Topic: WCDT strips 4126 - 4130 (4th to 8th November 2019) (Read 24675 times)

BenRG · « **on:** 03 Nov 2019, 09:31 »

I think that Faye is pretty determined to improve the business (and its takings) somehow. How can she possibly do that? I've come up with some silly ideas, why don't you share your own?

If I had to ask where I think that Jeph is going, I think it is using Sam's sudden in-trend fame as a form of marketing promotion: Throw Sam's work in for free (the cost of actual engineering would would cover Sam's fees and then some anyway). In exchange, promise Sam that they're never going to tell Jim that she's started drinking coffee at a young age!

Gyrre · « **Reply #1 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 15:42 »

Word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful ways to get business, even to this day.

Probably explains the wording for slander and liable laws. It doesn't matter if it's true. Just that it hurts their public reputation.

OldGoat · « **Reply #2 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 17:02 »

Quote from: Gyrre on 03 Nov 2019, 15:42

Word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful ways to get business, even to this day.

Probably explains the wording for slander and liable laws. It doesn't matter if it's true. Just that it hurts their public reputation.

But truth of the allegation is an absolute defense to slander/libel charges, criminal or civil.

The problem UR is having has plagued small businesses since the invention of competition. Technical skills don't always live in the same head as business or advertising skills. Look at all the tech outfits with excellent products that have gone belly-up since the mid-'90s. Right now the people hearing the word-of-mouth, friends of May and Melon, aren't the kind with disposable income for custom butts. (I'm not sure Bartholomew Punchbot, PCA is publicizing that he's also "Basher Bart" Punchbot, Fighting Robot. If he was squishy, he might want to keep a lid on it.)

shanejayell · « **Reply #3 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 17:28 »

I remember reading somewhere that a small business starting out needs to budget for a YEAR of not making money.....

So, this could be interesting.

DSL · « **Reply #4 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 19:12 »

Probably more for a year, in the case of an overhead-heavy outfit like UR would have to be.
And, hey, Sam (and Faye) -- it doesn't have to be poaching. You can complement each other, be a business draw for each other.
I like it when festival organizers set my caricature tent up next to the face painters. We bring business to each other. I've seen other operations where the same outfit offers caricatures and face painting (generally different artists, because of workflow logistics and because the skill sets and required equipment are different.)

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #5 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 20:03 »

That might not work here. The impermanence of Sam's work is the draw, every piece unique and soon lost to time, like tears in the rain. Faye's welding work would be more like a permanent change, which might fly in the face of what those AI want.

shanejayell · « **Reply #6 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 20:28 »

It does also raise the question if EXTREEEEEME body-mod is a thing for robots. *lol*

brasca · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 22:38 »

I vote for other although it’s similar to the livestream idea. I think they could host a reality show about AI repairs and upgrades that would be fake as hell for the sake of ratings, but bring in potential customers.

andrybak · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 22:40 »

Did Faye and Bubbles ever complete the penis Pintsize has commissioned?

BenRG · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 Nov 2019, 23:17 »

Yeah, this is going to get awkward between Faye and Sam to the point where it strains their relationship, isn't it? Faye obviously is feeling very jealous of Sam's success and Sam is still young enough not to get that and respond to Faye by basically sticking her tongue out at her! We'll see whether or not they can work this out with time but I do think that Sam is going to be very quickly coming up on a learning experience or two about how business matters can ruin friendships.

Quote from: andrybak on 03 Nov 2019, 22:40

Did Faye and Bubbles ever complete the penis Pintsize has commissioned?

Jeph sometimes forgets little moments like that. I strongly suspect that's so in this case so don't expect to see that answered.

artag · « **Reply #10 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 03:29 »

Think bigger, Faye. Custom chassis or bodyshell.

Perfectly Reasonable · « **Reply #11 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 07:37 »

Picturing a head that is an open framework with wind chimes suspended within it.

BenRG · « **Reply #12 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 07:57 »

As bizarre as that sounds, when it comes to QC synthetics, it is only a case of finding the right customer!

Theta9 · « **Reply #13 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 09:30 »

Quote from: andrybak on 03 Nov 2019, 22:40

Did Faye and Bubbles ever complete the penis Pintsize has commissioned?

