*~s0c~*

VENDORS, BEWARE!!!

A new sim owner by the name of Hugo Lourbridge had his mall manager Amayenko visit an SL Merchants group today to solicit some vendors to rent out store space with one week's free rent. You know, I'm new, and it's hard to turn down free rent! I jumped right on board, and was lucky enough to get a beautiful corner spot. Many vendors I was chatting with this morning were already concerned though with no rental agreement and no established traffic. Two things a new designer like myself isn't highly concerned with, right?

I'll repeat the name HUGO LOURBRIDGE.....

I'm into setting up a full two hours--keep in mind, I have an enormous list already getting set up for my main store grand opening coming up in a few days--and spending the last half hour on setting out traffic counters, a gift card freebie bag, a group inviter, an affliliate vendor, and of course, some flowers :) Hugo has visited twice already, the second time to tell me how gorgeous the Paris Hilton dress is (and sales support that). This visit, though, Hugo wants to "not be a pain" but could I take down my large picture above the store." I tell him sure, but ask him why. "It's too obvious," was his reply. Isn't it a shopping mall? Okay, so he wants things to be more understated, nevermind that the other vendors have even covered their windows with ads.

No problem, right? No. This guy has to make a mountain out of a molehill, and when I ask him if there's anything else I need to know about strictures in building, he says he doesn't know! It's his sim, yet he has no clue if I can set up an affliliate vendor for some plants and furniture. Wow. I guess that question has him a little peeved since him manager comes to visit me ASAP asking me what my problem was, lol. I tell her there is no problem, but that it's a bit frustrating to be told there are no building restrictions only to be told to take something down for it being too obviously a marketing object meant to attract business and increase sales in--God forbid--a shopping mall. The manager is actually a really sweet young lady, and she assures me that the concerns over no fixed amount for rent and no rental agreement or building codes will be addressed.

They were addressed....

Hugo shows up again, threatening me indirectly by telling me that it's a good deal to have a week of free rent (on a sim with zero traffic), and that if I was unhappy he could put any vendor he chose to in my place. Hugo didn't see how that was threatening, lol. In fact, Hugo didn't like me telling him I did NOT tolerate any sort of threat like that, and that like any other vendor, I expected to have clearly stated preferably written expectations for rent and building. In fact, Hugo disliked that straightforward talk so much he asked me to leave! He assured me though, I could maintain my dignity--he was "being fair" by not kicking me off, lol. Of course, he never followed through on his verbal agreement for one week's free rent though I had done NOTHING in violation of any agreement, had immediately removed a sign he asked me to, and even kept my complaint to him private in IM. Two hours plus absolutely wasted.

He returned my objects (not sure if they're all there) and I assured him I'd make sure as many people as possible would know, especially potential vendors, that he was in BREACH OF VERBAL CONTRACT.

The guy had the nerve to IM me later....I promised him that I'd share our little story to as many as would listen about how he reneged--BREACHED--a verbal agreement with his thin-skinned ineptitude.

HUGO LOURBRIDGE

Lesson learned, Hugo, and I haven't even gotten to the forums yet.