What do you think of all items being no transfer?

Hello,
With the recent rash of exploits and bugs and lost inventory, I have seriously been considering making ALL of my content no transfer. This would solve the problem of knowing whether to or not to replace items when bugs like the current vanishing inventory bug hit. As long as I could verify the purchase, I could comfortably send out 31252121321 copies of any item without worry of it being resold or given away.
This would also however, mean that items can no long be freely purchased and given as gifts without going through me or purchasing them from SLExchange.
This would also mean no more refunds on purchases of items that "don't fit right" (yes i actually get this sometimes).
My skins are already no transfer and I still get people wanting refunds, exchanges etc (even tho its clearly stated on the boxes, vendors and everywhere else imaginable)....I have to tell them no, and of course this doesnt always go over well, but its policy I was forced to put in place and enforce.

So my question is would you as buyers perfer
1) transferrable items that you can buy as gifts for others or resell when you tire of them, but might not always be instantly replaced when something goes wrong.
2) easily replaced items that you can never give away, or resell, or return if theres a problem.

Before making my decision and getting started on this long and grueling process, I wanted some buyer feedback.

Thanks!
Andie

In RL, stores will almost always allow the return of a relatively inexpensive item regardless of reason. Back in the day I was forced to take clearly destroyed and abused items and give full refunds for them. Most stores keep track of people who return items so that they can track potential abusers. SL seems pretty ripe for a system that would allow store owners to track individuals and share information about potential griefers.

I'm relatively new, but I can imagine vendors having a ban list to prohibit purchases made by purchase griefers.

As a consumer I really hate buying stuff that isn't transferable. I prefer it over non-transferables, but I'm willing to compromise for high demand items. Many times, though, I won't buy anything from a vendor when I can't tell what the permissions are. Most are clearly labeled, but some aren't.

I think that store return policies should be clearly stated and enforced. I also think that store owners should be able to band together to help police idiocy. At the same time consumers should share information on the best places to buy AND return merchandise.

I think what makes the most buisness sense, is to do what will please your customers the most, while affecting your bottom line the least.

Take a look at how often you have to replace items. If it happens only occasionally, I'd consider giving your customer the benefit of the doubt, and replacing items no questions asked.

A customer that feels they got a negative experience shoppng with you will likely tell their friends, and negative feedback is tough to shake.

A customer that feels they got a positive experience shopping with you is more likely to come back.

Even if you take into account that 1 or 2 folks might be dishonest, and claim the loss of an item that they really didn't, in the long run, I think the PR value of a happy customer is worth giving them a replacement for free, regardless.

One thing you have to understand about permissions is that 99% of content creators will make items either no copy or no transfer, how the item is used usually determines the permissions structure. Vehicles tend to be copy ok and no transfer because of the frequency of those items being borked at sim crossings and ending up stuck. Lost your waverunner? Just rez a new copy and continue on your merry way... Houses also tend to be copy ok and no transfer because everyone at some point unlinks their house or commits crimes of texturing that need to be quickly deleted to remove the evidence. Again, being able to just rez a new copy is invaluable. Clothing can be either copy ok or trans ok - depending on the creator and the clientele they build for.

I expect that any quality product I buy is non-transfer.

As a business owner, everything I make is no copy/no transfer/no modify. I would hate for someone to sell my items to someone else for more.

You can use a script inside many of your items to have them delete themselves given a special command from only myself on a special channel. After the llDie() you could happily refund the money the person paid, or give a new one to the person they wanted it transferred to.

Yup, it's probably worth risking a few slipping by you, and have happy customers. If something needs to be copy/no transfer to have the best functionality for the customer, then no transfer is ok, other than that people generally like to have the option do what they wish with it when they've finished it it.

So really, whatever option is most likely to work best for the customer is best.

I think it depends on the item.

For little stuff like jewelry or low end clothing I'd prefer option 1. For a big ticket, major purchase item like a skin or an expensive outfit I'd prefer #2.