How to List Freebies on XStreet

The inimitable Eloh Eliot just pointed out a way to list freebies on XStreet:

https://uncensored.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&file=item&ItemID=1944938

As you may remember, LL recently began charging for freebie listings - even if you're willing to pay, they are no longer listed in search results, so why bother?

Eloh's freebie is priced at 6,000,000, if I read the zeros correctly. She lists links to external websites for her skin sources, but one could just as easily post a SLURL. And it is quite easy to use XSTreet's advanced search to look for items priced, for example, between 50,000 and 9,000,000 $L. Perhaps a range starting at $L20,000 would be better - there are items actually for sale in that range, so it is harder for LL to filter. One could say something in the item title to make it clear it's free.

It is, of course, gaming the system. What do you think?

Systems game us from conception to beyond the grave.

I suppose those wouldn't show up at the top when viewing a "price low to high" sort.

She's a bit careful, however. She's selling the *skins* on Xstreet, but giving away something "else", thereby avoiding the rule that you can't sell something for a higher price on Xstreet than in-world.

When this all started (and btw, it's not taken effect yet, has it?), I thought about "selling" a box with a landmark in it, and giving away the freebie in-world. But yeah, it certainly seems one could also embed the SLURL right in the listing so folks would be able to inspect the fine craftsmanship of the box containing the landmark, etc.

The new "free item" price point will be about 4L$ (the 3L$ minimum commission plus a little bit to cover the monthly listing fee of 10L$ for non-free items). Put several items in the box to make it attractive enough to buy on it's own merit, or just treat the listing fee as a form of advertising for your store in world. Its actually pretty cheap compared to listing a parcel in search or classifieds.

Several problems with that (to open an old can of worms).

First, if one is already paying the tier on land to host the freebies and the fee to list the parcel, one might think LL could spring for the Xstreet listing, gratis. The fee is just adding insult to injury.

Second, not everybody gives away freebies as a form of advertising. Typical of that "e-commerce" team to think otherwise.

Third, where's the fun in playing along with their silly little game? Lisitng fees? List THIS, Xstreet!

Has anyone heard anything yet on when the monthly listing fee of L$10 will go into effect? I kind of thought it would have happened already. Are they just going to take it from your available Linden balance?

Thanks for any feedback

They will go into affect "soon," which.. could be anywhere from now until the end of time. And I'm not sure on the second one.

Best way to reduce clutter on XStreet is to just remove the products, rather than pay the silly fees.

Well I suppose if part of the reason to distribute freebies is for promotional purposes the loss due to commission becomes part of your marketing budget. I suppose it may even be possible to use it as an event.

Before this goes into effect I will take down my megaprim freebie package. It's pretty popular and I don't use it for promotion, but if LL wants to kill that anyway, I don't care anymore. If anybody else wants to host it, please contact me in-world.

The whole freebie issue is not handled too well. A seperate category/site for it is a good idea, as long as that one is searchable too. What use is it to list a freebie without people being able to find it?

Myself I have 4 or 5 freebies listed, and they are promotional items to show what kind of stuff I sell. As soon as they are not searchable anymore, I will either withdraw them, or list them for a few linden. Not to cover the expenses as I could not care less about the listing fee, but I need them to show up in search of course.

The so called community freebies (like megaprims, and certain free tools (MLP for example), will probably vanish as well. Yes, I used to care about that, but when I started a topic for this a while ago (after I talked to Blondin about it) and I got about zero serious reactions. There were possibilities for a sort of community category, freebies that actually were beneficial to the community. So my conclusion was that apparantly people preferred complaining about the fees, then to work together towards a viable solution. That was the moment I decided to stop caring about that part.

Back to the OP: Actually I LOL-ed when seeing this listing, but I do wonder how long this will be permitted. Let's say each merchant like myself is going to use the same technique for their freebie listings, search will become even worse then it is now. Simply because the million linden freebies will fill up the first few pages.
And believe me, this will happen as soon as people find out it is possible.

you're all welcome to distribute your freebies on secondBiTS.com

http://www.secondBiTS.com

and here

http://www.metaverseexchange.com/

You'll be able to distribute your freebies on most merchant sites, like Apez, Slapt, and Meta-Life.

And.. if one could get away with it, one could list the freebies on (such as demos) on of the other marketing sites and put the link in the XStreet listing.

Yep.

I have to admit that I'm being a bit mischievous in posting this. But then, Nika has always been a slightly mischievous avatar.

Truly, I feel the reasons given by LL for the freebie policy are specious - they were not clogging search. There are many approaches that would be more beneficial to search - allowing options on items, i.e. for different colors. Occasionally sweeping the listings to remove those never purchased. Eliminating single quantity "yard sale' posts.

Post after post discussing this policy made that clear. The only reason I can see for it is to eliminate competition from freebies, thereby making it SL less pleasant and accessible for avatars who have no money. Fie on that!
.

During one of the recent Office Hours, Colossus Linden stated in response to a question I posed, that merging the SL and XStreet accounts was a much higher priority and would probably be released first. In light of the complexity involved in merging logins (it took them .. two months?), I can see the merging of account balances to be another few months out. THEN they can deduct their fees from your SL account when you get nailed on a monthly basis even though you've not made enough in sales to cover them.

The full transcripts of the first two Office Hour sessions can be found on my Wiki page:

https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/User:Darrius_Gothly

We need to get SL in Craigslist.