Charge for skills for 250 smith?

[Hipplesnotch]

I'm a GM smith. I've been approached to make someone cultural armor if they provide me the materials. I'm curious what people out there charge? I was thinking it'd be on a "per ring " basis. My thought was 1kpp per ring. Any ideas?

[Kradlum]

I'd be interested in the answer to this too. I recall there was a discussion about it on the old boards, but I think that the prices may have come down since then, as there are more GM smiths around.

[Barraind Faylestar]

I only do combines for people if its guildmates/friends. The rest can buy it :x


Barraind Faylestar
--Smithing 250
--Brewing 240
--JC 245
--Pottery 210
--Tailoring 210
--fletching 210
--Baking 210

--Grinding(tcm: pottery)

[Kradlum]

Here's the link for the discussion on the old boards: http://pub147.ezboard.com/feqtraderscornersmithing.showMessage?topicID=7660. topic

Note that the Blue Diamond costs quoted there are 1500-2500, while currently they are more around the 400-500 range on AB.

Don't reply there tho

[Oath Hipacraticus]

I currently am done making amor for commision, but I did charge about 6-7k per ring/sheet. I now just do combines for donations, provided I'm free to do them (and you'd be suprised how well that can works, I made 6 k in 5 min making 2 tae ew chain tunics in PoK the other day while waiting on a raid start )

[Boleslav]

My rule of thumb is to charge 1/3 of the 'retail' price of an item. I am currently selling BD cultural at 6k per sheet, so I would charge 2k per sheet for a successful combine if the customer brought ALL the components. Failures are free J

My reasoning for this is that it takes three things to sell a piece of armor at retail. It takes the components for the attempt, it takes the skill to make the item, and it takes a customer ready to buy. If someone is bringing the components and is ready to pay for a combine they have provided 2/3 of the equation! I only charge for the last third, which is my skill.

I also only make the items for people who I think will be using the item for themselves. I will not make multiples of items under this arrangement. I know I leave myself open to disappointment with this policy, but if makes me feel better about doing it.

Boleslav Forgehammer
Paladin of Brell in his 60th Campaign
E'ci - Destiny Awaits

[Kingbobb]

I've not made any "no input" commissions yet, but I've thought about it, and it's been along the lines of Boleslav's model, except I'd go with 1/3 of market value on a success. Alternately, I'd charge a much smaller price if I get to keep any extra components, provided I'm brought enough materiel for 4 combines. With my current success rate well about 33%, I'd likely gain 1-2 extra components, plus some small cash, and if I fail 3 times and succeed on the fourth, I figure both me and the customer are both up from where we were before.

[Demorgoth]

If they have all the items ready to go, and it doesn't involve a whole heap of pre-combines, I'll click the combine button for free. I sometimes get additional ingredients in return, but never ask for them or for cash. Those who offer me rarer componants in return, usually find me less likely to be busy next time.

If I'm exping or raiding, forget it. If you don't have everything ready, forget it. The only one I've reluctant to do is cultural because it involves tracking to oggok and a heap of precombines, but if I'm not doing anything and the person has gone to the trouble of collecting everything including the imbues and enchants, then I usually do.

I think a charge is perfectly fair if you want to charge it, but for me personally, I don't need the cash. In return, I don't do combines unless they're totally convenient.

...tells you, 'Can you combine this for me?'
/r I'll be passing through PoK between 4:30 and 4:45 est on the way to a raid. I'll click for you if you've got everything in front of the forge at that time'

[Gorgin]

I work much the same way Demorgoth works, if you gathered all the stuff I don't mind hitting combine but it's on MY time, if you expect it right now then find a new smith or it will cost you.

[Lling]

I said I would never ever EVER do combines again - not for free and not even for a fee! But I end up doing some now and then - I trust my gut instincts. I only do combines on things like Tae Ew. If it's cultural - you can pay for it, thanks.

Boleslav has a very nice system - one that would seem to please all parties, I would imagine.

[Zopharr]

Cultural I'll generally charge (success only) 15k for BP/Legs, 10k for arms/waist/helm/gaunts, 5k for bracer/boots/legs/collar/face. Failures are free. I explain to thm that I did some cheap combines for someone when if first came out, saw them hawking the goods less than an hour later--they were looking at making 20k on stuff I'd charged 2k to make. If someone doesn't like that, they are free to find another smith or acquire the skill themself.

I have exceptions: friends I will do for free, or people I know have been "seriously" smithing (generally 210 plus) but aren't high enough yet, or other tradeskillers I trade stuff with a lot. If someone wants several pieces made, I'll give them a hefty break on the total combine price (just as I would if they were buying finished armor). Or if it's stuff I haven't made before (like the first tae Ew I made).

But after two experiences seeing stuff being sold - I have decided that I will charge enough for combines so that I won't really care too much if I see them hawking armor 30 minutes after I make it (other than to add them to my "don't smith for them again" list.

[Lilandraa]

I don't charge anything, I only request they have the final combine ready to go for me. I raid alot so don't have a lot of free time. I am 245 smithing atm and everything I have been asked to do recently in the past month isn't trivial to me, tae ew mostly, and its a free, easy chance for me to skill up. I have even posted on our server boards I would do free tradeskill combines, I am sure most tradeskills hate me for it but oh well. I do tradeskills to help not to make money. Myabe once I get to 250 in smithing I would ask for a donation or erase my post ~hehe~ I have been working on smithing so long that I am pretty sick of it.

Lilandraa
MT
245 smithing, 250 brewing, 250 JC, 250 baking, 237 fletching, 200 pottery, 200 tailoring

[Perseverence Rewarded]

Or if it's stuff I haven't made before (like the first tae Ew I made).

That was me I still have that shield and have made another 30+ myself since then.

As to charging, I ask for 15% of the market value for non-cultural items (A standard tip fee) if all subcombines are done. 50% if I have to make it with parts provided but no combines are pre-done.
I won't do cultural combines yet since I am not yet at 250. When I reach that goal I will do combines for 33% of market value if ALL subcombines are done. If the subcombines aren't done it is 66% of market cost. Since this will directly affect my market I will always charge non-guild/friends.
I always do combines for friends and guild mates for free. I even give away stuff I make to the guild for free if I'm not hard up for cash. It's nice seeing all those Tae Ew and Night Terror items on a raid
If an up and coming smithy asks for a combine I will do it free so long as it is only 1 piece or set since it was done for me. Thanks to those friends btw.
I will never do multiple items for someone. Thats just asking for competition in the bazaar.

[Segal]

I generally charge 2k per BD on cultural combines if I do them at all, I prefer not too. For the quality of the gear, it is a great value for what it sells for nowdays (15k for a BreastPlate) so I recommend people just buy the gear. I would never do a free combine for a stranger, that's basically the same as saying my time is worthless.