How picky are you about market things?

MoiselleErin Teardrop · July 14, 2012

Often times I like to build my own things. Most of what i have is just for props and decor anyways.

Sometimes I buy things if it would be too much a pain in the butt to make, say like an adult bed.Sometimes if you had to pay yourself for making the item, it would cost far more than what vendors ask.

So like most shoppers, I set out to find the best quality at the best price. I am easy to please really.

Of the things I buy - 5 of them I will be estatic about, 4 of them be like, "Well, it is OK for what i paid" and maybe one will be like, "What is THIS piece of crap?" Sadly, sometimes when I pay good money for things from a reputable company here in SL it will be the very thing that i soon learn is junk.

I myself am a builder. Not the best but I do know my way around a prim and texture. So, I can scrutinize others' builds a little tighter.

But yeah of the 5 "estatic" buys, most likely there were all inexpensive. Sometimes I hand over a boobie for something of perfection like N-Core shoes. Becomes a bit hard to enjoy until the bitterness of the cost wears off.

RL I tend to be that way also - I can be happy with something that looks good and works well as intended without the need for bells and whistles.

So how do you often feel when buying something off the market? I mean cases where it is delivered, not talking about failures.

JoJo Aurelia · July 14, 2012

If you don't like something you buy, leave a negative review. That's the only power we have. But remember to leave a good one if you love it!

Jenni Darkwatch · July 14, 2012

If I buy anything expensive, I usually insist on seeing it in-world first so I can scrutinize it. There are very, VERY few builders that I'd consider worth a lot of cash. And then there's the wealth of flat-out stolen content. Textures, sounds, trademarks etc.pp. I try to stay away from. I'm not all-knowing though and therefore have failed at that a few times.

Teagan Morningstar · July 14, 2012

While I have just recently learned my way around a prim and a texture (made a picture for my wall! My first build ever! Hehe) I have learned that there is a lot of overpriced garbage out there, from both reputable and relatively unknown companies.Thankfully there has been a demo for some of it (like shoes/clothing/etc), but I've paid dearly for things because there wasn't one. Now, don't get me wrong, I read reviews. I love reading the reviews because if there's ANY mention of needing to know how to edit something beyond a tug here and a pull there, I don't buy it. I can't even get prim feet/shoes/etc. to match my skin, and I paid a lot for this one brand which requires that ability. Sadly, I wasn't aware.

All that said, I am now a lot more picky than I used to be. I've learned which companies to use, which to leave behind, and I definitely ask my friends about their recommenations. If I am unsure, I just don't buy it. It's just that simple. And by having that mindset, I usually find that a little later I find the PERFECT item. Patience is key.

UncommonTruth · July 14, 2012

I am super picky. Half of the things I buy wind up in the trash lol. I look for inworld demos before plunking down money on more expensive items, but they aren't always available. I don't however leave a bad review for every item that isn't quite what I was expecting. I save my low stars for things that aren't what was advertised, or have some issue that the creator won't bother getting back to me to fix.

Amethyst Jetaime · July 14, 2012

I make most everything I need. I just don't have time to make everything though so i will buy clothes, shoes and accessories other than building supplies on the MP. Some things I won't buy at all on MP and if they have a shop inworld and I have the time to go, I'll buy it inworld to save the creator the MP commission. I'm very picky about quality. I also don't mind paying well for it, as I've made all that stuff myself and know how much work it is. Even so, I won't pay an inflated price just for a designer name.

Most of the time I'm satisfied with my purchase since I tend to be loyal to certain creators that I know do quality work at a fair price. If I'm not already familiar with the creator, I may buy something from them if it looks good, and will go check it out in world if I can. But if I don't like the quaiity it will be the last thing I buy.

JoJo Aurelia · July 14, 2012

I've been reading a lot about samples here on the forums, and people wanting them, but I wonder if people mean clothing that isn't mesh or sclupts. I don't offer samples for non-object items, and rarely anymore for mesh, simply because mesh is fairly standardised sizings and soon the deformer will be available, and you either love mesh or or hate it.

