Length of time as Merchant?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 00:40

As you can tell, I'm pretty new around here, and so far I'm really enjoying the time I'm spending at Kapilands. However, I was wondering how long it took most people to rise past the rank of Merchant.

I've figured out about how long it's going to take ME, and it seems like a very long time, not that I'm impatient or anything

Anyway, does 6 to 7 months sound right, or am I doing something very very wrong?

Thanks for reading!

PS -- I have tried searching, and I've read through a bunch of posts, but so far I haven't come across anything about this. Then again, maybe I'm just bad at it

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 00:50

I would recommend you join a Trade Syndicate. I did soon after I started and found it excellent.

TiB is (in my opinion) the best way to go if you need help. I'm sure you will get to the next level before your estimate. What strategy are you working?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 01:07

To get past Merchant, to retailer? If it takes more than 3 weeks, seriously reconsidering what you're doing. This game has only been running since January, and the leaders have gotten to over a billion in that time.

I still hold to the belief that trade groups offer little benefit in the long run, but you can find deals that are helpful to beginners, particuarly at TIB.

What businesses are you in? And have you poked around some of the guides here? Some are a little advanced for where you are now but there are good tips for getting started.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 01:11

Thanks for the quick replies!

I'll have to look into Trade Syndicates; my ignorance of all things Kapilands apparently knows no bounds, so I'll start doing some research

Right now I'm not quite sure WHAT my strategy is; I'm really trying a little of everything, though I think I'm leaning more toward production than selling.

I have read through some of the guides, and haven't decided what I'm going to do with what I've learned. I'm also wondering about starting over without the tutorial, but I'm not sure about that, either. Is part of the problem that I have a little bit of everything, and not a lot of anything in particular? I'm making all sorts of things, selling food in the grocery and some other stuff at the market.

Can you tell, I'm a mess?

3 weeks, huh? I knew 6 months was too long

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 01:34

There are two approaches you can take here. Do you have a specific product you'd like to make? If so, great. It might not be the best product but that won't stop you from having fun. If you just want to expand really fast, and select a product later, maybe you should build some other things.

Some really amazing starter buildings are mines, wells and power plants. With those buildings you can make stones/iron/coal, water and power. All of those items are very valuable even at Q0. That means no need for a research building just yet.

If you don't have much money to build one of those buildings, you might consider resetting. Tutorial buildings are not quite so hot. Resetting will give you the money for probably 3 buildings. That really depends on how much you like the buildings you have.

Also, I'd advise selling a lot of your starter steel. It can really speed things up so you can buy more buildings.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 02:28

You could sell some of your steel... At the start you have heaps. Put some on the market at 140 caps and see if anybody buys it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 02:53

Serenity wrote: Some really amazing starter buildings are mines, wells and power plants. With those buildings you can make stones/iron/coal, water and power. All of those items are very valuable even at Q0. That means no need for a research building just yet.

If you don't have much money to build one of those buildings, you might consider resetting. Tutorial buildings are not quite so hot. Resetting will give you the money for probably 3 buildings. That really depends on how much you like the buildings you have. Also, I'd advise selling a lot of your starter steel. It can really speed things up so you can buy more buildings.

Thanks for the suggestion -- thats exactly what I was thinking about, concentrating on raw materials; however, I never even paid attention to the stone, wood and steel I had sitting in the warehouse! You're right -- that will bring in a nice amount to get started.

I think I will need to sleep on this.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 03:07

Don't sell the steel. I think the kapilands default market (LLC) sells for 135 and it has 1 million steel. offer slightly less throught office fax page.

I went intot eh coal industry. it is being very good to me. I will be 8 mill in assets in a bout 3 more weeks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 03:16

Why not sell the steel? He can sell it now, buy 2-3 more buildings, and buy it back in 1 month when he needs it again. The price of steel is 100% stable and will never change. He will probably lose 2 caps per steel when he buys it back, but think of the ROI on the cash he could spend today.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 03:24

I was referring to the price proposed by the other guy. 140 caps.
This won;t work becasue the (LLC) company sells for 135, with 1,000,000 in stock. they won;t sell and he will be stuck. better to offer at 134.90 or something.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 03:43

Someone might, you'd be selling to a sucker though. But even if you did, you only keep 140 - 14 = 126 of it.

Check out the purchases forum, or the faxes page, and find someone who buys steel directly. (Like me, though there are many others). You can get 132+ directly from that.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 04:05

The cartels can certainly give you a leg up if you desperately need one. Some will sell you goods at way below market prices, and permit you to sell them. Personally I think that causes you to rely on what is effectively hand-outs of free money, rather than standing on your own two feet. Others no doubt find it extremely useful.

I've not been playing very long at all, but have done very nicely for myself by getting involved in producing goods for the competition. That would be my advice if you're looking for rapid growth at low levels. Keep an eye on who buys your goods on the market, and approach them to see if they would be willing to buy your goods on contract, and you can save that pesky 10% fee. You can build up excellent relationships with customers and suppliers, without needing to join a cartel.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 15:35

Two weeks from merchants to small businessman with some help from Serenity and Knolls

Build power plants. When I start playing selling power is the best money maker for me.
As have been said, sell some of your steels via contract. You will gain some money to jump start on building and get more income than when you let those steels stuck in your warehouse

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 16:25

reading almost every helps and tips around the forum and think and calculate alot will really help. i have read at least 2 hours aday at first when i join and it helped me alot also. i got to merchant level in exactly 7 days although i start with tutorial and made alot of wrong things.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 27.06.2007, 21:48

Thank you everyone for a lot of fantastic advice!

I finally decided to reset, and for now will be concentrating on raw materials, mostly power and oil to start with.

Now I just need to have patience while things build and the initial production runs are completed.

I love this place; you all are very helpful!

Thanks again!