Are others running classified ads on YOUR land?

When Water Rogers logged into SL today he told me about an im he received from a customer asking where they could find his Female AO package on sale for L$850 instead of L$1,000. The customer then informed him that there was an ad in the Classifieds stating this information for Reverie. Much to our surprise there is indeed an ad running for L$50 set on Reverie's land, stating that the override package is on sale. We can see who ran the ad by clicking on the profile button and it's not someone who is even associated with Reverie or the group.




I logged into SL on my alt to test placing an ad in Classifieds on land that I am not associated with in any way. I was able to do so quite easily and there was my ad right at the bottom of the list. I am really surprised, I had no idea that you could do something like this. I naturally assumed it had to at *least* be from land you owned or a member of the group that owns it.

Obviously folks haven't been abusing this privelege much but someone may very well use your land to sell something without your knowledge or just cause problems. As of right now Water will have to list an ad in the Classifieds and state that the other is false, etc. There is no way one of us can remove the ad, the person that listed it will have to delete it. It's already caused confusion with his customers of course and following advice he filed an abuse report.

Should there be the option to run a classified on land you don't own or have association with?

Wow, that's kind of a scary security hole. I'm having visions of people doing all kinds of nasty things with this "privilege".

You should only be able to run ads on your own land!

I think an option like that would be very useful. I also think we desperately need to have the ability to place more than one ad per account. Because I have more than one location I'd like to advertise I have no choice but to use an alt to place an additional classified.

I can't say I agree with that. What about people who rent store locations? A rule like that would prevent them from being able to advertise at all.

It can be useful Chip but you see the problems it can cause also, I'm just not sure.

Yeah, I can definitely see how it can be problematic. I think making it optional is a good idea. For places like Aqua where many other people have their own stores on land I own I wouldn't want to use it. They should be able to advertise their stores.

I post adverts in the classifieds for myself as well as other Phase5 members.

It's a very handy feature to help out other members of our group and keep a consistent message as to copy. It can (and I have seen it) be abused but like all else, if it is it abused it should be a matter for Linden intervention, not the removal of functionality.

I knew about this, but I only saw it being used as a force for good.

/me looks pointedly in Siggy's direction

I see your points, but i think it needs to be less open-ended.

Ideas:

1. Check box on your land edit box stating "Yes allow people to set classifieds"
   
2. Require owners' permissions per ad (probably a bit too 'micromanageable')
   
3. A list box of allowed names/groups whatever that can set ads.
   

As it stands, this "feature" can be a great resource if used properly... but can also be devastating to a business. If a customer see's this ad, goes to your store, prepares to buy your product with the assumption of a sale just to find out it isn't. They're going to be pissed. They'll tell all their friends you are bad business men. All hell breaks loose, you lose your job, your business, you go bankrupt... next thing you know you're trying to turn tricks just to eat.

Anyway, I haven't played in a while... but I'm back. Figured I should bitch about something

--Water

Welcome back, Water I think any of those ideas would be great. Right now as it is I think eliminating this ability would do more harm than it would prevent.

Haha agreed

Hmmm, good points. I'm just having nasty visions of people scamming each others' businesses in ways I won't mention here.

Regards,

-Flip

If that happened I would hope that LL would take action against the poster of the bogus ad and not just say "them's the breaks"

Considering that all of my own vendors are on land I do not own (like in malls), and I do not OWN any land myself, I certainly would object to being restricted to only being able to place ads from my own land!

On the other hand, I do think they should set a default for land owner controls, that ads can't be placed by people who are not the land owner (or in the land owning group, for group land) unless a land owner sets a checkbox to a non-default position. That way, a mall owner can grant the permission, while the average home owner isn't hassled.

And yes, it's not right that a merchant should only be able to open one ad per account! If they have multiple locations, they should be able to advertise each of them, if they are willing to spend the money to do so.

I noticed this during the first iteration of CLassifieds only because when I was setting up my classified ads I accidentally set them to the wrong land points. For instance my store listing was showing in Classifieds with the location being in Chaos.

I think Water has the right idea. A land owner or group officer should be able to allow or disable the ability for others to place a Classified on land. This way, those that rent out space can allow people to advertise thier spot.

About Land already can be set to allow or prevent "landmarks" from being created, "seems" like an easy fix.

If a bad ad does pop up, the additon to "report bad ad" should be an option to the land owner.

People who rent store locations need to be in the land's group so their vendors aren't returned, no?

I noticed this when the classifieds first hit the streets. A rather unscrupulous Linden alt (alt in question made sure we all knew about it at the time she was hired) decided to post a defaming classified above one of my stores over a personal grudge. I notified another Linden and they looked at it and said they would investigate why that was possible, but I never heard back on it. The person was convinced to take down the ad by a mutual friend the next day, though. I've not personally seen it used that way since, but apparently it's still possible. What a ridiculous oversight. Griefers can now slather classifieds all over your land.

Only if the land owner has set Auto-Return. Not everyone makes you join a group to rent or sell on their land.

I'm completely baffled as to what purpose this would serve, other than to deliberately cause problems for you and your customers, which is, to me, very clearly griefing.

I noticed this when classifieds came out and thought eventually it would become a problem. I do like that I can place an ad in Larsen for my store there, even though it is Wu's land. And sometimes Nicola places an ad on my land for her store. So I see its needed by others who aren't land owners.

I think it should be a land owner/group leaders option to let ads be placed by anyone, land group members, or none other than land owner/group leaders. And land owner/group leaders being able to remove them would be a plus!

I agree with Caroline that the ability to set ads on land owned by others has been very effective. I have set classified ads for sales at my Larsen and Midnight City stores, and both brought in noticeable traffic. Still, I would like to see some controls added - but not to see the option taken away altogether because of the minor potential for abuse.

Ok, I'm confused by the original post on this one. So from what I could gather, someone paid for a Classified ad with their own $ promoting a business that isn't theirs and a product sale that isn't available? Or did this person set up a store under the same name with somehow scammed products?

That confused me too. I didn't really get the impression that the person created the ad to be harmful but maybe tried to help out the store but with some unfortunately incorrect information.