Image Designer Archive
Thread: Image Designer RIP-OFF
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Youna
Tue Jun 08, 2004 1:48 am
#105
KeyTokikoMima wrote:
*smiles*
Keep in mind, if someone wants to meet you in a salon, the ID has to stop whatever they were doing, hop a shuttle, or a Starship, and run all the way out to meet you in a crowded Salon.
As a Doctor, if you weren't my friend and I had to do that, you can expect a very large up-front fee. I've been tricked before into running all that way before by a strangerfinding out that they expected me to bufffor free.
So, I have taken to just requesting large sums of money before I come. If I'm really busy doing something else, I might go to 200k. If I flat out dislike you and/or I really, really don't want to leave what I'm doing, it might take a million plus to get my Doctor there.
So if someone charges you something ridiculously high, you might assume they're busy or something. You either pay it, or you wait for another, cheaper ID. You don't have the right to tell people what to charge. You can attemt to bargain, though, depending on the ID.
Heh.. the IDer in question was in the close vicinity of the salon in Theed when I asked her for stat migration. Ya know, I talked to her in front of the Theed starport. And she was doing absolutely nothing, just standing there. Even after she refused, she just stood there doing nothing, occasionally running around a bit. So she didn't even have to go AFK.
I would rather have someone refuse to give me a service than to ask me to pay a rediculously outrageous. It just is a bad business principle in my opinion. And I never ask anyone for a service unless they are right in front of me and the person that is about to give me his/her service do not have to travel long distance.
Anyway, I am sure she had her reasons. Maybe she was having a bad day perhaps. I just tried to think of it in a positive way. But I still was shocked a little bit. 
TarakAbolai
Tue Jun 08, 2004 3:31 am
#106
I once had an architect quote me 50k for a fountain...I thought that was a little steep, so I asked someone else. He quoted me 5k for it. When I heard this my reaction was not annoyance at the guy who quoted me 50k, it was appreciation towards the guy who asked for 5k.
My point is this: In every profession you are going to come up against people that charge a lot, for whatever reasons. Maybe they're greedy, maybe, as you say, she was having a bad day. The point is, lots of people seem to be coming on these boards and complaining that someone quoted them 50k or 100k for a migration...really, shouldn't that just make you more grateful when someone asks for 10k? (This isn't aimed specifically at you, Youna, as you say, you tried to look at it positively But look at the title of this thread 
).
As you said earlier, the "customers are the same as ever", and that's partially true. But what's changed is the service. And with that service change, we've attracted a whole new range of customers. Customers who would never want to see an image designer because they think it's dumb because we don't shoot things, or make something that helps them shoot things. Customers who are bitter because this was free and now it's not - but that's not our fault, and just because it was free it doesn't make my time worth any less to me.
Can you blame us for being bitter? We're being lumbered with a boring service that has become the most requested, we get customers who complain constantly, we get posts in the forums with titles such as "Image Designer RIP-OFF". When I was quoted 50k for a fountain, did I go into the Architect Forums and post "Architect RIP-OFF - OMG DIS GUY JUS' ASK 4 50K 4 A FOUNTAIN!" - no, I said that was a little steep for me and went and found a price that suited me better - this is how adults handle business (again, not aimed at you, Youna). We are bitter because we have to put up with posts like this.
To sum up: Yes, our attitude has changed. It's changed because attitudes towards us have changed.
My point is this: In every profession you are going to come up against people that charge a lot, for whatever reasons. Maybe they're greedy, maybe, as you say, she was having a bad day. The point is, lots of people seem to be coming on these boards and complaining that someone quoted them 50k or 100k for a migration...really, shouldn't that just make you more grateful when someone asks for 10k? (This isn't aimed specifically at you, Youna, as you say, you tried to look at it positively
But look at the title of this thread ).As you said earlier, the "customers are the same as ever", and that's partially true. But what's changed is the service. And with that service change, we've attracted a whole new range of customers. Customers who would never want to see an image designer because they think it's dumb because we don't shoot things, or make something that helps them shoot things. Customers who are bitter because this was free and now it's not - but that's not our fault, and just because it was free it doesn't make my time worth any less to me.
