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EVE New Citizens Q&A

 
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Newbie question - courier to private property
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Miriam Beckstein
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#1 - 2016-11-25 18:44:46 UTC
If I search for public courier contracts, I see some that are to privately held highsec stations, and looking at the contract itself I see a message saying 'warning - station may not be accessible'.

I'm curious how this works. Is there a way to check whether I'm allowed to dock at a particular station, other than flying to it and trying? What options does the station's owner have for docking rights? e.g. only broad ones like corp only, or can they exclude specific people? And how quickly can those rights be changed, is that instant, or is there a timer on it?

Basically, I'm worried that the contracts are scams, that I take it, but am unable to dock & deliver the package, and end up losing my collateral.
Shallanna Yassavi
qwertz corp
#2 - 2016-11-25 18:51:40 UTC
ShahFluffers
Ice Fire Warriors
#3 - 2016-11-25 19:08:15 UTC
As a general rule of thumb, assume that any player owned station (especially in low-sec or null-sec) has been set to disallow anyone but "friendlies" to dock.

So to answer your question; yes, it is probably a scam.

How did you Veterans start?
Iria Ahrens
Space Perverts and Forum Pirates
#4 - 2016-11-25 19:24:24 UTC  |  Edited by: Iria Ahrens
Considering that I've been in null and ls and put out my own contracts to have someone move my stuff, I'll just say that a courier contract from an inaccessible station isn't necessarily a scam. They might simply be trying to appeal to the broadest audience, since often more than one corp or alliance will have access to the station. It's the courier's job to accept contracts that they can complete, not the contract maker's responsibility to only make contracts available to those that can complete them, especially since that isn't really possible. Also, people that get kicked from a corp, or come back to eve after an absence might make the contracts to get their stuff out of the outpost. In other words, the person making the contract might not have access to the station herself.

The only real way to tell if a contract is a scam is to look inside the package. If the stuff inside is junk, then scam. The reason scams work is BECAUSE there is usually a legitimate reason to do something.

My choice of pronouns is based on your avatar. Even if I know what is behind the avatar.
Miriam Beckstein
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#5 - 2016-11-25 19:30:38 UTC
ShahFluffers wrote:
As a general rule of thumb, assume that any player owned station (especially in low-sec or null-sec) has been set to disallow anyone but "friendlies" to dock.

So to answer your question; yes, it is probably a scam.


I'd probably assume it in low or null, but I also wouldn't be taking those contracts on the assumption I'd explode before I got there anyway.

It seems a weird choice of gameplay mechanic to have it work that way in highsec. Scam contract where they intend to blow me up en route is fair enough, that becomes a game of skill, whether I notice the highsec to highsec route has a lowsec bit in the middle, whether I notice the collateral is far too high and it's probably dangerous, whether I am able to be creative enough to deliver the package anyway, and if I lose, so be it, and I hope I learn something for next time it happens. That makes for interesting & engaging gameplay.

But a scam where there is no way to beat the scammer, where they just have to change a setting to guarantee they keep the collateral, that just seems silly to me. It leads to boring gameplay, makes for a blanket rule (for me at least) that I simply won't take any contract to a privately owned highsec station, means that those wanting stuff legitimately brought to their own station will struggle to get takers.
Miriam Beckstein
Science and Trade Institute
Caldari State
#6 - 2016-11-25 19:36:50 UTC
Iria Ahrens wrote:
Considering that I've been in null and ls and put out my own contracts to have someone move my stuff, I'll just say that a courier contract from an inaccessible station isn't necessarily a scam. They might simply be trying to appeal to the broadest audience, since often more than one corp or alliance will have access to the station. It's the courier's job to accept contracts that they can complete, not the contract maker's responsibility to only make contracts available to those that can complete them, especially since that isn't really possible. Also, people that get kicked from a corp, or come back to eve after an absence might make the contracts to get their stuff out of the outpost. In other words, the person making the contract might not have access to the station herself.

The only real way to tell if a contract is a scam is to look inside the package. If the stuff inside is junk, then scam. The reason scams work is BECAUSE there is usually a legitimate reason to do something.


From private stations shouldn't be an issue, because it's easy to just not accept the contract until you're already docked. If you took it without checking you could pick it up, then you're a goose. It's to that's going to be the issue, because it seems there's no way to check you can drop it off, that the contract can be automatically failed simply by changing a setting after it's accepted. Scams should take at least a little effort.
ergherhdfgh
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#7 - 2016-11-25 21:16:03 UTC
Miriam Beckstein wrote:

But a scam where there is no way to beat the scammer, where they just have to change a setting to guarantee they keep the collateral, that just seems silly to me. It leads to boring gameplay,

There is you just don't take the contract. It is that simple.

Miriam Beckstein wrote:

makes for a blanket rule (for me at least) that I simply won't take any contract to a privately owned highsec station, means that those wanting stuff legitimately brought to their own station will struggle to get takers.

This is part of the game. CCP has always been pro carnage and conflict and anti safety and hand-holding. CCP is very much in favor of scamming and just in general asshattery. If you are looking for a game that holds your hand and protects you from negative consequences to your choices then Eve is certainly not the game for you.

Iria Ahrens wrote:

The only real way to tell if a contract is a scam is to look inside the package.

Is there a way to look inside the contents of the package before accepting the contract? If so then that is a clear way to separate the wheat from the chaff. If the collateral is significantly higher than the value of the contents then it is clearly a scam.

Want to talk? Join Cara's channel in game: House Forelli
Iria Ahrens
Space Perverts and Forum Pirates
#8 - 2016-11-26 16:38:09 UTC  |  Edited by: Iria Ahrens
ergherhdfgh wrote:

Is there a way to look inside the contents of the package before accepting the contract? If so then that is a clear way to separate the wheat from the chaff. If the collateral is significantly higher than the value of the contents then it is clearly a scam.


Not that I know of. When I haul, I just assume everything is a scam, so the question I ask myself is, "Is it profitable."

As a trader, I'm more concerned with market scams myself. People underpricing gods in LS, and picking it up and getting out before the pirates show up.

Usually to deal with this activity, I just buy the goods, and wait a few weeks before retrieving them. For courier contracts I want a large window of opportunity too. Give me days to complete the contract or I'm out.

My choice of pronouns is based on your avatar. Even if I know what is behind the avatar.