Question For Designers..

I own a store in game called Addison's Designs & Club Supplies. I sell alot of diff types of dance tables, cages, and lap dance chairs. Early on when I first started, I sold tables that mearly had a dance ball on top..and I do believe I sold them full permission? I didn't realize at the time that I would pay for it later. lol Anyways..

I upgraded my entire line, and put the other's in a freebie box along time ago. But for some reason, my store is just a target for reseller's. Buying the stuff, then imediately putting it in their "yard sale." And alot of times, it's sold as a copy, not original (again, my mistake from the beginning.) But here is the question I have. If for some reason that item was screwed up and then sold at a yard sale, when you are contacted by a buyer that tells you they got it from a yard sale, do you still offer them the same help? Like today, a girl bought a chair that didn't have the animations in it anymore..and wanted me to replace it...what would you do in this situation. I'm asked this frequently, and I thought I should maybe ask other designers what they would do in this same situation.

Thanx Addi

Well, I sell all my items as No Transfer as a general rule, including my freebies. But, if I did sell Transferable items and somsone bought the item from a second party...no way would I be or even remotely feel responsible for replacing, fixing or refunding anything.

I would explain that they needed to speak to the person who sold it to them, not me. I would further explain that the person who sold it to them did so without your permission or approval, and you can not be responsible for the bad business practices of someone reselling your items without approval. Get a refund (if you can...yeah, right!) from the yard saler who you bought it from, not me.

Now, that aside, I am am overly helpful and nice person to an extreme and I do tend to not always stick to my guns on things like this. I'm a Jellyfish, as Six just called it in another thread. So I might be willing to suggest help or offer instructions if the person just needed help...say resizing one of my mech suits or my Neko Leathers or something. But I would not be willing to refund or replace items I didn't sell.

That's the problem. I hate hearing from someone who is sorta new that they paid 100$ for something I made a freebie. I made my freebie's no trans about a month and a half ago b/c I was always overloaded with IM's from people saying "do you know so and so has your items for sale?" I've probably been to at least 12 yard sales in the past few months, advocating they take things down that are copiable, and to make their own items for a buck. Most take it down...but I'm sure just put them back when I'm gone. I even had a girl tell me once, that I charged to much for an item that was full permissions, so she bought it just to resell. I guess to teach me a lesson?

I always feel bad and most likely end up helping someone who's gotten ripped off. The problem is, when they buy the item, and see that you are the creator... they don't always remember who originally sold it to them. So then they have to go back thru their account history, etc..just to find it. When I have a yard sale, I'm selling things I no longer need. I don't sell freebies for this VERY reason.

Thanx for the input...I read in another thread that people are trying to get a list together of supposed "yard sales" not to visit, I can't wait to see it


-Addi

Well I think it all comes down to how you see the person who IM's you about the problem. If they are being a total jerk and won't listen to reason then I say just mute them and move on. If they are upset and stop and think and apologize and become friendly then I might look at it for them and see if you can help. Then I would find out who they got it from and talk to that person and tell them that you helped said person and that you want them to take said item down. If the same person keeps doing this over and over again I would just start dropping their name and letting people know what they are doing. You can't get in trouble for dropping someones name to your friends and customers. Sooner or later, when they can't sell these items anymore then they might get the hint. It really comes down to how you feel about the situation. Listen to common sense and do as you feel and it will all work out.