Best 'Buy as Gift' system? Please help.

I run a clothes store and I regularly have customers asking me whether they could buy the clothes as gifts. Currently I refer them to Onrez where I have a shop set up, but ultimately I would like people to be able to buy directly in-world without having to use a browser. There are only one or two gift systems I can see on the market and they all involve separate vendors of some sort, which for me isn't an elegant way to shop.

I have come across a couple of of shops in the past where you simply have a 'gift' option when you right click on the products but I can't for the life of me remember where they were. Anyone knows of a good 'buy as gift system' out there that is integrated into the normal option menu?

I appreciate your help, thanks.

Girlspeedo

If you don't find a system that does what you're looking for, consider the low-tech, non-automatic method of offering to send the item to the recipient yourself. Simply set up a prim that sells a notecard order form, which is better than telling customers to create a new notecard to submit to you.

Obviously, this is not a good solution if you're not inworld often or if you have so many requests for this service that you get overwhelmed. Also, it isn't immediate and the timing of delivery depends on your schedule.

For personalized items in my shop, the buyer has the option of telling me on a notecard to whom they want the item sent. I've even sent some "missing you" gifts for purchasers who wanted the items sent while they were out of town and away from SL -- I've got one customer on holiday now who is having me send one item per day to her partner. (Most don't choose this option, so it's not an enormous amount of work. I delivered three items like that yesterday and so far have one for today.)

This is a bit more work, but it gives the opportunity to provide amazing customer service that will be appreciated.

What a great suggestion, thanks Miles. I had considered the manual option before but was put off by the time delay factor. I thought it might be frustrating if the customers wish to deliver the gift there and then. But as you have quite rightly pointed out that it adds a very nice personal touch to the customer service.

Question though, how to you manage the payment process? I presume you would only deliver the goods upon receiving the payment? And do you get people paying you incorrect amount etc since it's a manual process? Also, how do the customers know if you're away on holiday?

Hippo has a gifting option on their vendors. There are also a few gift card systems in world that can accomplish what you are trying to do also. It all depends if you are utilizing vendors or normal Display boards:

Giftcard Vendors:

Giftex by Keelia Decuir
Drifting Thoughts
Three Fade Vendors by Kerhop Seattle

Gift Card systems for retrofitting existing displays and stores:

*Escort Defarge - The Store Card
*Grab and Go Gift Cards -- Mine )))

* These are automated deduction systems where you wear the card and the card amount is deducted from the price of the product.

Cards can be distributed in a variety of ways.

Contact me inworld if you would like a demonstration.

CC

CCTV is being modest...his gift card system is the best and is used by MANY top stores. It also has rave reviews on SLEX. Check in with him and he will also give you a demo and walk you through the set up proces...if needed...

Cheers CCTV, I'll get in touch later today in-world to see if you're around. Would definitely like to see the demos.

Good questions. The prim is set to sell the contents (the notecard) for the specific price, so there are no incorrect pricing problems. Upon purchase, the buyer receives the notecard. I guarantee delivery within 36 hours (unless SL makes that impossible), but usually deliver within a few hours. So far I haven't had any complaints about people paying upfront for something that won't be delivered immediately. (Although I've only been open for a week, I was opened temporarily during Valentines and did a whole lot of business with these. Not one person expressed concern about paying ahead of time.)

I'll be on holiday later this summer and, much like those who sell custom invitations, I'll make it clear in my store that I will be away and I'll list my return date. I may even disable the personalized items from being sold. Also, I'll put a message in my profile, SLX pages, and OnRez pages.

Another way would be to simply sell both C/NT and NC/T.

Transfer is giftable and it caters to those people who won't/are reluctant to buy copy clothing as a bonus .

One system that's turned out do be especially nice for this kind of thing is Henri Beauchamp's Cool Vendor. For gift sales, they will try looking nearby for an avatar, then name2key lookups, to deliver gifts (and won't complete the sale unless they succeed). The user interface on these has a few extra checks to avoid some of the novice and griefer problems affecting most vendors. There are versions included from 1 to a whole mess o' prims, and they have holovendor and animation & sound preview hooks built in for people who sell things like that.

One thing they don't do is networked sales, these are made to be standalone vendors (but copiable so it works out).

i love the gift card system you have set up in your store. *waves*

I use the grab and go system and all I can say is WOW

I was a bit stuck with setting it up and CC came and was very patient with helping me set it up

and the price fit my budget which is a big plus hehe

I use his system for a free 100L giftcard at my store, eventually I will remove the free card and have discounted cards which can be very handy for someone to give as gifts, which then enable the recipient to get the item they really want

and of course if someone wants a custom amount giftcard they can request one

Hi Viktoria, hope you're well! I would definitely prefer systems that use the existing menu rather than a separate vendor. But I'll certainly check out Cool Vendor along with all the others mentioned here.

Thanks for the explanations Miles, I'm not too familiar with the notecard card system but it's making a lot more sense now. It would be great if I could find a system that is automatic yet allows customers to enter their own customised messages, and does not require a separate vendor. I hope such thing exists...!

I have used those networked vendors and a ton of the unnetworked type over the years when I had a shop.

The best vendor I have found hands down is made by Moopf Murray. He is the guy that makes the skates and bubblegum vendors you see around. His vendor offers gift options.

I kept a folder of landmarks where my vendors were out at. When I updated my master vendor I would just go to each location and replace the one there. It takes a bit more time but I found deliveries were so much more reliable and it was well worth the time.

Good luck.

I use all these methods actually (and all of them works):

- HippoTech vendors with "buy as gift" option;
- I do provide a manual sending service (by myself) for free;
- I offer "gift" cards (with certain amount on em);
- I forward em to OnRez and SLX websites.

Many customers like the "manual gift service", paying directly to me.

In my experience, the BEST system is either no system at all, or SLExchange.

I've tried the built-in buy-as-gift system in HippoTech vendors. The main problem there is the entire system involved is very "clicky" and tends to confuse more customers than it helps. Even if they figure out HOW to use it, a missing command in LSL (the scripting language) forces people to compile databases of people's names and account numbers. Very VERY often.. TOO OFTEN.. new users aren't "in the database yet".. so you get this whole schmear of "sorry you can't buy for them".

I've tried "Gift Certificates" (AubreTec has a really great one).. but the problem there is.. that people don't pay attention (especially new users), and they "open" the scripted certificates as if it were a box, ripping the scripts out.. leaving them with no certificate and no item.

I've seen so called "Prepaid gift cards" where the vendors can debit an amount stored on a "card".. but aside from the problems listed above, script issues and SL glitches can end up handing out LOTS of free merchandise if the person knows how to exploit the SL inventory system's bugs with attachments.

In all honesty, I have found that the BEST system is to tell people to buy it on SLX.. or to just offer to hand deliver to their friend. Most often, people will just bring their friend in and hand them the money to buy an item. If your item CAN be made transferrable, that's probably your BEST solution.. but transfer permissions make it very complex to do product updates.

Only one of my items uses the gift certificate.. because in all honesty, people DEMAND it. (it's a women's item, and MEN very often want to buy it for their dates).

The rest, in all honesty, I don't bother. People seem very happy to buy things on SLX.. and SLX is probably the widest used of the marketplaces.. so listing your items there and putting up a sign that says "want to buy these items as gifts? Click this sign to see our listings on SLX".. makes a lot of sense. you can even go to the trouble of making buttons for each item where they can go to that particular item on SLX and learn about the item in detail, see tutorials, photos, whatever.