SL is no different than real life. If an item is bad, it should be brought to the designers attention. I've heard horror stories about designers being rude, but if you're not happy, don't settle. Demand customer satisfaction. Send them a notecard with your concerns. If you don't get an answer back, leave a review. If that doesn't snap them out of it, don't buy from them again.

I've honestly not seen any texture clothing samples, only hair, shoes and skins and some meshes. Who is a designer who offers these texture only samples? I'd really like to know because in my 3 years making clothes I've not seen this anywhere (but I don't get out much). LOL

The best way for me to check out a designer or creator is to visit their store. Lot to be said by how they manage a store. I've not bought what appears nice items based on a poorly designed or managed store. If a designer has a group, a blog, is active in fashion community, buyers shouldn't have any problems if they're not happy after purchase. There's a lot of stores on MP that are not cohesive, which is a warning. Or no inworld store. I won't buy if there's no inworld store. That's my policy for myself. If their profile is only about their party life, lovers or worse, I won't buy from them. Again, my policy. It's ok to share our SL's, we all do, but somewhere there has to be store policies and group info or anything that says this person is approachable as a merchant.

Or, if they sell strip polls and gowns, there might be a disconnect with this persons own vision, or if their store design isn't branded, it might indicate someone either new or not aware of how to market and sell items effectively. All of these things are ways to know if you should buy. There is the random dark horse, but I've been disappointed with that "it" item when I went back for more of those "its" and they're out of business or only had one "it!"

All of this said, I'm also still a random buyer. I've pulled the trigger without doing any investigation and been just as happy as if I had. There's no solid way to tell on Market Place but if people want to dig a little deeper, check for an inworld store, check for their policys on their profiles, and look at their entire store, not just one item, but all of them, and see if it's cohesive and has the earmark for a serious merchant.

Market Place will only show you the older items or top selling, be sure to use the drop down menu to see the "newest," items. Someone who isn't producing anything new isn't likely going to be putting customer service at the top of their priorities. Also check to see if they have a blog or if their items are blogged. Look to see when they last uploaded an item, find out how old that XYZ really is... old things look old fast in SL. I went to a well known store recently and they were still showcasing a pair of jeans and I sweater I bought in 2009. That's a problem.

Over my 3 years, I've sent many notecards. I can honestly say that the responses have been pretty positive and helpful. I can count 2 times that wasn't the case and I never returned or bought from them again. I've had designers and creators go over and above helping me.

Wishing you all well and happy shopping, but don't ever settle for junk, and always give the designer/creator a chance to make it right before you blast them with a bad review. But back to the OP: Be picky. But time is money so if it was a few Lindens, then pffft, just won't buy from them, but if it's a serious problem and serious LL, drop that notecard and expect an answer!

UncommonTruth · July 15, 2012

Shoes and hair are the most often found demos. I've bought both without trying first, sometimes that works out, sometimes not lol.

I do not leave bad reviews every time I'm not in love with a purchase, simply because I know I am extremely picky. I can see dozens of glowing reviews left for them, so I know it's just my personal taste. If it's truly awful, I'll have a say lol.

When I do find that perfect buy, I comb their store. There are a couple of creators I keep my eye on for new items.. and are never disappointed. Most though, are hit and miss.

I don't mind buying from places that don't have in world stores either =) Even after going to check the items in world, I usually go back and buy on the market, so that I'm able to review it. I wish we could leave public feedback on things bought in world too, because when I find things I love, I want to share them. Likewise, things I hate, I want to steer people away from. That middle ground, I guess they can make up their own minds on ^.^

Mesh, I refuse to buy without a demo. Even with standard sizing most things I have to change my shape so much for, it doesn't even look like me anymore. (I'm still leery of mesh at all, and am only a recent wearer of any)

ETA~ I have never had a bad experience contacting a creator about any problems. All have been very nice, and very helpful. The only times it's been anything other than pleasant, are when they don't bother to respond at all. Instant bad review from me.. well, after giving them a few days or a week, plenty of time imo to respond.

