Shop n' Hop impressions

[Ceka Cianci]

2 minutes ago, LittleMe Jewell said:

Been that way for years now -- at least with many stores.  

There are actually some that really do give you something that represents what they make, but most of those stores you probably already know about and shop at anyway.  Many of the gimmicky gifts are from new stores and said gift is giving me no incentive to check them out.

Ya, I've been tightening my circle with stores more and more over the past few years.. I'm especially staying away from the places that don't make their own creations..

[Blaise Glendevon]

The thing that burns me up is that almost none of the better hair stores at Shop & Hop have put out an actual hair. The one brand I frequent that did put out hair put one out in a color pack that is niche, to say the least. And the bottom of the barrel hair stores put out fat packs of wigs I wouldn't put my dog in. 

I don't actually have a dog, It's a saying. I have a dog avatar, and I wouldn't put her in them either. 

The struggle for freebie hair is real, y'all.

Edited June 22, 2022 by Blaise Glendevon

[June Starlight]

Went to S&H two times so far, one before the opening with Birthday group early access, another one after. Regions by themselves seem to run MUCH smoother, avatars though still crash my viewer (mid-range gaming pc and BD). Turned graphic settings down, view distance to 40 - still got crashes. So reserved to going around with avatar rendering disabled and it "magically" solved the problem. Too bad, I wanted to ogle everyone's outfits.

Stores with gifts hidden or gift cards that don't cover a single purchase - why? Just earning some bad reputation for themselves.

Themed grouping of stores I really like, especially since it is hard to cover whole event in one day. I can pick a vaguely themed area, look around, grab demos, shop a little, and next time start with exploring another themed corner the other time.

Themed builds are cute. Closed off builds that make shopping a camera handling gymnastics still annoy me.

[Salt Peppermint]

12 hours ago, Lysistrata Szapira said:

I noticed that at least one store offers a gift card that won't pay for a SINGLE item available in their store.  This store only sells fatpacks (both at S&H and at the mainstore) so the XXXL offered in the gift card isn't a gift at all. It's a discount card or coupon.   I deleted that particular card because I'm not buying a fatpack of anything. 

A few other stores offer gift credits or cards that will pay for 1.5 items at their regular store prices. I also find that a bit ridiculous.  I'd be perfectly fine with the amount of a single item available in the store (if the vast majority of items are say 299L each (random number, not picking a specific store), why offer a gift credit of 400L when there's nothing in the store for 99 or 100L? Just offer a 300L card. The 1L left over is irrelevant).  Most of these cards have expiry dates for that amount, so it's not like I can save up my credits for additional items.  At least one didn't put an expiry date on their store credit, so kudos to that store.   I get it. It's more likely it's just a ploy to get us to spend that extra 100L to get a second item. Doesn't mean I like it though.  

I return and purchase a lot of things from stores that don't play like this, so in the end they're losing more money than they're gaining because I'm not the only one who has noticed this. 

 

a gift card of a certain amount is exactly what it says it is. it's not "pick any item for free". when you get a gift card for any store in RL, it's that amount that will be deducted from your check. so even if a store offers fatpacks only, and they gift you a gift card of 300LS, you can get anything you like 300LS cheaper. is the rest of the amount you would have to pay still too much?fair enough, don't get anything. but saying that is not a gift , is actually quite rude. 

[Arielle Popstar]

13 hours ago, Lysistrata Szapira said:

  Most of these cards have expiry dates for that amount, so it's not like I can save up my credits for additional items.  At least one didn't put an expiry date on their store credit, so kudos to that store.   I get it. It's more likely it's just a ploy to get us to spend that extra 100L to get a second item. Doesn't mean I like it though.  

I return and purchase a lot of things from stores that don't play like this, so in the end they're losing more money than they're gaining because I'm not the only one who has noticed this. 

 

Is that even legal considering the US Federal laws require at least 5 years for a valid expiration  and state laws for California seem to not allow any and require the store to allow the cashing out of a remaining balance?

Quote

In California, for example, store-issued gift cards cannot expire, and if the balance on the gift card is less than $10, you can cash it out. (That’s great to know when a gift card’s value drops to single digits.)

https://www.giftcards.com/gcgf/giftcards-expire

[LittleMe Jewell]

3 hours ago, Arielle Popstar said:

Is that even legal considering the US Federal laws require at least 5 years for a valid expiration  and state laws for California seem to not allow any and require the store to allow the cashing out of a remaining balance?

https://www.giftcards.com/gcgf/giftcards-expire

it's legal because it is all virtual tender, not subject to the laws of RL gift cards & such.

[Cougar Sangria]

The massive amount of vendors at the Shop & Hop required me to rethink my strategy this year.  I was able to get a alphabetical list of all the vendors this year and their SLurl at the venue.  I went down the list and went to only the vendors I have frequented in the past or current favorites.  Sadly, many shops I do frequent were not at the S&H.  Anyway, I came away with a manageable folder of gifts.  I will unpack them today, try them on, and either keep or delete.  The H&G items I will rez and if not to my satisfaction I will delete.  I did notice a lesser degree of lag this year, then again, I just tp'd around to the shops.  400 shops?  It was just too overwhelming for me...and I am one of those shop till you drop gals.