I remember even earlier he wanted her to make him a gauss-rifle dick, though he never got to the point of asking - his opening was poorly executed. (Can't be arsed to find and link the strip)

Wingy · « **Reply #14 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 10:06 »

Quote

See if they can get a charity gig doing zero-profit repair work for low-income synthetics

...
Oh futz. I shoulda thought of that for a Yay intervention point. Maybe Jeph already did. That would help keep them busy and would help generate a bundle of new customers as well as cash flow - often more important to new businesses than profit.

azurite · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 10:44 »

I generally only have the spoons to lurk on forums (in general

) these days, but I need to post this: has it yet been observed how ENTIRELY Sam is making herself over into Faye's image? She's now wearing the same kind of tank top and the hair, the hair!! Faye might not realize it (Sam either?), but she's becoming a mentor.

OldGoat · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 15:11 »

It would only be poaching clients if they were offering the same services, but they are not. The two lines are not competitive but are naturally complementary (think dog groomer next door to a veterinary clinic). Methinks Faye will eventually figure this out, perhaps with a nudge from Dora who most certainly DOES have a noggin full of business sense.

Gyrre · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 17:28 »

Quote from: brasca on 03 Nov 2019, 22:38

I vote for other although it’s similar to the livestream idea. I think they could host a reality show about AI repairs and upgrades that would be fake as hell for the sake of ratings, but bring in potential customers.

Just so long as they come up with something better than "Pimp My Chassis".

chris73 · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 18:59 »

No doubt some won't like Faye in this strip (and I'm the first to admit I generally don't like her generally) but here its never a bad idea to let a child (ok young teen) know their place. Kids need encouragement but also boundaries and Faye is, inadvertently, teaching Sam where her place is.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 19:19 »

Not just kids.

chris73 · « **Reply #20 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 19:24 »

Quote from: Is it cold in here? on 04 Nov 2019, 19:19

Not just kids.

Hopefully Sam won't be one of them

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #21 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 19:49 »

Quote from: Gyrre on 04 Nov 2019, 17:28

Just so long as they come up with something better than "Pimp My Chassis".

I can only imagine the horror show that could happen from that.

Pimp My Chassis host Exhibit Z: "Hey Roko, we heard that you like baking bread, so we've replaced all your limbs with dough kneaders and mixers and we've made your torso into an oven!"
Roko: "Err...how am I supposed to get home?"
Exhibit Z: "Ain't my problem. Enjoy your fire hazard body that will cost a small fortune to insure!"

Ravenswing · « **Reply #22 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 20:19 »

Show of hands: does anyone NOT think that May's going to blurt out that her hip keeps popping out when boning Sven, and Faye's going to have a tizzy?

(Maybe someday Faye's going to grow up some and stop thinking that the guy who was nothing more to her than a periodic booty call is the Source of All Evil, but I ain't holding my breath on that one.)

shanejayell · « **Reply #23 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 20:27 »

"What's this goop in the housing?"

"....."

"What?"

"You don't want to know."

(Also hope you wore gloves, Faye.)

Gyrre · « **Reply #24 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 21:04 »

Artemisia or Orazio Gentileschi?
[Yes, I had to look that up.]

Gyrre · « **Reply #25 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 21:07 »

Quote from: chris73 on 04 Nov 2019, 18:59

No doubt some won't like Faye in this strip (and I'm the first to admit I generally don't like her generally) but here its never a bad idea to let a child (ok young teen) know their place. Kids need encouragement but also boundaries and Faye is, inadvertently, teaching Sam where her place is.

Looks like she may have overcorrected whilebeing vague in that department.

TV4Fun · « **Reply #26 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 22:40 »

Everyone expecting this comic to suddenly have a plot:

BenRG · « **Reply #27 on:** 04 Nov 2019, 23:13 »

Yeah, that's the first time that I've ever seen Faye genuinely angry at Sam. She's annoyed and jealous and her whole anger control thing is making her mean. That said, doing it in front of May means that there is now a timer running down to when someone confronts her about it!

