Merchant Archive
Thread: A Question of Morality
Page 1 of 4
Cauil
Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:16 pm
#1
Hi everyone I have a Master Merchant, and as such I have encountered a situation I would like some advice on, from an ethical standpoint, because I want to do what's right.
First, I'll describe the problem. I am sure many of you have had a special order on a vendor that is bought by someone other than the intended customer. This is a problem because you put together a special order, or tell a customer you have something for them, and then another player buys the item. This is when you put the item into a backpack and make it clear who the intended customer is.
I was having this happen a lot. I put things into a backpack, name the backpack <Intended Customer's Name>'s Special Order and in the description write that it is a special order and ask that other players not buy it.
Some time back I asked on the Customer Service forums if CS would enforce a special order purchase, but they said no, anything bought off a vendor is a done deal.
So, I put up a decoy. I filleda backpack with junk and put it on my vendor named Special Orders, namedthe packElaan's (the name of one of my characters) Special Order, and in the description wrote, "This is a special order for Elaan, Please DO NOT buy unless you are Elaan." Below that I listed a bunch of expensive items and set the sale price of 850k.
My thinking was that nobody is going to pay 850K for a backpack without looking at the description, so they would therefore have to see and know beyond any doubt that the item was not intended for them.
Well, somebody bought it and now I am left with the choice of what to do. They have not contacted me, but I was wondering if I should email them. My thinking was, they have learned a lesson, and I should give them their money back. On the other hand, should I not give them their money back, and let them pay the price for buying something they knew was not for them?
I am trying to decide what is right, and then that's what I'll do, so any advice would be great.
DocSavag
Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:29 pm
#2
*shrug* You warned them not to buy it. Unless their name is Elaan I say they got what they deserved.
Elyssa
Thu Apr 07, 2005 6:34 pm
#3
I, personally, consider people who buy special orders that are clearly labeled for someone else to be griefers and they get what they deserve.
People like this are hoping to score a deal.
They figure that maybe you've put something in the pack that might be worth considerably more than 850k and they hope to acquire it at a discount price.
I frequently put multiple decoy packs on my orders vendors. I put several chance cubes in them named "Sorry, no refunds" so that the packs aren't empty. I also price the packs realistically.
My philosophy: Screw 'em.
Oh, and there are also people who will buy your "read me for more info" packs.
Rather than price these at 999999 I sell 'em for 10k.
People think they're griefing me by stealing it from me, but honestly they've just paid 10k for a backpack that cost me less than 500cr to make.
Making money off troublemakers is not a crime.
Ani_cul
Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:49 pm
#4
Fully agree, it was labled for a certain person,
and honestly what's that term..Buyer beware...
I mean it even has a pop up window explainging what the bag is labled as may not be what it actually is
Do not give them back the creds, this will only encourage them to try another time.
SystemJinx
Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:59 pm
#5
I've listed a few decoy packs myself. I will name the packs "InsertNameHere's Order" and in the descriptionstate that this pack is onlyforthe person listed, thensell it for 500K. It's usually loaded with 5 or 101 credit items I've purchased off the bazaar.
Typically they are left alone, but I've sold 3 of them in the last year. I've never had any of the buyers write me asking for their money back.
To quote a horrible movie: "They got served!" 
(Edited for spelling)
Message Edited by SystemJinx on 04-07-2005 09:01 PM
ItemCreator
Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:56 am
#6
I ended up making a vendor called 'Special Orders Pick-up' which is set away from the rest of my vendors. If anyone buys a pack which is not intended for them (or their alt) they get banned from my store and the Seaview mall. Its only happened once since then and it was an order for Darth Vader which I'd put up as a joke that got brought! (nope, they never contacted me about it).
Kel
(nope, they never contacted me about it).Kel
Crustyfur
Fri Apr 08, 2005 3:55 am
#7
I have my 'Order Collection' Vendor in my house and not in the Mall for this reason. Not had any problems like this in over a year.
kordeth4
Fri Apr 08, 2005 5:06 am
#8
my standing policy is if you bought somethng not intended for you then well you made me richer and i can just make it again however the ban list will grow again and it will be more difficult to do so
i do not list my pickup order vender on the maps i do not vender search list it i do have a bark on it but it is near invisible and you might miss it and i do not locate it where the main venders are...
the person the order is for recieves an email from me confirming it is made with the waymarker to the vender and the disclaimer that if it is purchased by someone other than them i will need 1-4 days to redo the order
Kordeth
Being of Many Galaxies
Dimear
Fri Apr 08, 2005 6:18 am
#9
On Shadowfire, we have several merchants who put up bogus packs just to help weed out the losers on the server. What you did is a good idea. Don't give the money back, or he'll keep doing it. You did the merchants on your server a favor, and made 850k in the process...
Wyeth-SB
Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:06 am
#10
Elyssa wrote:
I, personally, consider people who buy special orders that are clearly labeled for someone else to be griefers and they get what they deserve.
Yep, they purchased it on purpose, knowing that it wasn't for them. I wouldn't worry about it.
If a seller started doing this FOR the purpose of defrauding players, then I'd say you'd have an ethical problem. It would be griefing in reverse but in this case, as Elyssa said, they got what they deserved.
Andymantium
Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:08 am
#11
It was not intended for them, yet they bought it. It'stheir own fault. You have nothing to worry about.
voortex
Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:13 am
#12
If you feel guilty about keeping the money, I would deposit it in your city's treasury or tip another player that you know is running low on credits.
Zalabar
Message Edited by voortex on 04-08-2005 10:13 AM
Risharra
Fri Apr 08, 2005 11:05 am
#13
I had that happen to me...someone picked up a customers order off my specialty vendor...luckily i was there and sent them a tell to bring it back. They did, and I refunded the money they paid. I asked the person why they would pay 35k for a backpack that they didn't even know what was inside. The guy said "i thought it might be some special outfit you put together." I just shook my head. I also had some demo items on the bazaar named stuff like email me to order, priced at 6k on auction...I forgot to change it when the minimum went up, and 2 of them were bought, neither item was worth the 6k or 9k they were purchased for. I accidentallly put a backpack I named vendor that I put stuff i meant to bazaar in, empty, for 8k...someone bought that. People are insane 
Mariska Master Tailor/Master ID
Awra Master Dancer/ almost master merchant (yay!)
chilastra
Page 1 of 4