For those who void villagers when a sale doesn't happen

[Mairen]

Hi hi~! During my visits to the villager trading forum, I noticed a few of you will put up a villager for sale, but then state that they will be voided if no one offers to buy them/make any bids/etc. My question is, if you are just going to "throw away" that villager anyways, why not simply offer them up for free once you've determined you won't be getting any money for them in the end? I understand you want to be getting along with your business and everything, but a free villager would probably be claimed in a matter of minutes so it wouldn't be that much extra time, and you'd end up bringing happiness to someone as well.

**Just want to make clear that this isn't an attack on anyone who conducts business here in this way. I am simply innocently curious about this practice and hoping to gain some rational discussion about it. This is a bully free zone!

 

[Lavandula]

You make an excellent point there. I actually offer such villagers for free before choosing to void them; sometimes even then, no one claims them and the villager unfortunately goes to the void.

 

[Sholee]

I understand you want to be getting along with your business and everything

^this

Sometimes people take forever to pick up a villager, ie: their wifi isn't working for some reason, they didn't add your FC, or they're just slow in general to pick up. Most people rather just get back into cycling and getting a villager that they can sell than wait on someone to pick up a free villager.

 

[Story]

While I see your point, if everyone thought that way then most likely no one would offer to pay. They'll just wait until they are free.

 

[Lovelylexi]

I've honestly wondered this too. I haven't actually sold a villager yet, but once I do I'd like to offer them for free before just voiding them. It seems like a much better option and like you said, it could make someone really happy!

That's a good point though, Story. I didn't think of it.

 

[Mairen]

yeah these all make pretty good sense! I think I understand this method a lot better now, thanks everyone! feel free to carry on the discussion though ^__^

 

[Ayaya]

"But if it's going to be free in the end, why buy when I can just wait till they run out of patience?" <-- Would be how people would think if they're just going to give it away.

 

[Lavandula]

"But if it's going to be free in the end, why buy when I can just wait till they run out of patience?" <-- Would be how people would think if they're just going to give it away.

But how can you know when someone is going to run out of patience? How can you be sure that someone else won't step in front of you and buy the villager while you're waiting for the seller to run out of patience, and offer the villager for free?

 

[Sholee]

While I see your point, if everyone thought that way then most likely no one would offer to pay. They'll just wait until they are free.

"But if it's going to be free in the end, why buy when I can just wait till they run out of patience?" <-- Would be how people would think if they're just going to give it away.

and you don't have to state that it'll be given away if noone buys
it wouldn't be smart to do so

 

[Lavandula]

I think what Mairen is trying to point out, is when it is becoming obvious that no one is buying the villager, there is lack of interest and time is passing with this trend continuing on that particular villager. Often, someone will void the villager due to this instead of trying to offer them free first.

This isn't going to happen with every villager, so it's silly to think that the seller will always be unsuccessful every time, and that they will run out of patience and eventually offer the villager for free. That's just not going to happen.

 

[SoSu]

For me it depended more on time than anything else. I wouldn't void a villager that I had a ready home for though. I've seen some do that right in front of people ready and waiting who loved but couldn't afford the villager, and that's just too sad. I personally disagree with the attitude you have to train your customers to pay so nothing can be offered free. But I will put a time limit - even just 10 minutes on a villager, especially if I'm trying to get someone else out fast. Often cyclers have a specific villager goal - they'll be trying to fly through the other villagers and waiting means they can't play the game at all. Really the most valuable thing in the game for me is time - there's never enough time to play ACNL!

 

[Story]

and you don't have to state that it'll be given away if noone buys
it wouldn't be smart to do so

Sure, though if every seller thought this way than after awhile it could be assumed by the customer.
I know this is talking through extremes however, this is what the OP seems to suggest.

 

[Ayaya]

But how can you know when someone is going to run out of patience? How can you be sure that someone else won't step in front of you and buy the villager while you're waiting for the seller to run out of patience, and offer the villager for free?

