How not to write an issue note to a store owner

For the record, I,  for some reason seem to get my fair share of strange and silly requests.  Luckily, I get really very few complaints about my items.  Which I am extremely grateful for.  However, last night I received a rather rude complaint letter that attacked one of my products that I honestly have never received anything but great comments about.

Now, some may think at this point - well, bring on the letter.  I am not going to share it.  My reason is I don't want to give the person who wrote it any more power than they already have.  What I am going to do is explain how to properly address an issue with a store owner and how not to.  Sadly, it appears that a few people need a lesson in proper behavior and me being the snarky bitchy elf that I am - I am the one who is going to give it.  Because, A - I don't care what people think about me.  B. - I am not going to sugar coat something just to make it taste better.  If you recognize yourself in any of the following things I write - you might want to check your actions.

Now here we go....

First of all, when you write to a store owner ALWAYS include your transaction history.  I mean it.  It saves time.  During a day we could have had a hundred transactions or more.  Seriously, some times things are that busy.  If you don't include one, we might spend awhile searching through our vendor history for you.  That slows down you receiving a successful resolution to your issue.  Also, for me at least, I am possibly less likely to play nice with others if you make me jump through a billion and one hoops for you because you didn't follow instructions.  Yeah, I am that temperamental.  Also, sometimes you may have purchased the item.  The Lindens, we have heard on high, have taken your money and my vendors may not have a record of it having happened - because sometimes the Lindens don't play nice with others or my vendors decide to play the Exorcist. Spraying peas soup and everything - not an attractive trait.  If I don't have your transaction history, I will have no record of a payment ever having been made.  So, boys and girls, say it with me "Transaction History Is My Friend."  Good job, you just earned the right to read on to part two.

If you didn't understand the last section - re-read the damn thing until it sinks in for you.

Now, you have your transaction history on the note card - which is awesome - because it means you can follow instructions.  You win a gold star.  What do you put on the note card now?  Well, put some sort of greeting.  No, don't put - "Hey, How you doin?"  One, you sound like an idiot and two, you sound like an idiot.  You can put - "Hey ________________, (the owners name in the blank spot)  or Hello, or Help".  Any of those would work.  For me, if you put, "Goddess, my Goddess" usually gets my attention pretty fast because it means you notice my greatness.  Just putting "Hey" down for a few business owners gets your card ignored.

After your greeting, then state your issue politely.  Yes, even if you are angry as hell.  DO NOT INSULT THE DESIGNER.  Do not call the product crap, shit, garbage, a waste of money.  Yes, even if it was.  It takes hours and sometimes days and weeks to create items for Second Life.  A lot of blood, sweat, screaming, and tears go into them.  Yes, even if the item is a template.  Explain clearly and as concisely as you can what your issue is.  Don't ramble about your dog or how you need to pee.  Really, I am glad you can use the toilet or outhouse or bush - but I don't need to know about it.  I also don't need to know about your pets.  Just explain what your issue is like : I didn't receive my product or the box arrived empty or this isn't what I purchased or I somehow wound up with 70 of them..  Though creators may appear to be awesome and totally faultless in the world - most of us are human.  I seriously question a few designers when you see what they bring out though and you know who you are.  But, alas,  being human we make mistakes.  We sometimes have issues too.  Vendors mess up.  It is life.  Stuff happens.  Be calm, in most cases, we can fix it.

When you are done explaining your issue - close your note with a Thank you.  One, it is polite and your mamma raised you with good manners.  Unless you lived with a bunch of wolves - and in that case type - Woof.  Two, Sign your name - both your persona name and your SL name.  Why? Because sometimes we can't contact you with just your persona name.  Sometimes you can't with the SL name.  Sometimes we just want to know who we are trying to fix an issue for.

Now, you wait.  Usually we can get back to you within 48 hours.  I am saying 48 as a generalization.  Usually it is a ton earlier.  Sometimes it might be later.  We have RL too.  We aren't ALWAYS in world.  Sometimes we have to do things like eat or sleep.  Yeah, I know the whole being alive thing really sucks.  We will get back to you though.  Because here is the big secret - WE WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY.  Yeah, I know, shocking.  But it is true.  We want you to be happy so you come back to the store.  You bring your friends.  Then your friends bring their friends and so on.  We want you to spend your money with us so we can make more awesome stuff for you and the whole vicious circle can begin again.

Ok, I think that covers it.  Just be polite.  Treat us like you would want to be treated.  It makes everyone much happier.  Plus, we talk.  Yeah, shop owners talk.  We tell each other about the crazy stuff that happens to each other.  We ask each other for advice.  You really don't want to become known for being the one who was the pain in the ass.

