Second Life Sales: A Boon or a Bane for the Virtual Economy?

As I stumbled upon a podcast by Sasy Scarborough and Whimsy Winx, they delved into the topic of Second Life Sales Events . Initially, I planned to add a brief comment, but my thoughts turned out to be too lengthy. Having listened to the podcast multiple times, I would like to touch on some of the points they discussed.

If you ask me, Second Life sales events are multiplying like rabbits on a caffeine high. It’s like trying to keep up with the Kardashians – there’s just too many of them! But thank heavens for Seraphim, our trusty guide through the labyrinth of sales. Without it, we’d be trekking from store to store like lost souls in a virtual shopping wilderness. Now, who has time for that kind of virtual cardio?

What is the main benefit of Second Life sales events?

Ever feel like Second Life events are turning us all into virtual hamsters on a never-ending wheel? It seems like group chats are buzzing with folks trying to elbow their way into freshly opened events, so much so that other topics or activities barely get a look in.

And what about the loot from these events? Do they get the spotlight they deserve or are they tossed into the abyss of an inventory, forgotten in the hustle and bustle?

I’ll confess, despite my best efforts to keep my inventory spick and span, and my daily ritual of unpacking a few new treasures, my objects folder is bursting at the seams with unopened goodies. It’s like a virtual attic up in there.

Sasy and Whimsy have a lengthy discussion about the process of unpacking items in Second Life. They express concern that there may be nothing in the package or that the item may be broken, and that by the time the customer realizes this, the brand may have already gone out of business.

While bloggers have to unpack to showcase the items on their blogs, it can be daunting for others to keep up.

Most of us buy items with the intention of unpacking them right away, but that rarely happens due to the overwhelming number of events and new releases. Instead, we end up with a backlog of unopened packages in our inventory. To tackle this issue, I set aside specific times to unpack and organize my inventory, like logging in during the evening when I know I won’t have too many friends online and can focus on cleaning up. However, even with these efforts, it seems that inventory management has become a never-ending story, and I don’t recall it being such a significant issue before the introduction of mesh.

Second Life Sales Events.

I often feel a twinge of regret when I see an item I recently bought at full price now being sold for 50-100L at a sale. However, I understand that sales are a common occurrence in Second Life. My sister believes that creators put on sales the items that did not sell well in previous events. It’s hard to believe that a vendor wouldn’t sell much given the number of people trying to get in when an event opens.

A good sale is always welcome, especially when it’s from a long-standing event like Fifty Linden Fridays or Hello Tuesday. However, the number of sales-only events seems to be increasing, and it’s becoming overwhelming. Do we really need a 60L sales day, a 50L one, and a 75L one? Sure, 50L may seem better than 75L, but why do we need so many sales events that are based solely on price?

Themed sales could potentially make sense, like having different price points for specific categories such as 50L for fashion, 60L for accessories and poses, and 75L for furniture. It would provide a clear distinction between the different types of products and make it easier for shoppers to navigate the sales events. However, with so many sales events already happening, it might be overwhelming to keep up with themed sales as well.

Would you hold off buying something because you know the brand has a weekly sale?

Not really.

Foxcity does regular sales, and I’ve seen some of the poses I bought when they came out, so you know that what is sold for 250L or more might be on sale for 60-75L one day. One day… I’m not waiting for that day that may come up tomorrow or in six months time. No way. If it’s worth it, I’ll buy it. I would only hold off for a meh product, something I may use one day or because I simply can’t afford it at the time. And with the amount of events, it will be quickly forgotten anyway until a sale happens and you’ll remember wanting to buy it.

For somebody who has a very limited budget or survive on the 300L stippend from the premium membership, they will probably wait for the sale, and that’s fine I think.

I can’t see why it would hurt a brand to have a weekly sale because it kinda helps the people who don’t have that buying power.

