Categories: "Complete Avatars" vs "Avatar Component Bundles"

[Sierra Jakob]

As a merchant, I would find it helpful to have an explanation for the difference between the following two Market Categories:
"Complete Avatars" vs. "Avatar Component Bundles"

I see that under "Avatar Component Bundles", currently there are two "complete avatars" and two "skin and shape" sets. Previously, I would have placed either of these under "Complete Avatar".

As a customer, I am really disturbed when I shop by a particular category--thinking that is all there is--only later to find that there were similar products elsewhere and I missed them!

As a merchant, I realize that for some products, selecting a category is not clear cut--there may be legitimate choices. However, I really want my products listed with all the other products like it, when possible--so I know the customer will easily find my product. Since we are only allowed to select one category per product, having multiple similar or overlapping categories pretty much guarantees that some customers won't even see my product. And that adversely affects my sales.

Personally, if these two categories are overlapping, I would prefer that one of these categories be eliminated.

However, if these two categories are to persist, it might be helpful for customers and merchants--if either
1) They were renamed to be a little more specific--so we know immediately what is intended, or...
2) To have a link for the explanation right beside the category on the selection screen.

[Ilan Tochner]

Hi Sierra,

The Complete Avatars category is intended for complete avatars, as in you buy this and you have a fully dressed avatar with all the body parts and basic attachments (e.g. hair, shoes, etc.)

The Avatar Component Bundles category is intended for incomplete avatars, that is avatars that have more than one component but are still missing some components to be listed in Complete Avatars.

I looked at the Avatar Components Bundles category and none of the items currently listed there are for complete avatars. One is missing hair and the other doesn't come with an outfit.

Merchants sometimes mislabel items and once we discover that they did we contact them and request that they change the category or attribute values which they used. It's a learning process but as more items are added to the marketplace there are more examples new merchants can use to understand what goes where.

[Sierra Jakob]

Thank you Ilan. That is very helpful. I think that Kitely is doing a marvelous job of trying to make the shopper's experience easy, accurate, and efficient. So, I hope you understand I'm offering this suggestion in the spirit of the market you have created to date.

I understand from your response that no website explanation should be given for merchants because right now you are able to catch category errors and because over time they should be able to figure it out by studying the things included in each category. But what about when the market becomes so active that it is more difficult for Kitely staff to catch all the category errors.

I'm not sure every merchant will figure it out. For example--maybe some folks would think I'm not too bright--but my assumption would have been that "complete avatar" could mean just skin & shape. It depends on Kitely's definition of "complete"--which you just gave above very nicely. Couldn't the definition of "complete" be given right there on the website? It would probably help merchants. And as the market grows, items in incorrect categories may become difficult to keep up with--it seems like it might be more efficient for you to just tell merchants up front what the category means--giving the merchants simple tools like this to help you do your job more efficiently. I am assuming that adding an explanation to the website is not too difficult--please correct me if I'm wrong.

Also, I'm guessing customers probably won't spend nearly as much time trying to figure out Kitely's definition of "complete" vs. "bundles". As we all know, shoppers do get impatient and tend to make assumptions. When the customer finds the right product easily--that is a feather in Kitely's cap and good for word of mouth promotion of the market.

[Constance Peregrine]

just for the record, for whatever it's worth, I think you're bright, Sierra-))))

[Sierra Jakob]

just for the record, for whatever it's worth, I think you're bright, Sierra-))))

Minethere, you are so generous. Your comment is funny though--in light of the fact when I'm trying to cajole Dundridge into "dumbing down" his most super duper highly technical gimigafaw-whopper in-world doo-hickies (i.e. scripted gizmos) so I can actually understand how to use them---I generally plead with him to "Sierra-fie" it for poor slow folks like me. A lot of this technical stuff is beyond my current skill set. But I hope I can sometimes bring the perspective of the "common man" down here in the trenches (i.e. users). At least I am trying.

[Ilan Tochner]

The category names need to be clear enough as to not require explanation - no matter where we place that explanation some people will not see it or ignore it.

It's definitely possible that the current names are not clear enough but I think it's important to retain separate categories for complete avatars ("buy this and you're done") and for component bundles ("here are a few things that go well together"). Do you have any suggestions how to address this?

One of the features we haven't implemented yet is the Report link in product pages. That link will provide a pre-defined selection of reportable things - one of which is product using the wrong categories. This won't save us from having to do manual work but it would help bring things to our attention without us having to look at all marketplace submissions and changes (which we already don't have time to do).

[Sierra Jakob]

Ilan, I don't really love the following titles, but they are the best I could think of...
---Avatars-Fully Outfitted
---AV Part/Accessory Bundles

I think maybe most would understand this. It's just a bit more specific. If I think of something better, will come back to you.

[Ilan Tochner]

The Avatar Component Bundle is meant for avatar components that are under the Avatar Appearance category. So, for example, an avatar that is just missing hair and shoes could be found here but a collection of items from the Avatar Accessories category that doesn't include any actual avatar components could not. The necessary ingredient is that the bundle include more than one component that is required for getting a naked avatar that isn't missing any expected pieces (just to be clear, genitalia wouldn't be expected unless that avatar component bundle is Adult rated). Eyes and hair could be a bundle, but hair and a bow tie could not.

[Sierra Jakob]

Ok, so.... maybe....
---Avatars-Fully Outfitted
---Avatars-Partly Outfitted

OR
---Complete Avatars
---Incomplete Avatars

[Ilan Tochner]

Partially Outfitted Avatars may be confusing as this category can include a bundle of avatar appearance components without any actual outfit.

Incomplete Avatars is a bit better but still it doesn't let the buyer know that more than one component is included in these listed items. A skin with nothing else is also an incomplete avatar.

Maybe some synonym for the word "bundle" would make it clearer? (something that would better indicate that "Avatar Component Bundles" include multiple avatar components sold together)