Rufferta

Yes, that's expensive. Please feel free to drop in and look around and see why I think it is worth it. The door mat will give you a notecard with more detailed information. As an experiment, I tried furnishing the whole thing in freebies. Everything on the property (with the exception of the cat and the mat) were obtained from freebie sources like Yadni's or the Bazaar at Stillman. You can see what can be done with a relatively small parcel. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Green/225/201/23

This is for merchants who still maintain virtual stores in SL. I realize this is presumptuous, as I am a newbie and all, but after visiting a lot of shops in the last few weeks (both as part of a hunt, and for buying things for myself) I found a lot of things that irritated me and detracted from my shopping experience. I'm hoping that pointing these things out may help some one else who is just starting out. First off, I use the Marketplace as a starting point. I will search for something, and then look for a line that says "See this in Second Life". I also do a profile check when I find articles in SL that I like, and search from that. After a few unfortunate purchases, I will not buy something from someone who is does not have a 'virtual brick and virtual mortar' store. Even if the store doesn't have enough room to display everything, at least they are showing they feel connected to SL. I have also found that there are some great stores in SL that don't advertise on the Marketplace. First off, choose a low-lag location. I don't have a magic ball to tell you how to do this, I just know that if I have been in a store for over five minutes and everything is still grey, I probably won't stay. Second, be sure that your store can be found under search. I've found several instances where the store name as displayed on the store and on the merchandise doesn't match. If I'm just wandering through a neighborhood and see your store, it would be nice if a sign outside would give some clue as to what was being sold. (If I go inside and I still don't know, you're in trouble...) Teleport directions. Have you checked yours lately? If you have changed the terrain or the building, you might need to check the teleport location on your advertising. Enough said? After your prospective customer has landed, will he be able to find the front door? Glass doors in buildings with glass windows should especially be marked. :) A greeter is nice, but a "robo greeter has given you a landmark and wants you to join the group" before you are even in the door, or repeated more than once, is annoying. Is your space set up so that your customer can move around and maintain a calm sense of body ownership? Some examples: store fixtures oversized so that customers feel like Alice in Wonderland unless that was your intention); merchandise packed together so tightly that an avatar can't 'walk around' (One store was not only cluttered, but had merchandise stacked in front of the doors. While I was outside using my camera to see things, a number of customers dropped in and hovered just below the ceiling - guess they'd been there beore). Another store had gaping holes in the floor and falling beams - help! Teleports in large stores are great, just make sure they work. Twice last week I found stores with one-way teleports to another floor, but no way back. Display of items on sale: You don't have to put absolutely everything on a separate display board - the menus with arrows work fine, just make sure each board says what it is for "Women's clothes", for example. Have some rezzed versions of your product. Demos of clothing, hair, and skin are great. If you are selling houses, a teleport to at least one model is good. PRODUCT INFORMATION: (My greatest complaint). Please display the price! I went to one store that not only did not display the price, but insisted that you buy a gift certificate before trying to purchase. A superior description of the product would state: The number of prims; The footprint; The materials used (mesh, prim, megaprim?) As well as copy/modify/transfer. Make the information readable. I love SL! I am constantly amazed at the creativity and talent displayed in the community, and I am more overjoyed than annoyed, so please don't take my comments to mean I am unhappy. The things I am pointing out are in the minority. Most of the shops are wonderful. I am now going shopping.

You are all quite right, I should not have acted in haste and I am sorry. I thought I had finished most of my "stumbling around" in SL, but I guess I still have a lot to learn. I have edited the post, and flown over to the neighbor to IM them asking them if they could tone down the signage. I also figured out that if I re-orient my house a few degrees and put in a large tree I won't have to look at them. Oh well.

About two weeks ago I bought a small parcel in what seemed like a quiet neighborhood. I just went back to do some landscaping and saw that over the water, my neighbor has put up two ugly signs. I'm still pretty much a newbie, but I know that this sort of thing is pretty much standard and probably nothing can be done. Unfortunately, I paid more than I should for the parcel and now probably won't be able to re-sell it. <MODERATOR: Sign Information removed> Any suggestions?

I've been noticing more lag lately, and am wondering if there is any way to measure my "prim" footprint to make sure that I am not the cause. . Could it be the three houses I'm carrying in inventory? I don't want to walk around with a bald head, but would a generic avatar be better for sightseeing?

Thank you all. It sounds as if I would have to fly at an altitude of over 5000 feet to avoid trespassing? Now I'll have to find my altimeter and magic feather.

On flying: I just signed on, and I've been looking for land. I was using Worldmap to identify abandoned parcels for sale and flying from one to another, since the interface wouldn't teleport me. In one area I keep getting kicked offline midway. Also, some of the identified parcels appear to be underwater. Is this just lag, or am I inadvertently trespassing? On height limitations: I've looked at many of the parcels being auctioned off by the Lindens, and what many seem to have in common is that they are right next to some big ugly building that completely blocks the view. Are there any regions with height limitations? Any help would be appreciated.