Freebies… are them for free?
Today i was reading a couple of posts in the blog of Prad Prathivi and Ana Lutetia where they express some concerns about the use of freebies as marketing tools. They have interesting points of view. Anyway, was a bit difficult to explain my point of view in a post comment, and i wanted to know other’s opinion too (there is a pool at the end of the post), so i prefered to post too about this. Of course this is just my two euro-cents.
I saw around two kind of freebies, the ones some creators just give for free in welcome areas, new residents areas, infohubs, or even in their own places or stores, like the resident Four Yip does (she has AWESOME stuff for free or for 1L$). The other kind are the ones you can find in some stores as a Marketing Tool, some directly to anyone, some for Group members of the store.
Personally i don’t see differences between the two kinds, i mean practical differences. The reason why they were built is different but the result is the same actually: some people who can’t afford (or just don’t want to buy) stuff has access to products of different qualities to make their Second Life better or funnier.
Thanks to freebies i had my first stuff, learned a bit about how to make particle scripts, had fun or even helped me to look good. Some creators complain about the freebies because they consider that is damaging their business but i think that idea is wrong. If someone goes to a store and just pick the freebies and nothing else that means he won’t buy the products for sale there anyway, because that person doesn’t wants, or because that person doesn’t like the products for sale or because he thinks they are overpriced. The freebies themselves are not lowering the sales of the merchant. If someone wants quality and exclusive stuff they will pay for sure (meanwhile the prices are reasonable).
The freebie thing is a theme that comes and goes from time to time, this was my opinion but, what is yours?
Image in the post by Torley Linden, published under a Creative Commons license.
9 Responses to “Freebies… are them for free?”
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- - October 23, 2008
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freebies are awesome! they’ve helped us boost sales and get our name out.. freebies can show people what you make without forcing them to buy something to check out your quality and style. i can’t count how many new stores i have found from going around looking for freebies in shopping centers and i am much more likely to frequent shops that have freebies offered, especially QUALITY freebies.
i also feel that freebies are vital to those starting out in second life. not everyone has the ability or want to buy L$, especially when they are new in sl and don’t know if they want to stay.. why put money into something when you are just starting out? but of course the stuff you start with is not very good, and even the updated noob avatars are really subpar. freebies help new people individualize themselves without having to put out an arm and a leg. and after they’ve been around for a while, they will probably remember those stores that helped them out, and they will buy stuff!
I agree with everybody on this issue and, so, I guess I also agree with no one.
1) There are awesome freebies that have introduced me to a store I might never have gone to if not for the freebie. For example, the bijou DIVA dress freebie. Not only was it incredibly generous (a fatpack) but it is well-made and fashionable and comes with accessories that can be worn with multiple outfits. That outfit made me a loyal bijou shopper forever. I have also introduced many newbies to Bijou through that outfit, taking them to get an outfit so they look like they weren’t dressed at Freebie Dungeon.
2) Then I recall situations like the other day at a store where the designer was there and right in front of her, some freebie hunter says, “Well, it’s okay I guess, but I would not be caught dead in it.” My mental chat was “Damn, I wish she would ban your ass.” If that is the consumer attitude regarding freebies, well then “let them wear cake” Except that is not the majority attitude. We know that in many areas of life, the bad drives out the good. While that woman was in that store, there were many 10 others who were picking up the freebie, milling about, saying complimentary things and saying thanks, but what sticks in my mind, what dominates my memory is the asshat. 10 good, appreciative and respectful freebie hunters are trumped in the memory by one person with an overgrown sense of entitlement.
3. In many cases, freebies have lost their drawing power and appeal through sheer numbers. However, when a designer goes all out and makes something stunning like Zaara’s recent lucky chair dress, well that is a freebie to remember. On the other hand, I do remember some other freebies that served as anti-advertising for their stores. If the freebie is something seen in every freebie dungeon in the grid, can I trust that the for-sale clothes are made by the designer. Another bad freebie? a jacket that I loved, but the designer put no LM in the folder and her picks are just her friends, no store info and her profile says she speaks no English. oops. I would love to go back and shop some more at her store, but have no idea how.
Now, I will confess to occasional moments of disgruntlement over a freebie. Not rising to the level that I would complain to the designer or anything. But yes, I have felt dismayed by freebies occasionally. One in particular stands out because I had purchased many excellent items at this store and was surprised and pleased to see a freebie. When I put it on I was shocked and realized it must have been done grudgingly to fill some sim promotional plan requirement or something because despite the designers great skill in the products they sold, the freebie was a something any noob could have made on orientation island. I deleted it and tried to forget about it, but confess that I feel as though the designer has contempt for her customers to offer such a poor quality item.
So, I have no solutions and no answers, just suggestions for store owners
1) Make fewer freebies, but make excellent ones.
2) Include info about the store and a lm.
3) Keep your profile picks up to date with up to date store locations.
4) Don’t let one jerk outweigh 10 good customers in your memory.
For freebie shoppers:
1) It is better to give than receive. You’re on the receiving end, be grateful.
2) They don’t have to give you the time of day. Be grateful.
3) If you don’t like it, delete it, don’t announce you taste far and wide. Be grateful.
4) Do you walk into Macy’s and ask, “give me a freebie” – Be grateful.
