I don’t think it is unethical to Freebie hunt any more than it is unethical for us to make a meal out of grocery store samples. The exchange is not one sided – even though you may perceive it as such. The vendors get something out of the exchange. It is but one of a multitude of promotional strategies companies use. Companies pay fortunes for eyeballs, exposure, to grab your attention for one small moment, etc. It is a cluttered world advertising-wise and, well, it is a cluttered grid also.

That is one potential goal of giving out a freebie – getting a shopper’s attention long enough to be able to show them what else you offer. Freebies can help a seller break through the clutter – when done correctly.

Manufacturers do not think of you as a charity case – their samples and freebies should be part of a long term strategy for building a customer base. Even the items intended to give newbies some help, should be given with the goal of making those people into loyal customers.

And yes, getting a freebie triggers a psychological obligation toward the seller – one more strategy behind giving them out. But, that does not make it unethical to accept the freebie or hunt for them. Nor is it unethical to choose not to buy something from that vendor.

But that is also why is it important for the sellers to put some thought into the strategy behind the freebies. Sellers: to whom are you giving freebies and what result do you desire? If you are feeling bitter or cheated when you give out freebies, you are doing something wrong.

I would be happy to help sellers put together a marketing plan and/or discuss promotional strategies. I work in Marketing in RL. Just im me or send me an email.

Creamy, I’ll pass you a current project in-world, but to Mini, since it isn’t for sale yet – and probably won’t be in that particular texture.

Early last year, 2007 BC (Before Creamy). I began to notice the quality of freebies were becoming much higher, I started wearing them with full price stuff, like mixing designer and high street. People were always asking where I got my clothes and were so surprised when I said some of them were free, then I would be passing the LMs about. This is why I created Creamy and the Free*Style group, (it’s not a secret she is my alt, my fully paid up rich bitch member is Mini May).

I love how delighted people are when they find a great freebie and I love that designers in far flung places are being discovered due to their free gifts.

If I visit a store with a beautiful free gift I always look around at the rest of the store and if I like what I see I come back as one of my other Avatar’s and buy, buy, buy!!! I know a lot of other people in this situation also, so I do not believe store owners are losing out at all, the Avi who bought the freebie may well have an Alt who will buy the full price stuff.

Not only that, it’s a great way of introducing people to your store who might not otherwise have visited. A recent example for me is Allegory’s ‘Schadenfreude’ store. I would never have known her store if it wasn’t for the beautiful free gifts I was told about and I’ll definitely be revisiting this store in the future.

I believe the store owners who regularly give their group members free gifts develop a closer affinity with their customers and their customers become loyal. I will aways revisit these stores and remain in their groups (even though I have to make Alts to be in them all…..ho hummm)

Also, I agree with Skinki, giving away stuff which you don’t think is good enough for selling isn’t always a good marketing ploy. The way I see it is, if the freebie is great quality, chances are the rest of the creations are too.

Tenshi, I also blogged your fur coat. You are right, initially I wouldn’t have gone for orange, but once I wore it I realised how great it looks and I am now an orange convert

So as our budgets allow and when we find quality stores or styles that fit our tastes, we SHOULD be looking for and buying other items to support those designers we like. I’ve even paid designers more for their freebies or refused an offer of another item for free, preferring to pay to support the designer. How many of us paid Eloh Eliot for this last skin when given the opportunity to pay what we wish? There was an opportunity to support her for her amazing generosity, even a token amount. If we could, if we weren’t new or broke, did we?

As for elitism, whatever. Quality rises. Quality is the lynchpin of SL success stories, regardless of price or designer generosity. I don’t shop at Acedia because I can’t afford much, even though she makes the most inventive, interesting stuff. I’ve shopped spent far more at Ivalde since my first days in SL and will go back again and again because she’s affordable and gorgeous. Her daily Christmas freebies for group members were astonishingly generous. I only bought one outfit from her full price in all of December, but I’ve been her customer forever and will be back because she makes beautiful things. Same thing with Second Mirage–I already owned half the store and Ali and Brit practically gave away the other half, but I will come back again and again for their lovely jewelry.

