Why I won't tell you if someone else's stuff is crap.

So, I was talking to one of my clients, someone extremely happy with my builds and who is becoming a good friend as well as a client. They shared with me that they were talking to someone who calls themselves a builder and mentioned that they were happy with me because I have some of the most low lag, efficient, well designed pre-fabs that they had ever seen. The other person involved in the conversation, the so-called builder, stated that my builds were horribly laggy, badly designed, and basically crap. Now, it's a blessing that this person trusts me and likes my stuff.

It prompted me at first to think, "Well, this is horrible, I'm upset." but on further reflection I'm going to take it as a compliment. First off, I must be popular enough that someone feels they have to put me down in order to increase their market share. Second off, people pay attention to my builds. It also prompted me to think about how I want and have wanted to do business, so, my dear readers, here's my soapbox statement.

1. I build things as best I can, if you aren't happy with it I will take reasonable steps to make sure you are. I have spent weeks to make one person happy with my best seller and will happily do so for you or explain why I can't.
2. I use techniques that very few other people use yes. However, my builds are known for low prim and low lag. Anybody who is telling you different, ask them to prove it, I have a demo rezzer and I'll put my build down on your land so you can see performance and looks for yourself.
3. I will not put another builder down. I actively teach and help in Second Life and I encourage people to learn and grow here. The more builders, the more use the more this world we all enjoy becomes an amazing place. I will tell you if you ask me to build something whether I can do it or not, the most I will say about another design in Second Life is, "You can do better." I do not seek to put down or affect anyone's business through negativity.
4. I rely on word of mouth for my sales, the reason I don't use bots or camping chairs is because I do not want to artificically inflate numbers to 'suck' someone in. You either like my builds and customer service or you don't, it won't bother me. In fact if you don't like mine I will actively tell you who has great builds that I respect. I'll send you to them. Because my goal isn't to sell you something, my goal is to help you be happy, to create a relationship you remember when you're ready to buy again, to maybe afford that custom, or have a change of pace and grab that one that wasn't quite right. This is my goal, to be available and helpful, even if I don't get paid for it.

Builders I love who I recommend actively if my stuff dosen't suit you and you don't want to get a custom from me (which I love doing and are probably cheaper then you think.):

Serra Anasasi - Not just an amazing landlady and person, but a very good builder who I miss and adore. She has several smaller size gothic and medieval type builds.

Inksky Jedburgh - The man for gothic castles. My style is different but he taught me and gave me my first castle textures. This is the guy I refuse to compete with. If you want a traditional castle and mine don't fit your needs but you like the flavor, do yourself a favor and look at his stuff.

Desari Deladda - Amazing texture queen. I have been graced with her friendship ever since I ordered one of her customs. She is the one I learned from for doing contract and custom work in Second Life and she probably dosen't even know it. Very high end but you will absolutely not be dissapointed with the end product if you have the land to host such beautiful designs.

So there you go, if you don't like my stuff that's fine, but don't expect me to get in an argument over who's builds are better. It's something I'd rather completely sidestep and ask what makes you, the client, happy. If I can do that wonderful, if not I'll send you to people I think can. That's how I want to do business.

I'll get off my soapbox now,

~Noel.