The Zombini Apocalypse (First Bait, Ongoing)

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Posted: Wed May 08, 2019 11:13 pm

Please don't try this (YET) but that would make a bitchin' Tattoo.

Good stuff....

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 12:00 am

It would do wonders for marketing if the lad could make some T-shirts with those logos and pose for pictures. Maybe a video of a bunch of happy people wearing shirts and chanting the motto. Wait a day or two for your character to show the logo around, then come back extremely excited about how well everything is going. Thank the lad profusely, and encourage him to keep going with demoing the shirt designs. Other ideas could include coffee mugs, coasters, hats, and so on... asking the lad for suggestions in this area will make him seem more involved, and don't forget to stress how much money all of these things could make. Keep up the good work!

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 12:08 am

^^^My thoughts exactly! I've learned that Tom is a particularly agreeable lad, provided I don't ask too much of him at once. I'm hoping that with baby steps I can work up to a picture and (maybe) a video. I don't want to set unreasonable goals for my first bait, though.

Elite Baiter Joined: 30 Apr 2017 Posts: 1055

Are you sure your lad isn't having a laugh? I only ask because of the strange logo he's sent which if rearanged is Fart-Sniffer, Smell the Success. Shocked

Edit:

Apologies, I'm suffering from old brain syndrome. I've just realised the lad only designed the logo and didn't come up with the name.

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 12:14 pm

Nothing like a compliant lad! Let's see how long that lasts! Twisted Evil

Posted: Thu May 09, 2019 6:12 pm

This is great. I love the pick a number menu modality.

I agree with Kitty... more Janitor please. Laughing

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 2:00 am

My brother will go quiet for a couple days. He is a busy man, after all! My main character has requested another account. Tom sent me this today:

OK dear don't worry, they'll provide you a suitable account then, I've already spoken to Kate.
Looks like another piggy may be in my near future Smile

As for the janitor, I may create a new addy just for him. I was initially playing my brother, the janitor, and the S.C.A.M. System all from the same account (hence, the automated message system). However, I'm thinking the janitor will hear about the deals going down at the company and take a personal interest. We shall see...

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 8:28 pm

Contrary to my previous post, I realized Friday was here already, and it was time for my brother to respond to the logos. I have my suspicions that the lad used a website to create them, but I couldn't find any solid proof. I think I'll have more fun playing along than I would with a slap, anyway. Here's what my brother sent:

Tom you fantastic man!

I am so excited. I just showed your designs to my colleagues, and they went nuts! They loved it! You're a genius! Only trouble is, we love them both so much, that we're having trouble deciding which one we like better. If you could put each design on a shirt and model it for me, we'd pay you well! Make 2 shirts, and put one logo on each shirt. Take a picture of yourself modelling the shirts, and I'm willing to pay you $2,000, plus any expenses incurred in printing the shirts. Negotiable, naturally.

I think the future is big, HUGE for [Company]! I can smell the success, and I'm excited about it! If you have any more genius ideas or amazing designs, let me know! Feel free to experiment and have fun with the photos. Serious is boring, so let me see you smile! If the shirt design goes over well with marketing, we may contract you out, and you could make upwards of $60,000 on the first shipment! I've got a good feeling about this, my friend.

I'm not sure there's any point in hiding the name of the company anymore. I told the lad we didn't have a website, so I don't think he'll go looking. If any of the pros think I should still hide it here, let me know.

Edit: I was reminded that I have used the company name in the Mugu Guestbook, so I will continue to censor it in posts.

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 8:33 pm

I try to make a habit of changing names when I post. Especially names that are not very common. Right now the company name mostly gives me some Danish(?) results, but if you post the name a little more often Eater, it will be quickly in the top 10. Right now the name shows as being in the mugu-guestbook, (page 2 of the google results).
I'd be careful

Posted: Fri May 10, 2019 8:38 pm

^^^Noted. The name has been edited. Thanks for reminding me I used it on the Mugu Guestbook! (Not the best idea in hindsight, but here we are). Embarassed

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 2:35 am

My main character hasn't heard from the lad in quite in a few days, but that's because I told him I'd be out of town until Tuesday. I wanted to give him some time to work with my brother. As a rule, none of my characters routinely email on Sunday, but I decided to check my brother's inbox today anyway. He has received the following two emails from the lad today:

6:32 AM
are you serious about this?

6:45 AM
Am glad you liked it, how many do you want I'll like to do some sample but, I'll need the sum of $1350 to get the T-shirts I hope you agree, after I get them on the shirt I'll show you the sample and then make more, before we begin the shipping.

I'm not sure if the lad is doubting my motives, or if he just can't believe his (supposed) luck. Whatever the case may be, money is no object for my brother, and he will happily reimburse the lad for the expenses. (Anything for a trophy! Laughing

) I'm not 100% sure if the lad is asking for payment before he makes the sample shirts, but if he is, my brother will insist that $1350 is not necessary to print 2 shirts. I like where this is going. I may also reintroduce the janitor if the sample shirts work out. How does branded mops sound? Wink

Posted: Mon May 13, 2019 8:22 am

Zombini wrote:

I'm not 100% sure if the lad is asking for payment before he makes the sample shirts, [/b]

I am

Also. might I suggest that you inform your businesspartner that it is highly irregular to ask for payment for samples only. Does he actually have any experience in doing business, or if he is just playing around??? Obviously, samples are always free of charge. When the sample is approved then an advance for pre-production costs can be discussed, that goes without saying.

