How do you play SecondLife

Well, I really dont post in the forums much, but I had to get this off my chest.

I've been getting harassed by a 4 day old newbie (Magdelena Marten) in world because she feels $100-300 for clothing is too much to pay.

I don't really know what this person expects, but I'm pretty upset. Who is she to tell me how to play this game... If she doesnt like my prices, she doesnt have to buy it. It also bothers me that I really don't think that my prices are very high, and Likewise, yes, I have seen clothing priced at 10 times what I charge... and I paid it, but that's my choice!

I logged in this morning to find that she had Neg rated me as well, this is kind of the last straw. I had to post something to get more opinions on this,.. Yes she has every right to Neg me for any reason she chooses, but what do ya'all think??

1) Are my prices too high
2) Should anyone else tell ME what I should be charging
3) Are PRICES a *good* reason to Neg someone?


--Thanks for the Rant Outlet ;)

Well, she negged me too in "Behavior and Appearance" with no message.
- I have never met her.

I suppose she didnt like the prices in the Galleria? Or being told that via IM that she should 'perhaps wait a month and see more of the world before judging what was expensive and what wasnt and the worth of clothing from separate retailers".

Thank you Magdalena Welcome to SL. You are 5 days old and doing swell

Briana Dawson

1.) No.

2.) No.

3.) Possibly, depending on the circumstances, but probably not.

One more posting demonstrating how useless ratings are. I can see how to a newbie with very little money the prices charged for some things could seem to be extortionate. And I can also see how, with no experience at all of the rating system, a self-assertive newbie could spread negative ratings far and wide.

There is really a need for the ability to negatively rate somebody to be withheld until one has been inworld for a certain period of time - one month, perhaps?

Aww I feel the luv

Your prices are not high..I paid 2k for a space armour suit that I never wear...Clothes are more expensive at Saks Fifth Avenue than Walmart ...In other word you are a desigber and your label is valid..btw I love the clothes you make... just wish you'd do more mens wear.

1) no
2) no
3) its their ratings. But a lot of newbies dont understand the severity of neg rating someone.


Some of these people dont understand the work that goes into making this clothing. And right now being so new, to them 100 bucks is a lot of money. Im tottaly willing to pay that and more for the quality you produce.

wow, nice picture launa
and TY

The freemarket system has a built-in method of answering your question, Mistress. If you are charging "too much" or "too little" you wont be making as much of a profit. That simple. Somewhere between 1L$ and 10KL$ per item there is a "sweet spot" where you enjoy both high volume sales AND a respectable profit per item.

Most people that try to argue over how much an item "SHOULD" cost normally have a tenuous grip on the fundamentals economics. For example, you will never see Magdalena look at a sale item and say "I really should be paying MORE for this item, I won't buy it until the price goes up". Instead she is happy to find the sale, and assumes the manager will accept the responsibility for the price decision. She saves her wrathful judgement when the pricing scenario doesn't work in her favor.

As for neg ratings...I often thought neg ratings should have a weight system that diminish the impact of a negs when issued by noobs. The same goes for people that issue LOTS of neg ratings. For example, a neg rating by a senior player that typically NEVER neg rates anybody should have a more severe impact on your profile than a noob that goes around neg rating everybody.

my 2 cents
-aimee

1) Are my prices too high

I don't think they are too high, and I have seen other clothing items go for even more than you charge. The most expensive outfit I sell is only $70, but I made an original only dress for the auction and it sold for 2k. People will pay a lot for something if they really want it. I've seen your work and bought some of your clothing. Personally I feel the outfits I have are worth every penny I paid. Also, a lot of work goes into designing and making clothing (plus the charges of uploads that can end up breaking the bank if you can't get that one seam just right)... which leads me to my next answer

2) Should anyone else tell ME what I should be charging

Never. You should price your items based on what you feel they are worth. If others don't feel the same, they can shop elsewhere. But no one has the right to tell you what you can and cannot charge.

3) Are PRICES a *good* reason to Neg someone?

If you look at it from a business stand point, getting a neg rating for prices could make a shop owner re-think their pricing and compare it with the "competition". But this is really only valid if the rating system had a slot for list of the reasons for each neg (that could be seen by others). Or perhaps a slot for "neg to Business practices".

But the whole rating thing is messed up and so no one will know that you got a neg for prices and not really behavior or something like that. So in that way No, I do not think prices are a good reason to Neg someone. Instead, they should vote with their wallet and shop elsewhere. Just as we do in RL.


PS: Keep up the great work Mistress. I think your stuff is wonderful!

1. No. In fact, given the quality of your clothes, they might be a little low - but don't raise them, I'm broke!

2. Yes and no - Yes, through "market pressures" such as shopping elsewhere, but no, no one should be "telling" you what to do, period.

3. That's a toughy. I still fall into that tiny minority who believes negative ratings are underused. If you were, for instance, reselling free newbie things at exhorbitant rates in a craptastic open air market near a teleporter - then yes, I think that would easily warrant a negative rating. But, of course, that's not what you're doing.

Oh, the vagueries of the rating system!

1) No, you charge a very reasonable price.

2) Not at all

3) Not really.

But I must add, this person I have actually encountered myself, infact I logged in one day to find she simply moved into the free landless apartments i made in Europa and got mad at me for returning her objects. I explained to her that she can't just move in without asking and that the apartment she put her stuff in was taken..

Anyway, she's there now, living in a house for free but I'll have to speak with her in person about this.

I can't make her rate you positive, but I will try and talk some sense into her

if people are buying your products, your prices are not too high. we have a truly open economy here. demand drives pricing absolutely. it's up to you to determine what the market will bear.

i might talk to you about your pricing as a friend concerned about your reputation or the amount of money you might make if you raised or lowered them. i'm speaking hypthetically here; but my point is that yes sometimes it's appropriate for some people to chat you with you about your prices in a friendly, constructive manner.

the only rating i would ever assign for pricing behaviour is behaviour. but that's quite a stretch. for me to do that, you'd have to hold a monopoly on the product; i would have to feel like i really needed one; and the price would have to be more than i could afford. it'd still be quite a stretch.

Your prices are not too high. And ask her to neg rate me too, cause I think she is a putz.

1) No such thing.
2) Yes, but you don't have to listen.
3) No, unless you're a whiny little crybaby who always gets your way and who thinks empathy is only for Star Trek characters.

LOL not to mention that the offline email i got was:
"why r ur clothes so expensive, there r other stores with the same quality clothing but less than ur."
that exactly. no paraphrasing..

putz!

Wow, Mis. I just realized that this must have really upset you!

A year old, and only 13 posts, and this thread has 4 of them!

And to answer your questions:

1) Probably Not
2) Definitely Not. Suggest, maybe.
3) Not really, but it doesn't serve much of a purpose for anything else, either.

And to answer the question in the title:
I don't play SL, I live it. This is almost the only social life I have. :-/

I've been getting harassed by a 4 day old newbie (Magdelena Marten) in world because she feels $100-300 for clothing is too much to pay.

Clothing is free. Your designs are what cost money. If she wants your designs, then she has to pay for them. If she keeps harrasing you, neg-rate her back, and if it escalates, file an abuse report.

I like how you worded that, and i have
--And no, i rarely post in forums unless i *need* to
and someone actually NOT liking me warrants it
i thought i was pretty nice.. donate clothing all the time.. I do what i can

thnx for the support you all

Your stuff rocks Mistress and you absolutely do NOT charge too much. I had the pleasure of getting lectured by this same person about my prices too. My response to her was what is there to aspire to or work towards if everything is within reach on your fourth day of being in SL? If she sees my skin display her head will probably explode

If anything most people charge too little. I make the occasional freebie and I have a bargain line but you're far more generous than I in making free items for new players. There's no reason for you to be doing that other than the fact that you're a very nice person. Your work is worth every penny you charge Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

Well thank god they havent found Neph's place yet. She'd be negged to death by these people then. Your prices are fine Mistress. And so are Nephs. Great clothing deserves what the creator places upon them.

As for the neg ratings, I think they learn from certain individuals, you know those "well established" ones, who have given above average amounts of negatives out like tic tacs.

They do learn from their peers.. yes sirree

As someone who charges very little for their line of clothing, I agree with you completly Chip. I feel I price my line of clothing where I want it. I'm still learning and I like to make nice wild things that newer people can afford (even though I do have a following of veterans as well). My opinion on myself is that I think I do great, but I'm also not so foolish to think I can yet design as well as yourself, Neph, Beryl, Shadow, and of course Mistress and our other wonderful well known designers.

I look at my stuff as a stepping stone to you guys. It is also why I bust my butt trying to do things that bring you all more and more publicity. My auctions have shown a lot of designers about what people would pay for their items, and most are not charging even close to what they could be. I love sharing the creative work of others. No price is too high.. a person will pay what they feel an item is worth. And the stuff some of you make is honestly priceless in my eyes.

Thanks Pen You've been a wonderful addition to the community. One of these days I'll get some originals done for your auction, I swear! I love that there are all kinds of niches being filled in SL... styles, price ranges, stores of all shapes and sizes... I think it makes for a more fun and compelling experience for people who love shopping in SL.

Pffffft is all I have to say about this. What we charge for our clothing is nowhere NEAR what alot of designers in world charge. Not to mention Mistress and myself have both donated to Damien's Newb cause in Phobos. I'm sorry that I can't have my tops sell for 1L$ every day and that the event I held in Phobos was a one time deal. We put alot of work into what we do and spend a great deal of money on uploads. Sure you can find alot of stuff for 50 and under in world and that's great. If a person feels their clothing is only worth that much..that's up to them. I will continue to have sales and breaks for newbs but this is how I make a living in SL. Simply put, buy the stuff that's cheaper, don't buy the stuff you feel is too expensive, and go about your merry way. Doesn't everyone feel better? YAY! Now let's have ice cream

I love you Torrid

Mis, your prices are way too high.