Selling Items with Unlinked Parts

I just received an indignant offline IM that I had sold a "damaged" item because when the person put it back in their inventory, they selected only one of the two unlinked pieces (it was an item with a moving part) and then deleted the other that had remained behind. "I want a new one!" was the demand.

Is there any way of protecting newbies from their own ignorance on how to use items containing multiple linked objects? If this was a RL item purchased at Wal-Mart, I am sure the store would not provide a free replacement because the customer carelessly threw half of the item away. And how do you protect yourself against being scammed out of free items by someone who's just fibbing that it's "damaged"?

Eh I'd just assume they did as they said....seems plausible, and replace it.

With time comes knowledge.

I actually sell a few objects that have to be separate for the scripts in them to function correctly. The way I make sure they know is I include a notecard with the items that clearly tells them that, and tells them how to select both before moving/taking the items. I also have a notecard dispenser that says "click for info" next to the items which gives the same notecard.

Doing it this way I have never had problems. However I did have a person tell me that somehow part of a set had “vanished” from his inventory, so I just sent him a replacement of that part. Even if he was lying to me, one half is worthless without the other so it doesn't really matter (though I don't think he was lying.)

If they've paid for the item, which you can confirm by checking your transactions, it should be no bother to replace the part. It won't cost you anything, and will gain you some goodwill. They're not really trying to scam you, they're just new and don't understand how it works. It's easy for a new person to freak out a bit, when they've spent money and done something silly. To avoid it happening again, a good notecard explaining your product will go a long way.

Sell the items copy / no transfer. This way the customer can always rez a complete set.

Whadaya mean I wasn't sposed ta throw the batteries away? Gimme a new one...NOW!

See Lex Neva for her "Rez-Faux"... Sell 'em your multi-peice items packaged in that critter, copy/no-trans. Then when they break it it's supremely easy for them to set it back up.

Maybe you could just send them the parts they deleted?

If its scripted then why let it even be a problem. Try to communicate with it.
If its not there then just rez a copy from the main item. problem solved and
the user does'nt need to understand anything.
(only works if part has copy rights, I know)

Theres no such think as dumb users, only dumb scripters
(not ment to be offensive, it means it needs to be user friendly)

I had a new person IM me once just furious and calling me a thief because the dress she bought turned out to be nothing but an "f***ing picture". haha. Took a bit of talking for me to figure out what she meant was that when she tried to wear it all she could see was the box on her head. Apparently the couple of outfits she'd bought before that came in folders and when she bought mine she didn't understand the difference. She was so mad she deleted it too.

But a little conversation, a little teaching about boxes and restoring things from the trash folder, a couple of freebie sets for fun, and now I may have a regular customer. It doesn't cost you anything to replace items you've made, and it's worth it in the end to build a reputation.

Hehehe, guilty as charged. My scripting skills are pretty basic, so I don't have the knowledge to do that sort of thing. I'm learning though .

There is no way to foolproof against ignorance, foolishness, stupidity, and so forth.

Ask any company that makes an object small enough (or near small enough) to be inserted into a body cavity.

Why bother building an idiot proof script to prevent this? All that'll happen is they'll build a better idiot.

To my knowledge, if you walk into Wal-Mart (or any other store) with the item & with proof of purchase, you get store credit.

In Britain, if you were sold *faulty* goods, you are entitled to a full monetary refund. Faulty in this case means not fit for the purpose for which they were designed and sold, not simply "I don't like teh colour".

in the US you pay the fool off and make a warning label