Vendor systems comparison
Revision as of 23:34, 8 September 2023 by Peter Stindberg (talk | contribs) (Added disclaimer since vendor manufacturers become more active on this page)
Vending systems in Second Life are used to sell items to customers. They range from the most basic level systems which only allow a "pay" option on a box, to large advanced and networked systems with many functions and capabilities. Each one has different benefits and drawbacks; each merchant will need to decide which one is best for them based on their needs.
This page will compare the currently available (as of the last update) versions of some of the larger vending systems with their major features. All vending systems are sorted in alphabetical order, left to right.
NOTE: All Gacha type machines are forbidden in SL, per this LL blog post, so they are no longer listed under "extra vendor types".
NOTE: This is a wiki. Everyone can add to it. The information in the table below comes from volunteers as well as vendor developers themselves. The information provided is not routinely fact-checked. Fact-checks happen more or less randomly and are done by volunteers.
Comparison table
| Basic Operation | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Prim Vendors | Script(s) provided; make your own vendor object | Yes | Yes | Script(s) provided; make your own vendor object | Script(s) also provided |
| 1-Script Vendors | Yes | Yes | No | 1 script for standard features, additional features through extra plugin scripts | Yes |
| Config via notecard (notecard settings for product vending) |
Yes | No | No | No | Can use prim description field to config |
| Config via website (website settings for product vending) |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free system upgrades | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multipanel Vendors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Networked delivery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Demos & notecards (Give demos, give information notecards) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Demos: Yes (extra script) Notecards: No |
Yes |
| Product server holds unlimited products? (Subject to SL grid limitations) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Extra Vendor Types | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Event-friendly version Works even at very highly populated events such as Uber, Colabor88, Linden shopping events, etc. |
In development | Included | Included | "Not Needed" | "Not Needed" |
| Auction Board Takes bids, sells product to highest bidder |
No | No | No | Separate purchase: "Bid Board" |
TBD |
| Holo/Rezzing vendor | In development | Yes, in FatPack -OR- separate purchase: "HoloVend Expansion" |
Yes | No | TBD |
| Lucky Chair | In development | Yes, in FatPack -OR- separate purchase: "Lucky Chair Expansion" |
Separate purchase | No | TBD |
| Midnight Prizes | In development | Yes, in FatPack -OR- separate purchase: "Midnight Madness Expansion" |
Separate purchase | No | TBD |
| Multi-product vendors Sell multiple products in one vendor |
Included Multi-panel vendors |
Included Multi-panel vendors |
Included Multi-panel vendors |
Included Uses menu |
In Development |
| Texture Vendor Specifically to sell both single textures and packs |
No | Yes, in FatPack -OR- separate purchase: "TextureVend Expansion Pack" |
No | No | No |
| Customization | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Customizeable Vendors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vendor API | No | read only (no commands) |
Read only | No | In Development |
| Advanced Features | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Dynamic price display Price visible on vendor object without hovertext or a click |
No | Vendor API supports price display add-ons |
No | Yes | Yes |
| Group products in categories | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scriptless integration with other systems |
SL Marketplace ANS |
Smartbots, Corrade Bot, Thoys Bot, ApexBots, SL Marketplace ANS | Upon Request | SL Marketplace ANS |
SL Marketplace ANS |
| Multi-language support | In development | User guides in English and German |
English and French | No | No |
| Newsletter/subscriber | Yes | In development | Separate purchase | Planned for future | No |
| Profit sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Redelivery options | Terminal & vendor | Terminal, Vendor, HUD-capable | Vendor only | Terminal, Vendor, HUD | Terminal, Vendor, Website |
| Sell no-copy items Breedables or gacha items |
Yes | Yes | Separate purchase | Yes | Yes |
| Send updated products Mass redelivery to prior buyers |
Yes | "Product Updates" tab | Yes | "Mass redeliveries" tab | Yes |
| Store Partners Allows partner full access |
No | No | No | Partner must have: Copy of vendors MD Labs website account |
Yes |
| Store Managers/CSRs Allows tiered levels of access |
No | CSR contact names | Yes | Manager must have: MD Labs website account |
Yes |
| User blacklist | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in video playback | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Wishlist | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Uses AI (Ex: ChatGPT) | Unknown | Unknown | No | Unknown | Yes |
| Affiliate/Franchise Info | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Affiliate / Franchise Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Affiliate / Franchise commission fees | 2% commission | 2% commission | No | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Gifting Options | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Supports "Buy as a gift" | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards available | Yes | Yes, in Fat Pack -OR- separate purchase: "Gift Card Plugin" |
Yes | Yes | In Development |
| Gift wrapping available | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Online check before sending | No | For all "gift" purchases | No | No | For all "gift" purchases |
| Group & Loyalty Rewards | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Group discounts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty Program available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| # of loyalty levels | 3 levels | Unlimited levels | Unlimited levels | Group & non-group | Unlimited levels |
| Loyalty credit option | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Loyalty Cash back option | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Statistics & Security | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Inworld sales tracking | Yes | Yes | Daily log by email | Yes | Yes |
| Sale statistics via web | Yes | Yes | CSV file | Yes | Yes |
| Statistical graphs via web | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| SL Marketplace tracking | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Vendors use llTransferLindenDollars (Ensures money is paid before giving product) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GDPR Compliance |
New version in development | GDPR signage not ready yet Otherwise, yes |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Privacy Notes | Stores complete sales data of merchant and customers, even sales data from other systems, like Marketplace, if configured so by the merchant | Stores complete sales data of merchant and customers, even sales data from other systems, like Marketplace, if configured so by the merchant | Store customer names inworld only for redelivery; No exportable customers list; Sales data stored only 24h and sent to the system owner | Stores complete sales data of merchant and customers, even sales data from other systems, like Marketplace, if configured so by the merchant | Stores complete sales data of merchant and customers, even sales data from other systems, like Marketplace, if configured so by the merchant |
| System Costs | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Free/Commission version available | No demo version | Yes | Yes | Demo version Works fully for 15 days |
Yes |
| Free/Commission version Cost | Not applicable | L$0 free | L$4 | L$0 free | L$0 free |
| commission rates to system creator | Not applicable | Free: 5% Commission | Free: 5% Commission | See subscription info | Free: 1% Commission or L$5 (Whichever is greater) |
| System purchase (non-demo versions) |
Full: L$2,999 |
Premium: L$ 1,995 Fat Pack: L$2,995 |
Paid: L$1,995 |
Paid: L$999 + Subscription | Paid: L$250/wk |
| Charity concessions | Charities must contact Redix for details |
100% Free to registered charities | 100% Free to registered charities | Unknown | 100% Free to registered charities |
| Company Info | BSM | CasperVend² | KTC NSS | MD Vendor System | SL Vend Pro |
| Website | bejamble.net | CasperTech | KTC Blog | MD Labs | SL Vend Pro |
| Inworld SLURL | VirtualWorx Vendor near landing point |
CasperTech | KTC - Kimpa Tammas Creations | MD Labs Mainstore | No |
| Marketplace Store | VirtualWorx Store | CasperTech Store | KTC store | MD Labs Store | ::CYN:: Store |
| Current System Coder | Redix Dollinger | Casper Warden | Kimpa Tammas | Mattia Delwood | Cynikal Deanimator |