Pamela Galli · July 15, 2012

I don't buy a lot of stuff, mostly builder tools or supplies. I am picky but I do have the expectation that I will buy a bunch of stuff and not use most of it. I can't really tell the quality until I try it. That's okay, I understand most creators are not professionals; this is a hobby for them, and my expectations are in line with that. And the stuff is usually dirt cheap -- I am not going to get hysterical over something that cost me the price of a latte or less.

Koltari · July 15, 2012

I guess it's my shy nature but I'd never leave a bad review or contact the creator over small purchases. I just figure the ones I like will keep getting my business and the ones I don't well..wont.

I've left good reviews in very rare occasions where the customer service or item was exceptional and I wanted others to know.

All creators I've seen necessary to contact have been very helpful and approachable.

Qie Niangao · July 15, 2012

Admittedly, I don't buy much. Probably more landscaping items and animations than anything else, but occasionally clothing, too, and some sculpted and mesh building components. My experience, then, isn't necessarily representative, but I've discovered one powerful predictor of my satisfaction with a purchase:

If it's no-mod, it goes in the trash, and sooner rather than later.

I honestly don't know wtf is wrong with creators who insist on selling no-mod crap--and pretty much without exception, if it's no-mod, it's crap. So now it's only very rarely that I'll be duped by them.

The flip side of this is why I'm usually not that dissatisfied. Because I seldom make the mistake of buying anything no-mod, I end up with a lot of modifiable stuff that can often be re-purposed, even if it was inadequate in its original design.

(For example, I've never been satisfied by anybody else's vehicle scripting, and very much doubt I ever shall be. Once in a great while, I encounter a mod-perm vehicle; I'll pay a lot for any of those that are reasonably plausible builds--and wouldn't accept as a freebie any vehicle I can't modify, which is the vast majority of what's for sale.)

Czari Zenovka · July 15, 2012

I'm not a huge shopper, but having been here awhile and getting to know the stores that sell the type of merchandise I like, I tend to stick with handful of merchants whose clothing/builds/etc. I like. However, I have obviously not traversed the entirety of SL and some of my favorite merchants are no longer in SL and new merchants regularly appear. This is where I find hunts valuable. I no longer do entire hunts, but if one is in a "theme" that appeals to me...I look down the list of merchants and if I find one who sells the "genre" of items I generally purchase, then I go get the hunt gift. I find this, as well as free gifts some merchants offer or lucky chair items, a good indicator of the quality the purchased merchandise will be and often discover a new store I love!

I'm with you, Qie, on no mod. I don't get it either, especially in clothing (a MUST) or furnishings. Is a designer so enamored of their build that they don't want the customer resizing it to better fit their need or perhaps retexturing?

Rolig Loon · July 15, 2012

Like most others in this thread, I don't shop very much. I make almost everything I need, so the only things I have to buy are animations (which I don't make) or occasional specialty components or textures that I'm going to put into something for a client. I look for those in a few favorite spots, and I buy full perm. Like Pam, I don't sweat over price as long as the quality is good. If I buy something from a new source and find that the quality doesn't measure up, I don't waste time complaining. I just don't go back or recommend the place to anyone else.

When I'm selling things, I expect clients and customers to be picky. I follow three patterns:

1. Items that are custom made for a client are sold with full perms. If the client needs to modify a script, rescale the item, or retexture a surface, it's his/her business. I'll make custom modifications (sometimes free and sometimes for a fee, depending on how complicated they are). I stand by my work and will always fix anything that doesn't do what I designed it to do and the client paid me for.

2. Clothing is sold copy/mod/no-trans. Someone who buys a dress from me ought to be able to make a backup copy, rehem it, and even change its color and texture if she wants to. I just don't want her giving away a zillion copies so nobody else buys it.

3. Scripted items other than the custom-built ones are almost always no-mod, because modifying a scripted item often mucks up the way it's meant to work, and I don't want to get sucked into making a lot of trouble calls to fix things that someone else broke. Besides, the script is usually the tricky part, and I'd rather not give away the store. Depending on the item, I'll make a scripted object with either copy perms or trans perms.

None of these rules is immutable, but they're close. I want to give clients and customers enough freedom to change things that aren't exactly right for them. And if something doesn't work as advertized, I'll repair, refund, or replace it.

