Standard Tip for Loresinging?

[mweaver123]

I know this is a n00bish question, but I couldn't seem to find a definitive answer in past posts.

What is considered a proper amount of silver to tip for loresinging services? Is it some percentage of the item's value? Different depending on the type of item?

[Kastrel]

In my opinion, because loresinging was not an "every day" thing until enhancives started being common-place, there hasn't been an entirely established tip system like raising and healing.

That said, my personal experiences vary tremendously with the Bard. Some refuse any payment, some don't ask but will take payment, some will charge based on the number of items (or won't charge until you hit a certain number of items), and I've run into a few who won't charge if the item is interesting (getting my sand elemental sung to, for instance). Personally, I give a moderate value gem or 1000 per item, with an increase if I start getting multiple items (like 5k for 3 items).

[Allereli]

I hate playing my bard and never leveled him up enough to loresing effectively, so I pay about 5k per item and will throw in bonuses for them handing me back something really good, or trade it for other services like opening boxes.

[Gelston]

I usually just ask for a nice gem if it is only a few items. If it is a lot of stuff, more.

[Vorpodu]

I like the % of the items bardsung value, though. Lot of potential there...

[Suppressed Poet]

Personally, I don't go by a standard on this. Just like locksmiths or empath healing, I find too many variables to say a standard tip ammount. Some factors to tipping are : your level, economic situation, how many items the bard sings to, the items value, etc. I just say thank you and appreciate any tips.

[Jace Solo]

It varies for me too but if I don't know you I'd probably expect 10% of the item value. Maybe curve or cap it after 100K or so but it works pretty well for things under then 100K threshold.

[DaCapn]

Gems are the most common tip (and it's a pretty sensible one). Wealthier players usually tip an emerald/diamond. Others usually tip a pearl or so. Failing that, I can usually expect 1-2k. I think that's pretty reasonable. Sometimes people, having dealt with others that decline tips, just bail without so much as saying thanks.

Bulk lots can vary. I've gotten around 100k for going through maybe 20-30ish items. That's pretty reasonable.

Ultimately, it only really ties your char up for a minute or so and you can just script the loresinging anyway.

[Suppressed Poet]

If someone did not tip, especially without so much as a thank you, I just wouldn't do the service for them again. Short of that, I don't think it's my place to dictate a "tip". I agree the most common is a major gem of some sort. Sometimes I'll just ask another profession for a return service and I prefer those when I need it. A good example is saying to a ranger "would you mind sharing some mobiles / resist elements / colors?" and would consider that a great trade of professional resources.

[Kastrel]

I can say I certainly wouldn't tip a % of the value of an item.

I've found crappy enhancives with a million dollar value, that end up going to the pawn for 35k. I guess the equivalent would be like opening up a chest at a locksmith, finding something valuable, and handing the locksmith a significant increase in payment based on the item. Or going to the gemshop after, selling your gems, and coming back to pay the locksmith a cut of the gem haul.

Now, I WILL adjust payment for locksmiths, partly because I have a tendency to find crappy boxes, so I'm not going to go 1k a box, for instance, if I average 600 a box. But in general, I pay for effort and time expended, and a minute of effort to find out an item is junk is just as much work as a minute of effort to find out an item is a vorpal sword of doom. In my excitement, I may overtip some, but I won't normally adjust my tip based on value of the item. I have a "reverse buying in bulk" policy, where more service all at once will get a higher average payment, and I think thats fair.

[AbnInfamy]

When I'm heavy in pocket I'm a prolific tipper. I tend to hand out 5k per item, unless I'm doing a package deal with a lot of items and we work out a price beforehand.

Now that my bard is 38, when I do lore singing for others I don't expect anything unless it gets to be 3+ items at a time. If you bring me 1-2 items every hour or two, I'm happy with whatever you'd like to offer, if anything at all.

[kutter]

I suppose I am a little anomalous since neither my rogue or my bard take tips. Having said that if one of my non-rogue characters need boxes opened and there is a smith in the tower, the formula taught to me a long time ago was half the coins in the box, so that is what I tip. Of course if I find something interesting with my bard I tend to loresing it right there and if I ever found something really good I might tip more, just because. Right now though all my alts boxes are going in lockers for my rogue to work on lock mastery.

[Zelas]

I used to refuse all tips. But at this point if a player offers one I take it. If someone wants a bulk job then we negotiate a rate for my time.