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quote:

Originally posted by Guybert:

Riga,

Thanks for your comments. Jeffery has sent me the IU profile document and I'm currently working on the charter and ranking system, hopefully have a draft ready in a day or two.

I will change my sig as recommended, I've left Commercial Div in it till a name is approved. Off the top of my head, what about -

Money Inc?

Got a catchy ring to it, no?

Let me know. Cheers.

Yeah, I received his email with the new Intercorp stuff this morning and I'll have a look at it tonight.

Money Inc. sounds good , but might be a bit to generic. Then again, maybe not.

EDIT: sig looks good. You might want to add some UBB code to it (like bold, italics, etc) Read UBB explanation

here

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Right back on topic.

The next question that comes into mind, affects the traders

What are pricing guidelines a trader is expected to adhere to if he or she or it is selling commodities directly to a fleet member?

Will the fleet allow the trader to gouge the hell out of the the fleeter or will the fleet purchase (based upon a certain guideline) on behalf of the fleeter and appropriate deductions be taken from the fleeter's salary?

In other words do traders deal with the fleet or the individual commander directly?

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I believe that in the case of Prime, all private negotations would go through Prime's Logistics Officer, Cmdr. Remo Williams.

I've been watching this thread for a while now, and I think I'll throw in my 2 bits:

The going rate for anything will be between the minimum operating expenses of the job, and what the client is willing to pay. In the case of a private company, the client will be willing to pay a range between $0 and his profit margin. In the case of a fleet, it will be between $0 and the current unallocated amount in its budget. In each case, exactly where in between will depend on the client.

So, you've got minimums and maximums.

The minimum for a job is your minimum operating expenses. That would most likely be fuel and ammo.

The maximum will be a client's profit margin. For simple jobs, like escort, this should be easy to determine in advance. For assasinations, or other messy jobs, the motivation behind the client needs to be assessed. Figure out why he wants someone obliterated, and you can figure out how much he stands to gain. That's his profit margin, and he won't pay more than it.

Knowing your mins and maxs, you could determine a system whereby a member charges a certain percentage of this "green zone" where you both stand to profit. Personally, I think it will sort itself out. Gouge us, and fail to deliver, and you may have to drop your prices for a while, while your reputation recovers. Gouge us, and pull it off, we may decide it's worth it, and let you gouge us again.

But until we're going, there won't be a going rate. That's why we can't determine what to charge as rent for you guys for having offices in our stations

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Guest Remo Williams

Hehe you've been following this thread also Badgerius, thats cool, same here. I'm not quite sure how Prime is going to deal with Intercorp at this point. Since we will supply all of our commanders logistical needs through the use of our fleet support squadrons. I'm sure will be able to work something out though that will be equally beneficial.

Since Rico is Prime's liason to Intercorp he'll bring any proposals you might have to my attention I'm sure.

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If fleets buy their "basics" (fuel, ammo spares etc) in bulk via their procurement/logistics officer, then it seems to me this could be an ideal situation for the fleets and Intercorp.

Obviously the fleets would want to buy at favourable prices. But with being busy patrolling the Galaxy, waging war, conquering opposing races and wot not, they may not have the time or resources to continually scour the Universe for the cheapest sources.

Intercorp can do this. For example, based on a fleet's stated material needs/quantities Intercorp can be contracted to obtain and maintain a stock of these and supply to the fleets at set prices (subject to regular reviews of course!). Hell, we could even include delivery to your front door in the contracted price.

The ways you fleeters can utilize Intercorp for your benefit (and our bottom line) are many. We are willing to look at ANY proposal for our services.

I appreciate details with respect how the GCO Universe will work have yet to be laid out to us, but we can get some concepts out on the table in the meantime.

Look forwrd to hearing from you.

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I have made lots and lots of money, I would (In GCO) buy a rather large space port, arm it, and make it the home of anyone who wants to... Certain limitations though... Somewhere where someone could come if they wanted to trade and repair if wanted for some reason or another... A safe haven for the scum of the universe... Located in somewhere out of the common traveled ways...