Looking at my customer behaviour, freebies are a good way of assessing products and I’ve added further comments below. Freebies, are not however all about marketing – many freebies are offered as open source or out of genuine kindness/generosity by the creators – and some of these items are of a very high quality. I love that people are out there caring and sharing.
I live in a country, where like many, capitalism has gone on steroids – and without standing on a soapbox – it’s gone beyond the point where everyone can afford the right of having a roof over their heads and basic medical care. It may just be my view but people need to chill out a little. I’m all for making money. I also love giving gifts, time and making people smile.
Freebies in second life do this and make the environment more fun for everyone. Not everyone has Linden dollars to spend and not everyone wants to get a job or spend their time camping to get Lindens when they have an hour or two free to relax and immerse themselves.
I spend a lot in world (it currently comes from my real life earnings – I buy it). My sister and I aim to sell stuff but at the same time we’ll be keeping the area we’ve set aside for newbs commercial and sales free and there will be freebies there for them to help them get started in second life. I love the idea that people can join second life without having to spend a cent on the game or in the world and yet still be able to go to events and try things out.
If people’s feel that freebies are taking away their business, they need to rethink their marketing/approach. Humans like to have “stuff” for a whole range of reasons. We don’t need a full wardrobe virtual clothes but we want them and buy them anyway. People are motivated by the need for affiliation/friendship/belonging; the need for status (brands, etc). If you meet one of their needs, they’ll probably buy from you even if there are similar items free. Like most things, if you are going to whine, before opening your mouth you should probably take a close look at yourself before you start pointing the finger an whining about the behaviour of others.
On the few odd occasions I’ve followed Jessyka’s freebie trails, I’ve spent far much more than I have ever got for free.
Freebies/Dollarbies also have introduced me to a number of SL businesses that I may have otherwise passed by. If I have an item I like, whether it’s a pose or item of clothing or gadget, I’ll often check the creator name and go and visit their store or look them up on SLX or OnRez.
My voice will always support the right of creators and the community to offer freebies/dollarbies.
*I am supporting freebies offered ‘honestly’ – not “freebies” have purchased or obtained under a licence and are being given away outside of that license; I don’t support freebies created using copybots to recreate other creators products; blah blah. I support FAIR trading hand in hand with freebies.
I really feel sad to read that people are against freebies.
where do we actually live? for real?
In SL? NO I don’t. I live in my real world and here I have to pay my bills.
SL is supposed to be an entertainment for most people.
I hate to bring this SURPRISE to some pepople who apparently live only in SL.
But some people actually have real lives and don’t care about fashion, about great skins, hairs, whatever anyone is trying to sell – they are there just to spend some time!!! Get real.
So, do you think that these people should simply go on naked because they refuse to spend real money to dress a doll?
That’s what we are all doing here – dressing dolls. now, isn’t it a bit stupid? To spend real money on this? Some people refuse to do that and I don’t blame them. No, I actually think they are bright. Saving their money for real food, school, important things in REAL LIFE.
I don’t.
this is such an elitism.
I am not saying – hey, give free items to everybody. No that’s not it.
But why go against people that are willing to?
I am actually thinking of stop shopping so stupid it is to dress a doll.
I have been doing it for more than a year and honestly I don’t see any reason.
Well, I love freebies, both to pick up for my own use and to give away when I have a shop up and running. Just last week, I was out shopping for things for my faerie glade and found a wonderful sim where I spent thousands of L$ – but I also picked up a freebie witches hat for Halloween and an amazing ‘faery flight’ item for L$1! When I have an inworld shop, I always have a few freebies, and I very much hope they are picked up by people who, for whatever reason, will use them, rather than just collecting freebies. I have had many customers who have bought other items as well as taking freebies, so I don’t see it does my sales any harm. I especially like to put out freebies for the holidays – balloons, cards, gift boxes, candles, cushions – so that people can have a little holiday fun without spending a fortune. After all, I originally got into making this kind of stuff because I was horrified at how much some people were charging for a ballon texture on a flat prim just because it was Valnetines Day!!
Thanks everybody for sharing your points of view.
I agree too some people have a “merchantilized” view of Second Life, but maybe is becuase they have real earnings inworld, enough to life in RL too and they might be worried about it.
I am a self professed shopping and freebie addict. I find it a bit disheartening the level of elitism that I am reading in a quite a few of the posts on the matter. If a shopkeep provides a freebie that is of the same quality of what they sell, I have no problems dropping mad cash on their shop if I like it.we have poor ability to test quality before we buy, freebies are a way of quality testing before taking the plunge. A perfect example is bijou. I now own pretty much one of everything thanks to their freebie. And other shops do the same thing. I may not buy immediately but if it is good, I eventually will. On the other hand there are other shops who emblazon their logo on a craptastic teeshirt.
I am not going to want to come back to a shop that doesn’t really care that much about potential customers. It isn’t entitlement, it is a potential business relationship. You want my money, and I don’t want to take another risk on outfits that look terrible on my shape. Not enough shops provide clothing demos, and now most things are no transfer. It ‘may’ be just a dollar, but with the amount that I shop in SL, those dollars add up.
It is a marketing tool like any other.There are alot more stores to shop at now, which is why there are more high quality freebies. It isn’t like it used to be when someone could just throw out whatever they wanted and people would buy it because it was the only shop in town. It is called a competitive market. Adapt.