Freebies aren’t going to make or break anyone–generosity, however, builds good will and I wlil return to Callie Cline, Evie’s Closet, MM Skins, Ivalde, Second Mirage, Tuli, and many more great people as much for their appreciation for their customers and their generosity to the new and the poor as for the wonderful quality of their work.

So, unashamedly cutting and pasting…

“I think designers who are offended by people joining and leaving need to think about this….. just WHY are you giving out freebies? Is it a marketing policy? If so, be glad loads of people can be bothered to come looking for your stuff. I’d be thrilled to know my product had reached a wider audience. Is it to reward loyal customers? Then do it differently. Invite them to a special event, freeze the group for a day and drop a gift on each member (or get a minion to do that for you), look through your customer database (kindly provided for you by the Lindens, in the form of Transaction History) and drop a gift to the people who REALLY spend money at your store. Think outside the box.”

“I should also add, designers, it is NOT good marketing to use your old, rejected designs as your shop freebie (unless clearly marked as such – see Illusions for an example of how to do this well). It might be the ONLY item of yours I try on. If it’s cack, and you know it’s cack, then how likely am I to want to buy more of your stuff? It might ALL be cack! I’ve only got the one item to go on. So give me something at least half decent, a good representation of your current quality/style. Make me want more.”

I appreciate all stores that offer freebies BUT:

“it ain’t what you do, but the way that you do it”.

I read the “Fabfree” blog and if I like the look of your freebie I will go to your store (you just won my attention!). I will then look around the store and if I like what I see I may buy something.

If you put a LM in with your freebie and I like the freebie I *will* come back again! Maybe I will buy and maybe I won’t but you have my attention a second time.

If your freebie was a “reject” item, or you didn’t include a LM, you probably won’t see me back again because I will rate the quality of your work based on the example that you gave me.

Let me give a real example: Mirada had a “freebie special” where one colour pack in each hair style was $0 and it was blogged about. So I went in to have a look and picked up some free hair. While I was there I saw that they also had a 50% special on some avatars so I seized the opportunity to pick up a Shiva avatar. Then I showed my friend and she bought one, and so did two more friends (I can give names if anyone doesn’t believe me). Then more people asked and I believe at least 2 more have bought one too.

So my point is:

- a freebie offer got me into the store,
- another sale at the same time on other products convinced me to buy “now”,
- I didn’t buy any hair (which was what the freebie was).
- good (other) products and a LM in the folder meant sales in the store, none of which would have happened without the initial “freebie”.

Please don’t “diss” freebies – they get people into your store who wouldn’t otherwise have gone there. What happens afterwards is up to you and may not happen straight away and may not be directly related to the “free” product.

Faerie

Tenshi, I don’t know if i would have picked up the freebie coat if it wasn’t orange. That is the risk of issuing in colors that the designer doesn’t really like, but is a color other people love. Also I bought the 10L$ version because I heard about it a tad late.

I’ve discovered more designers from Freebie Hunting groups such as “Lucky Kitty Crew” and the like, than I ever would on my own.

For example, TRUTH offered a freebie a month or two ago. I just went back and bought 3 or 4 new hair pieces from them.

If designers don’t want to offer a “Freebie,” that’s fine. I just don’t have to shop at their store. Ever.

BTW, I spent 5,000L last week alone. So, it’s up to you whether you want a piece of that pie or not.

On the L$1 freebie topic: If it’s free it’s free. L$1 is not free. Those I call Dollarbies.

On the keeping boxes in your store: YES keep the boxes in your store. How else am I going to call out on my group “Hey, there’s a super free xxxxxx at xxxxx. You better get down here.”

On the joining groups to grab a freebie and then leaving them: I have to do that. There’s a 25 group limit. It sucks. So, I have to keep “checking in” so to speak, by joining a group, checking past notices, and then leaving the group. I have a list of groups that I check regularly. I would love to be able to stay in them all.

