Tailor Archive

i like to give clothes to newbies, but iff they don't ask me first. i dislike people who come up to me asking for clothing. when people do, i ignore them, or refer them to the mission terminal. it's one thing if they ask for help, it's another if they ask for items.

for people who wants a discount, i tell them prices are not negotiable. if they don't like it, they can find another tailor. i'm perfectly fine with people going to other tailors for cheaper clothing, but customers come back to me for good service and selection. i would much rather spend my time and energy on these loyal customers than to waste it arguing about prices with some random guy.

as for deals... when people ask for them nicely, and are buying a larger amount of stuff (a few items, not just one thing), then i usually offer an extra item for free, or round the numbers down a bit. otherwise, prices are not negotiable

don't worry about being mean. i try to be nice, but sometimes people try to take advantage of you. be nice, but firm. you're entitled to have fun in this game too, don't let a few jerks ruin your day

Pappi I just had that VERY problem this morning.

This guy messaged me and was going on I want a leather coat and leather pants and I want a unique suit for business. I asked him what color etc and he kept saying things like "I want to look cool" (God I get that so much)

So I worked through all the items and finally figured out what he wanted.. took forever .. then he says "Ok now you have to give me a discount because I ordered more than one item" I said "I do?"

He told me it's good business if someone buys more than one item to give them a discount. I said well yes perhaps it is but I don't HAVE to do it. As it is I charge half of what some other tailors on my servers charge (I charge 7.5 for master items like exotic leotard, others charge 15k.. ) I informed him he'd be welcome to go to another tailor and pay more than what I charge WITH the discount.

He told me I was a bad business person and that he would go elsewhere if I didn't give him the discount.. I just told him "take care" and that was it.

I love tailoring.. I love playing with clothes, but jeeeez I worked in retail for years during high school/university and nobody gave me this much hassle. haha

eh, if they really upset me, they end up on my ignore list. i'm a nice gal, but don't push your luck. (i think that's how i get all these stalkers that demand a reason to why they're ignored, but since i can't hear them... they eventually get chased off by friends )

next time someone tell you that you're a bad businessman/woman, tell him he's being a horrible customer... nah, just kidding just tell him/her you don't have to put up with this, and /addignore. proceed to warn all nearby tailors, if the customer is *that* horrible (it might be mean, but i don't want my tailor friends to have to go thru the same thing, you know?)

don't let anyone push you around

I have a very real problem with people wanting things for free or half-price or whatever. I'm a successful tailor. I have a PA Hall for a shop, and no, I'm not hurting for money, doubt I ever will be. People take one look at me and at my shop, and I get the following conversation at least three times a day:

customer: can you make me that outfit over there (points)

me: I'd be happy to. That costs XXX

customer: can I have it for free?

me: no (I don't believe in explaining myself over this. A simple no is enough at this point)

customer: y not? u rich

me: The materials to make that cost me money.I'm not going to give away money.

cutsomer: but u rich, i'm poor

me: Do you wish to purchase the outfit or not?

customer: how much money u got?

me: I'm sorry, but that's none of your business

customer: I bet u stinky rich

me: I'm sorry, but that's none of your business

customer: k. i'll buy it. half price?

me: no

customer either pays up or leaves at this point.

I am REALLY tired of this argument. It happens over and over and over. Often after I've already made the items. I'm tempted to start a list of everyone that does this and email it to every tailor on the server.

As for the pay me later thing, best way to deal with it is tell them you've been burned by that before and no longer do it. End of statement. Only time I do that is for my friends who are also my hide suppliers when I'd rather be paid in hides than cash.. but that is ONLY done for close friends who always gather hides for me and when I'm in dire need of hides.

Trade ins: If they bought it from my vendor and offer it right back for the same price.. I'll take it. If they bought it from me three weeks ago, forget it. If it came from another tailor, I just /boggle at them and tell them to go talk to the tailor they bought it from. If someone offers something to my vendor, I send them a mail politely telling them why I've refused the purchase.

There's nothing we can do to prevent these people from trying this on. But we must be firm. The first time you give in, they will tell their friend who will in turn tell their friends. In a matter of days, the whole galaxy will expect a discount from you. I do occasionally give out freebies in the cantina when I'm in town. To newbies who don't already own things like fleshwraps and exotic leotards. But when I do, I always tell them that it must be our little secret, and I never give to anyone who asks.. they'll just expect more free stuff. You can be nice and not be a doormat.

Nalinya Dreamstar
Master Tailor of Valcyn

"There's nothing we can do to prevent these people from trying this on. But we must be firm. The first time you give in, they will tell their friend who will in turn tell their friends. In a matter of days, the whole galaxy will expect a discount from you. I do occasionally give out freebies in the cantina when I'm in town. To newbies who don't already own things like fleshwraps and exotic leotards. But when I do, I always tell them that it must be our little secret, and I never give to anyone who asks.. they'll just expect more free stuff. You can be nice and not be a doormat."

/nod

Yep, I use the same rule.. I do enjoy helping a newbie entertainer (the ones still wearing desert crawler and red dress slippers), but I never ever ever give a freebie to anyone who asks for it, and especially not to anyone who expects it..

seki
Master Tailor of Nashal
Valcyln

Wow what a fascinating discussion! I'm working on novice tailor right now, and I am already a Master Dancer, so I've certianly seen both sides of this conversation. I don't know about other professions, but cut the noob dancers a bit of slack, it can get frustrating to watch someone in a fancy outfit get all the money while you get nothin'!