That said, I also think that Faye remains sceptical of Sam treating the customers with due respect, so, all other issues aside, she's got a reason for keeping her away from serious examinations.

FWIW, I think that May's chassis was once pretty good before years of wear and tear and likely only semi-warranty-approved activities made the parts start to give out.

Quote from: Ravenswing on 04 Nov 2019, 20:19

Show of hands: does anyone NOT think that May's going to blurt out that her hip keeps popping out when boning Sven, and Faye's going to have a tizzy?

No, I don't expect May to address that unless Faye specifically asks. I've noticed that now May is actually having sexual contact with someone as a real, personal experience, she's lost her usual boundary-free attitude towards the subject. It's obvious that she's found the emotional baggage is a lot greater than she expected and that she prefers to not talk about it, even with someone she trusts like Momo.

cybersmurf · « **Reply #28 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 00:56 »

Quote from: BenRG on 04 Nov 2019, 23:13

Yeah, that's the first time that I've ever seen Faye genuinely angry at Sam. She's annoyed and jealous and her whole anger control thing is making her mean. That said, doing it in front of May means that there is now a timer running down to when someone confronts her about it!

It's the classic "hardly anyone has the full context" problem. Right now, May only sees Faye being pushy, but doesn't know what happened before. If there'll be shouting, Bubs will have to be the one sorting it out.

DaiJB · « **Reply #29 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 07:12 »

At first, I was going to put "Take May up on her 'dancing with a sandwich board whilst handing out fliers' idea" - but then I realized that having May's hip randomly popping out of joint would be somewhat counterproductive...

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #30 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 08:17 »

At this stage, May seems to be Faye's only regular customer.

rtmq0227 · « **Reply #31 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 09:14 »

Quote from: Castlerook on 05 Nov 2019, 08:17

At this stage, May seems to be Faye's only regular customer.

I believe Punchbot is also a regular

brasca · « **Reply #32 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 11:53 »

Quote from: Castlerook on 04 Nov 2019, 19:49

Quote from: Gyrre on 04 Nov 2019, 17:28
Just so long as they come up with something better than "Pimp My Chassis".

I can only imagine the horror show that could happen from that.

Pimp My Chassis host Exhibit Z: "Hey Roko, we heard that you like baking bread, so we've replaced all your limbs with dough kneaders and mixers and we've made your torso into an oven!"
Roko: "Err...how am I supposed to get home?"
Exhibit Z: "Ain't my problem. Enjoy your fire hazard body that will cost a small fortune to insure!"

The upside is Roko stops having dissociative episodes.

TheEvilDog · « **Reply #33 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 12:15 »

The downside is that she burns her apartment down.

brasca · « **Reply #34 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 15:12 »

Quote from: Castlerook on 05 Nov 2019, 12:15

The downside is that she burns her apartment down.

Given enough time Melon probably will.

Tova · « **Reply #35 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 15:53 »

I know that not everyone loves May, but there are moments when it's good to have someone around who is this brash.

Quote from: OldGoat on 04 Nov 2019, 15:11

It would only be poaching clients if they were offering the same services, but they are not. The two lines are not competitive but are naturally complementary (think dog groomer next door to a veterinary clinic). Methinks Faye will eventually figure this out, perhaps with a nudge from Dora who most certainly DOES have a noggin full of business sense.

She knows. Her emotions are just getting the better of her.

cesium133 · « **Reply #36 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 16:55 »

Quote from: Castlerook on 05 Nov 2019, 12:15

The downside is that she burns her apartment down.

Marten gains a new roommate. It is getting a little crowded by now, though.

OldGoat · « **Reply #37 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 17:02 »

Roko hasn't experienced a bread episode since The Squishing, has she? Maybe that's the problem, her bread lust is gone.

(If she's got a kink for bread, does that make her a pansexual?)

St.Clair · « **Reply #38 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 17:15 »

She was worried about that, but a visit to the bakery quickly proved that wasn't a concern....

Pygar · « **Reply #39 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 17:22 »

Uh, the head on Pintsize's body, or the end of his mysterious Appendage?

