Etiquette for crafting requests

[giantslayer]

I've started getting more requests from FC mates and sometimes people outside my FC to craft items for them. I've experienced a wide range of how people have approached me, from someone asking for full sets of equipment and not offering anything in return to people providing mats then tipping me during the final trade.

What is proper etiquette for approaching a crafter with a request? What is proper etiquette for a crafter to respond? I understand there are not definitive answers to these, but I would like to get some ideas from people with more experience in this.

[Lebenoshl]

I'm not entirely sure why you would craft for people you don't know unless they pay you upfront. They are just taking advantage of you.

Public Service:
Relic Weapons / Melds - Free for fresh 50s, a tip is nice but not required (20k total for everything from base mats/materia is very generous). Just shout in Gridania and I will help you
Other Stuff - I don't bother. Just buy my goods off of the market board. I'm not here because you want to cheap out. (Willing to talk for upfront payment and all mats)

FC & Friends (Keep in mind I am in a small/midsize FC)
Food / Pots- NQ as much as you want if you provide mats. HQ requires a tip if you want me to make more than one. Max Quantity at 10ish unless I can Quick Synthesis or you pay me nicely
Equipment / Glamour - Provide mats, for more than one craft a tip is nice.

[AttacKat]

For me, melds I normally don't care, crafting I tell them a lower then market price if I provide the mats, or just a fee if they provide the mats. FC members, I general just ask them to provide the mats.

But it is your game, you play it how you like to.

[chidarake]

I'm with attackat here, melds are free but I'll take a tip if given. crafts are pretty much not worth my time but I will help people on occasion and I do sometimes randomly give stuff away to people when I see they have shitty gear and its a quick easy synth.

as for my fc its give the mats and shards and I'll craft for free, otherwise if I supply the mats I usually add a 2k fee because I teleport to dodge city taxes on expensive mats.

I've made full sets and usually charge for that because of the time it takes, or I only do it when its a convenient time for me.

[Sarynth]

I havent really done crafting for people outside of fc/ls but my rule is bring mats and dont worry about tipping if you're in my fc/ls. I occasionally respond to meld requests in /sh for free though

[Maxipep]

Personally, if I see a shout like "Need alchemist for Meld" I'll ignore it, same as any other request without Manners. If there is a Please at the end I will meld whatever they want. I don't charge for any melding. Same if someone asks me to craft for Leves. Manners go a long way in my book.

[Shadygrove]

FC members and friends no charge.

Strangers who shout? "Whatever you can afford and are comfortable with."

[SummerRider]

THE crafter in my FC, will craft anything for FC mates if we provide all the mats (including crystals). I will probably follow his example for FC.

For the public, If the client provides the mats (and crystals) I'll probably craft it for them for a small fee. If they don't provide the mats, then it's down to negotiating (convincing me) why I should craft the item for less then the market rate on the AC?

[Jican]

If someone, anyone, wants me to make something, I tell them to get the mats. Otherwise they don't appreciate the trouble you have to go through to make it. I see a few of my crafting friends getting abused when they just can't say no. It's a give and take really.

[monochromicorn]

for fc mates, its always free. ive made several relic bases completely free, even getting the rare drops sometimes for the fresh 50s. melds i do for free, if they can provide the catalyst. if i have to use my own stock, its usually a 1-3k cost, depending on the grade. for any craft, if they provide all mats, shards/crystals included, i make it free. if i have to buy or gather something, i either charge for the amount that i spent, or i charge for the time i used to get the items. and letting me gather it is always cheaper, but more time consuming, and if you are coming to me to craft for you, you dont need it right away, as thats what the MB is for. im not going to drop queue for someone, and if they buy it or have someone else craft it while im in, i will happily return all items.