Second Life

[Sabayenda]

Hey, I've been thinking about doing this, but wanted to hear if anyone else has done/thought of it before. My idea is to make a resident on Second Life to promote/advertise my PF store, possibly opening up a virtual store in SL selling SL clothes with my designs on them. I do know that things like this have been done, notably American Aparel and a little know real world brand called [Hoorenbeek].
Is this a good idea for a POD store? Are there any other residents out there who do this?

Thanks!

[Pussycat]

I can remember someone from "the other place" doing this, don´t know if he/she was successful. I haven´t got the time to explore that avenue - but heck, try it, it might work out.

[Sabayenda]

That's cool that you know people have done this...It's very interesting, but something I'll probably do in the far future...

I notice you're in Germany!
Wie Geht's?

Bis dann,

[Pussycat]

I notice you're in Germany!
Wie Geht's?

Bis dann,

:D Danke, gut! The weather is so-so, I´ve been at work an hour and the day started hectic! Now I´m checking on all the forums of my online ventures over the second cup of tea.

[Sabayenda]

I took German for four years in High School, and I kind of had an idea in my head to do alternate product descriptions in german...Do you think this is a good idea?
I know that English is very fashionable in Germany, so I understand if this is a bad idea, but it still might lead to more sales...

Have you tried something like that?

Your thoughts, please!

Vielen Dank!

[Pussycat]

There´s one problem most of us Europeans have shopping online: no credit cards! We use them rarely, most of us have debit cards from our banks which serve the same purpose (with mine I can shop and get cash in most countries) and are cheaper.

That said - although I have had a few customers from Europe they are few and far between. Most of them come from the USA. Plus there´s the fact that if I order something from countries outside the EU anything over $20 I have to pay customs. And that goes for all countries and puts buyers off.

So why it might be a good idea for a "normal" website to have more than one language available, I don´t think it´s all that important for a POD shop.

[Sabayenda]

Thank you for your input, though I'm curious about your debit cards, cause I don't have a credit card but I have no problem making purchases online with it, as if it were a credit card....And don't try to tell me that it is trust me, I know it's not :) cause I've tried to apply for a credit card and I was unable because I have zero credit...ooops.

[Cartesian Bear]

Some debit card issuers have an association with one of the big credit card companies. Yhis allows you to use your debit card like a credit card. [Check ... does your debit card have a Visa or MasterCard logo on it?]

I'm assuming most European cards don't have that affiliation, and can't be used as credit cards.

--Liz

[gp1628]

I brought the subject up ages ago. I know of two friends who did it and have had some luck with it. But Second Life does have a steep learning curve.

(Posted for lurkers) Its not something to be done lightly so I wouldnt recommend it for someone who isnt into such things already. But if someone is into graphics, and online gaming worlds, then its not a bad move. Anyone with a heavy addiction to SIMs or NWN or anything like that might just want to step up to the worlds like Second Life where you can do anything, and it has a built-in ability to convert from real world money to game world money and back again.

Create a virtual shop in one of the SL malls and duplicate your shirt designs there to sell to players avatars. Then post a note at the shop telling them that the designs are also available for real world people at your shop at printfection. (http://www.printfection) You can also put a note on your printfection shop saying that the designs are available in Second Life. Here is a link for anyone curious about what we are talking about.
http://www.secondlife.com/?u=f7581d4e0a8f456c0448b250f269a783

Ive also seen it done to a lesser level in other games. Other games dont usually have a built in way to make money on the virtual shirts themselves but I have seen virtual to real crossovers in games such as Rising Star (create a rock band). Those are usually easier to do and should create some crossover sales.

Gandalf Parker

[Sabayenda]

Thanks for your insigtht, Gandalf, you seem to have an endless amount of experience and knowledge.
I've dabbled in Second Life a little, I can build simple things and I've some lindens floating around in one of the stock exchanges and an investment fund. So now I just have to wait a bit so I can start making revenue from my PF shop so I have enough to make tier!

[Pussycat]

Some debit card issuers have an association with one of the big credit card companies. Yhis allows you to use your debit card like a credit card. [Check ... does your debit card have a Visa or MasterCard logo on it?]

I'm assuming most European cards don't have that affiliation, and can't be used as credit cards.

--Liz

Correct, Liz. As a European I can´t even get PayPals virtual credit card - I enquired, and they told me this service only applies to US citizens.

When I shop online with firms outside Europe, I can only do so if they use PayPal. I spent weeks looking for a European vendor for a plug-in I wanted to buy. It´s not funny sometimes :(

[Sabayenda]

Hilly, I'm a bit curious...If Europeans don't really use credit cards, how do they buy things online or make big purchases in real life?
I just want to understand the world a little bit more, since it's not all the same.

Thanks!

[Pussycat]

If Europeans don't really use credit cards, how do they buy things online or make big purchases in real life?


Easy. :D To use my method you need an online bank account with the bank of your coice, and you get a "Maestro Card", which is a debit card.

Online: I have a PayPal account. Means if the firm works with PayPal (like the vendors I buy my 3D poser content from) I pay either by direct debit (means PayPal pays the vendor and then takes the money out of my bankaccount after) or GiroPay (meaning PayPal directs me to my online bankaccount, and I pay direct using PIN/TAN). European firms that don´t use PayPal let you pay either by bank transfer after you receive the products or you pay the postman/delivery service at the door, or by direct debit (means they send you the stuff and take the money out of your bank account)

Offline: I rarely use cash - I usually carry about $10 - $15 on me. All the rest I can pay with my debit card. The shops have a gadget where they put your card in, you enter your PIN (or sign a slip with the older models), and the money´s gone from your account usually the next day. The good thing: there´s no extra charge. With this I can pay in all European and most other countries world wide. As long as I have that amount of money on my account of course.

One thing which is obsolete in Europe is cheques. I regularly get funny looks when I take my POD earnings to the bank - nobody sort of knows what to do with the bit of paper ... :D

[Sabayenda]

I kind of figured something like that was going on over there, but thanks for spelling it out! I also use my debit card exclusively, unless I have a lot of cash that I haven't put in the bank yet.
There are stores over there that give you stuff before you pay for it? Gah! That would never work in the US, there would be so much fraud, it wouldn't be funny.

Habt einen schoenen Tag!