Lately there has been uproar about 50L Fridays and similar events. Just on Wednesday, Tenshi posted about a notecard making its way across the grid stating that these events are ruining the economy. Um. Hell no.
I’ve been behind 50L Fridays since OMGWTF Barbecue mentioned it to me months ago. I’m one of its biggest fans, and it’s come such a far way. The resentment towards 50L Fridays comes from such a small group of people that are trying to make it seem so much larger than it is.
I know this is similar to the comments section on Wednesday’s post, from what I’ve skimmed. The creator of that notecard seems to be… well, ridiculously inept at forming a competent argument. I’d like to take this opportunity to add my opinion.
By participating in groups that promote weekly 50L-60L sales, you:
- drive down the designer’s earnings thus discouraging from continuing with their work
In my limited experience in sales, typically a sale ensures a drive in income. Items involved in 50L Fridays, while low in price, are high in quality. Barb accepts those stores with highest integrity and quality items into the program. The phenonenom of 50L strikes gridewide-thus providing a tremendeous amount of income during that 24 hours of sales.
There are 4,102 members in the 50L group in-world. Not counting the people who get the slurls from here, or any other blog that posts them. This is also not including the people who view the listings on flickr. If every single person, out of those 4,102 members bought an item from each store, thats 205,100L(756.82 USD) for a singular store should their item appeal to everyone. I speak for myself when I say that’s certainly not discouraging anyone from continuing their work.
- are left with an overall LOWER quality and less selection of fashion in SL
Again, I’m forced to point out that every store involved in 50L are known for the quality of their creations. Wrong.
- will be left with the only other option, to buy from HIGHer-priced stores.
Um, what? What are you smoking? You need to put that stuff down and get a whiff of fresh air. No one is forced to buy anything, and everyone has the OPTION to buy from WHEREVER they wish for whatever price it’s set as. Wtf?
- drive the moderately priced designers out of SL fashion.(These are the cream of the crop – trendy, direct contact with their clientele and offer well-made items. Please think on your favorite designers and consider what price level they are at – it will make sense.)
Moderately priced designers always have their place. This is one day a week from a handful of stores. Are you crazy? I’m sure most people buy items from more than just one store. Perhaps the moderately priced designers need to up their game if they’re not getting sales. Just sayin’.
Furthermore, I have nothing against lowly, moderately, highly priced designers. You’re the people making your items, spending minutes, hours, days, months-you alone determine the prices you’re willing to sell them for. There’s nothing stopping you from increasing or decreasing your items. Are you unhappy with the amount of income coming in? Fix it. Have a sale, join a hunt, send review copies on bloggers. Join flickr, get a plurk, get yourself out there. Advertise! Don’t blame unforunate lack of sales on a nice thing.
- prompt others to start their own cheapie groups – you can already see other groups that have popped up with a similar concept and is growing rapidly.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 50L Friday works because it was unique. Good items, cheap prices. It’s like… the virtual version of a sample sale. Think of it that way. Do you hate the store because they’re offering you their goods for a wonderously discounted price? Especially in this economy? No, you’re more apt to shop around if you’re satisfied with the product you’ve recieved.
Stores I never would have normally of shopped at that have been involved with these sales have in return got more of my lindens from my pocket because I was thrilled with what I received for my original 50L. Therefore increasing their earnings.
FACTS:
◠RL garment industries have drastically closed down in North America and Europe because of monster megastores producing in overseas sweatshops — 50L is 0.19 cents in USD (approx Dec.09 market value). Don’t let this happen to your favorite designers.
◠Most of these groups demand 50L-60L items to be placed exactly at the teleport point, thus not promoting the brand by encouraging the customer to walk around if not for a few meters to learn about the store. It also doesn’t help with traffic score.
◠Many of your designers use their SL earnings as a supplementary or sole RL income. Some with children, some with regular computer hardware upgrades to work on their inworld creations including expensive graphics programs, some with no medical insurance or benefits.. RL economy hurts them too.
Okay, maybe you haven’t been watching the news for the past two years. Businesses close, and consolidate every single day. I’m not saying I support sweatshops or anything of the sort. But you’re far out of line comparing 50L Fridays Content Creators to a sweatshop. I’m offended and I’ve never even been involved with 50L except for showing it support.
A content creator has a choice to be involved. FFS. Honestly. Barb isn’t running around with her virtual pistol and holding them at gunpoint while demanding quality, cheap items. Did you roll around one too many times in PCBs? Seriously? If Barb was holding content creators at gunpoint, GOOD FOR HER. Give them creators a Kalteen bar to fatten ‘em up, Barbie.
I’ll take my experience from working in retail for a few years. Old Navy for example, we have IOW’s, “Items of the Week”. I’ll liken that program to 50L Fridays. Four ribbed tanks for twenty USD, when normally they’re $10 apiece. That’s a 50% discount. Are you less satisfied because you’re getting a sample of the product for 50% off, or are you excited and more likely to venture in to see what other great deals we have? You keep walking in, excited by the thrill you have of just scoring a great deal. It’s the same with 50L. You get your item, and you chance a glance at whatever else is offered. If you like more items, you spend more money.
As for SL income making up for RL income, then I’m pretty sure 50L would help out in that respect. Remember my earlier calculation? There’s almost $760 USD at stake if every single person in-world buys your item. I’m not saying that it’s likely, but it could happen. In my experience, $760 in one day is a pretty big effing deal. I don’t see how 50L is diminishing their income- if anything it would help them out even that much more.
So…. nice try. Thanks for playing.
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Well now that, that is all out of my system. WOOOOOOO. 50L FRIDAYS. Going ’til 11:59 PM SLT this evening. Go get ‘em.
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And while you’re at Artilleri, here is another goody for you to explore:
I consider myself very fortunate to have been part of 50L Friday a couple of weeks ago, I certainly didn’t feel pressured or exploited by the people who bought the item I offered, and then shopped more at my store while they were there. 50L Friday signalled the end of a few very bad finacial months for me, since sales have been up on average since then.
I agree with you Emleigh – the person distributing this note shows a considerable lack of understanding of SL marketing, and income via micro transactions. If you sell more at a very low cost, you make more overall, it’s quite simple. It’s not like I made 0.19 an hour for the boots I offered. I have been nicely compensated for my time and effort, and the people who bought them are very happy with the product they received for that price. Everyone wins
We need a better tin foil hat conspiracy for this one. How about the old “They are all the same person” one?
Why do I suspect this will become something the “can’t create anything but turds” crowd on the commerce forum will begin demanding LL start controlling prices in world like they are behaving like they want to do on xstreet.
Oh, gross. Gross. No. Noooo more LL involvement on the market.
My 2cents…there are more and more people on SL who are really feeling the recession pinch, loss of income, loss of jobs, becoming ill etc. For them, to be able to be beautfully dressed means alot and to be able to buy quality so inexpensively means even more. The 50L Friday is no different than a sale in RL. So for those who can still shop at the higher end stores great, but for those who no longer can, then BRAVO to the designers/stores who respect those who can’t. Besides, who doesn’t love a sale?
As someone who work in SL fashion world and knows pretty much the ins and outs of most of the major fashion designers, I have to say that I was really happy with my first fifty linden shopping spree this Friday. The quality of these items are comparable to the big names {gasp} or even better. I got to find some great new designers that I would have never had the chance to find otherwise.
I actually did end up purchasing other items from some of the designers, so I think that throws the whole driving down the economy theory of the water. I am looking forward to the next fifty linden friday.
It’s probably the same people who rant about designers who give free gifts.
Well said!