Personally, I'll buy it before somebody else takes them
But for people who would rather wait for it to be free, if they don't want it enough to pay for them, they won't be that disappointed if somebody else bought them. I've seen people who don't have enough to pay try to make an offer with the seller, and at least those people made an effort.

 

[Story]

I think what Mairen is trying to point out, is when it is becoming obvious that no one is buying the villager, there is lack of interest and time is passing with this trend continuing on that particular villager. Often, someone will void the villager due to this instead of trying to offer them free first.

Ah this is a good point though. I suppose some people are lazy and don't want to be bothered if there isn't anything in it for them (aside from gratitude).
Not saying this is true for all people but I suppose there can be that line of thought as well.

 

[Lavandula]

Personally, I'll buy it before somebody else takes them
But for people who would rather wait for it to be free, if they don't want it enough to pay for them, they won't be that disappointed if somebody else bought them. I've seen people who don't have enough to pay try to make an offer with the seller, and at least those people made an effort.

I've seen this too, but I really think Mairen is talking about villagers who just aren't budging...the sale just isn't happening.

 

[Gracelia]

For me, if someone wanted a villager bad enough, they'll buy it or try to negotiate. I'd rather void a villager (most of the time) than go through the hassle of giving them away for free. Only because of my previous experiences, people who post for it after I make a villager free, take forever to pick them up and then there entails a whole new list of issues, too (previously mentioned by Sholee).

I usually go looking in the official "Looking for" thread before I officially void a villager. Unless I wanted to continue cycling to sell or do whatever else. I certainly see your p


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point* LOL oops

 

[Lavandula]

For me, if someone wanted a villager bad enough, they'll buy it or try to negotiate. I'd rather void a villager (most of the time) than go through the hassle of giving them away for free. Only because of my previous experiences, people who post for it after I make a villager free, take forever to pick them up and then there entails a whole new list of issues, too (previously mentioned by Sholee).

I usually go looking in the official "Looking for" thread before I officially void a villager. Unless I wanted to continue cycling to sell or do whatever else. I certainly see your p


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point* LOL oops

I will use the "looking for" thread too before voiding. Personally though, I haven't had people take longer just because the villager was free. They either want the villager or they don't. The adoptions usually go quickly whether I sell them or not...Broffina took awhile just the other day, but that was due to time zone incompatibility, which would have happened whether they payed me or not.

Additionally, I've found sold villagers could also be a lengthy adoption process because sometimes the person taking them needs to make room for them. I mean you can hit these downfalls either way. I think it really depends on the person, not whether the villager was free or not.

 

[Sholee]

Additionally, I've found sold villagers could also be a lengthy adoption process because sometimes the person taking them needs to make room for them. I mean you can hit these downfalls either way. I think it really depends on the person, not whether the villager was free or not.

But i'm willing to wait if its a sale rather than a giveaway~
also there was one person who i ended up giving away a tier one villager to, only to see them sell it the next day, that left a bad taste in my mouth and deterred me from future giveaways.

 

[Lavandula]

But i'm willing to wait if its a sale rather than a giveaway~
also there was one person who i ended up giving away a tier one villager to, only to see them sell it the next day, that left a bad taste in my mouth and deterred me from future giveaways.

Oh, I don't give away tier one villagers because yes, that can happen. Usually the tier 1 does sell, so I never had an issue at this level. I've only had issues with the tier 2 villagers sitting stagnant...usually the ones toward the tier 3 end. I have given those away if they just wouldn't sell.

In that situation, even if they were resold, at least they might find a happy home rather than being voided.

 

[Lovelylexi]

But i'm willing to wait if its a sale rather than a giveaway~
also there was one person who i ended up giving away a tier one villager to, only to see them sell it the next day, that left a bad taste in my mouth and deterred me from future giveaways.

Ugh, it's a shame some people will do things like that. Ruins it for someone who might have really wanted that villager and would have appreciated getting them for free.