Playing limitations in game.

Recently I have thought about my playing options. Now without pointing fingers or getting upset lets talk about what i feel is a problem in SL and hinders a lot of ppl from doing what they want to do.

Example:

Jane has a store she sells buttons. Jane and her friends are the only ones in the game who sell buttons.

John wants to sell buttons but gets the impression that no one wants him to sell his buttons especialy Jane and her friends.

So John builds a house and trys to get by keeping his buttons to him self.

As time goes by I see more and more of this and have discussed it with several ppl. They agree that "this is how it is and yes a whole lot of ppl would be angry if John opened a button store".

I understand how everyone wants to be unique but presently there is only so much ppl are will to purchase.

I understand that the only real uniqueness in game is the individual and the individuals lot.

The only problem is the more I feel restricted as to what I can and cannot do the less I want to play.

I also feel I am duty bound as a mentor to mention these in game unspoken unwritten laws to the newbie that enters his/her SL.

Personaly I think this bites, I like to see a little friendly competition it only helps to raise the bar on creativity.

Cat

I am a shopkeeper....and I dont really mind if every SL resident would open a shop.

What i want to say is let everybody do what thy want. If someone copys your idea..so what!!??

Its all about competition and lets keep it on a friendly level.

FREE WILL TO THE SL RESIDENTS!!!!

thors got it right.

if everyone starts selling buttons, then its your job to make yours unique or better. we all have the eame rights.


just shout "I WANNA SELL MY BUTTONS!"

Well, John isn't doing ANYone a favor by staying out of the button business. In fact, he isn't even doing JANE a favor.

Jane's product will never improve in a non-competitive market. Her prices will not drop, and her company will not become the slim toothy shark it will need to be someday later - when someone ELSE besides John enters the market. Jane will loose her business in the end, if she doesn't allow some competition, along the way. There's a reason it's called "healthy competition."

John needs to compensate for his weaknesses. If he is good at buttons, but bad at getting in the faces of competitors, then he needs to hire (or partner with) a business manager who'll handle everything but the craft.

Next time you meet a timid "John" (hmmmm, THAT didn't sound right) let me know. I'll find him someone who'll take care of all the dirty work

This world needs a healthy economy. We'll only get one if we start putting our products side by side on the same shelf so the consumer can tell us what we need to do to excel.

Open the button shop.

For healthy competition you may want to carefully consider where you put it. It may not be best to build it right next door, and don't put a huge billboard to johns buttons store next to or over janes. Thats just rude. The world is large though and its up to john to decide whether he wants to build half a sim away or a dozen sims away. Maybe his buttons are so far superiour to Janes he could steal business from her by being close. If the buttons are very similar in quality he may do better in another part of the world with potentially less competition.

But there is no reason he should not build a store just because someone already has a store that does that.

If you think you have a better product I think you have every rigth to try to sell it. Monopolies are illegle in rl I see no difference here.

When I started making clothes, most people in world were making costumes. There were some Linden street clothes and some people dabbling in clothes but not really any full on street clothing stores. Do I care about the other clothing makers opening shops? HECK NO.

I think the more the merrier. Each maker brings their own style which appeals to a different set of players (and yes there is some cross over). I think the more variety the better for all and I love to see what people come up with. There's a lot of really good talent out there.

If you and the other player both make buttons I doubt they will be exactly the same. Make yours with your own special flair and open up a store! Have fun and dont worry about the them.

I'm the only Button seller in SL! I better not see ANYONE! else selling buttons or I'll find you, and Hit you with a mallet!
I'm serious here folks, no button selling. Suspenders, and beer caps...okay. Clown shoes and Wigs...okay. Even prosthetic limbs....okay. But if I see a single button, there's going to be #e!! to pay!
No one steps in the way of my flair! (That one's for you Zeeman)
Crow









P.S. Sorry, I thought I'd step in and play devils advocate. Just kidding all!

Catherine, I'm so glad you brought this up =)

I agree with most of the others here -- John should absolutely open a button store if that's what he wants to do! As far as the possibility of people being "mad" at him for opening it, IMO only the most self-centered people would get mad over it, and who in their right mind is going to care what *they* think?

The same applies to events, IMO. Someone wanna do a Name That Tune event? Go for it! [ In fact, I've got 10 clips already in world ready to drop into the already scripted player -- just come talk to me ] Ama said it may not be best to build the new button store right next door to the established button store, and in that same vein, it probably wouldn't be very cool to host a Name That Tune event at the same time that I'm hosting one.

Bottom line is that no one has a monopoly on anything, whether it's a specific object for sale or an event theme.

#!

