Do you perform combines for people?

[Arzul Grimwyrm]

hmmmmmm

my BP was done by Warren nice guy i didnt hvae all the stuff had some of sub combine done lacking all the stuff he was nice enuff to help me along and do rest of sub combines and the final combine keep remaining 2 infused rings and wanted 3 k which i thought was fair then set down and decieded to start smith so i wouldnt have to bother warren any more other than the usual which way to take it deal. Havent been taken advantage of but not a GM smith yet either guess it will happen but i have faith in people and guess will learn in time who is and who isnt getting the combine at reasonable price thanks fir the info posted above.

Arzul

[Warren Magnuson Emarr]

When I have time, I'm more than happy to help people out if they ask politely. I generally charge a flat 2k platinum for each successful combine for blue diamond smithing (providing they provide all the materials for the combine and did all the prep work) though I'm not hardnosed about it.

Charging 2k I find eliminates gross profiteering and mostly keeps people honest. But I can see where most smiths feel cheated if they do a combine out of goodness of their heart and see their work hawked by a bazaar mule mere moments after you clicked combine.

My overall advice though... don't get worked up over it... if you are going to feel cheated, just say no... if you are easy going and simply don't care, feel free to keep doing them for a fee or for free... but the bottom line for me is don't get a coronary over something as trivial as smithing virtual (read: NOT REAL) items in an online game (ie: something that is intended to be fun).

[GwyrTunare]

Tailors spin:

I am less concerned about the resale factor especially if they supplied the components.... it irks me a little but what the hell, I got a free skillup chance, and they did the farming.

What finally turned me off on combining for others were 2 events:
once, before the group success/fail message, a guy accused me of stealing his components. so.. no more of that.
When they instituded the success/fail messages, I started combining again and was happy for some time until another guy came long, gave me 3 sets of components and I failed on all 3.... he called me a liar about my skill and began to verbally abuse me so badly that I finally had to /report and put him on ignore. He thought that 250 skill meant 100% success.

Now, I only do combines for friends/guildies/guild allies.

If I don't know you, I will BUY your components from you, and SELL you the finished product, or you can go skillup yourself.

[Shingen Takeshi]

Guildie? Yep. Without question.

Joe Gazebo in PoK looking for a fillet knife? I ain't busy?

Shingen tells Joe, "Go get me ore, water, and a scaler mold. Meet me at a forge."

Someone wanting me to do a few baking combines for PotC? Well... small fee, ktnx - I'm poor.

I'm actually going out and LEVELLING?

/r busy - fighting - talk later - ktnx la~

Oh and to the person who complained about the idiots who say "Well, it's just hitting the "combine" button!"

I'll oftentimes ask,

Shingen says out of character, "Looking for a Skilled Tinker to hit combine a few times for me, paying as well as I can"

as a joke, and if someone JOKES about it, cool.

If they are using it as a bitch (as per your example) - tradeback components, blacklist, ktnxbye.

After all, not only do people want combines from a tradeskiller, they're gonna eventually want me to buff 'em with the almighty KEI, and remember ladies and gents...

The 37 'chanter who you annoy might just be the 60 who will refuse to KEI you for no less than 100 plat! (MUAHAHA, gotta fund my jewelcrafting/tailoring/smithing/fletching somehow!)

[Pisaster]

Double edged sword

I haven't done many combines for others with my smith, but I've done alot with my tailor.

If I know them and I know they want for themselves, not a problem.

If I don't know them and it will raise my skill, not a problem.

If, right afterwards I see they're just selling what I made for them, I make a note and charge them a flat fee for successes the next time.

Another thing I'll do: Player A comes to me and wants 5 of item X made. Fine, I'll do your combines for free, but the 2nd one I make is mine for time and skill.

Basically though, I'll do combines for free for anything that raises my skill, but I will charge for anything that is already trivial, time is money on trivials. On trivial items, you're not gaining anything, and if they want item X in volumn to sell, you deserve to be compensated for your time and skill. If they want item X for personal use, if it's trivial flat fee, if it's not trivial, I'll do for free.

Good Luck,

Pisaster

[Naito]

Combines for people?

As Shingen said, for guildies, without question. Anywhere from final combines on Sickles to turning bricks of acrylia into arylia studs and boning. But then, my guildies are savvy to what is needed, and often have enough skill to put together the pieces.

For others, from repeat clients to random strangers, I ask for a donation upon success. (And nothing on a failure.) The more running around I have to do, or the more of my own supplies I have to substitute for things the client got wrong (MQ ore instead of HQ, for instance), the larger the "appropriate" donation becomes. And clients who wander off with their new Heraldic BP with only a "thanks" generally aren't repeat customers...

But in all fairness, I have only been stiffed a couple of times. Almost all of the folks who come to me for armor (donation or flat fee) are polite and understanding. And resonably generous. And courtesy goes a LONG way, when you're dealing with a cranky smith who's having trouble focusing on the screen at 2am...

Naito
swiss army bard of Xev