As a consumer I much rather see either new items like Peaches do. They often create cute clutter for FLF. I don’t mind repurposed clothing or accessories with new textures. It’s not always to my taste, but having exclusive colours for a specific event I think is great. I’m always looking forward to DDL Saturday sale, because it’s always unique textures only available during the sale and time limited. You can’t be one hour late or too early with DDL, and I love that.

I had a minor issue with the quality of a DDL handbag I purchased before, and I reached out to the brand via notecard. Unfortunately, I never received a response. However, when I came across a DDL sale featuring a texture I adored, I decided to give the brand another chance and was not disappointed. Despite my positive experience with DDL during sales, I prefer to limit my purchases to their Saturday sale, as I appreciate the exclusivity and limited edition aspect. Nevertheless, if I stumble upon a DDL item at an event that I really like, I would not hesitate to purchase it at full price or recommend the brand to others. Therefore, I believe that the brand is not losing out on customers who only buy during the sales day.

In the end, brands can evaluate and make decisions based on their sales figures. Would they rather sell two fatpacks for 2000L each or 500 individual bags for 50L each?

Should the sale happen at the front of the store or at the back?

A sale is usually a marketing tactic to lure new and old customers, so it should be at the back. In Second Life though,  a lot of brands have never had a brick and mortar business, so that’s why you can see a lot of rookie mistakes.

Having a sign to indicate where the sale is located is crucial, especially for stores with large layouts. While some shoppers may not mind taking the time to browse, others may have limited time or specific items they’re interested in. In the case of timed sales, it’s even more important to have clear signage so customers can quickly locate the discounted items and make their purchases before the sale ends. I myself have logged in just for a sale item in the past, so having a clear indication of where the sale is located can make all the difference in a shopper’s experience.

Should the brand offer a discounted or free group fee on sales day?

No, the brand should not offer a discounted or free group fee on sales day. We should not be incentivized to join a group, especially when there is no limit to the number of groups we can join. Instead, I would prefer to see an option to purchase the group gift. In the past, I have joined groups simply because the fee was reasonable, and then left after receiving the gift. However, the group gifts are not always worth it.

If I like a brand, I prefer to follow them on Flickr or other social media platforms to stay updated on their products and sales.

I find it frustrating that a group membership is required to obtain a slurl to the sale. Even though the sale is advertised on Flickr, they don’t disclose the slurl as you must acquire the list from the group. This is disappointing because I prefer browsing on Flickr and do not want to join another group due to limited group slots. Additionally, it is inconvenient to have to open images in my viewer, and I feel sorry for the person creating the notecard as it seems like unnecessary work.

Some of the stores and brands are unfamiliar to me, and some brands use a different username on Flickr without filling out their “about” section. This approach gives off the impression that they do not want to be discovered, and they may lose out on potential sales as a result.

Second Life Popup Sales in Conclusion

To conclude, popup sales in Second Life can be a great way to discover new designers, test out new products, and avoid disappointment when making a purchase. As demonstrated in the video, buying a handbag from a new brand can be risky, and finding a good deal can help mitigate that risk.

With so many Second Life sales events happening, it can be overwhelming to keep up with them all. For this reason, many shoppers, like myself, stick to the main sales events, such as Hello Tuesday and Fifty Linden Friday, and rely on discovering other sales through Flickr. At the end of the day, if I don’t see the sale, then I likely didn’t need it in the first place.

For instance, I missed out on a recent pop-up sale for a pair of shoes I had never seen before but absolutely loved. I ended up paying 295L for them instead of the sale price of 75L, which left me feeling unsatisfied. However, this is just one example of the ups and downs of pop-up sales.

I think Second Life sales events can be a great way to discover new designers and try out different products. However, with so many events happening all the time, it can be overwhelming to keep up with them all.

Additionally, some brands may not handle their sales events in the most user-friendly way, which can lead to frustration for customers. Overall, I think sales events can be a positive thing as long as they are executed well and provide value to customers.

What are your thoughts on Second Life sales events? Do you find them helpful in discovering new designers and products, or do you find them overwhelming? Have you had any negative experiences with sales events in the past? Share your thoughts in the comments below.