Posted - 2010.03.03 22:33:00 - [2]

 

The EVE universe is pretty big. Too big, and too competitive, for one corp or alliance to totally dominate even one aspect of the game totally.

So, if you wanna join the big boys, that's gonna be the LOCAL big boys... In 0.0 space, it's usually pretty easy to figure out who those are. Most likely, they're the ones owning the systems in the area. In highsec, or other NPC-controlled space, it'll take a bit more work to find out who they are. Still pretty easy to do. Just look at what's for sale in the local markets, find who's selling it, and in what corps/alliances they are. Couple of clicks.

But, well, why JOIN the local big boys when, with just a bit more skill training, a few of the right friends, and a bit of extra money you can BE the local big boy(s)?

Posted - 2010.03.03 23:35:00 - [4]

 

Originally by: Alexander Yi

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To wit - is there a single corp or alliance that's considered "the name" in manufacturing or supply? When I ask this in game, everyone always reacts like it's a silly question, but I don't really get why.

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Basically, it's because the markets provide transparency and anonymity.

If you want to buy, let's say, a Dominix - then in the vast majority of situations, you open up the market, type "Dominix" in the search bar, and get a list of all the sell orders currently up in that region. You select the cheapest one, and hit "buy". Or, if you go into even less depth, you find the Domi in the "Gallente Battleships" market group, and get quoted the cheapest price with the option to buy now (in this respect the entire market workings are invisible). Two nanoseconds later, you have a new Dominix and the SCC has your ISK (to pass on to the seller).

Hence in the end-user market, sellers are essentially anonymous and invisible. There is no "big name", because there aren't really names at all - just lines on the market screen that will let you get what you want.

(This is different to real life partly because goods are entirely fungible - everyone is selling exactly the same thing, so there's no such thing as quality, reliability, customer service, warranty, postage costs/speed, design, etc., etc. Secondly, all the different "shops" are in exactly the same "place" and you can compare the prices instantly, so you always get the cheapest rate. Thirdly - it's as if every seller was mandated to be on the equivalent of a price comparison site, so you know you can get all the prices there.)


Now if you're doing some kind of long-term business-to-business thing - the sort of arrangement that's more like a contract of service, rather than just selling a single item that's infinitely protected by unbreakable market laws - then trust comes into play, and names might matter. But in these situations, usually the business doing the buying is the bigger entity (e.g. a large-scale manufacturer setting up contracts to get ore from likely several mining corps), so the suppliers in this case are seldom largely recognised.


Finally - EVE is big, and the markets are even bigger. Literally trillions of ISK worth of goods are traded in Jita every day, I believe. Unless you have at least tens of billions of ISK capital invested and active at any given time, you're going to be a tiny drop in that pond. It's unrealistic for a single entity/corp/whatever to be able to supply more than perhaps 1% of the market, tops (and that's assuming some massive coalition type thing) - hence they'll likely not become "the go-to guys" because there's a 99% chance they're too busy to serve you. And as above, the market is liquid enough that you generally don't need long-term contracts anyway, you can trust that you can buy essentially whatever you want at a fair prices from anonymous counterparties for as long as you need.

Posted - 2010.03.04 00:57:00 - [6]

 

Wow, the economy is a lot more active than I had originally thought. Thank you for the answers, that really clarifies things for me.

Posted - 2010.03.04 05:58:00 - [8]

 

Manufacturing and mining corporations try to keep a low profile. You don't want highsec mercs and pirates know that you're a mining and/or building corporation, otherwise you'll never have a wardec free day in this universe and your POSes will get ransomed on weekly basis. You don't want anyone to know that you're doing well with your carebearing and possibly have XX billion in corp wallet or you'll attract attention of corp thieves.

As such, the answer to your question is no, there is single well-known name in manufacturing circles. I would advise you to read the market discussion and science subforums and also hang out in trading channels in game. This way you can start building connections and eventually discover who runs decent businesses out there.

Posted - 2010.03.05 07:46:00 - [10]

 

plus since all items are identical there is a ****storm of competition all over. so it can be hard to make a name for yourself.

Posted - 2010.03.08 08:44:00 - [12]

 

That makes a lot of sense to me, now. Thank you all for such detailed answers - it really gave me a deeper understanding of the market forces (and destructive forces!) involved in becoming an industry giant.