I hope that this has helped you out.  A lot of this is really common sense and common courtesy.  Respect is a two way street.  Plus, you really don't want to be on the receiving end of one of my more postal responses.

Take care-
Scout

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Four Walls Hunt Item Finally Finished

After the last few weeks I really wondered if I would get anything done - let alone the Four Walls item.  I don't know who the hell made up the idea that the holidays were a magical, jolly time.  Personally I think they were on crack cause you name a holiday and I can mention a total hell moment in my life.  But, after actually focusing on what I needed to do - and making 70 different items before settling down.  I finally did it.  I titled the collection - Lost and Found.  Personally, I like when things don't quite go together but when you see them you go - oh, ok.  That is what this set is to me.  I hope that you love it as much as I do.  I will be adding more to this set after the hunt is complete.

- Take care!

Scout

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BLACK FRIDAY SALE!!!

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Where I have been...

Well, it has been a semi eventful week or partial week.  My car and I decided that it would be a brilliant idea to make contact with a drunk driver.  So, I have once again been in the hospital.  I am suffering with a glorious punctured lung (in my opinion the worst of the injuries), a broken arm - again, and a few broken ribs.  I also am a glorious coloring book of bruises.  I just got out today and a few days ago I asked my beloved boyfriend to access my email account to send out messages.

 I hope that everyone out in Second Life is well and I am trying to send out all of my required messages now.

- In bumps and bruises -
Scout

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I almost typed - Oops I did it again... But I stopped myself.

I just finished another part of the Odette Library Collection.  What every good library needs - bookcases.  Now, I can texture most things in a matter of moments.  I can decorate a home in an hour.  For some unknown reason it took me almost 10 hours to put books in a bookcase.  Who takes 10 flipping hours to figure out the layout of a bookcase... apparently I do.  But all that - um, does this look better here or here - is to your benefit cause they are beautiful. If you can't tell I am feeling a bit gushy about this - well I am.  Often when I am creating furniture I have at least twelve melt downs == ask Ichigo (my awesome CSR who I will be introducing later today in a blog entry)  For some reason I can build a house in about four hours.  Create textures and a feel for it in two more.  So six hours to finished home.  But it takes me almost a week to do one table.  I don't know why but it has always been the case when I am making home furnishings.  Probably comes down to being a raving perfectionist.

Ok, to the cool stuff about these bookcases.  I hate selling stuff that isn't interesting or cool.  Cause well, I like stuff that does stuff.  This bookcase is no exception.  If you touch the fifth book in on the shelf with the three frames -- you can receive a book from the full bookcase.  Currently you only get Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - but you can add your own books, diary entries, porn, whatever your little heart desires.  Plus, you can lock it up so no one can access your weird stuff you stored inside.  Sometimes I even impress myself :P

Ok, so that is about it.  I am going to get off my bum and put all of my back log - radios, desks, and now bookcases on marketplace sometime today.  But all of these things and more are now available in the store!


Take care -
Scout

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It's Arrived! Finally finished my Odette Desk Set

When I first started to build in Second Life - what seems like eons ago.  I started by building furniture.  But for various reasons I stopped.  When I began Sanctuaire - I had a sinking feeling that I would fall back into making furnishings for the home.  Probably because I had a billion and one ideas on how to finish my builds.

So, I did it.  I created a desk set that fit my personality.  I named it Odette - and soon will also have a bookcase to match it.  Cause I love a good bookcase.  So here is the desk.  Stop into the store to see it.  I will have it up on market along with all of the radios - today sometime.

Oh, and on a sadder note, I had to close my second location due to it being dead.  I didn't see the point in spending additional linden that could be used in making more stuff.

Anyway here are a bunch of pictures of the desk, in the usual 10 glorious colors and wood tones -- all for 17 prims!

Take Care-

Scout

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Introducing.... Sanctuaire Homegoods and Sundries

The first thing I learned how to do once entering Second Life was create furniture.  Well, actually the second thing.  The first was learning how to adjust my clothes to fit my small self.  But rapidly after I taught myself how to create a sofa.

Well, I got fed up with doing it.  That and seeing all the amazing things that my now good friend Yelena from Noctis was doing.  I would look at her items in awe and go - no, no I can't do this.  So, I gave it up.

After a bit of introspection recently and a bit of hint hint hint Scout - I decided to start making furniture and fixtures for my builds and in the end to be sold separately in the store.

So I present to you....

I am going to create things that make me smile.  Things that you don't often see in Second Life.  Cause if I don't go that route - I will wind up hating myself.

I look forward to sharing with the first pieces with you soon!

- Take Care
Scout

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