Tailor Archive
Thread: How do you say no?
Lol, it's always nice to know other people go thru the same thing you do. When I get beggars I try to come up with some way that will make both of us happy. I have a hard time saying no..so I have occasionally told people to pay me when they can and for the most part they have. I basically figure I am giving that stuff away for free so if they don't pay it's ok. It's only to people that don't ask and we have a discussion about how poor they are. I haven't had this problem in awhile, but then again I seem to be playing a little less.
My biggest problem is saying no when I need to log for the night or to go do something in RL. I have a hell of a time getting off because of this. I get one person asking for something at midnight and then 10 more all of the sudden show up! Of course for 4 hours prior no one was there, lol. Anyone else have this problem?
Lord, yes. The shop can be silent except for the zapzapzap sounds of adventurers making the Coronet countryside safe from butterflies until it's time to log off, then wham. All at once, and just when the caffeine wears off and the keyboard starts blurring.
Think there's a way to trick the universe so we can get that kind of rush at other times? "I'm logging off now...." 
I love the "I'm a Tailor. I can't take missions...this is how I earn money" anecdote. Not too far from the truth, and it might actually make sense to the next gun-totin' mama who wants her black duster at a bargain basement discount!
My biggest problem is saying no when I need to log for the night or to go do something in RL. I have a hell of a time getting off because of this. I get one person asking for something at midnight and then 10 more all of the sudden show up! Of course for 4 hours prior no one was there, lol. Anyone else have this problem?
This is why I hate weekends! Normally I don't play much during prime-time. I'm either on during the day or late at night. I also have a 7 month old baby who controls how long I'm there at any given time (naptime, bedtime, and those times when he'd ratheranalyze his feetthan play with Mom), and most of my regulars understand this. I'm actually finding there are a lot of parents in-game, and have had a few cases where a sale takes twice as long because as soon as I get back from changing a diaper and setting him up with his bottle, my customer has to go do the same. It works well for me because the times I can play aren't generally populated, and this seems to actually be the most parent friendly game I've ever played,until the weekend hits.
I think weekend people have baby radar. I can practically time it, if the shop's been empty for an hour, and more than 2 people show up, he will wake up in the next ten minutes. I do appreciate that 99% of the time, people are completely understanding and will either wait for me to afk or set up a time to come back later when I know he'll be asleep for a while, but there's still that 1% that can't seem to figure out I will always put him before their camos.
I've only had two potential customers say they don't have the money. One decided not to purchase anything, but was up-front about it. One was an entertainer who was was about 50cr short of her order. By and large, I'm probably one of the most expensive tailors in my galaxy, and I probably make more money selling resources than I do selling clothes. But I don't have a problems saying 'no'... mostly because I don't get asked.
When you have K-mart prices, you get K-mart customers. When you have Saks prices, you get Saks customers.
The only panhandlers I get ask for money directly, not clothes. The mostbold was just 3 days ago... a random tell asking for 14k to buy a piece of composite armor. The guy was clearly pinging every player he could find in 'Search', as my roommate got the same /tell about 10 minutes later. With only one exception, my IGNORE list is made up of people who've asked me for money. The oddball is one player who's barking was particularly annoying... in a crowded cantina he was still 50% of my chat window.
I've found that most tailors don't like to do math, so they have a straight-line equation for pricing. It appears that the common approach is 10*(number of resources). It cracks me up that they don't realize that this means they could be selling an item for LESS than it cost them to make it. I'm certainly not in the business of subsidizing someone else's wardrobe.
My best suggestion is this... if they want it, they'll come up with the money. As a non-combatant artisan-type, I can make 12k+ in an hour running destroy missions off any public terminal. A single day's play will buy any single outfit someone might want. Probably several. If they actually want it, they'll earn it... just like you did. If they don't, do YOU really want that business?
Whereupon I informed the guy that I actually *sell* clothes, seeking money or other valuable consideration in exchange for goods and services. But I also told him that I do sell a wide range of inexpensive but attractive clothing, and sent him a waypoint to my shop and vendor.
