A few basic pieces for research should cost nothing, and no reasonable crafter would accept a tip.
The exception is of you're asking for many different pieces and traits, or if you can't figure out what you want or can't communicate it clearly, and we have to spend 10 minutes or more working out your order. Then a tip of at least 5k is appropriate, and we'll probably never craft anything for you again.
A few basic pieces for research should cost nothing, and no reasonable crafter would accept a tip.
The exception is of you're asking for many different pieces and traits, or if you can't figure out what you want or can't communicate it clearly, and we have to spend 10 minutes or more working out your order. Then a tip of at least 5k is appropriate, and we'll probably never craft anything for you again.
Well it's clear that some people have no problem taking tips for spending 10 seconds crafting a defending bow for research, but I suspect most players would decline the gold.
Well it's clear that some people have no problem taking tips for spending 10 seconds crafting a defending bow for research, but I suspect most players would decline the gold.
I have two maxed crafters, one has all 9 traits on everything done, the other one has crafting maxed, but is working on the 9th trait. I craft for 4 guilds. I log into all my characters every day, to get mail from hirelings if nothing else. When I'm on my crafters, normally parked near the crafting areas in riften or mournhold or davon's watch, I ask if anyone wants any research items made. If I'm not on my crafter, then I ask them to send me mail with what they want, and they wait until I do get on my crafter. I don't charge anything for research items. I do ask for nirncrux if they want nirnhoned, since the rng gremlins usually hate me when I'm farming in Craglorn.
The only time I'll ask for mats is for nirnhoned, the style mats if they want a "rare" style like Pact/Dominion/Covenant/Celestial and if they want cp160 gear. I don't have enough mats stockpiled to do multiple cp160 sets. I improve everything to green. For lower level gear, I'll make it for guildies for free even without the mats. If they want it blue or better, then they give me the tempers. If they want to tip, that's fine. The first guild I joined was super people who helped me a lot, and wouldn't take payment for anything. When the nirnhoned items first came out, and each piece for research cost 50k or more, my guildmates would make items for free as long as you had the nirncrux. I consider making research items for free paying forward the help I received.
anitajoneb17_ESO wrote: »I rarely craft for free. Or, better said, I craft for free for friends and never for strangers.
Not for the gold itself : I have plenty of it already.
But because I want people who ask to be serious about it, to know what they want, to really need a crafter, and not to ask around out of laziness.
If people start discussing the price, and argue that "they have plenty of friends who would do it cheaper or for free", then fine, that's exactly what I want them to do : bother their friends and guildies instead of bothering me.
But I am quick, focused, honest, reliable, and can craft anything. So if someone needs 12 different pieces, all with different and specific traits, in 4 different fancy styles and flavours, and are serious about it, I WILL take two hours, I WILL write it down, check the mats, help them with shopping mats and checking prices, etc. I will get them the exact gear combination that they want, patience included.
Those people usually tip me ON TOP of my prices (not required though, a price is a price, no need to add to it).
Being a high-quality master crafter feels rewarding. Playing the slave for lazy players who won't bother learning 2 traits or paying 5K isn't.
I cannot possibly blame people who craft for free and for anyone : they're nice people. But it does encourage lazy players to think crafters are there to fulfill their immediate needs right here, right now. We crafters aren't shoe cleaners (and that comparison isn't nice to shoe cleaners, a highly respectable job in many regards, but you get what I mean).