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How Not To Order an Arcade Machine
Chris John Hunter:
That's true Chopper. He can afford to when the going's good. I am not going to go on other than say I hope he has times when the cold is biting and the going isn't so good and he thinks of all the people he has slapped in the face.
Good Day
JDFan:
--- Quote from: ark_ader on June 22, 2013, 04:01:59 pm ---I'm not trying to sound like a dick (others might argue) but Craig is in the business of selling flat pack cabinets.
--- End quote ---
Then why is the Who are we section of his website not designed for selling flat packs but instead states :
--- Quote ---Turnarcades are home-based arcade builders based in the West Midlands, England. We custom build video arcade and entertainment machines based around home PC architecture. Our unique machines are designed to replicate authentic arcade machines as closely as possible to bring the ‘old school’ arcade experience home, but also take advantage of the power, capacity, flexibility and customisable properties of modern home PC technology.
Turnarcades can custom build any arcade machine to your specific requirements. With our dedicated on-site workshop we are able to bring the arcade feel you remember right into your home at a cost you can afford.
We can supply anything from kit’s to empty shell’s to full arcade machines with all the same level of quality.
If you have any questions or price enquires the please feel free to contact us craig@turnarcades.co.uk
--- End quote ---
Seems to me he is trying to promote selling "Full arcade machines" designed to the end users Specs not just DIY flatpacks ! If that is the case then he should expect it to take some time and patience to get it to a point that the buyer and him are on the same page with the design and his pricing seems to reflect that he is including the needed time to make it that way -- If he didn't want to work with customers to get a full build built to their wishes then he shouldn't emphasize the ability to do so in his adverts.
RandyT:
First, let me be clear that I'm not defending or condemning anyone, as I don't know 100% of the situation. But maybe I can offer my take on what might have happened.
Most sellers, over time, will be able to predict an outcome based on past dealings with the thing that is "human nature". When an individual approaches a situation, typically it starts out from a "neutral" position colored by whatever expectations they may have based on the sellers' reputation. Obviously, if those expectations are very low, an individual would typically decide to go elsewhere unless there were perks involved, such as a lower than market value cost, or similar.
I think what may have thrown up the red flags was the amount of time he had already spent with you prior to purchase and perhaps the feeling conveyed, after the fact, that you were wary about doing business with him, based on the experiences of another individual. At that point, it's not a stretch to surmise that you might already be expecting to find a problem with his work, before he was given the opportunity to demonstrate what he could do for you. And, as anyone knows, there is no such thing as "perfect", and when one looks hard enough for faults, however small or insignificant they may be, they will be found.
No company can continue to exist by deliberately putting themselves into positions which they believe will lead to failure on their part no matter how hard they try. This is especially so for smaller companies, like the ones who literally devote their every waking hour to servicing a smaller community like this one, and don't have the high volumes or staff to pick up the slack. So when faced with the prospect of probably spending more resources than whatever profit they might make on a sale, to meet what they feel might end up being unreasonable expectations, the only option they have is to let the sale walk. It's not an ideal solution, and perhaps it didn't happen in the best way here, but it can help to keep the lights on and the family fed.
Personally, I don't do this, even to my own detriment. In the extremely rare instance where we have an unhappy customer, it is never one who buys hundreds of dollars worth of components for their "dream" control panels. These good folks have the money to spend, and are buying the highest quality parts, so expectations are usually exceeded. The issues always seem to be with customers with little money to spend, and who purchase as few of the least expensive components possible, expecting the results to perform like full-blown panels with parts costing several times more. As I have personally been in those shoes, I try to be understanding and spend the time to offer guidance, support and ways to maximize what they have, even though the profit from the sale went away after the first of several email exchanges. But it's something I choose to do, and not all are able whilst continuing to be there for the next person who needs their services.
Again, I have no affiliation with Craig whatsoever and don't know him (even though I believe we share the same last name :) ) but I thought I might be able to offer some insight as to why your experience could have gone the way it did. My advice is "listen to Ark". Buy a flat-pack (from wherever you feel comfortable) and outfit it the way you want. That way, you will have full control over the quality of the end result, and learn many valuable skills along the way.
RandyT
Chris John Hunter:
Lads, ill be clear. I wasn't messing him about. Yes, your right I know what you mean Arc and Randy (Awesome Avatar BTW)
I know what you mean you mean he thought oh here we go...
When it wasn't like that at all from my point of view. I just wanted value for money. Not something extra for my money. JD the website says custom options this / that. Extras this that. So
you know flexibility I expect to be a bit of in that.
It said say, deluxe custom art design and I would have paid for it. But I only wanted my existing art adapted to fit., which considering what it was and its res wouldn't have been too much of a headache.
I know everyone bumps into the odd ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?--- in the retro scene. We all have. But that wasn't the case. Was why I was so naffed off. I've cooled a bit now. But I wasn't happy spending my whole night doing art only to get told to **** off.
Arc. I was trying to do that plus extras that would have been paid for. At the rates quoted.
Chris John Hunter:
Randy. I wasn't wanting the earth. I am someone who is easy. I just wanted to order. I had 2300+ dollars on the table then realized there was no warranty. then said ok, what about a kit with custom art. Which is what is one of the options on the website that's all. I was ADDING extras PAYED extras OPTIONS on the site to my order. I didn't ask him to do anything that wasn't part of what he offers.
Although I did ask for some purple buttons. Surely a builder can source a few purple buttons.
Anyway I am going to draw a line under it and get a flatpack and build it myself. :cheers: Cheers for your thoughts guys and all of them valid.
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