Doing Melds for others(what to charge)

[Vyniea]

Obviously, if a power company is using PV, wind, or hydroelectric sources, then the power they provide should be freeeeee!

Generating that power isn't free though. They need to pay people for maintenance, or just having people on site 24/7 for the biggest installations.

Melds don't even damage gear, so it doesn't cost us a single gil.

Besides, it's not like people don't give money if you don't ask for it, they do, and they often give more than what you would've asked for.

[Gamemako]

Generating that power isn't free though. They need to pay people for maintenance, or just having people on site 24/7 for the biggest installations.

Actually, PV has little to no maintenance. No moving parts. Can afford to clean it off now and then, but that's about it. Pretty much all of the cost of PV is in the initial investment, and that investment is large enough to to make it one of the most expensive sources of energy per kWh (25-year basis, IIRC).

[boredinbc]

There is no substantive logic behind the "all I have to do is push a button" argument. This is a video game and all things being equal all anyone ever has to do is push a button and pay a subscription. But its not always that easy is it? Else people wouldn't be coming to you for their button presses if they could just do it themselves, right? That one button press to meld is only accessible to you because of the preceding fifty thousand button presses which were required to unlock it. Asking for a commission is not unreasonable, and hoping for a tip is more than fair.

Here is my 2c

Don't charge FC mates
If you have a fee be upfront about it
Its okay to encourage tipping, or even suggest a tip amount
If someone doesn't tip, you are under no obligation to help them in the future, but...
Remember the people you helped, one day when you need a favor look them up
Help other crafters! This I cant stress enough, it will pay off over time.

[gigi_frana]

well on Shiva they charge 5k/meld... For now I can`t pay that, it`s too much IMO.

[Spawnie]

whats wrong with charging free? if some1 wants to do melds for free they should b allowed to,,, generally most people would tip or offer to pay eithier way.. its better then charging 100k+ for somethin that isnt even close to bein worth that much lol

[darthkyron]

Well i'm not leveling blacksmith to 50 just to do free melding
Sorry but some crafts are harder to level compared to others

[Manila]

I have all crafts at 50 and do melding regularly for both FC and the general population. I've never once charged anyone for melding, nor do I request tips. However, only one time so far has a customer not tipped me anyways, and the tips generally range between 5-10k. The largest tips have actually come from the people that don't understand the melding process. I'm nice and patient, and walk them through how to do it and what they need.

Ive actually gotten more friend requests from melding than for anything else I've done in the game.

[Salleb]

I could have posted what Manila just wrote word for word. I get more repeat business from free melding than anything else. I have many people refer their friends/FC mates for crafted gear and most of my relationships with customers started with melding. I agree that melding is a service and you should be paid for services provided but sometimes payment can be measured by future business and as many people have stated most customers tip a reasonable amount anyways.

Leave the customer with a positive taste in their mouth instead of making them feel like you are trying to get as much gil out of them as you can. It goes a long ways in many peoples eyes. As crafters we are salesman but don't be that shady used car salesman that is always out for a quick buck, do things to make your customers feel good about the process and you will generate repeat business from them and most of the time their friends and FC mates.