The upshot was that he bought a couple items for, like, 400 credits in all, then told me that he had to go run some missions to get some money, but he'd be back to buy a 2000 credit pair of boots, and could I make him an item that wasn't in stock in the particular color combination he wanted (amusingly enough, a Ribbed Shirt!
)I think ultimately, I wound up getting about 4000 credits of business in a day, all starting from a "do you make cloths" /tell!
I've only given in to one beggar, and that was because talking to him was one of the most entertaining things I'd done in quite awhile.
I'm a rebel, so I noticed right away that the guy who came into my store was a rebel also. He came up to me right away, without even looking around the shop, and said "You've gotta help me!" So I asked him what he needed. He told me that he was a rebel spy who had been deep undercover and had managed to get some inside information about an upcoming attack on a rebel base. The attack was going to be very soon, so he didn't have time to go through normal channels. He was just going to travel to Corellia and report directly. He tried to get away quietly but wound up blowing his cover. So he couldn't go back to his quarters. He was sure that the spaceports were being watched and his description had been circulated among the Imperials.
So he asked me if I could give him a different set of clothes so that he'd have a better chance of making it past security. He had no credits on him and was afraid to access his bank account because he was sure it was being monitored. He didn't have a specific outfit in mind, and didn't care what it looked like, he just needed to look different. So I made himtwo really cool outfits forfree just for entertaining me. And then I used my small amount of Image Design skill to give him a different hairstyle.
He left, and then telled at me about an hour later that he had safely reached the Corellian base and the rebel base that was about to be hit was currently being evacutated.I saved the day.
That guy was so cool.
Sniffle 
I had my first "cloths" /tell last night. I was so excited. 
Any way, it was a wookie in Anchorhead. Asked if I could make wookie gear. I said I can make some things and asked what he wanted. Of course he didn't know. So I asked how much he as willing to spend. 580 credits. As I was figuring out what I could make him he told me to hurry. Grrrrrrr 
I ignored that and told him I could put together some simple items for him but he would still look pretty cool. I trotted off to make his gear and realized I didn't ask what color he wanted. Answer...black. I talked him into black and blue. I made him a tree-dwellerss hood and went to make him some armwraps but decided to make some patterned gloves instead because I had never crafted any before. I completed his outfit with a weighted waist wrap and weighted pullover. I go back to the shuttle and he's gone. Send him a tell. No response. His loss. Normally I charge 1600 credits for all of that, but I was going to give to him for the 580 just because I had never crafted those items before and had fun doing it.
The only time I give free clothes is if I see some random person that has one item of clothes that totally ruins there outfit. Like all green outfit and such but a white belt or some such.
I normally try and "sell" them the item.... as in
Me: "Pardon me, but not to be rude. You're outfit is ruined by your white belt. I am a tailor and willing to help."
Player: "It's just clothes."
Me: "I'll tell you what... I'll make you a green belt to match and you tip me whatever you think I deserve. But you have to wear the belt because that white belt is an eyesore."
Player: "Ok."
Usually the player loves the new item and tips more than I would have charged for it. And if I don't get a tip.... oh well.... At least I don't have to look at a random person running around looking horrible.
Severai wrote:
I have the same principle here, as I have had in every game I have played thus far:
If someone begs for something from me, with no build-up to the scenario, they don't get it.
If someone demands something from me, they don't get it, and won't have me being particularly sweet to them in the explanation of why they don't get it.
If someone takes the time to ask for something in a clever, or amusing, or entertaining, or engaging fashion - then they may have a chance of getting it.
If someone DOESN'T ask for something, but would like it, AND they have interacted with me well - then I will probably offer something to them (whether that be free stuff, or a discount, or whatever) - without them asking for it.
In SWG, if I feel that a customer is making it an enjoyable experience for me as a tailor as part of the selling process, I always either apply a discount or throw in an item or two for free. I make it clear that this is a 'special' discount and/or item, and that it applies to them only. So far, I've had no bad after-events from this.
You're a tailor after my own heart.... I also like walking up to a player who's obviously a newbie, and handing them stuff. But only when they DON'T ask for it.