Pussycat Catnap · July 15, 2012

Unlike many in this thread, I -DO- shop a -LOT- in SL.

Faye Feldragonne wrote:

I've been reading a lot about samples here on the forums, and people wanting them, but I wonder if people mean clothing that isn't mesh or sclupts. I don't offer samples for non-object items, and rarely anymore for mesh, simply because mesh is fairly standardised sizings and soon the deformer will be available, and you either love mesh or or hate it.

If it doesn't havce a demo, I won't buy it. If you've used a templated item - and somebody else demo'd that item, then -MAYBE- I will buy yours IF i've already got theirs and like your retexture.

Otherwise only a fool buys a mesh or scupty item without seeing a demo of the mesh or sculpty, or a rezzed inworld copy of the sculpty.

The deformer is going to make this -MORE- important not less. Because you will need to test how well it can deform. Its not the magic thing some people think it will be. I've worked with these kinds of tools in 3D art before - more often than not they ruin the model they're used for by making triangle pop out in places there were not enough vertices.

With mesh sizes regardless, you need that demo to see if the modeler actually did use those standard sizes, or if they failed to line something up right somewhere else, or if they rigged it well for your AO. If for example, when I sit or crouch it turned into a spikey monster... I know they didn't put enough vertices along a fold where that happened. This happens with the bottom of skirts often enough.

I mostly avoid no-mod. But I've bought a good amount of it in vehicles and mesh clothing.

Furniture I'll avoid if no mod. Just a nightmare otherwise. Over time the no-mod furniture I've goofed and bought has always ended up getting replaced.

LIkewise with plants and trees. Especially trees - which I love to resize up and down for variety on my land.

I've got meeroos, and of course those are no-mod, no-copy. But the nature of that kind of product just shows that there are exceptions to every rule.

I'm also very picky about what I buy. It has to fit my sense of style. I have to be able to visualize on myself or in my home. Another reason for demos. My AV doesn't look like yours. I'm pretty confident in saying that... and my sense of fashion likely isn't the same as yours. That demo will tell me if there's still some place we can meet where your design taste will match with my look.

Jo Yardley · July 16, 2012

I generally only leave reviews if something is really good, really bad or if I feel the advertisement needs some extra info.

For instance I bought a very cool swing but it used almost 30 prims and almost 20 of those prims were not important to the item so I wanted to let future buyers know the swing is really great but if they don't want to use all the prims they could bring it back to 10.

Something I would like to read when considering buying it.

Just the other day I bought a 11 prim steamtrain, it looks great, all mesh... I rez it and it turns out to have a 111 land impact!
I don't care how many prims people use to make something, to me it is all about land impact.

And selling something as 11 prims and not mentioning that it has 111 LI, is very rude.

So I left a negative comment... but the seller just relisted the item!

So there goes our power to leave negative comments and warn people...

Qie Niangao · July 16, 2012

Jo Yardley wrote:

So I left a negative comment... but the seller just relisted the item!

That is supposed to be grounds to have the seller banned from Marketplace. You can safely assume, however, that nothing will actually happen if you flag the item with a complaint.

I find Marketplace completely unusable for many reasons--where almost all those reasons are due to inept and downright sleazy sellers, and lack of enforcement to reign-in their sleaze. I have much better luck buying in-world, even if I sometimes resort to Marketplace for search.

Speaking of sleaze, there are a surprising number of Marketplace sellers that list in-world locations that don't exist. That's an absolute sure-fire way to earn a permanent place on my personal blacklist:

Dear seller: Do not waste my time just because you're too scatter-brained to keep your listings updated. For that, you don't get a second chance with me.

It's no secret that I despise Marketplace, but that said, it has the monopoly on places to leave reviews, positive or negative. That's unfortunate, given that it is in every other way an abomination.

Jo Yardley · July 16, 2012

Same here.
I only use marketplace to browse and then almost always buy the item from an inworld shop... if there is one.

JoJo Aurelia · July 16, 2012

Pussycat Catnap wrote: