Mall Sim Owners- Ever hear of ethics?

Can I take a break and interupt the normal topic of dwellicous removals and rating whoring complaints to talk about a growing problem within the content barron community of greed?

Why is it so many sim owners feel they have a right to take peoples money and not deliver on what is promised. Just because you fell sucker to paying $195 a monthy to support your land fix, you do not have a right to mislead the rest of the community.

I always heard horror stories of people giving money to rent mall locations only to be evicted early without refund because of change of ownership. However, I never thought it would happen to me because I had no interest in a laggy shopping sim. One night I did recieve A SPAM Instast Message, with an offer for a good spot in the Mexican Town Sim. I checked it out, not the greatest dwell, but figured maybe it was worth it to give a mall location a shot. It is something I will now never do again.

So I set up shop, I paid for 4 weeks and they were kind enough to throw in a week free. Such nice people. Exactly 8 days after I paid, I received a group IM that said ownership was changing. After voicing my concern I was assured my rent would be honored and I would even have the opportunity to stay if I wish.

Today, one day later, everything was returned to me.

1) You should tell people your SPAMMING that you plan on selling the land your renting if you have ANY IDEA it may be happening.

2)You should refund anyone who was not granted what YOU had promised.

Thats just bad business ethics and you are hurting the reputation of all sim owners that will follow you.

You know, I've been thinking about setting up a "SecondLife Better Business Bureau" - so that people could check out the reputation of folks' operations before doing business with them...

Problem is, I'm too busy with other stuff. *sigh* And, you'd have to be careful not to let griefers ruin the system. But if anyone wants to try to get something like this going, be my guest! I think it would help folks to know what Malls, Rental-offices, and other businesses have a bad track-record.

Take care,

--Noel "HB" Wade
(Tread Whiplash)

You have clearly heard of Spam, and you are on the internet.
And you are suprised to see a lack of ethics by some people in SL? As opposed to in RL?

Sorry for your loss, but seriously.

Max Case
Attorney At Law

Tread, there is one, but we're not very well organised. We're called RATE (Retail Association of Trade and Enterprise), and I'd like to invite you to our next meeting, which barring any last minute changes, be next Saturday.

Yes I did, but I wasnt too worried about the small amount of money I risked losing. I still have a right to point out bad business ethics , just as I would in real life.

Yes seriously.

Beau,

As another Mexican Town vendor myself, I can completely relate. I have to give credit to Blue Burke, the new owner - he has done a lot to try to make the transition as smooth as possible, and fix many of the problems the original sim had. He is honoring the rents paid to Mex/Brianna Thorn, but is not offering refunds - that is definitely the responsibility of the original owner. I was disappointed that the original owners did not have the respect to even mention this was happening, until it was already a finished deal. I spoke with Briana just a few days ago to check on my rent, and she did not say a word. I recognize that people's situations change, however, it is a disturbing pattern that happens over and over again in SL and shows a complete lack of consideration or professionalism. My girlfriend is in a lot of mall locations, and she is constantly going through the same thing when the flake mall of the week shuts down, or the owner comes up with some new rules midstream - it is why I was loathe to build a store in Mexican Town in the first place.

I have built a new store in the sim that will be replacing Mexican Town, and so far have been impressed with Blue Burke's vision and professionalism. Time will tell if it will be the same situation all over again, but I am hopeful this will work out. Either way, it is my last time placing a store somewhere not under my own control.

I feel your pain. I have learned my lesson from Mall sim's and stuff. Very rarely if ever, do I accept an invitation to vend in shopping sims unless I happen to be good friends with the sim owners. I would wager to guess that most if not all of my vending spots are in non-shopping specific sims.

Beau,

Of course you have the right to point out bad business ethics. But then point - give us a name.

I am not coming down on you by any means.

seriously

Max.

FYI, I stated the names of the original owners - Mex and Brianna Thorn.

I've given up on malls and just opened a store with a friend because every mall I had a stall at has changed owners and as soon as the owner changed the price went up. I don't sell enough to make mall stalls profitable anymore.

My Items from Mexican town where returned to me today... I am paid up for 14 days.. this is the second fucking time this has happened to me, i have lost all faith in renting again from anyone. nobody has come forward to do the right thing and pay me my money..so on that note i will cut my losses and say fuck it

Excuse me, Beau, but..

What the FUCK is a "Content Baron"?

Follow your forum drama more closely, the content barons are an evil race of non-talentless people who lobby to suck the fun out of the rate mines... err clubs.

Oh.

Do I get a shirt?

I'm working on a union card Seriously I was actually thinking about this 2 days ago - long before the 'union thread' happened

I believe it's in the mail.

Hear that sound?

Its another nail in the coffin of in-world malls and telehub developers.

And I couldn't be happier about it.

Webcommerce -- it just makes sense.

If you Want a "Content Baron" T-Shirt you have to make it yourself for obvious reasons.. ^_^

I agree Max, its a shame but I see sooo many vacant malls with those for rent signs all lined up in a row. Kind of like some eerie glooming ghost town. The only thing missing is the tumble weeds blowing down the sidewalk or a howling woof at the moon. Malls are on overkill and then add the risk of owerns changing makes it all a risky business. Most serious buyers have discovered if they want something bad enough - they always look the creator up and track them down at their shop. Nothing is better advertising than word of mouth.

I think I am going to try and script a tumble weed... that should be fun and will give me something constructive to do!

Thats one of those big brown grass balls that blow on the ground in the old western movies, right?

Jess

My first and last Mall was in 2003/4 and was Minna Mall. I was so pleased to get a stall and i worked hard there and it was my first grasp of SL selling and identity of a brand. I am still grateful to Ker Dawn, Lensey Roark and Linkin Slate for that chance. Within weeks it closed without warning and my content all came back to me in a scareful flood. Since then, I have never again been a part of a Mall.

Neo Japan store grew from this rejection, and stands today in Tehama. a costly prim indulgent bazaar of real things sold so you can walk, see, feel and touch them. I will not go back and I prefer to be my ' brand' in my home sim. Those who desire want or need Japanese things will find me.

BUt memories of my first (and last) Mall still sometimes arise. I enjoyed it, it was where I started. I do not forget.

Centre Ville Network malls and markets provide nice and stable environment since more than half a year

It depends on the mall/store as well as the mall owners/managers. I rarely ever have vacancies in my store - because space is limited . If one vendor leaves I have a constant running waiting list for that space. My store may be small in comparision to shopping sims or massive sprawling malls, but I think at last count I had about 40 some vendors.