Charlotte Bartlett

That’s a good idea. Albeit perm setting in SL is one of the biggest headaches. For copy items as they can Rez a million. Houses (if they had the land and allowance) I try to encourage customers to have a go on a copy to make mods to learn then just Rez another to reset it if needed. With firestorm now (for one linked piece) they just need to copy and paste the coordinates to realign the new copy to where the old one was, so no need to even adjust furniture etc.

Creators (I speak generally) like myself do an inordinate amount of customer support and help on learning SL. Far often to bridge the gap in any onboarding help for new players. New players are growth and the more the merrier!! If would be amazing if we could see more new user directed tutorials so users can discover the joy of modifying things in SL

I thought rezzables tend to be mod / copy (bar gacha). I always do mod / copy so people can color or change textures to their hearts delight or reconfigure things. I unwrap things specifically so customers can use any of their own textures to things like floors, walls etc and it will all align perfectly. What is more noticeable these days is how many users in SL don’t know how to use the basic edit / build menu. One reason (not that I agree with it) some creators may make complex scripted things non mod is to cut down on customers breaking stuff and needing significant support. I get at least two CSRs a day from customers who accidentally unlink a build so their doors don’t work, or they make a ceiling purple or something in error etc. Now we don’t mostly build in SL it has fast become a lost art on modifying items for users who purely “consume”.

I think they won if the metric used is “profit”.... for Minecraft specifically too....

We aren't that I am aware of from when I lived in the UK. Linden Dollars you are not buying from Linden Lab, but another resident. You should see it for where you purchase services or fees directly from LL (so USD tier, Lindex Fees etc).

I did wonder that too - However, as the screenshot is cut off so I couldn't calc to see if they did embed 10% GST. If the OP @xBaeBeexdoes read this and hopefully she does: If she goes to her account history page the transaction will show the tax amount so she can confirm there what they charged her. + Yes they do need to update their documentation, that's a good catch!. The blog wording as you mention specifies GST (Goods and Services Tax) but then links to a page over VAT (Value Added Tax) for other countries. Terminology makes this tricky globally. If any other Australian's see this posts they may be able to check a recent Linden purchase and check the account history page to clarify for us too. I am not based in Australia so can't check myself. This page here also needs a bit of a refresh - > http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Value_Added_Tax_(VAT)_Frequently_Asked_Questions#Linden_Lab_is_based_in_the_United_States._Why_are_you_charging_VAT_for_Norwegian_and_European_Residents_or_GST_for_Australian_Residents.3F Plus this link should be removed - > http://www.house.gov/jec/news/news2006/pr109-98.pdf (it doesn't exist)

It was covered in a post here for the GST add on for Australians - >

Hi If you purchase a premium membership or own a Region you always pay in USD directly to Linden Lab (so no use of the LINDEX). If you purchase in world content (e.g. hair, clothes) you need to buy Game Tokens (Linden Dollars) using the LINDEX. Annual Premium Membership Fee USD 99 + 10% GST = USD 108.99 USD 108.99 x AUD Bank FX rate 1.45573921 = AUD 158.53 Final Total Cost = AUD 158.53 As FX rates are fluid and not static so on 25 June 2020 when you were charged, the market FX rate for USD/AUD sat in the region of 1.4519. FX rates change real time whilst your bank has it's treasury desks open. Worse case your bank made a 0.42 AUD profit from you as a small spread on the FX rate, or just due to timing of the charge during the day, or due to an International transaction fee (your bank can tell you which it was). Your screenshot of the Google FX Rate is showing a 1M average FX Rate from yesterday which will never match what your bank is using. Your bank will use a spot rate based on what it's treasury desk's rates are (it's how banks make money trading FX) - FX rates against the USD have moved considerably between 25 June and today. LINDEX - Buying Game Tokens (Linden Dollars) for use in Second Life to purchase things (e.g. Avatar clothing) The LINDEX is only used for buying in game tokens - "Linden Dollars" for purchase of items in Second Life (or selling any surplus you have if you need a refund on your game tokens). The math will however follow the same methods as above for those in Australia. However, you will have an additional USD 1.49 added as a fee first for using the LINDEX to purchase game tokens. The fee is larger if you sell Linden Dollars for a refund back into USD.

Thanks I could replicate it on both Beta and Main using Firestorm too. I did manage to get uploaded using my own sim eventually. It feels like any file over 1mb chokes slightly. I say feel because I haven't had time to test - albeit I did upload a simple cube without issue with a tiny file size.

