Marketplace/Shoppers FAQ: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:SL_Marketplace_logo_180_pixels_wide.jpg‎]]
 
We're pleased to announce a completely redesigned shopping experience for Second Life. Second Life Marketplace makes it easier and more intuitive for anyone to buy and sell Second Life goods on the Web, replacing Second Life's previous ecommerce site, Xstreet SL.
 
If you haven't seen our blog post announcement, please check it out: [http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/blog/2010/10/06/sl-marketplace-is-open-and-ready-for-business http://blogs.secondlife.com/community/community/blog/2010/10/06/sl-marketplace-is-open-and-ready-for-business]. Below you will find a list of FAQs. If you're a merchant, be sure to visit [[Marketplace/Sellers_FAQ |the merchant specific FAQ]].
 
== Having problems while shopping? ==
 
If you're having problems while shopping, check out the [[Marketplace/Support for shoppers|Support for shoppers]].
 
== Features of the new Marketplace ==
=== What are some of the new features for shoppers? ===
 
The first thing shoppers will notice is an entirely new look and feel to the site. The modern, clean visual design makes it an attractive and enjoyable shopping experience with new touches, such as larger product photos on listing pages and new ways to view search listings. Shoppers also benefit from a more streamlined shopping experience, where they can find items quickly and easily with the new search engine, fill their shopping carts with multiple items, and give gifts their loved ones and friends, as well as create wishlists for the things they want.
 
=== How do items now appear in search in SL Marketplace? ===
 
Improving the quality of search results was the number one request of merchants and shoppers alike, and SL Marketplace has a new search engine to power better and more effective search results. First, only the title, feature list, and search terms box are searched, dramatically reducing the number of inaccurate results. (Previously, the long description was searched, which yielded inappropriate and long results lists.) Second, the algorithm itself is a well-regarded open source engine called Lucene/SOLR that has a great relevancy track record.
 
=== What is the roadmap for future releases? ===
 
We will have regular release cycles roughly every 2 weeks. To request a feature, please use the [[Marketplace/Bugs|Bug Tracker]].
 
=== When is a specific feature coming to the Marketplace? ===
 
Bookmark and regularly check the [[Marketplace|Marketplace front help page]] for news -- Grant Linden has been announcing many updates. Shoppers have also asked for:
 
* '''Favorites lists''' - <strike>Planned, per Brodesky Linden: "Favorites are coming soon to a Marketplace near you."</strike> Favorites lists are now live!
 
=== How was feedback taken from Residents in this project? ===
 
We used several feedback channels including:
 
* Quantitative: Two extensive surveys were conducted last year, as well as extensive Web analytics and sales data about usage of the site.
* Qualitative: We pored over many Bug Tracker issues, comments in office hours, forum posts, blog comments, inworld meetings and interviews, and notecards. We have also been working closely with merchants, of various sizes and Second Life experience levels, during the development of SL Marketplace, to help guide and prioritize our decision-making process.
 
=== What is your development platform and language? How did you make the decision to use it? ===
 
We are moving from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PHP PHP] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_on_Rails Ruby on Rails]. We used a number of out of the box features of [http://www.spreecommerce.com/ Spree Commerce] such as the shopping cart; but of course we heavily customized them for the unique nature of SL Marketplace. The entire commerce team was trained in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrum_%28development%29 SCRUM/Agile methodology] and now works in that manner, which is driving the two week sprints that we'll start delivering post release. We chose these platform and development methods for their speed to market, flexibility, scalability, modularity, and extensibility. We did an extensive review of our options and in the end these met our needs most effectively.
 
== Transition to SL Marketplace from Xstreet SL ==
 
=== What is the timeline for the launch of SL Marketplace? ===
 
The SL Marketplace is now live! The SL Marketplace was in beta for several weeks and run simultaneously with Xstreet SL until all of the content had been migrated and the new marketplace was ready for launch. We've closed the purchasing and listing sections of XStreetSL permanently. Forum archives will remain available.
 
The XStreetSL Exchange will continue to operate independently of the new SL Marketplace through the end of November 2010. This means merchants can continue to access history, sell L$ and cash out as they do now. The XStreetSL website will remain up for several months beyond the closure of the Exchange, and all non sales and exchange features (including history) will remain available during this time as well as the ability to redeliver items. When we close the XStreetSL Exchange, L$ and USD balances will be moved over to users' Second Life accounts.
 
=== Why do I still see Xstreet SL messages? ===
 
Sorry for the confusion! For a few more months, you'll continue to see messages labeled with Xstreet SL when you make purchases or receive gifts because SL Marketplace currently uses some parts of the old Xstreet SL system. Until components like Magic Boxes are replaced with a new delivery method, you'll see these Xstreet SL messages.
 
=== Do all the features from Xstreet SL appear in SL Marketplace? ===
 
In many instances, SL Marketplace mirrors the features — and beyond — found on Xstreet SL. Each feature change was based on our research and was made for the sake of improving the shopper and merchant experience. We invite users to send in feature requests via the [[Marketplace/Bugs|Bug Tracker]].
 
[[Category:Marketplace]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 5 March 2011

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