I don't see this so much as a flaw with SL, as a flaw (or perhaps the term quirk would be more appropriate) with the real people behind the avatars. Just a thought

I agree thaat John should open his button store. However, the problem is when John goes to Jane's store, buys a few of her buttons, changes the color a little bit and puts them up for sale in his shop.

I can't say 100% this has happened, but I've seen some pretty darn close textured buttons.


-TK

well yes thats an excellent point TK. So whats really the issue here? If its that they dont want the store just 'cause they make the same type of thing than I say poo shaw, open anyway!

If its because the items are replicated or .. er.. borrowed I say shame shame, make your (their) own thing then open.

Glad you have such an enlightened point of view MJ I figured I'd chime in because I have a sneaking suspicion this may have something to do with my recent entrance into the clothing market and my new store I opened in Aqua next to Avatar Central. I picked my spot precisely because Av Central, Billie's store, and MJ's are all right there in a little cluster. My intent isn't to steal anyone's business (my items are priced on average 4-5 times higher than either of my competitors), but because with all the stores there it's a place that people already go to shop. More stores translates into more reason for people to go shop in that area, which in turn translates to more traffic for everyone's stores. I'm all for friendly competition. It helps inspire people to try a little harder to keep raising the bar and that's good for everyone.
And one thing I've noticed, especially when it comes to clothes, is that if you make something nice that people like they will buy it regardless of how much competition there is. The more people we have out there making cool things for people to buy, wear, and use, the richer the world is for everyone. Hats off to my fellow SL clothiers

Chip

i will probablt start selling buttons in my store....just for the heck of things!!

Chip, I actually had a customer tell me they wanted more one stop shopping and wondered why more (and more variety) of stores didnt cluster.

Hmm.. no clue really... and a good idea. If you have a shop come set up in Aqua!

In the retail outlet world, it's good to have an anchor store to bring in shoppers who then go on to shop the smaller stores nearby.

I think Avatar Central is a good anchor store. Lots of cross market appeal and lots of word of mouth.

I think there's some advertising from the Lindens as well.

I don’t see what’s wrong with having more than one Button Store. When I opened my shop next to Mis, I got no complaints. She has been a great neighbor and we both sell street clothes. I kind of think of it like a mall. I mean the Gap can’t go down and tell American Eagle to close its doors. See say some guy finds a pair of jeans at my place he likes and I don’t have shoes to fit his taste. Well right next door Mis has some great shoes that I don’t carry and he buys shoes from her. Competition is good for business. So button button who’s got the button.

Yes MJ is right.

I have always looked at Aqua as a kinda Shopping SIM.

Yup, and as far as I'm concerned, the more stores there the better! It's good for the customer, as there is more choice in a small area, and it encourages us all to produce better stuff than the neighbours

BTW Chip, your clothes are fabulous - I feel a shopping spree coming on tonight...

Thanks so much for the overwhelming responce to my thread. I realy expected to hear a lot of negative feedback on this subject and was very pleased to see that is not the case. Thanks everyone for the candor much appreciated.

I would also like to say no I do not agree with steals others work and calling it your own in SL. As everywhere it is wrong.


Thanks for everything all

Cat

Imitation is the best from of flattery! I would be there to offer any advise I could give on the subject. Offer any help I could give! LOL and if it worked out that my buttons were SO popular, a new partnership might be formed. 1 person can only do so much after all.

Aww thanks Cailyn And I think La Piazza is one of the prettiest builds I've seen anywhere in SL. That's a beautiful place!

Thai put up a store next to mine yesterday too. Aqua is definitely becoming quite the shopping district. I was a little worried when I decided to set up shop there that other people might feel like I was trying to muscle in on their territory. I'm really glad that's not the case

Thank you!

I think we need to form the 'Aqua Mutual Appreciation' group

Yes Aqua seems to be a good shopping place!

And the more stores the merrier!

I've sent people to other stores when they were looking for things I didnt have or just looking for more stores!

I say we need more buttons in SL! Big ones, little ones, hairy ones, bald ones, green ones ...wait I hate green! Oh well, to each his own!


Happy shopping everyone!

Ok new point per chance. IRL some stores have the same supplier so is it wrong for say "john" and "jane" to buy from the same supplier of the same said product as long as it is not counterfeited.

BUtton A says "hello my name is..."
this button bought at Jane's store.
but this button made by Jack

Button B says " hello my name is..."
This button bought at John's store.
But again this button made by Jack.

see the three J's work together to improve the overal economy just like RL cause I know I see Nike shoes everywhere not just one chain store.

Ok that wasy my silly 2 cents.

ShadowWeaver