[Salt Peppermint]

4 hours ago, Arielle Popstar said:

Is that even legal considering the US Federal laws require at least 5 years for a valid expiration  and state laws for California seem to not allow any and require the store to allow the cashing out of a remaining balance?

https://www.giftcards.com/gcgf/giftcards-expire

even in RL this applies only to gift cards you are actually paying for . if you buy a gift card in SL I never seen that to be set to expire.

Promotional gift cards are a different story and even in your link you can read that this does not apply for cards you do not pay for. gifts cards that are given out as gifts can be set however the creator wants to set them. it would be very strange otherwise

 

 

[Dafadilia Wayfarer]

My husband and I went and explored together. It was laggy and at times we got downright grumpy because we explored in the late evening hours for us. It took us four days to get through and we are still finding we haven't covered all of it.

Even through all the lag and grumpiness, we had a lot of fun together. It was fun to see the steampunk theme decor. You can tell the Moles put so much time and effort into that. They really outdid themselves. Absolutely beautiful, but then hubby and I are steampunk fans so we may be biased.

We were also thrilled about the gifts this year. Many creators really outdid themselves and were beyond generous. Some great things we found to purchase for wardrobe and home as well! Overall, I have to say we had a great time. I loved the shopping mall feel to it. I always do though!

 

[Bree Giffen]

I must have forgot to use my previous credit at a store because when I clicked on the $300 credit gift it said I had $800 credits! Hehe. I ended up just buying all the outfits they had at the shop n hop. 

[BambiChicque]

There was a shop (will not name them, but their work is typically superb and yet they break up each clothing item to buy individually ~ which adds up $$) that their gift was $300L Store Credit.  So...I clicked to buy something while there and it only added store credit to my account - I didn't get to use the "GIFT?" as store credit.  If they are going to do store credit, they should offer a Gift Card to wear while shopping their items anywhere they are set up.  I was not happy as it appeared to trick you into buying something while there.

[Psyche Starling]

My new peeve is when you get store credit, but can't use it if it doesn't cover the whole item. So instead of getting an item at, say, half price (half paid by the SC, half from your L$ balance), you can't buy anything else with your credit until they decide to give out some more months later. (In fairness, the stores usually give out enough to buy one item--this usually comes up when I try to buy a second item with what's left.)

[Marianne Little]

On 6/22/2022 at 6:49 PM, Cougar Sangria said:

The massive amount of vendors at the Shop & Hop required me to rethink my strategy this year.  I was able to get a alphabetical list of all the vendors this year and their SLurl at the venue.  I went down the list and went to only the vendors I have frequented in the past or current favorites.  Sadly, many shops I do frequent were not at the S&H.  Anyway, I came away with a manageable folder of gifts.  I will unpack them today, try them on, and either keep or delete.  The H&G items I will rez and if not to my satisfaction I will delete.  I did notice a lesser degree of lag this year, then again, I just tp'd around to the shops.  400 shops?  It was just too overwhelming for me...and I am one of those shop till you drop gals.

I have not been going yet. Too much RL things taking up my time. I am not looking for only freebies. If the stores I like has 50% off - or at least 25% - I may buy stuff.

Stores that has had 50% off before that I will take a look at is Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute and Kunglers. I think it is good quality, and a discount is always turning me in a happy shopping mood.

Edited June 24, 2022 by Marianne Little

[Psyche Starling]

52 minutes ago, Marianne Little said:

I have not been going yet. Too much RL things taking up my time. I am not looking for only freebies. If the stores I like has 50% off - or at least 25% - I may buy stuff.

Stores that has had 50% off before that I will take a look at is Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute and Kunglers. I think it is good quality, and a discount is always turning me in a happy shopping mood.

The Kunglers gift is so pretty! Really fun steampunk necklace.

[Chic Aeon]

Here is a thought - especially for freebie hunters.  There are a lot of really nice gifts this round. Why not send a thank you notecard to your favorite or favorites gift makers.   I did that for the little animesh pet that I fell in love with. The maker appreciated my note and we chatted a bit.  While I seldom get thank you notes even at Advent I DO appreciate them. I suspect most creators do. 

 

Just saying.   

[LittleMe Jewell]

3 hours ago, BookishMelinoe said:

My new peeve is when you get store credit, but can't use it if it doesn't cover the whole item. So instead of getting an item at, say, half price (half paid by the SC, half from your L$ balance), you can't buy anything else with your credit until they decide to give out some more months later. (In fairness, the stores usually give out enough to buy one item--this usually comes up when I try to buy a second item with what's left.)

This totally depends on the Merchant and what gift vendor they use.  Some will allow you to simply pay additional after applying the credit.  Most of the others do have a way in the store where you can add more L$ to the credit so that it is enough to buy something.

[Annie Evergreen]

There was one gift card I got that was just under the usual amount for items in their store. The only single item in the store I could buy - in an out-of-the-way location and basically the absolute last thing you could find in the store - was panties. Just one.  I would rather they just give me the panties than make me come to their store and spend 45 minutes trying to track down what I could buy with the gift card.