This isn’t a fashion blog, and I have no plans for it to be. There’s more than enough of those in the SL blogosphere, and I flick through them regularly to keep up to date on the fashion scene. The past week has seen a lot of furore about a certain pair of ladies’ shoes that were release, and a good amount of complaining about their prices.
Now I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before, but seriously – quit whinging. If you don’t like the prices, then quite simply, don’t buy them. It really is that simple.. you don’t need to go off on a tangent about how so many other stores offer quality shoes at a much lower price. Bully for them – a store owner is fully entitled to set whatever price they wish on products they’ve worked hard on producing.
Now if you buy the shoes, and you don’t think it matches up to the quality you were expecting, then that’s different. You’re allowed to complain in that instance. Just remember that not everything in Second Life is supposed to be affordable to everyone.. the big brand names will always be more expensive to maintain an air of “exclusivity” about them, and to make them more desirable.
This week saw me get an IM from someone who had bought a bed from one of my competitors, before coming to the Amodica store and seeing the beds there. They then proceeded to IM me and say that had bought another bed, but really much prefer mine, but they’d spent all of their money at the other store, and only had 500L$ left, which meant they couldn’t afford the 600L$ beds. Could they possibly have it for a reduced price?
What?!
Now I’m sorry, but if the bed costs 600L$, then it costs 600L$. It’s hardly my problem if someone doesn’t have the money to purchase it, and it’s not my fault you went to another store first, either. I kept my cool and remained calm, explaining to them that the prices were set and that I won’t lower them.
And then I got accused of bad customer service and the guy would never shop here again.
I despair somedays.. I really do..
nikadreamscape on August 13, 2008
You were right to put your foot down. If you (and other store owners) caved everytime someone wanted a discount for no good reason, you’d never make any money.
Bailey Longcloth on August 13, 2008
The gall of some people.
I’ve noticed a lot of folks want something for nothing and if they don’t get it they cry foul, poor customer service and even file ARs against the store owners. Get a grip people. Try that in Macy’s and see where it gets ya.
For every one of them though Prad, there are half a dozen who do the right thing. We only ever hear the bad stuff. It would make it all worth it if you got IMs from totally happy people who just want to say thank you for having great stuff. I don’t know why they don’t do that.
I’ll start. Thank you Prad(and Rrish) for giving us such faboo furniture.
Keep up the good work.
Aren on August 14, 2008
I can’t believe someone asked for a reduced price on what is really more than a reasonable price for your beds. I was recently in your store and although I have no home to decorate…the furniture there was beautifully designed and the textures were wonderful. I’m sure this comes as no news to people who know your work. Anyway…you’ll find people like that all over.
Landsend Korobase on August 19, 2008
Huge bravo for stating very clearly what so many people simply don’t get – you’re not entitled to someone’s creations, they have the right to set whatever price they choose, and if ya don’t like the price don’t pay for it. Dead simple.
If people consistently overprice their goods beyond a reasonable measure one of two things will happen – they will lose market share as new people step into the quality for price gap that is left open, or/and a low number of people will buy their goods because the quality doesn’t match the price, typically forcing them to lower their prices or (more rarely) up their quality. Either way, so what? The market will sort it out.
Keeping in mind as well that price often reflects all sorts of unspoken factors – brand loyalty, reputation associated with the item / status symbols, reputation for follow-up service or free upgrades, etc etc.
In my experience, in SL, like in RL, you pretty much get what you pay for. I stick to the places recommended by friends or owned by friends, hasn’t steered me (too) wrong yet
Metaversally Speaking.. » Value on January 30, 2009
[...] always been of the belief that a content creator in Second Life reserves the right to charge whatever they wish for their products, and it’s up to the customer whether they choose to purchase the goods at [...]
Dem on February 23, 2009
$L100 doesn’t cost that much in USD, and honestly, he probably could’ve put the other bed up at a yard sale for a couple hundred and had money for your bed and a pair of jeans…