems crazy. I run 24 vendors across 2 toon's on bira and find sorting out the clothing for little return frustrating, the problem is a like the proffession, in fact i love it. But on the other hand pricing has a knock on effect on custom orders.... earlier tonight I got a tell "can you make me a pair of black long uniform gloves must have 4 sockets" sure i can, "that'll be 2500 mate" "how much!!!! i can get them on the bazzar for 500". now thats just crazy I'm being priced out of the market by the bloody bazzar.
NJ62
Sun Nov 21, 2004 6:49 am
#10
Lexiah wrote:What is Merchant's Friend?
It's a sales tracking program. You can find the clicky in the FAQ for tailors or in the link directory
Akaara
Sun Nov 21, 2004 6:57 am
#11
I really think the lack of clothing decay IS hurting our profession. Even though I am busy as heck and buisness is still strong, I still feel that decay will eventually be the downfall of our profession. On my non-tailor server I have ONE house FULL of clothes! If they started to decay, heck yeah I'd buy more. I buy more now anyways just to have something new butstorage is probably a big problem for those that buy alot of clothes.
Lexiah
Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:31 am
#12
Akaara wrote:
I really think the lack of clothing decay IS hurting our profession. Even though I am busy as heck and buisness is still strong, I still feel that decay will eventually be the downfall of our profession. On my non-tailor server I have ONE house FULL of clothes! If they started to decay, heck yeah I'd buy more. I buy more now anyways just to have something new butstorage is probably a big problem for those that buy alot of clothes.
I have a nightsister arm bracer at 0 condition and I can wear it.
If decay comes into the game... it would poof....and I'd cry. 
Message Edited by Lexiah on 11-21-2004 07:31 AM
Message Edited by Lexiah on 11-21-2004 07:32 AM
Sunikka
Sun Nov 21, 2004 2:49 pm
#13
What is a "non-tailor server"...?
Akaara wrote:
On my non-tailor server I have ONE house FULL of clothes!
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