How do I balance my own progress with that of providing for my corporation and or alliance? As an industrial character who has spent a fair number of hours learning to build nice things, how do I remain profitable while supporting those around me?
If I produce for the corporation and/or alliance, the expectation is that there is some kind of break in prices. As a conscientious industrialist, I am going to tell them how much it costs me and where it’s more than the market, suggest that they obtain it there. Where it is cheaper to build, I want to offer them the opportunity to get it cheaper and be there for the people that help make it possible. I have found that I am quite horrible though at maintaining the balance necessary between things produced for sales [the market] and those manufactured for consumption [the corporation/alliance]. Often then the result is a complete halt to my industrial tendencies.
This is often further complicated by my relative incompetence and disconnect with the sales and marketing side of things. I am quite comfortable in navigating the market, getting the resources I need, etc, but just as equally uncomfortable putting my wares up for sale. Finding holes, navigating gaps, incremental adjustments, market trends all tend to elude my grasp, leaving me with a very real sense of dissatisfaction with the sheer number of things I could be doing to maximise my profits, but are generally left undone. I envy both the selfless industrialist who is able to provide everything her corporation needs as well as the ruthless profiteer who is able to judge the market, jump into the fray and make obscene profits.
As a corollary to the above, there is also a push to be involved in corporate and alliance activities that are somewhat beyond my level. I am fairly competent at combat in sub-battleship roles, but could always use more experience and training in weapon systems. I’m quite happy to spend the time training for better weapons, drones, fittings, but have to balance this with a desire to also be able to improve my abilities to support my corp-mates with industry. Has anyone else figured out to do it all and do it well yet?
It is certainly something to work and think through.
Ok, My policy on building shiny things for the alliance/corp is: cost +10% and never in industrial quantities for individuals. Your time and effort is worth something. If it’s cheaper to get it from the market (most of the time, cost+10 beats the market) – let em know.
As for the trade off between building and fighting: Just don’t fly ships you’re not really ready for in combat. It’ll limit what you can bring in the short term but there’s always the need for good scouts and non-ship of the line positions in any fleet.
It’s the jack of all trades dilemma.
I’m also a jack of all trades pilot. I think the solution is to think long term. While I want to get T2 weapons for my Battleship, I currently need to train Retail 5 so I can access more trade orders. I know that I will eventually get the PVP skills up, it will just be somewhere into the future!
Re-educate your customers. You bring the convenience of same station inventory for the items you produce. If you can provide a price break as well..then so much the better but emphasize that it’s the total package of location and price that should be evaluated. Time is money and price being equal, corpmates will learn to appreciate the convenience of low market prices in the same station.
Cost +50% and list it with an alt.
It should be worthwhile for you to do. If you are operating far from a hub or need to move materials through low sec or null sec possibly an even higher mark-up.
You add value whatever you list stuff at. No lasers for sale is worse than 100 over-priced lasers for sale since the second gives people a chance to weigh economy against convenience.
Unfortunately some people don’t see it that way and will always think industrialists are gouging unless you give it to them for next to nothing.