Weaponsmith Archive
Thread: My WS business is sucking
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Bacon00
Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:47 pm
#1
So I spent 2 million approximatly on the best resources I could find. I made a crapload of melee and ranged guns, and most of them are about as good, and sometimes a little better, than the top WS's on my server. Though some of my stuff is kinda sucky, though never TOO sucky.
But I've hardly sold anything. I advertised a bit today w/ my spamming droid and a macro, but that sold 1 bowcaster (I'm a 10 pt Wookiee).
Any suggestions? Or should I just give up and cut my losses?
LemyDaBigHairyWookie
Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:57 pm
#2
You are trying to enter a mature market... perseverance and customer attention will get you places... MOST of the long time smiths are jaded (I count myself in this to a point) about custom weapon work... Be honest with your customer and above all DON'T be a braggart... You will find that people will come to your shop as you start to gain a reputation for making top quality weapons and provided excellent service... Its a long hard road for the new smith but persevere and you will make it...
Giamai
Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:47 am
#3
i've only been a ws for a month and i'm actually shocked at how well its going.
i think what is working for me is that my resources are giving me pretty decent weapons compared to the established ws's on my server (standard weapons only - no enhanced stuff just yet), my stuff is sliced, and having a vendor in a good place (near theed). having the vendor on the planetary map helps alot.
i have not done any spamming but lower end weapons go on the bazaar with the waypoint to the vendor in the item description so maybe that helps some too
anyways probably it is too soon for you to give up just yet but if you do try and stick it out you should consider investing in some harvesting time. buying resources will probably only take you so far considering how many empty "resource" vendors there are out there and they are not necessarily cheap.ultimately that willcut into the prices you then have to turn around and charge the customer. being cheaper than the competition in the beginning so people will actually take the time to look at your stuff might be a good thing.
CorenLanra
Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:02 am
#4
I agree with the guy's here.
You would be amazed at how much more someone will pay for 20 more damage. If you aren't quite at the server max, slice all your stuff, just like said before and you might even beat some of the good slices of an established master. Price by the slice, as high slices get more $. Location is key, you NEED a vendor, and pick a spot that you will STAY at. I have seen messages from many WS saying they have moved for the 3rd time and can't seem to find a place with good business. The fact is I'm one of the oldest WS on my server and have had the same Waypoint since July of last year. People know where to find me.
Focus on something you can make well, usually Melee is good, if you can make good Power Hammers, they are HOT right now, and sell almost as well as VK's on my vendor. Gaderiffi and Stun batons aren't too hard to make well either.
You would be amazed at how much more someone will pay for 20 more damage. If you aren't quite at the server max, slice all your stuff, just like said before and you might even beat some of the good slices of an established master. Price by the slice, as high slices get more $. Location is key, you NEED a vendor, and pick a spot that you will STAY at. I have seen messages from many WS saying they have moved for the 3rd time and can't seem to find a place with good business. The fact is I'm one of the oldest WS on my server and have had the same Waypoint since July of last year. People know where to find me.
Focus on something you can make well, usually Melee is good, if you can make good Power Hammers, they are HOT right now, and sell almost as well as VK's on my vendor. Gaderiffi and Stun batons aren't too hard to make well either.
Drek_Durshell
Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:29 am
#5
Location, location, location 
Oh and 2 mil spent on resources is peanuts. I recently spent 10-15 mil on hoarding a really sweet spawn of platinite.
Anyways. Setting up your vendor in a busy area can help sales a lot.
I had the luck that one of the best (possibly the best) AS on my server offered me the opportunity to set up vendors in the same mall as her. It did wonders for my sales.
But as mentioned perseverance is very important.
If you dont have piles of cash to throw at the best resources then patience and lots of time surveying and harvesting will get you in league with the best crafters.
Message Edited by Drek_Durshell on 07-20-2004 09:37 AM
SabbathChild
Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:51 am
#6
Definitely try not to move. I did about a month after I made master and it nearly killed my business.
