Consumers are Funny (At Times)

I get the hugest kick out of some consumers. For example, I am selling this product, aptly marketed as "the most basic gun available" and charge only L$25 for it at slexchange.com.

http://www.slexchange.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=10215

Now, looking at the picture, you can see its put together quickly and quite shoddily. The price is also bare bones - coming in at less than 10 cents (US).

Yet, almost everyone who has bought this item IMs me to complain about how crappy it looks, how simplistic it is, etc etc moan whine moan.

What do people expect? A Seburo type quality weapon for L$25? Muah.

It never ceases to amaze me!

Anyone else want to share some funny consumer stories?

I know. Some people are just clueless.

"I bought this old red brick for five cents, but it isn't producing cold fusion like I expected it to. "
"I never said it did cold fusion, it's just a f*cking brick!"

May I ask what is exactly the reasoning behind selling this item in the first place?

It is apparently not doing your business much good as it makes a lot of customers complain and feel annoyed about the purchase. Next to that it's sold for a price where I can't see it making you a large profit. Finally you apparently do not find great pride in your creation yourself in the way you describe it.

I'm not trying to make some kind of statement here. I'm merely trying to understand.

That gun is embarassingly bad.

Listen, I understand you're selling a "bargain" product, here, but there are some things that I simply would never sell with my name on them. That is one of them.

It's a simple matter of branding and attention to detail. Selling crap isn't okay. I'm just...

I dunno, I'm a little surprised anyone would be okay with selling something like that on their main account. Quality, man.

Quality is critical.

That is a great question! The reason is because I want to have a product at every level of the market. And also, because the outcome I described above was quite different from what I expected.

I had wanted to create an inexpensive, universally purchasable weapon that ANYONE could afford. The actual outcome was that those who actually bought it expected it to go to the sun, moon, and mars - and all for L$25.

Yes, as a future consideration, I do plan on removing it altogether, as it damages my product reputation.

I just wanted to share this adventure in retailing with you.

L$25 is half a week's money for a new player.

They probably just aren't used to the economy yet.

Eddie Escher, to name just one, is someone who sells a lot of really high quality stuff for under L$100.

You, on the other hand, seem to be admitting that you're selling junk. And all I'm saying is that if you sell junk, don't be surprised when people IM you and say "Hey, this is junk."

Umm...

Don't sell junk. It's just embarassing. What're you, reselling freebies, too?

then there's the weapon you (jamie) created called *mosquito* that sells for 999L$ and doesn't work *sigh* i've tried to get this fixed (have left several messages as well as posting to it on SLEX) or a refund with no success sadly....i guess i'd rather buy a 25L gun that at least does what it says :/

Jeska - please move this thread where it belongs.


Thank you!

(see i haven't retired)

Jamie - don't sell stuff you aren't proud of.

For all we know, there could be a very nice gun out there for $25.

Even low-priced things should be the best you can make them be. With houses, there is size to go on regarding pricing. I imagine with guns, it is features. Surely there can be a bare-bones low-priced gun that is nonetheless the most exquisite bare-bones gun you can make.

coco

Ah, yes, on this we absolutely agree. Couldn't have said it better.

I know, Enabran! I'm amazed, too! We ought to agree more often! It feels good.

coco

Thanks for the mention, Enebran

I totaly agree about only selling stuff youre proud to be known for.
I tell ya though, even then you can still get some very amusing IM's... here's a few that still make me chuckle when I think of them:

customer: "I bought your holo keyboard... can I have it in blue? The green color is icky"
me: "Sure, just say 'keyboard blue' and it will change"
customer: "yeah, but the green is icky"

customer: "I bought your keyboard and attached it to my head, and it looks stupid"
me: couldnt reply cos i was laughing too hard.

customer: "Hi, I bought your <cant remember the gadget they bought> but i cant get it to work"
me: "Okay, here's a replacement... let me know if it works"
customer: "nope, that one doesnt work either"
me: "wierd... tell me, youre in a script enabled area, and you attached it by clicking 'wear', yes?"
customer: "no no, I'm trying to use your script in my own objects, but they wont work"
me: "... "

And my all time favorite:

customer: "can i have a landmark to your store please?"
me: "sure, here you go". <gives them half a dozen LM's to stores.
customer: "I cant find it... can you give me directions?"
me: "well, just double click the LM and follow the red marker"
customer: "I am, but I cant find the store"
me: "hmm... okay, ty going to <says sim name and coords>"
customer: "Well, I'm at your store right now, but I still cant find it"
me: "???? I dont understand...."
customer: "oh, sorry, I thought I said... I saw a cool clothes shop next to one of your stores a few days ago... I'm trying to find it again"

This thread makes me smile... on the flipside of consumerism, I don't grit my teeth like Wallace often, but I did not too long ago, when I was suggesting a plain and obvious product flaw to a content creator on here. He didn't do it; infact he came off rather rude, and the product is still crap. Let's just say I could see right through it.

That's one of the rare turds amidst all the diamonds I've mined on here, tho, but it serves as a shining example of what can go wrong.

Are we missing something here... Everyone gets a free "Popgun" in their starting inventory right?
In addition everyone gets a free "Revolver" in the WA shooting gallery game.
Who are the idiots who buy this crap? Jesus. I need to start selling stuff, apparently some people will buy anything.

Wow, I must have a secret Guardian Fairy somewhere that protects me from clueless customers... 'cause I certainly don't remember recieving any stupid IM about my commercial items or freebies

You are protected by chaos.

I don't say that lightly.

Yeah, I heard one about this pretentious"creator" who made the ugliest, piece of shit gun and sneered at consumers who bought it and commented on how ugly the gun was. Apparantly, this person did not understand that low price doesn't have to mean crap.

We're not talking about using titanium vs. steel. Crafting is in how much effort you put into the design. If your name is on it I would think you would want it to be the best quality possible. Even if it is $25.