BTW, absolutely love the Subscribe-O-Matics. It seems to solve the whole 25 group limit problem. The only problem I’ve been having lately is that I’ve joined so many of those Subscribe-O-Matics that if I have a bunch of messages when I first rez in, I have to wait a few minutes, because if I don’t my SL viewer crashes.

Also I noticed a comment about BareRose in there, and as a BareRose staff I am so disappointed when I read the blogs and how many people turn away because of the low costs. I know you, Tenshi, are giving but working for June Dion and seeing certain positive things in SL gives me light within the darkness of a lot of stores. I will willingly buy things if I know the person is a nice and fair person. Seeing certain places with high prices and never giving out freebies says something even when you do have L$. At least to me, I think just because someone doesn’t wanna put out a freebie isn’t a terrible thing I just think it seems a lil selfish. Some people out there would like to look good and enjoy SL, yet maybe they don’t have the L$ required to.

I definitely agree with Tymmerie, and that people should probably think outside of the box with freebies if they’re interested in increasing sales.

I also think it’s a good point someone made (Sorry I got lost in these comments) that they help people see what your designs are like. There are many places I’ve bought items and the picture looked way better than the actual product. :s

Have to agree with Morrigan too because in IRL yeah Marni’s thing applies maybe to the elitest types but in SL, I wear what I want, I look how I want, if people want to be elistest there’s definitely stores out there for them. But in SL, this is my (and a lot of people I know look at this the same) SL, and I want to wear what’s good and not try and compete in some lame elistest rat race.

Sorry if this post doesn’t seem to fit in too well with the rest but I feel others opinions besides designers make thing point very well rounded. X3

I’ve had a number of people come by hearing about the freebies then look around and say “OMG why didn’t I know about this place before?” and buy multiple items. I don’t freebie a lot I would sacrifice wallspace to sell- my favourites are odd little things that I’d rather more people have the toy of, which themselves give out little items to anyone who touches them; other things include seasonal things that I don’t feel like rearranging the shop for and odd little bits that are fun, but I’d rather have the space for other things; and the occasional working version that was good enough for needing it right now, but isn’t perfect.

People do tell me I should sell them sometimes, but for the toys, which are the most impressive, it misses the point really. Besides, all any of it costs me is a little bit of time (I’m having fun with my free time, so I’m not looking for an hourly wage), a few Lindens in upload fees, a little bit of rent and Classified listings. I don’t need to make a lot to break even, and that’s fine, for now.

But then, I’m also not in SL for a cutthroat business model, I’m here because it’s fun. People liking my stuff and someday down the road being able to make some money off of it is gravy, but the vast majority of things I make are because I’ve got an idea that has to be done for ME to be happy.

On the flip side, I “shop” for freebies myself a lot, and when I’m looking for something in particular, if I already have a freebie of good quality that I like, that shop is the first place I go. It may be months later, but if it grabbed my attention I will go back.

My main complaint with most of the L$1 items is that if I can’t see them, I don’t know whether they’re worth even that. I mystery meat box most of my freebies, and so do a lot of people- things without a picture may just be tossed as soon as I try them on (even freebies that look lackluster I won’t bother to pick up, because I’ve got an out of control inventory as it is). Even L$1 can add up if it’s all trash, considering the massive amounts of things you can find.

Oh – lovin’ the coat, but I didn’t go get it. I’m a redhead, and I’d look dreadful in orange. I’ll check out everything else though.

