Traits and pricing

[JoshDamdinJnr Resident]

can someone tell me is there a hud that can tell me traits and how much to charge all in the one hud? and where to buy it please

[Tad Carlucci]

There is such a HUD but I don't know where to get it.

My issue with tools like that are they're based upon one person's statement of what they feel should be the price. The proponents claim the prices are updated based upon real data. But any such data must, of necessity, be a limited data set. For example, it might select only prices from auctions, but ignore private sales; or it might be based upon the 'ask' prices seen in shops and ignore negotiated prices such as auctions, bid boards and conversations.

Another issue I have with tools for pricing is it can be hard to tell if the tool is using current, or even recent, data. You're totally dependent upon the maintainers to actually do the work, and continue to do the work. So, while a tool might be extremely accurate this week, there is no guarantee that it will update next month when conditions have changed.

The most common example of dated information being used is the simple 'rule of thumb' guidance of a fixed price of L$50 or L$100 per trait. While easy to calculate, it totally ignores high-demand/low-supply periods such as when offering a newly-discovered trait value.

My recommendation is to wander the shops and bid boards, and attend auctions, even talking and negotiating with others, building your own idea of what constitutes a reasonable price to ask for given trait values, or combinations of trait values.

[Oselkhandro Resident]

Note also that prices for newer traits tend to be very high, but then to drop steeply as the trait becomes more available. Recessive traits tend to command better prices than dominant traits, as well (see Saga's charts for dominances).

[Emilia Darkwatch]

There is such an HUD but it is important to understand it is not an official guide on how to price. It is not made by Kittycats. It is not affiliated with Kittycats. It is just the opinion of only a few people when the kittycat community is made up of thousands... so, what you are paying for is simply the opinion of a few people. You can get that for free if you join a group such as kittycats price check and I also think this is a better option for a few reasons... 1. you will be getting opinions of a number of totally independent people as opposed to just from one source 2. there is the possibility for discussion about where people got the price they give from... which is impossible to have such a conversation with any calculator and 3... which I think is by far the most important thing... you will hopefully by seeing these prices and finding out where they come from, be learning yourself how to price cats. This is not possible with a calculator... it gives you a number and you have no real idea where it came from so no learning is possible

As mentioned... Learning is possible if one develops one's own experience by going around the kitty markets and auctions and learns this way. Even if you buy the calculator, please understand how limited it is in terms of it only being the opinion of a few people only and that it is important to learn where such numbers come from which has to come from your own experiences

[Markham Weatherwax]

(03-31-2016 07:50 AM)JoshDamdinJnr Resident Wrote:  can someone tell me is there a hud that can tell me traits and how much to charge all in the one hud? and where to buy it please

There are several of this type of hud out there. I personally use the Kittybox Pricing Hud by Script Hyun for a reference point but I rarely price my cats at the average makert value because of hidden traits and also because I keep up with what is out in the secondary markets. The Hud counts traits, gives you a price range, and is updated and enhanced on a regular basis. It can be helpful, but because there are so many breeders out there who underprice their kitten boxes, it really is about what you want and are willing to sell at.

[Minx Diabolito]

I don't have an HUD but I know people who use it as part of a way of pricing a cat. As part of a way, it is a good idea but you need to know how to price a cat yourself and count the traits for yourself so maybe learn that then see if you still want to buy an HUD aswell =)

[Markham Weatherwax]

(04-02-2016 06:22 AM)Minx Diabolito Wrote:  I don't have an HUD but I know people who use it as part of a way of pricing a cat. As part of a way, it is a good idea but you need to know how to price a cat yourself and count the traits for yourself so maybe learn that then see if you still want to buy an HUD aswell =)

The HUD isn't perfect because there are so many people out there who underprice/overprice their cats. There is no way the KittyCats Calculator can be spot on. Lord knows, the number of times it has given me a low price for a great looking cat with lots of pedigree hiddens, I am surprised I have any hair left from all of the pulling out. LOL!

The HUD is good for a starting point, but one also has to wander the secondary markets and also look up on the SL Marketplace. I price my cats so I don't lose money on the deal. I keep track of every cat, how much it cost to buy or breed, and I won't go under that. I'll save them for later breeding or menagerie them so I can get more towards some special cat I want.

Ah well. Life with KittyCatS.

[katsiaryne Resident]

I use the Kittycats Pricing HUD by Script Hyun as a general guideline when pricing, but I also explore the markets and see what prices others are selling similar cats for. It's also a good idea to check out very busy, popular markets, or auctions, so you can see what cats really sell for. Just because someone prices a cat at X amount of L$ doesn't mean it'll actually sell for that.

In my experience, the pricing HUD is great with established traits. If it's been around a while, the prices the HUD estimates seem to be reasonable and fair. However, it can be wildly off when it comes to newer traits. It's not that anything is wrong with the HUD, but just that the market fluctuates so rapidly at times. It often overestimates the value of newer traits. Personally, when I get a newer trait, I put the cats on bid boards and let the market decide. Once I have a good idea of the price they go for on the boards, I'm more confident when pricing them in my shop.

[Tad Carlucci]

Hey Callie here's a product idea:

KittyCats Pricing Darts

Basically, it's a large poster with a Bull's Eye, with prices marked for each ring. Bull's Eye: 10000, and rings for 5000, 1000, 500, and the outer area labeled 'Menagerie your Cat'.

Touch to receive a Dart.

Wear the Dart to 'throw' it. The dart disappears and re-appears at a random point on the poster.

It may be accurate, it may not. Who knows? But it should be fun. You could even have contests with prizes for the best shot for each round!