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quote:

Originally posted by Epsilon 5:

I have something to ask the traders and other non-combat money-makers here... if everything works and you make profit... what do you do with the cash?? Wander around saying you are the first billionaire?

Invest it in a software company on Velari and let them integrate GCO in windows

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Thanks for the answers guys. That's what I like to see, more participation from the indies.

What the other indies out there? What are your Q & As?

quote:

Epsilon posted on 11-01-2001

I have something to ask the traders and other non-combat money-makers here... if everything works and you make profit... what do you do with the cash?? Wander around saying you are the first billionaire?

Need you ask?

1. Upgrading ship

2. Purchasing hired thugs i.e. bodyguards

3. Purchasing my very own base

4. Purchasing my very own planet

5. Purchasing Galcom

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quote:

5. Purchasing Galcom

hehe that would be the day...

[rp]

***Intercorp Newsflash***

Today Cmdr Jeffery Eu, Cmdr Jigoku and several other bought Galcom out from the SC's noise for an unbeleavable amount of credits.

Intercorp and Galcom will be merged into the new Galcorp. When asked what will be done next Cmdr Jeffery Eu responded.

"I think we will buy the Insugents out then go to Disney World."

***Intercorp Newsflash***

[/rp]

HEHE..

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quote:

Originally posted by Outlaw:

Upgrade my ship constantly and keep fighting.

How about upgrade your fighting and sokeeping your ship in a constant state. Upgrades in the universe are limited you know. And you make it sound like you keep loosing them.

Nevermind, just teasing. Back on topic.

Money isn't everything. Sure, you can have the bragging rights if you end up in the BCM-Forbes-Top-3, or cross the 64-bit creditaccount limit. But that'll be it. There's only one thing you can do with your money and that is re-invest in your business. Keep yourself going with your business. I think that's the idea the SC talked about in some other thread today or yesterday. Every cent the SC gets from our $50 BCM price get's re-invested in his company. So he said. Not that he has any chance of measuring up to Mr. MacroBill OS-full-of-Gates. But anyway. There's only one way of using that money, or maybe two, spend it on high inflated planet economies like there is no tomorrow, or make yourself more busier than you allready are. Getting rich isn't the same as playing.

---

Riga, can I come back on your Contract Value idea? Why make it the same as profit? Doesn't make sense when you talk about a buy AND selling price. Isn't a trade contract like the following:

"Here, those are my goods, and if you give me this amount credits, then they're all yours. I don't care how you get rid of them or for what price. But if I were you I'd have it higher"

or

"Hey you trader, I need this and that, if you bring it to me then you get such cash. And I don't care where you got it from or for what price. Just get them to me pronto. Before such date."

Maybe newbies (meaning the ones doing the run) don't have the money to finance such a big contract in the beginning. But that's where you mentioned Intercorp could come in, with it's newby -financial-support-program. Or as mentioned before, possibly getting a downpayment from the service requestee incase the trader has to acquire stock for him. Amount depending on the requestee's gullability ofcourse. (100% being possible ofcourse)

I can only make up from you using "profit" as a base for CV your idea is like this:

"Hey trader, I want you to trade this type of item, from that station or person at price A, to another station/person at price B."

That's bogus. The trader breaks off contract negotiations (he doesn't like the reward and is free to do so), launches from Intercorp's launchbase and leaves IC Inc. and the service requestee standing goof-balled as he make his profit all for himself. "Ca-ching!!! Thanks for the tip guys."

This is only a positive deal for the bailing-out trader and for the two stations in question. Their cashflow is stimulated. Which is always good for business. Not much opportunity in dull markets. So, the service requestee better be one of them.

Beyond that, Intercorp is missing out on a major 'ship comming in'. Compare a percentage (or just a fixed part) of profit versus a percentage of the total value of transported goods.

"How'd you like them apples? Thirst lessening, huh?"

[ 11-07-2001: Message edited by: Rico Jansen ]

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quote:

Originally posted by Rico Jansen:

Money isn't everything.

...snip snip...

