KittyCatS! Market Improvement Suggestions

[Ivy Norsk]

Something I haven't seen addressed in this thread yet is how much of this economy is riding on the backs of Megas. (I loved writing that bit). One of the major things that buffers the larger breeders is their ability to pull in Megas and sell them at a very large profit.

The incidence of a Mega is pegged at something like 1%. So those who have the capital to outlay buy a great many LE cats. While people who buy 4 LEs or 12 or so have a small chance to get a special cat (either new traits, the very rare LE, or a special size), those who can invest, have a nearly guaranteed chance to get at least some of the above and very probably all. They can then sell their megas for 15,000L or so, (and the rare LE for a marked up price also) which then reimburses them for their capital outlay. They can then discount a number of the rest of their purchases to 500L, which further causes people to buy *their* LEs on the secondary market , which further reimburses their capital. I don't know what the margin of profit they get is; it would vary with the popularity of the collection no doubt, and what they actually got in the lottery. But the point is that if you can invest, you can often recoup, as long as people pay the big bucks for the megas.

Over the past year we've seen the rise of the menagerie tiger as a sales item, treated like an LE collectible, and Fabio Mr. Cat has shown the math on that with menagerie cats.

In regular day-to-day breeding, the larger breeders, working with a larger number of cats, are going to pull in megas at the 1% rate, but this happens so much more often in proportion to the number of cats that you breed. And they can then set those for sale at the much higher rate.

So the larger the breeder you are, the less dependent you need to be on the quality of your day to day cats and the sales thereof. So far. But if everyone pursued this strategy, sooner or later, there would also be saturation in this area as well. Not everyone buys megas. Not everyone can buy megas. There are already whisperings that the market for Menagerie Megapuss Tigers is going down.
So encouraging everybody to become a bigger breeder probably is not a great strategy. I also think that it is worthwhile to point out that there really are these economic differences between large and small breeders.

On a related topic: KittyCats HQ has said that they don't want to do more limiting of LE sales because of the people who are on vacation and can't make it online. Some of this is puzzling: nobody takes holidays for Halloween. Spring break falls at different times for different people and would not hit everybody's vacation even if everybody took vacation then which they don't. So that leaves the Winter cat release, where indeed I think a lot of people are gone for awhile. But of course these people can still buy the cats. The secondary market provides them (often below cost) for at least a month after release. What can't they buy on the secondary market for the price of the store lottery? The megas and rares. So the HQ is saying that they have to extend the release so that some people have the opportunity to get megas and rares. That's it. Just worth noting.

[Tad Carlucci]

I've been asked why I called the 'real' Firestorm cats 'states'.

OK, amend that 'moving statues which look like real cats but can't breed and do nothing for the market since you can't even sell them'

This years Firestorm cats were nothing but fluff.

[Kayleigh McMillan]

Yes, collectibles remain to be a solid investment.
I've done it for years and the interest we can get on them a year later is at least 100% and most of the time even more we don't get that interest on our banks.
There are some aspects which increase the value of collectibles significantly:

- Odd sizes indeed.
- Wether they can receive a special baby.
- If they contain unique traits only given via that special.
- Ofcourse if the collection is admired by the community also after the hype.

I think especially because we receive goodies such as food with it and if we can keep some behind hand for one or two years later we can't go wrong with investing in them.
Even sick and/or retired they are still valuable because people have to pay less to Permapet them if they want which eventually cures them at the same time.

[Kitten Longmeadow]

(10-08-2014 08:25 AM)Tad Carlucci Wrote:  To my mind, that is EXACTLY why it's so bad this year. Last year, we had the Firestorm KITTIES. This year it was STATUES. That was a huge mistake. Sure, it was a bow to Firestorm, and got the company name out, but it ignored the existing customers and did nothing to bring in new customers.

Just a quick point of clarification/correction. The 2013 Firestorm cats and the 2014 Firestorm cats are essentially the same. They are perma-petted, non-transferable live kitties. The packages for both included the Firestorm kitty birthing box, and a coupon for a complimentary starter cat. The 2014 package also included a special Firestorm kitty bed to match the Fireball kitty.

