Feature Request Decline With a Workaround

Decline a feature request without the fake roadmap smile. REQUEST What they asked: [FEATURE] Who they are: [PLAN, HOW IMPORTANT THIS ACCOUNT IS] Why we will not build it soon: [REASON I CAN SAY] Workaround that works today: [STEPS OR NONE] Related thing we did build: [FEATURE OR NONE] Whether this is a pattern: [N SIMILAR REQUESTS OR ONE-OFF] REPLY 1) Restate their job, not just the feature name, so they know we understood. 2) The decision: we are not building this in the current cycle. Give the reason if I supplied one. Do not invent a launch quarter. 3) The workaround, as steps, or say there is not a good one. 4) What would make us reopen it (a concrete condition), or say we will not. 5) If many people want it, a line that we are tracking demand, without a promise. Under 160 words. No "great question!" No "we're a small team" unless that is the reason I gave.