Have had the same all day and yesterday - thought it was just me. Been tearing my hair out for a Fameshed setup - using Firestorm. Beta grid + regular. 2020-11-01T17:59:34Z WARNING #CoreHttp# llcorehttp/_httppolicy.cpp(434) stageAfterCompletion : HTTP request 0x7f92b44d5620 failed after 0 retries. Reason: Linden Catch-All (Http_499) 2020-11-01T17:59:39Z WARNING #Mesh# newview/llmeshrepository.cpp(2803) onCompleted : Upload failed. Reason: Linden Catch-All (Http_499) 2020-11-01T17:59:39Z WARNING #Mesh# newview/llmeshrepository.cpp(764) log_upload_error : Error in stage: upload, Reason: Linden Catch-All (Http_499) 2020-11-01T17:59:39Z WARNING #Mesh# newview/llmeshrepository.cpp(775) log_upload_error : error: {'identifier':'NetworkError','message':'Linden Catch-All'} 2020-11-01T17:59:39Z WARNING #Mesh# newview/llmeshrepository.cpp(776) log_upload_error : mesh upload failed, stage 'upload', error '', message 'Linden Catch-All', id 'NetworkError' 2020-11-01T17:59:39Z WARNING # newview/lltoastalertpanel.cpp(182) LLToastAlertPanel::LLToastAlertPanel : Alert: Phanto9m2 failed to upload: Linden Catch-All

Not sure who is the wheat and chaff... We ran a Lindex education “effort” over on Facebook start of 2020. In a closed group of a few hundred content creators, event organizers, land barons etc we started a push to help maximize returns. It was amazing how many did not know the basics of limit sells, how to time selling, why selling one point off the market was losing them a minimum of 200 dollars per annum and so forth. There are some materials still around for it that get shared. The essence of this is to run a Second Life business needs a mix of financial skill as well as all the creative ones (if a content creator). The point of me mentioning this is I offered to LL to give them the materials and to have it up on a blog post they were hoping to have up on Lindex education. Sadly they never got the blog up and running. With a lack of specific materials (not on some third party blog that new users likely won’t discover initially) where else should they start a conversation? This particular thread was not the right opener but it’s also not the right approach to belittle new joiners to SL (that’s not directed at you, it’s general). Also please god do not link to Investopedia they still haven’t corrected their misunderstanding on what a virtual convertible currency is and have used appalling sources generally on SL topics. If you follow their info you would end up in hot water with the IRS eventually.

Where are you getting your metrics from....:specifically.

My numbers were just examples. I think you have great ideas, getting them out there may mean somebody reads and picks up on it.

I half don't want to post a response on this as it's now so OT. But I will mainly, so I can point at @Salt Peppermint chuckling at my post 😂. I just wanted to respond around the RL economic items cited above, so creators don't think the above is a valid reason to why they must suddenly slash prices by 46% at this moment in time. My own viewpoint on the USD collapse may differ from people like Stephen Roach. Either way, the USD alleged collapse has not yet occurred, so creators don't need to panic price reduce as a result now. Whilst it's good to be aware of specific economic factors, you can judge pricing based on your own customer base, volumes of sale, and whether income targets are met. There are multifaceted elements of global economies and whilst it is never wrong to prepare for the "worst" that can happen, you must also not devalue too early or be naive in what impacts you may (or may not) have. Personally, I much prefer "make hay whilst the sun shines", then "save for a rainy day" dual approach. If the market will bear 1299 for a fat pack keep it there, once it doesn't bear it you adjust price if needed (or add other value in to maintain price etc). Lindex is one example where you can track how the rate moved from 260 to 239 in the seller's favor. This should give you an indication of supply/demand between residents. You can see the impact of growth during lock down. Once that slows (it's starting to) and if rates go back up, maybe that's the right time to price adjust. I know I tend to micro adjust if we start to see rates at 261 and above and also tied to the month income goals set for us. Pro creators will measure velocity of purchases combined with other factors such a price point, product reach etc. Conversely prices may actually go "up" if growth goes down as creators are selling to a smaller pool of customers to maintain their income levels, and if those customers will bear the cost, they will price accordingly. There is one final other option, do I dare say it - if you want something very specific in relation to the colors you want, you could always ask that creator to see if they would be open to your ideas on color. I have often have people coming up with ideas for what I make, and actually ask customers what they would like. Then your specific issue is solved, versus having a creator change all their pricing and structure for your one user case. If they find many user cases, they can adjust as needed.

I hope we don’t see more race to bottom on prices. 699 for a fat pack is fine for a sale, but under priced for a “regular” level of sales of an item imho. I like your Idea on colors though. RL businesses can vary if you have little start up costs you can be in profit quickly. Many start up businesses that require significant investment can take years as you mention.

