Architect Archive
Thread: On giving refunds
I sold an equipment factory to a player last week.
Tonight, he asked me if he could return it.
I asked him why. He said, and this is a direct quote: "I don't really like it. It takes up a lot of resources and time. I really bought it for the XP. I thought I could just leave it running for days and get some XP."
I offered to buy it back from him for half of what he paid for it, which I think is more than fair considering it is not broken.
He thoughtmy offerwas unreasonable. I think that I should not even have made an offer, and told him to just go sell it himself to someone else to get his money back.
I'm not an architect to make money. I'm an architect to make the stuff I'll need need down the road... heavy harvesters, factories and fusion plants. I charge more than the other architects because I'm not looking to sell. It only slows me down. If someone wants to pay, that's fine by me. I do no advertising whatsoever, outside of having my title.
Just seeing if anyone else has some thoughts on the situation.
I wouldn't buy something back just because someone wanted XP for it and then doesn't want it anymore. Seriously, that's like a woman buying an expensivedress for the sole purpose of wearing it one night, wearing it, admitting that you wore it, and trying to return it to the store you bought it from.
That's just not cool...abusing the system, IMO. If we start doing this, then everytime a person upgrades houses, they'll try to return their old ones to those of us who made them.
I just don't think it's right.
Anian
That was exactly my first thought.
He balked at my suggestion of buying it back for half price. I suppose he figures he has a better chance at selling it for more on his own... the way it should be.
The more I think about it.... refund? do I have a tag over my head that says 'Wal-Mart'?
I did something similar to this with a customer. He wanted to upgrade a house. I offered him 50% of what he bought the Small house for as credit towards purchase the a med house. He was more than satisfied, in fact. He was extremely happy. He didn't have to go out looking for someone to buy his house, and he got his upgrade without having to come up with that little bit I offered him for his small house.
I think you were perfectly reasonable in your offer. If he balked, that's his problem. He's welcome to try to resell if he wants. He'll find that he'll be coming back to you in another week cause he couldn't sell it at full price and he'll take the 50% just to get some cash back. heh.
I buy back at half price myself, no one has had the gall to balk at my offer.
What's his/her name so i can put them on my ignore list if they are on Chilastra?
I buy back at 50% also, and have quite a few regular upgraders.
You made him a fair offer. If he can sell it on the street for more then the 50% you offered, then good for him. 
.
Did he give you a receiptwith it too? 
Seriously though, he can expect to pay for something , use it for a week for whatever purposes, and then ask for a full refund. That's just stupid; and many good analogies were made on how your customer doesn't understand economics.
Tell the guy: Listen, either take 50% or sell it yourself.
I'm sure there are plenty of other people that are willing to buy it.
When I was a novice I had a policy of accepting all previous sales back for full purchase price discount towards an upgrade. I've since changed it to half purchase price and even then try not to do it but when I was struggling this poilcy brought my customers back to me time and time again. Nearly every small house I made has been returned for an upgrade and then the small house has been sold again. This allowed me to constantly have small houses in my vendor for sale as well as previous customers coming back for medium or large houses. Like I said, i've changed it since because I can't even remotely keep up with my orders but it was this bit of customer service that gave me a great start as an Architect. I was never lacking for customers and I sold every small house I made for 10-12k.
Of course, if you're not in it for the money he should have thought him self lucky you even considered buying it back.
I would agree with the 50% thing becauseyou are not in the market for what he is selling. If he wants more he can always sell it himself. There is a red light going on in my head saying "take it back for full price", but I am tying to ignroe it.
You were more than fair. I personally only do trade-ins... no refunds at all. My policy, on houses, has been to give to purchaser full trade-in value on their existing homes,even if they wanted to trade a large planetary for a different large planetary.
As far as factories/harvesters/furniture is concerned, once it leaves my backpack I am done with it. I might negotiate a trade-in if they want to buy something bigger or better, but I definately wouldn't give them any money back.
Lofyt
Master Architect
Tryax Inc. Kettemoor, Naboo