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 1:13 am

^^^Taking this into account, here's how my brother responded:

Tom,
I just got home and thought I'd check my email. Of course I'm serious, as I assume you are too. I talked it over with my colleagues, and we've decided that $1350 is an agreeable price. However, I'm sure you will understand that payment can only be issued once the marketing committee sees the modelling pictures. I know that you don't need $1350 to print 2 shirts and take some good pictures, ha ha! Once we have the modelling pictures, we will send you payment as soon as possible.

Tom, I'd also like to remind you that high quality images mean bigger orders! In other words, the nicer your modelling pictures, the more people will buy, and the more you will earn.

The money you've requested, plus the earnings from the first order, will be transferred after the first order has been placed. That's $1350 plus any money made by customer purchases! Send us the sample modelling images, and we will place an order and transfer you the money.

Will the lad accept? I guess we'll have to wait and see!

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 12:56 pm

Oh, Tom, I had such high hopes! The lad plays dumb:

Okay sir you mean I should send photos of cloths I've printed your logo on right.

He sends me a couple (probably photoshopped) images of T-shirts with the logos on them. They're pathetic, but not pathetic enough to get a laugh, so I won't share them here. Just imagine a stock image of a white shirt with the logos. Laughing

No, my brother won't accept this, but seeing as this is Tom's first screw up, I'll go easy on him at first. If he messes up or declines to send the pictures a second time, my brother might get angry.

My main character might also get back to the lad today to see about that second piggy!

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 1:24 pm

^^^Do you mean like this:

Various members send these to me regularly! Enjoy it.

*This particular one came from a lad.

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 1:28 pm

^^^ Yup. It's a step in the right direction, but I still want an actual picture, if possible.

Posted: Tue May 14, 2019 7:55 pm

My brother sends the lad this:
Tom,

I hope you are well this morning, my friend. I received the pictures you sent, and I'm thankful. However, I'm afraid you misunderstood me. In order for the committee to assess the quality of the shirts, we need to see pictures of you wearing them. Like a model posing for a photo shoot. Once we have these images, the committee will assess the quality of the product and determine how many shirts to order. I will then send you the $1350 you requested, plus any extra fees incurred and the earnings from the order. This will allow you to make more shirts.

Here's a breakdown of what you need to do:
1. Make 2 shirts, 1 for each logo.
2. Take some photos of yourself wearing each shirt to demonstrate how the logo appears. Make sure I can see your face and the the logos clearly.
3. Send the photos to me.

I will send the money when I receive clear photos of you modelling those shirts! Thank you so much for doing this, my friend! It is very much appreciated.

He can't even be bothered to make up an excuse!!

I can't do that sir.

Of course I'm not letting the lad off the hook that easily, but any tips on how to encourage him would be appreciated. My brother might need a day or two to recover from this insult Wink

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 1:05 am

Ask him what he means by "I can't do that sir" - surely taking photographs is so simple that even a child could do it.

Does he have a problems of some kind? He really should be honest with you.

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 12:24 pm

^^^That's good, I like it! I'm not feeling in character today, so I'll wait until tomorrow to give my brother some time to think. I'll definitely use that tomorrow.

In other news, my main character got my second piggy! I wonder how many I can get out of this lad? Twisted Evil

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 12:30 pm

^^^
I love the smell of bacon. Well done.

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 7:08 pm

I tried to get more information about the mule by making up some bank jargon I thought sounded convincing:

Hello Mr. Crist,

Thank you for the information. I decided to pull some strings with a friend a bank. We're working quickly to transfer the money, but the system labelled that account as "uninformed". Do not worry! All I need to remove the label and transfer the money is [Mule]'s address. If you send her home address to me, I can add it to the system and transfer the money to you.

...But I don't think he's buying it:

I don't understand why this is taking so long

I do! Wink

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 1:01 am

It's like he's not interested in business, isn't it? Good business requires total certainty and he's not providing it. He needs to understand that "I can't do this" and "I don't know why" are not what you want to hear in business.

WRT titles of future baits - how about All You Zombinis and I Walked With A Zombini?

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 1:31 pm

Morning at the office! My brother yawns, stretches, sips his coffee, and sits down in front of his computer to answer the lad's email:

Tom,

First of all, drop the formalities. Don't try to butter me up, because that's not how I work. I told you, we're friends! Friends work on a first-name basis. You know what else friends do? Friends work together! Which is why I'm confused by your message. What do you mean, "I can't do that sir?" You can take some pictures of yourself, right? It's so simple even a child could do it, so this should be no problem for you. Let's work together as real men to get the job done.

If you have some kind of problem or difficulty, be honest with me. I am a fair weather friend, as they say! Let's clear up any stormy problems and move forward together.

Hopefully my semi-subtle insult and attempts at de-education don't drive the lad away.

As for my main character and the mule, I'm planning on sending an email to the ladette today asking for help. I'm fairly certain at this point that I'm dealing with the same lad (they usually email me within minutes of me asking one about the other), but I don't know for sure, as yahoo strips the lad's IP. If there's a way to figure this out, someone please let me know! Anyway, my main character has no clue if she's dealing with the same person, so the lad will be forced to stay in character as the ladette. Maybe something interesting will come of it.

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 1:35 pm

^^^ there are ways but it would require them either login in to a site (like s3cp1c of P1TH) or getting them to look at a web-page that has a tracker image on it.

does your fake company have a site? I can make/host a tracker image

Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 1:45 pm

^^^It does not have a website yet. I could probably make one though! No chance (yet) of getting him to log into s3cp1c, I'm afraid. Maybe I'll throw something together over on Weebly and PM you later?

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