I can’t speak for adult services, but from my experience the only way you will hit that number is be in the top tier of content creation preferably women’s fashion. Or churn a serious volume in home and garden with at least 3 releases a month and have a cracking PR approach and brand “style” and run it as your own business.

What document did they ask you to complete, was it a W9? If it was a valid link you only have 30 days to complete or they can/will put your account on hold. Rather than assume it’s not valid I personally would be protecting my account and raising a support ticket asking them to validate the from email address and document being requested as valid urgently.

There is no limit in the US before you have to start reporting for taxes, even if your income is zero and your tax payment is zero - you still need to submit your tax return. 10,000 USD is a misnomer and I think you are confusing allowances and/or reportable transactions. LL also report transactions as a Money Service Business that fall within certain parameters. For any amount you covert into USD you report that is income. For any land payment or LL Fees you pay in USD you can report that as a deductible. For ease it's best to (in line with the tax reporting calendar) ensure you bring any surplus Linden Dollars to zero and into USD on the final day so you have a "clean" reporting period for income and don't accidentally fall into the whole argument over "property/assets" / "what is a virtual convertible currency". If you are paying for your land in Linden Dollars to another resident and netting to zero in-world (i.e. total sales are equal to, or are less than, your land rental payment in Linden Dollars) - you wouldn't have any USD income to report....how you do your tax return in that scenario is up for discussion still

And mine was a reply to you so correctly quoted. No forgiveness needed your opinions are always welcome and I enjoy the conversation on how we all see things differently. Its one of the things that make SL great in my own humble opinion. Have a lovely evening.

Yeah sorry you have lost me apologies. These people whom you speak of I have never encountered so I have not had that same experience as you. Also I spend little... just one sim payment. But I generate fees that I pay to Linden Lab across my sales, cash outs, Lindex fees etc based on Tier 2 business level cash outs. Again a revenue generator not a “spender”.... It has been fun to discuss this, all opinions are interesting and let’s hope LL continues to make the right decisions financially and that non premium accounts remain and contribute to the healthy economy that exists today.

Sorry you quoted me hence it appeared you were addressing my comments If you didn’t mean to perhaps a fresh post would have worked without the quote. As I think I said the assumption that people who aren’t premium don’t “buy” is the wrong assumption if that helps. The art of making profit across traditional channels combined with intrinsic value add behavior is a balancing act. I don’t feel like I need to keep repeating this, but this is an economy with a virtual world attached. Free accounts is a misnomer often misunderstood by those without an economics background / and who do not understand the specific fee structure and cash flow you would attribute to something like Second Life. You think it’s a financial loss, but in reality it’s quite the opposite (again due to the fee based economy that exists). I don’t think my explanations will help you, but where you think financial loss, I see growth opportunity and fee generating consumer bases.

You know when you say you learn something new everyday - just reading through that post again I noted Ruth 2. I had no idea (shame on me). Thanks for the heads up and education, I am going to take a look! Appreciate it

I would politely beg to differ on vague assumptions. I see and have experienced over 14 years a significant level of contributions to the platform that comes from outside generic use. Can I quantify - no, hence why I said extreme case in my example. But what LL can quantify is the revenue attributed to non premium users within their metrics. So let me turn it back on your statement.... how do you quantify those who are NOT contributing ANY value to the platform where it is not measured in USD. You (and I) cannot.... hence each time somebody says free accounts are "a thorn in the eye" it's only your assumption and hence why I am interested in the counter points and basis of your assumption. I have presented alternative argument that would suggest there are other assessments in play.

Also I have no idea why I am posting so much on this (well I am drinking a Pina Colada right now, so go figure at sunset). At this rate I may have to report myself! 🤣 But - something in addition to why I am so pro free account access is we have to remember SL is an economy with a virtual world (and I use the terms in that order as that's what LL has focused on making it with rebalancing income from generated fees over land costs). When you block access to an economy and enforce payment before you can participate even in simple tasks like buying a dress or renting a small piece of land to watch your virtual sunsets from, economies tend to fail and quickly....

What if those people who don't spend, instead are using it to share content externally (beautiful images they create) and to their vast social media followers. Promoting SL in a way that is not a tangible "investment". Ok that's one extreme, but determining "cost of user" is not a basic tangible connection to USD in all cases.. I suspect the % is low, it may also be fluid (e.g. ok they didn't spend this month, but they did last month and will next month) or their value is not monetary e.g. they create tutorials, or are simply online talking to friends who value them and those friends "stick" as a result and are "spenders" or "consumers". The final % who really are not contributing will likely be so small. Combined with lower costs with the Cloud project for Sims for example, they would likely not even create a line item on the balance sheet.