Please reconsider closing the Classifieds Forums

Excellent!

I don't "really think" anything. Frankly, your post was unclear to me. So many people clearly hold the opinion that this is not a good thing, I am trying to understand where LL is coming from and going with this move. In light of their self perception as a platform not a game, I'm trying to see how this fits. What, from LL's viewpoint, do you see?

I'll agree.

Sorry that you just spent almost all your stipend on uploading resources for your product, New Guy, but we need another L$250 so you can sell it. Nothing personal.

Right. That'll work wonderfully. Is it a crime now for the new guy to try to start a business?

There's solutions beyond forcing everybody to use a an expensive, cumbersome and proprietary in-world system. Ironically, the best solution is the easiest solution: leaving the forums as they are, which are bustling along happily with an obvious sense of appreciation and usefulness.

/agree

The classifieds are a great way for EVERYONE to see what new products are coming out, without the hassle of signing into SL itself. Please reconsider!

I can see it clearly from LL's viewpoint in the light of it being declared a platform However, given that viewpoint it would make more sense to close the entire forum IMO. What I don't understand is the (IMO) exorbitant fee for it. This will kill the little guy for sure. I understand their wants for money sinks but I don't think this will do it. Thanks for your views they are making me think about it more objectively and my cogwheels are spinning.

It looks like advertising will no longer be free therefore there are additional expenses for the new guy trying to start a business. How much advertising can the price of one movie ticket buy you per month? Isn't that what people were told when adjustments to stipends, dwell, and event reimbursements were discussed? This is looking more and more like part of an across the board implementation of LL's move from game host to a platform.

I'm not voicing my opinion that this is what they should or shouldn't be doing, just saying that this looks to be a likely reason for this change to me. It sure as heck isn't for them to win over the popular vote, as most everyone is not in favor of closing the classifieds.

What is this "EVERYONE" thing I see so many mentioning in regard to the participation numbers in the classified forums?

Have you not seen the "views" on each thread in the classified forums?

There are large amounts of threads that have less than 100 views. The large majority have under 200 views.

Does anybody care that SL is not dumb and they realize that this is a nearly neglible percentage of the SL population?

Let's bring forth points that have merit people

(Ie., Let's channel our efforts in getting the fee reduced and perhaps suggestions as to how the in-world classifieds should operate, as opposed to wasting our efforts on trying to save the forum classifieds).

I agree and support the keeping of the classifieds forums. I use them while not logged on or when I can't. I enjoy getting the feedback and being able to format my posts with more than one image etc.

The Classifieds are also pretty much the only reason I come to these forums. I don't care to hear most of the other discussion pointless bickering that occurs here

While they are at it why not have Linden news available in world too. Then I really wouldn't have to come back...


I haven't SEEN the new classifieds system. Maybe it will work out. Who knows!

If out of those 100, 5 people buy a t-shirt, another 10 people see the t-shirt being worn and ask where to get it, and go buy it themselves... its snowballs. Less than 100 views is significant.

Other significant points that have been made:

1. It takes 5 weeks for a basic account holder to save up to advertise. If you're new, and not making any money yet other than your stipend, you're basically screwed.

2. I can't look at the new products on my lunch break from work anymore.

I heard that!

thats why it's left in bwahaha <3


Also I just realized perhaps the new classifieds will have a mature images option.

Oooh welcome back nipples, hello! How have you been?

While I don't really see a reason for removing them, I really don't care much either. Such a small portion of SL views and/or uses the forums, I'd much rather see LL focus is efforts on in-world marketing and promotional ideas and tools than worry about moderating forums.

That said, I'm not sure the in world tools are there yet.

What I'd REALLY like to see if the ability to "program" your own find. Give us access to RSS data feeds for events, classifieds, popular places, etc... and once you get Firefox in world, do an entirely XHTML driven find from the web. (In other words, make the browser within Second Life go to whichever URL we want for "Home" and "Search", to fall in line with the web paradigm.)

People could then customize their own "find" systems with the available data and constantly improve the various find system choices through healthy competition instead of being stuck with LL's, which isn't likely to scale well if history is any indicator.

Regards,

-Flip

Great suggestions FlipperPA

This is what we should be doing instead of wasting our time fighting an uphill battle. The forums are rarely used and perhaps not cost effective for LL.