Depends on how much she wants him to suffer... I guess?

dragonkittyrawr · « **Reply #40 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 18:28 »

Quote from: chris73 on 04 Nov 2019, 19:24

Hopefully Sam won't be one of them

Sorry but hopefully, Sam will be one of them, and soon. I've been losing patience with Sam for a while, but I've been over her since she climbed in the window instead of waiting. Someone should have reminded her what happened last time she was unsupervised in the workshop. That was completely inappropriate on her part. All she does is doodle on people with sharpies for ****'s sake and she acts like she owns the place.

Torlek · « **Reply #41 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 18:59 »

Quote from: OldGoat on 05 Nov 2019, 17:02

(If she's got a kink for bread, does that make her a pansexual?)

shanejayell · « **Reply #42 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 20:28 »

New strip up.

Not to be mean, Faye, but THIS IS WHY YOU'RE NOT MAKING MONEY.

You are a (self) trained mechanic. Your time is worth money. At least charge May $20.

Ravenswing · « **Reply #43 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 20:32 »

Quote from: cesium133 on 05 Nov 2019, 16:55

Marten gains a new roommate. It is getting a little crowded by now, though.

Heck, between Bubbles and Pintsize charging up, Marten's electric bill's got to be sky high as it is!

Mod edit: fixed the quote tag.

rtmq0227 · « **Reply #44 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 20:48 »

Man, May's expression just broke my heart. I've made that face May, more than once. That's the face of someone who just found out that they don't have nearly enough money to fix something the rely on for day-to-day life.

I've also been Faye here, as an IT professional. Plenty of friends have come to me for professional assistance, and I've ended up doing the work for part cost only because I knew they couldn't afford my rates.

That said, I feel like I've hit on the best "friend" rate. Take me out to lunch/dinner. Not as a date, just as friends, but if we're not close enough as friends for it not to be weird then we're not close enough friends for you to get my "friend" rate.

hedgie · « **Reply #45 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 20:50 »

I still charge friends $20 an hour, but I don't count time sitting as something installs or updates. I also have the condition that I don't support anything Windows. Mac or Linux please.

Gyrre · « **Reply #46 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 20:53 »

Quote from: shanejayell on 05 Nov 2019, 20:28

New strip up.

Not to be mean, Faye, but THIS IS WHY YOU'RE NOT MAKING MONEY.

You are a (self) trained mechanic. Your time is worth money. At least charge May $20.

Faye also knows that May is broke AF.

Is it cold in here? · « **Reply #47 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 21:05 »

Quote from: dragonkittyrawr on 05 Nov 2019, 18:28

Quote from: chris73 on 04 Nov 2019, 19:24
Hopefully Sam won't be one of them

Sorry but hopefully, Sam will be one of them, and soon. I've been losing patience with Sam for a while, but I've been over her since she climbed in the window instead of waiting. Someone should have reminded her what happened last time she was unsupervised in the workshop. That was completely inappropriate on her part. All she does is doodle on people with sharpies for ****'s sake and she acts like she owns the place.

Welcome, new person!

Sam has certainly irritated other people but she does have the handicap of being a character in a webcomic built around boundary violations.

BenRG · « **Reply #48 on:** 05 Nov 2019, 23:10 »

Yeah, May's been in this situation before and it must feel awful for her. That said, I think that Faye's sympathy comes from the fact that she's been in this situation before. Especially early in QC's history, Faye more than once mentioned just how badly her financial situation was and the 'food' upon which she was having to subsist before she moved in with Marten.

Meanwhile, I'm wondering when May's brain will catch up with the fact that Sven left stuff behind in her and that Faye knew what it was. Talk about an embarrassing medical consultation!

"Sven is not a mooch" is an interesting footer comment from Jeph. Is he suggesting that Sven would help out if asked but that May is reluctant to ask?

cybersmurf · « **Reply #49 on:** 06 Nov 2019, 00:51 »

At this point I'm waiting for the "Welcome to the club!" moment.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Poll

Save Union Robotics! What publicity stunts are needed?

Author Topic: WCDT strips 4126 - 4130 (4th to 8th November 2019) (Read 24675 times)

TheEvilDog

TheEvilDog

TheEvilDog

TheEvilDog