Ive got a few more hats designed and ready to go when i get back in world!

i LOVE giving out free stuff… for a lot of reasons… most i do “freebies” cuz i love my group, and it’s a way i can tell them, hang with them, and express my gratitude and it’s fun to find creative ways to do it.

i’ve been doing… ‘free outfits for 5 minutes’ for well over a year… and basically my gals can come in, pick what they want, and we always have a blast… they have fun, i have fun, and it’s a great way to connect with them as i don’t always have the time i’d like.

those are fun free events, and we often end up dancing and being crazy….

i have a few free things i leave out, nothing that spectacular, but NOT rejects. that’s for sure… i wanted at one time to do a free shirt of the week, but honestly, didn’t have time….

i’m trying a fun new idea i’ve had for uh over a year now? ki and i tried to do it before we got our sims, but never did…

for me freebies are primarily for my group in mind, and i try to make theirs very special… and i think it’s nice to have a few free items there for visitors who like to get free stuff.

honestly, if one wanted, with all the freebies around… one could never shop again and look just fine! but of course… that’s NO fun! hahaha…

so ok i ramble!

nice topic!

xoxo,

caLLie

And yep, Tenshi, when I was working at NnD, I had a customer bitch about the holiday skins costing L$1. She was really mad and even though her av was brand new she’d “been in SL for over a year!” and had never ever seen anyone abuse their freebie advertising like that! ZOMG!

For designers with whom I am not familiar and look interesting, I occasionally pick up a freebie to see what kind of style or approach they have in general. If I like it, I’ll come back and spend money. That said, I am actually a lot more likely to purchase from a new (or new to me) designer when there is a sale or “good deal” underway to test the waters first, rather than picking up a freebie. I think Eyva said something similar above.

Skins are a bit different. If a new skin designer – or new skin line of a known designer – is offering a group freebie or group discount, I nearly always check it out and then buy a lot more if I like it. I think GROUP discount or gift skins are a fantastic way of building a skin brand for those who want to walk around in something without the demo stamps to see if they like it first.

There are still those designers who use their groups for true customer appreciation – and sometimes gifts are a part of that – and those kinds of groups build huge customer loyalty and goodwill for the long run.

If designers are worried about people joining and then leaving their groups right away, they might consider having discounted – not freebie items – available for purchase for group members only. They wear their tags to get the discount. Shut the group 48 hours (or whatever) before you offer the discount/gift, and that way, it’s truly for your loyal customers who keep a group slot for your brand.

I agree with handing things out to groups. I’m not so sure any more about keeping *boxes* in my shop.

Giving Freebie: There are a few designers well known for being generous with their designs, Popfuzz has a stellar reputation for being both very giving and professional for example. It also creates goodwill, and loyalty if your freebie changes regularly to create a routine of customers checking your store out. Some advertisers are also misleading, and a free sample gives you the chance to see a designers work on your own skin. The badside is I would imagine that there are always those who think free isn’t good enough, and will complain either to try and score themselves more freebies, or try to take advantage of a good reputation for fishing for more freebies.

Not Giving Freebie: If people take the time to rezz your store and see you have quality items, the freebie isn’t going to matter unless it includes demos I believe. I would guess a majority also came to the store already intending to buy, and a portion of those won’t take a freebie just because it’s there. Also, as stated before, people may come for the freebie and not even wait for the store to rezz before tp’ing off to the next one.

So I decide to do it because even if they buy nothing else, that freebie is in their inventory, they can have fun with it, and if they like it, they have that awareness of the store and it may result in a return visit. It sounds a bit marketing-speak, but building a good relationship with your customers should be the second highest priority, the highest being your responsibility to yourself, your designs and techniques.

I like the way also that designers keeping inventing new ways to offer freebies. Above all, the group. Once you’re in the designers group or subscribe to their updates, a lot of people give away bonus or exclusive group/subscriber editions at a release, or just because they want to. This I think is a goldmine for customer loyalty and if you can make the customer squeal with glee at a new item that they get for free I think it just creates word of mouth and a positive reputation, more than if you didn’t offer anything.

I also like some of the other ideas everyone has come up with. With freebies – I think if they are used correctly they can really enhance your stores image and get you more exposure for certain. But just offering random ones maybe isn’t the way to go (my 5L box is looking rather stale).

I just have to say “Wow” – I have gotten a lot of mileage out of this article and the responses. Thanks for posting it – really.