new gift store

[xFallenAngeLx666]

i have noticed that it says "Announcing the Gift Store! Go to any member's profile and click the "Give a Gift" link to begin. You've got 3750 credits to get started!" on my site and was wondering what the heck it is and how do we delete it. It is crap. What do you all thnk?

[MAT]

tell me about it xFallenAngelx, it's sucks...also they messed the languge edit..thing..now i can't use font color, or java script..this freak jeez...They just messed my whole website..i lost alot of shit.jeez damn it

[xFallenAngeLx666]

omg serious?/? I am going to have to check that out on my site. Damn man i wish they had warned us before doing this.... It is really... well gay with the points etc... i am gonna investigate further, i will let you know if i find out anything remotly helpful =)

MAT said:

tell me about it xFallenAngelx, it's sucks...also they messed the languge edit..thing..now i can't use font color, or java script..this freak jeez...They just messed my whole website..i lost alot of shit.jeez damn it

[Scott Rains]

"Gifts" is perceived as totally inappropriate invasion of my communities by their members. Maybe it works for children but it erases the value of Ning for all my clients.

[Christopher O'Donnell]

This was a pretty darn bold feature to launch this way, Ning.

Believe me, I understand the virtual goods trend in social networking, and the business impetus behind the 'opt-out' launch, but this is pretty over the top.

Of course NCs can turn off Presents, but launching the feature without informing the NC community means that the burden is then on the NCs to explain to their communities why this feature disappeared.

So yeah, I have all the same complaints about the launch as others on this thread. so, tisk tisk Ning.

Beyond that, I have to say that the virtual goods strategy for Ning Networks is a HUGE decision, to Ning and to the NCs. Actually let me clarify that, it's a huge strategic decision that affects Ning BASED ON how it affects NCs. If Gifts flop on Ning, it will be because they were the wrong strategy for the networks on Ning.

Ning isn't king, networks are king. Networks ARE Ning.

So Gifts, hmmm. Okay, so Facebook had gifts early on, and they... what, they... were massively successful? Not so sure about that.

How are Hi5, Zynga (et al) and others in the social networking game generating revenue? Virtual currency! I'm REALLY INTO the idea of virtual goods on Ning, but... Gifts? NO!!! COINS!

I could be making Ning and myself money by selling virtual goods on my network, but I doubt gifts will be successful.

If they do work wonders though, your top priority should be to expand payment options to include internationally-adopted payment providers. Example: paypal isn't big in Brazil, the money is going through Pagseguro, so you'll want to integrate with them. At least, you will if you still love me. Did you ever?

\m/

[Tim Skellenger]

agreed, I dont want gifts. Throw it up on the manage tab and I will add it if I want it.

It needs to get out of my face