Can you blame us for being bitter? We're being lumbered with a boring service that has become the most requested, we get customers who complain constantly, we get posts in the forums with titles such as "Image Designer RIP-OFF". When I was quoted 50k for a fountain, did I go into the Architect Forums and post "Architect RIP-OFF - OMG DIS GUY JUS' ASK 4 50K 4 A FOUNTAIN!" - no, I said that was a little steep for me and went and found a price that suited me better - this is how adults handle business (again, not aimed at you, Youna). We are bitter because we have to put up with posts like this.
To sum up: Yes, our attitude has changed. It's changed because attitudes towards us have changed.
Maisland
Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:58 am
#107
I had the following encounter the other day and thought that this was an appropriate thread in which to share it. I was one of two IDs in the tent at the time. This is typical of many of the people who ask for cheap stat migrations with the "I'm new and broke" excuse... and is a large part of the reason why I refuse to give anyone a break on price.
Kriden Blackfire says, "dan"
Kriden tells you, 'i'm new and broke so can i get a cheap stat migration i messed it up'
Dan-Dare says, "yup?"
"i need a stat migration but i'm broke" Kriden Blackfire says.
Dan-Dare says, "I'm sry..."
Kriden Blackfire says, "can i get a cheap one"
(I examine the person... no mastered professions and only a few badges, but among them are "Ewok Lake Village" and "Ewok Tree Village" so this person has been to Endor... and they claim to be new and broke.)
You reply to Kriden, 'I charge 10 k... if you are new, you have only to do all of the Profession Quests that the droid gives and you'll have 14 k'.
(This I know for a fact as Ssumidra was created after the newbie droid was introduced and I did all of those quests with her.)
"can i get a cheap one dan' Kriden Blackfire says.
Kriden Blackfire says, "lol"
"mt" Kriden Blackfire says.
Kriden Blackfire says, "can i get a cheap one dan"
"I'm sry my price is 20k" Dan-Dare says.
Kriden tells you, 'ok i'll take your stat migration'.
You reply to Kriden, 'You have them set where you want them?'
Kriden tells you, 'ya'
You reply to Kriden, 'Heh... my price is about the cheapest you'll find anywhere anyway... I hear there are some charging up to 50 k'.
[GroupChat] ssumidra: set yourself down and make yourself comfortable... this takes awhile
(3 minutes into the session the ID interface closes)
[GroupChat] ssumidra: you change your mind?
Kriden Blackfire says, "no"
[GroupChat] kriden: no
[GroupChat] kriden: try again
[GroupChat] ssumidra: then why did you cancel the session?
[GroupChat] kriden: i didn't
Ssumidra Merakat says, "You can't close the window or leave the tent for 10 minutes"
[GroupChat] ssumidra: You can't close the window or leave the tent for 10 minutes
"can i get a cheap one dan' Kriden Blackfire says.
Kriden Blackfire says, "lol"
"mt" Kriden Blackfire says.
Kriden Blackfire says, "can i get a cheap one dan"
"I'm sry my price is 20k" Dan-Dare says.
Kriden tells you, 'ok i'll take your stat migration'.
You reply to Kriden, 'You have them set where you want them?'
Kriden tells you, 'ya'
You reply to Kriden, 'Heh... my price is about the cheapest you'll find anywhere anyway... I hear there are some charging up to 50 k'.
[GroupChat] ssumidra: set yourself down and make yourself comfortable... this takes awhile
(3 minutes into the session the ID interface closes)
[GroupChat] ssumidra: you change your mind?
Kriden Blackfire says, "no"
[GroupChat] kriden: no
[GroupChat] kriden: try again
[GroupChat] ssumidra: then why did you cancel the session?
[GroupChat] kriden: i didn't
Ssumidra Merakat says, "You can't close the window or leave the tent for 10 minutes"
[GroupChat] ssumidra: You can't close the window or leave the tent for 10 minutes
(Time passes... my customer appears to go afk)
[GroupChat] ssumidra: almost done
[GroupChat] ssumidra: there you go
"thx" Kriden Blackfire says.
"you're welcome" Ssumidra Merakat says.
"i got a full set of comp on finally" Kriden Blackfire says.
[GroupChat] ssumidra: almost done
[GroupChat] ssumidra: there you go
"thx" Kriden Blackfire says.
"you're welcome" Ssumidra Merakat says.
"i got a full set of comp on finally
" Kriden Blackfire says.
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