There's only one thing you can do with your money and that is re-invest in your business. Keep yourself going with your business. I think that's the idea the SC talked about in some other thread today or yesterday. Every cent the SC gets from our $50 BCM price get's re-invested in his company.


Absolutely, that's why the charter states that at least 75% of all intercorp revenues must be invested in the corporation/division again.

What individual members do with their credits? Well, that's up to them. I for one want to make sure that I have enough to do what I want in MP, without having to worry about it.

quote:

Riga
, can I come back on your Contract Value idea? Why make it the same as profit? Doesn't make sense when you talk about a buy AND selling price.


The idea of the Contract Value is solely to calculate the different fees (such as the 4% intercorp commission). It is not intended to play a role in negotiations of a contract.

Say you want me to deliver Vagrants. Well, I just name my price and either you agree or you do not.

After I deliver them I calculate my profits (for arguments sake, take that to be 100.000 credits). Now I pay 4.000 to intercorp.

If, for one reason or another, I would only make 100.000 credits profit but you pay me 7.000.000 for the delivery, then 4% of 7.000.000 would be 280.000 credits, leaving me with a loss of 180.000 credits.

Intercorp does not force me to buy the Vagrants at location A and sell them at location B. That's up to me to decide.

At least that is the intention. If you make something else of the description on the website, please let me know. In that case I can try to make this more explicit.

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quote:

The idea of the Contract Value is solely to calculate the different fees (such as the 4% intercorp commission). It is not intended to play a role in negotiations of a contract.

Say you want me to deliver Vagrants. Well, I just name my price and either you agree or you do not.

After I deliver them I calculate my profits (for arguments sake, take that to be 100.000 credits). Now I pay 4.000 to intercorp.

If, for one reason or another, I would only make 100.000 credits profit but you pay me 7.000.000 for the delivery, then 4% of 7.000.000 would be 280.000 credits, leaving me with a loss of 180.000 credits.

100.000/7.000.000= 1.43% ... Shame on you, Riga!!! That 180.000 loss is just what you deserve. It shouldn't be impossible to get those vagrants for less, so increasing your profit. (according to bc3k standards anyway)

Now, go do that Velari run again.

But that is beside the point. Intercorp has (or should have) no beef with where a trader got his stuff from (or brings it to) and so be able to track the buy/sell price. It could very well be possible he had those vagrants in his cargohold for weeks, or found them in an asteroid field. So, what's the buy price now? (ok, it doesn't degrade, but it's going to be digging in a messy administration.) And can IC rely on that figure?

This contract is only there for someone to get rid of stock, or to gain stock. Nothing about where is comes from or goes to. Buying, as in your example, is not part of the contract, so why the profit? And certainly not if the wares are found in an asteroid field.

quote:

Intercorp does not force me to buy the Vagrants at location A and sell them at location B. That's up to me to decide.

I rest my case.

So, a traders profit is (to be) completely for himself. BUT, that 4% for IC is an emploment cost for him, so that's nibbled of his gross profit. He just better make sure his (gross) profit is higher than the 4%. (Or I'll smack him in the face. )

Actually, this service mediation IC does is a cost for both the requestee and the indepentant one, so maybe they should both pay half of the 4%. The requestee wants to get into contact with a worker and the independent wants to get a workplace. Both should pay, IMO. This is most important what I can't deduce from the website payment page, who's pocket is it suppposed to come from? The indie that does the work, or the requestee.

Something else I just noticed that agrees with my point on profit or full contract value:

quote:

The Contract Value (CV) determines how much money is involved in the contract. This varies per caste.

Trader

CV equals the Profit
(Selling Price ÔÇô Buying Price)
.

Merc

Escorting: CV of
escorted party
or determined beforehand by both parties.

Other: CV determined beforehand by both parties.

Other Castes: CV determined by both parties beforehand.

Why difference between buy- and sell-value for traders, and just (IOD magnatism) value of the escorted party for escorting (mercs). That escorted party is simply the same as the transported goods to me. Eventhough they won't have to be sold or bought again obviously.

[ 11-09-2001: Message edited by: Rico Jansen ]

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