I haven't been doing this for all that long but it's all about patience. I was in the same boat you were a few months ago. One thing that helped me out a lot was I made a crate of Laser Carbines, Rifles, VK's, and FWG5's, tagged them all with my waypoint and stood outside of the Coronet starport and sold them for dirt cheap. I didn't make a lot of money, and they definitely weren't high quality, but no one was expecting to get a really great Laser Carbine for 5k. Well most weren't. But anyways, it got my name out and brought me some more business. I guess my moral for this story is that if you want to get some business you've gotta go out and bring it in, and actually be there. The barker droids are nice but you can't rely on them (mine has a tendency to go home early), and afk spaming is too impersonal as well as people are already sick of seeing afk entertainers.
Just some stuff that I've learned, I hope it can help.
I haven't been doing this for all that long but it's all about patience. I was in the same boat you were a few months ago. One thing that helped me out a lot was I made a crate of Laser Carbines, Rifles, VK's, and FWG5's, tagged them all with my waypoint and stood outside of the Coronet starport and sold them for dirt cheap. I didn't make a lot of money, and they definitely weren't high quality, but no one was expecting to get a really great Laser Carbine for 5k. Well most weren't. But anyways, it got my name out and brought me some more business. I guess my moral for this story is that if you want to get some business you've gotta go out and bring it in, and actually be there. The barker droids are nice but you can't rely on them (mine has a tendency to go home early), and afk spaming is too impersonal as well as people are already sick of seeing afk entertainers.
Just some stuff that I've learned, I hope it can help.
snurgle
Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:58 am
#7
I would concur withmost of the remarks made here , my alt is a new MWS (about a month) and has had the good fourtune to marry a character with a good supply of rescources . so far business has been really good and ive put success down to the folllowing factors.
knowing my limitations that im unable to compete with the well established 11-12 pt smiths who are making weapons for the high end experienced players and concentrating instead on selling good quality cheap (about half the going market rate) items to primarily novice and noob players .
I have a shop 1000m from Mos Eisely and pile high with DH17's / scout blasters and DLT20's
with a few laser carbs and rifles thrown in, advertising 3 to get my name on the map andregularly flogging guns with my waypoint on the bazaarwith theoccasional AD bark in AFK thrown in for good measure
I know my turnover is small compared to established smiths, maybe 30-45k a day but it is enough to keep me in business whilst i build up my stock of good rescources etc and develop a good pool of returning clients
hope this is of some help to you and good luck with it.
FrooToMatiC Tatooine 2625-4412 Bria
Rangerw
Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:51 am
#8
Only time I'd recommend a move is if you started out on a remote planet such as Talus (least on Ahazi server). Out player city was 1700m from the Imp Outpost. I made sales, but I wasn't getting ahead very fast. Spent months there like that with Plantary Ad, going to Coronet and Theed to sell things on Bazaar to help spread word, etc. Was just slow, slow and no increase in sales.
Some other crafters in our city decided to give up on Talus and move, so I packed up also and moved to Naboo near Theed. In just over a month my sales have probably gone up 8x to 10x, and thats being conservative.
For me, moving after 5 to 6 months at one location was the key. Now my problem is staying stocked. And thats a good problem to deal with 
Ciirybeccaskyr
Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:45 pm
#9
since your a new smith try not putting the stats in the tiles of your weapons name them something othern than normal and only sale sliced stuff tossing all the junk slices.
This can gain you a rep for quality dispite not haveing the last few points on some stuff that more established smiths might have while making you some cash and giving you time to bulid up more of a resource base because in all honesty 2mil on resources is pocketchange compared to the value of resources needed to be trule competitive on the high end in any crafting prof.
DarthMarksman
Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:27 am
#10
Bacon what server are you on? Are your bowcaster scoped? What's their stats?
SmithingWeapons
Thu Jul 22, 2004 3:48 am
#11
I would also suggest making some Nice Low End Weapons with your name on it and placing them on the bazaar but not priced out of newbies price range. If they get use to associating your name with weapons, they will start sending you tells and emails as they get to the higher levels and need more powerful weaponry.
Jenner - Master Weaponsmith Kuari
Jenner - Master Weaponsmith Kuari
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