Who opened the floodgates?

I thought I'd post something positive amidst the glood and doom, and 503 errors.

I'm suddenly awash with 1 and 2-day old newbies, complete with payment on file and ready to set up house! I'm trying to figure out what happened, and whether it is something we can encourage LL to do more of?

First, is this just a fluke? This has to be affecting other businesses, because as soon as I move in the cute little happy avatars with their newbie hair, the first thing they say is, "Well, now time to go shopping." Be on the lookout, furniture and hair sellers!

Did they fix the payment system? Can newbies actually pay with their credit cards and not be accused of money laundering and drug trafficing by their bank?

Is it the TV publicity? Someone in the next cubicle over from me yesterday said they saw SL on "the Office." The last time I got a flood like this was the week after CSI.

Are US residents spending their tax returns? Does the economic downturn encourage people to give up on spending US dollars, and spend very attractive Linden dollars at 1/270th the cost?

I don't know what it is, but i couldn't be happier. I never thought I could talk like Desmond and say I had a region full with a waiting list. I rented the last one last night, put up the "sold out" sign, and started sending the teleports to the other region.

Is anyone else riding the wave? I hope everyone is getting some good times coming their way. If LL really did something good, then let's try to communicate it to the Lindens so that they keep it up.

(P.S. shower and bed makers: please don't make your stuff taller than 5 meters!)

I've actually been in a slump the past couple of days and wondered what's been going on. Kind of shrugged it off as SL being so borky.

Your news is encouraging. Bring 'em on!

That's veeeeery interesting. I had noticed a sudden boost in sales over the past couple of days, but couldn't figure out why. Hmmm.

Well, this seems like a positive all around, certainly. Looking forward to seeing what new builds and designs result from this influx.

I'm not seeing it. And not just because of the 503 errors.

Our skybox sales doubled in the past week, with no new products or extra advertising on our part. We were scratching our heads over it...

I've noticed this in the forums that when everyone complains their sales are down mine go up. When everyone says their sales are up then mine go down. I don't wish bad sales on any of you, BUT......

could it be that ppl have paid off their xmas bills and now have money to spend?

or filed their income tax and got a loan from tax filing service?

If they are from the Uk, I might be able to shed some light on teh new members..

The biggest selling tabloid newspaper here is called "The Sun". In todays center pages was a sizable spread about SL. Heres the link to it:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article740752.ece

Also, tonight here in the UK is a documentary about SL on BBC2 at 9:50pm.Heres the link to it :

http://library.digiguide.com/lib/uk-tv-highlight/Wonderland:+Virtual+Adultery+and+Cyberspace+Love-2465/Documentary/

Maybe this is why?

My products are not geared toward newbies and my sales have been up. For me it is a combination of things. I'm running website ads. I'm working hard producing new items. My stuff is brilliant . But also I have a feeling that folks are in the mood to spend.

I went Newbie hunting last night and I agree - I think there's an early migration.

I know that was your intention but . . . this line mixed with your cannibal signature. eek.

Another possibility (long term, not this week): recession in the United States.

During the worst of times, certain industries prosper ... the little joys in life.

Everything from candy to cosmetics.

You might be down and out, bleak future, end nigh... but dammit, in *this* moment you are gonna have a moment of pleasure, and look good doing it... grin

The metaverse just might be like that. Synthetic dreams... when the real ones cannot come true.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least if the grid had a sort of morphine-to-your-reality effect, inversely proportional to economic times. A place to turn to, pennies on the dollar compared to reality.

I would have to completely agree, Desmond. Many have expressed their legitimate concern regarding the recessions effect on SL, but I think it will have the opposite effect. More people staying home and not going out to eat, or to the movies, etc. means possibly more spending money in SL which is a far cheaper option comparably.

Lol - but someone said in an earlier thread that 503 was because too many people were loggin on - is SL simply being overwhelmed as the ability to log on from countries previously hampered by lack of electronic freedoms (now about that for political correctness) may be increasing?
Is SL simply being drowned by overuse?

Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded.

ty yogi

A few thoughts on the initial comment...

In many parts of the world, its cold out... people are staying inside by their computers.

People with new PCs for Christmas looking for something new to do with them.

Playboy US had a mention of second life in a recent issue. That probably brought loads of newcomers.

which may mean a new rash of avies with permanently erect and visible genitals ... asking for sex, free lindens and/or a job.

Don't forget about the TV writers strike in the US. They are reporting an average drop of 21% in viewers, with one show off by 50%!

Those viewers are going somewhere. And unfortunatley for network TV, they may never return.

It's baseball all over again, but with cocaine instead of steroids.

Good theories and comments, everyone. And never underestimate the power of having Bradley's picture in your "come party with us" ads! I hope you're not neglecting that tactic, Bradley.

Whatever it is, I hope it doesn't mean mainland land prices are going to go up again. I'm thinking about finally settling down after my next credit card cycle.

Me too! My best sales times have been when everyone else has been grumbling about economy slowdowns and few customers; on the other hand, over the last few days I've had hardly any sales at all, which is very unusual for me. And that comes hot on the tail of a huge boom for the first couple of weeks of January, which had multiple days of nearly-record sales highs.

I don't begin to understand what causes all these sales figure variations! Sometimes it's obvious, like the grid being especially glitchy; but a lot of the time there's no terribly obvious-to-me explanation of it all. I just shrug and say to myself "oh well, This Too Shall Pass". :-7

We have even noticed the larger influx of newbs in the last couple of weeks in our Roadhouse....whatever is working...KEEP EM COMING!

Blu (who is new to the forums)