I think the "show them how to run deliveries" is a great strategy, but unfortunately it is somewhat reliant on the noob's maturity- I had someone in the Moeina cantina yesterday who just didn't understand why she couldn't get a tactical skinsuit that very instant. I was quite patient, crafted her several outfits in reasonably decent colors, and she basically told me to get lost since I couldn't make her anything fancy. It was quite annoying!

I do have one question: what do the Masters out there think of the following situation: If someone is low on cash, but can contribute the resources to make the outfit, is there a fair %age charge for the ability to make it? Certianly the tailor shouldn't just do it for free, but is that an alternate way to handle some of these situations?

How do you say no without sounding rude or mean?

It's not easy, but it can be done. Personally, though, I've just stopped caring. If I get any of those listed questions, I simply say "No."

But if you wanna sound polite but firm, there's always:

"I only accept cash, paid in full, at the time of the trade. I do not accept trade-ins or exchanges on items. All my prices are final, and all sales are final. If these terms aren't agreeable, then I'm sure another tailor would be happy to help you. Good day."

Macro that and you're gold.

My suggestion is if they are a newbie and want something different there are plenty of choices in the Artisan tree that cost little resources you can make for them. For anyone asking for specifics they WILL pay for it. Now don't get me wrong I see no problem crafting free stuff for good friends or tossing in some free gloves and necklace to those who bought a whole outfit, but if it's a complete stranger comming with nothing in their hands, not even some hide sorry. There's ALWAYS something you can trade to get what you want. If you're new and low on cash you can get some free newbie items. Not high level stuff.

Mennace...

Maybe I'm just a "not nice person" but I enjoy my game time with very few exceptions. If I get the free scenario, it's a simple: "No, I did not get where I'm at by begging and I do not condone it either." If it's the can I get x for $$, easy: "No, you would be better off shopping around for another Tailor (take the one who is selling a slew of Master items on the bazaar atm) or shopping on the Bazaar." Hell, considering they can get any Master level item on the bazaar now, I'm surely not going to waste my time.

I busted my arse to get where I am. I value myself and my time. I do not allow these intrusions into my game time to last for very long. Let the other tailors who do not value thier craft deal with them! I've always got one or two (two lately) names of Masters who will sell the top items on the bazaar.

In the mean time, I spend my time with my customers who seem to value me as much as I do them, and have a blast in the process.

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If someone is low on cash, but can contribute the resources to make the outfit, is there a fair %age charge for the ability to make it? Certianly the tailor shouldn't just do it for free, but is that an alternate way to handle some of these situations?

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Just figure an amount you'll allow per resource. In my case I'll take hides at 3cpr/ evenstacks of 100's, against the cost of an order. Offer the same deal to anyone who asks, non-negotiable, and you won't run into someone coming back later saying "so-and-so says you sold them this for x amount". That's actually the only discount I give, short of rounding down 100 or so to an even whatever thousand on a large order, and I haven't had any complaints, or ever had to deal with trying to explain customer A's discount to customer B. You may end up occasionally trading clothes for hides period, but unless you are allowing less than that amount in your pricing, you're still coming out ahead by having instant delivery of hides at or below market value for the next however many things you make.

The % you want to charge now for novice tailor items is going to rise as you start getting schematics that require factory components and planet or name specific resources, so you'll save yourself headaches later if you work it around the resources they can offer instead of an arbitrary number for your time and skill.

In AO this was my 'get rid of the annoying begger' strategy.

If it's OBVIOUS they are beggers and not just newbies (beggers wear sunglasses and have the best weapon for there profession equipped, in the highest quality level they can get for being level 1-5). Well if it's obvious I go

"Sure, can you team up with me so I can cast a team only buff first?"

Since I said sure, most of the carreer beggers don't even pay attention to what I said after that..

I team up.. and I cast my 3 second grid evac, then I leave the team and go home. Since they are low level the only way out of the grid is the emergency exit, the funny thing is 90% of them have no idea it's there lmao.

I tend to get some pretty nasty tells after that one.. and if they are stuck and really pissed hehe.. I figure they learned there lesson and tell them 'go through the emergency exit you tard'.

Luckely I have yet to encounter a begger in SWG.. which to me is amazing. I do have people who ask for discounts on my items now and then.. but I just tell them if they buy a bunch of stuff from me, I'll give them a discount. I also usually throw a free item in for a purchase of a full outfit (gloves, boots, a hat, jewelry.. something cheap that just accentuates the outfit).

Oh I almost forgot.. I HAVE been asked for free cloths, but not in quite some time. Last time I was asked I just made them a simple shirt, casual pants and casual shoes lmao.. cost me a couple creds and they go away with a new outfit.. albeit one they could make for 100 credits themselves by picking up novice artisan and sampling resources for 5 minutes hehe.

This is what I told someone tonight when they asked for an item for free:

me: are you a newbie?

person: no..I'm a pistoleer.

me: oh...cos I'm a Tailor. I don't have points left over for much of anything hunting wise. I can kill kreetles tho! /flex. You can make 10k in an hour taking missions--its how a pistoleer makes money. I can't make money taking missions...selling clothes is how *I* make money.

This was over the 200 credit tee shirt I was selling.....*sigh*