I'm not sure where the idea came from that this year's cats are statues and not live kitties, but wanted to clarify that the 2014 Firestorm Fireball cat is indeed a LIVE cat, just like the 2013 Firestorm cat. You can pick up your 2014 Firestorm cat for free at our main store in the lobby. There is also a re-delivery terminal outside the main store that can be used in case anyone had trouble getting their free Firestorm kitty.


*Goes back to observing the thread* Carry on!

[Ivy Norsk]

Tad Wrote:This years Firestorm cats were nothing but fluff.

They're marketing. Pure and simple. It is marketing directed Outside the current KittyCatS community to draw new people in. Seriously, it's a good idea. They are permapetted and non-transferable so that they will Not become a factor in our ongoing market ups and downs. Also, people who don't know the community find the whole idea of virtual animals that you have to feed to be an intimidating if not loony idea - so a permapet is mandatory in that situation. But it gets people hooked.

It got me.

[Ziyal Ochs]

First of all TY Kitten for clearing up the Firestorm mishab... Glad to see KC is reading this

Someone made a good point about, most people not knowing about this thread... Again we have an opportunity here to work together...

MY REQUEST TO ALL MP OWNERS!

I will prepare my bot to advertise this thread. Allow my bot to spam in your groups... About this thread only of cause.
I can spam any interval we can agree upon for X days.
My suggestion would be 3 times a day through the chat and maybe for 14 days or so.

Up for it? IM me inworld and I will prepare that!

---

Even better send an e-mail: Ziyal Ochs@gmail.com

Wo don't want messages to get capped

[Rala Huckleberry]

(10-08-2014 08:25 AM)Tad Carlucci Wrote:  Soon, we'll be seeing the start of the Winter tidal wave of new Specials and new trait values, and the complaints will shift back to how the company is introducing too much, too quickly.

Very true. And if nothing will change on the whole market and the politics of business of KC, and WE ARE THE MARKET, TOGETHER WITH KC, this will be the next step to new frustrations.

[Kayleigh McMillan]

I think KC should bomb us with as much as possible gorgeous traits.
For one just so there is something to love for everyone.
In the long run it makes the chances higher unique kitties are created because so many traits are available to pick from why it is not likely we make perfectly the same kitty.

[Rala Huckleberry]

(10-08-2014 10:09 AM)Ivy Norsk Wrote:  So encouraging everybody to become a bigger breeder probably is not a great strategy. I also think that it is worthwhile to point out that there really are these economic differences between large and small breeders.

Not everybody has the economic means to become a larger breeder, at least at the current circumstances. And, as in RL, it should not be the interest to support the larger breeders, but those who are smaller and perhaps to go for couture kitties and special combinations, which at the end could be of interest for the auctions......

[LaFemme Meredith]

Uni thank you for started the thread. It's a good way to start the discussion and hopefully come to good solutions

I’m the owner of the new sim Cat's Village i'm a little shocked about the hatred and envy that I see in the 7 pages. Of course, I also see all the good ideas.

I also hooked up with the CoOp! I did this because I think a group is stronger than being alone. I've been almost 7 years around in sl and have rum a sim before and with tis sim I was also a member of a group with 7 other sims. I have only benefited from it and together did super fun stuff for our members.

I am therefore convinced that it can work so give it a chance
But it should be clear to make agreements among the sims who join the CoOp! and all will be the same what size the sim has.
It would be a + point as Kitty Cats also will be on it. That will certainly help to make it stronger

The Kitty Cats Eating story to be quite honest, I buy it plain and give it my cats but it cost a lot when you breeds so I can definitely find me in reduced the price or, as there will be sales like 4 times a year so it will lower costs. Also selling on your sim for x% could also help.

Auctions are great fun and can help you to sell your cat and I also think they should stay. (although I must say I put every week a cat in the auction but it is a long time since I've sold anything).
If you start a new sim is almost impossible to organize one because there are no times or times where no one will appear.
So if there is Auction time given to the group and you can then make use of it that it’s great. (it is still a point to get people to your sim)

I hope I can continue for a long time with my sim and the sale of the cat will life up again and also that we find solutions for the problems.

Keep the discussion on and I hope KittyCats is going to join the discuss here or in a other way.