In the meantime, let's keep bringing suggestions such as this in order to have a voice as to how we would like the in-world forums to operate.

*Especially the lowering of the proposed classified listing fee. IMHO, $L250 does appear to be a bit high, and hurts new players much more than established players. Not to mention that it might hamper the widespread use and acceptance of the in-world classifieds.

None of those suggestions will replace the advantages the Classified Forums offer and the functions they serve.

coco

Well said, Flip.

Agreed, they are all suggestions for the future, not a viable alternative right now. The classified forums exist now, there is no reason to scrap them for the mediocre in world system that has been put in. They require very little moderation, and provide great exposure, as well as an archive. The inworld system is cumbersome, and requires you to be signed in. The only beneficiaries of the forums being closed are third party sites, and that just fractures the information. I say that as a third party site operator.

I would hate if the classifieds closed. It's the first place i go when i get on my computer, and i browse it thruout the day. I love seeing what all the creative designers come up with and i LOVE comenting on thier work! I also love the feedback i get from other designers, i've gotten some great ideas just from the replies to my post. As a newer designer, i would not be able to pay 250 bucks to keep a ad up for 2 weeks... and hello what about the people who come out with new product everyday... Mischief and Lil Rebel (just to name a couple) do they have to pay for each lil advirtisement and keep it there for the whole 2 weeks...? For me i would have to sell a few of my bags just to post it, but how do i sell if i cant afford to post... it makes no sense! I think this would be a HUGE HUGE HUGE mistake! I would NEVER be on the website if it wasnt for the classifieds! It give all those who browse at work, or don't have time to sign ingame to keep up with whats new. I know i wouldn't have found as many stores and products that i love without these classifieds! YOU CAN"T LET THIS HAPPEN LINDENS pleaaaasseeee none of us want it gone!!!

<3 Tymber

hmm i think thats the longest post i've ever written!

I rarely use the Classified forums now, either to post or to read, so it's no big deal to me if they ditch them entirely. I do know that I'm sick of the bump-fests and gushy, pseudo-heartfelt testimonials that I often see therein, which is mostly why I avoid them.

There are some ways for people who don't want to pay for in-world advertising to get around this removal. The first and most obvious (to me) would be for vendors of visible/tangible goods to post a bunch of pics of their new things to the Gallery forum. The second would be to use Cristiano's SLUniverse.com Classifieds forum. The third would be for vendors to make better use of the three web-based SL shopping sites, SLBoutique.com, SLExchange.com and SecondServer.net.

In fact, this move by LL almost seems intended to drive more traffic to third-party sites like the four I've mentioned in this post. After the outcry over SL moving in on GOM's territory, I'd think the community would get behind this sort of move which makes it potentially more profitable to run a third-party SL site where people can get their shopping fixes when not in-world.

This move by LL may also be intended to cut down on the "crap factor" inherent in the sale of goods and services in SL. Profitable businesses selling desirable goods will be able to afford the advertising, even if it might mean an initial investment for new folk; the rest will be forced to either absorb the cost and pay out of their own pocket, improve the quality of their products and their marketing plan, or look for some other way to obtain money in SL.

/me plops down in front of the classified section, shoves a picket sign in the ground and munches happily on some halloween candy...

Ive got lotsa candy if anyone wants some...

I guess you don't like my Crappy T's then ?

Hey, there's "good crap," and there's "bad crap."

Climbing up on bandwagon ...


I enjoy posting in new products, and get some sales from that.

But more importantly, most of my buying decisions are based on what I see in the classifieds. Mostly new products. I can't remember the last time I bought something from just casual browsing in a mall.

Even my decisions about visiting stores is driven by what I see in the forums.

So, I also dont understand this rush to judgement on the classified forums, when the inWorld tool isn't even released yet, let alone proven effective, useful, etc.

BTW ... my newest product ...

Oh wait .. its to early to start that isnt it ... never mind

aaahahahaha Launa


I agree thet classifieds should be kept in some forum.

(said in best napolean Dynamite voice) Gosh! Idiots! Seriously though, Classifieds has the lowest drama factor & serves a real purpose. *signs name to keep it*

How many people would pay to start a classified thread? What amount?