[panthers17nfl]

Business owners, MineRealm in-game consumers, merchants, and the like, the link below is suited for you.

People with an I.Q. over 90 may find their heads becoming a bit sore despite my attempts to make the article as simplistic as possible. In any case, enjoy.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SjL ... t?hl=en_US

[planephanatic]

After reading the article through, I agree with a majority of the points brought up. Being a shop owner myself, I find that a leading problem is that nobody knows about the shops. Using your analogy, how successful would grocery shops be if they didn't advertise, and nobody knew how to get there? People would much rather meet in a central place, familiar with all members of the trade, rather than having to travel approximately 200 blocks to get to a store. To put it simply, why spend a few minutes walking when one can simply type /spawn and be instantly transported to their goods. Moving on to another point: the fifteen-minute salary. I'm not sure that I agree with this. I wouldn't trust someone to work in my shop for fifteen minute increments (as an example). I would much rather hire them for longer periods of time, having them paid on commission, as suggested in your article. They may work for hours, and only make a few sales. This is certainly not worth paying them for. Now the point about minecraft not being designed for an economy: I disagree. How can one have a structured society without an economy or trade system? It would be quite difficult. I myself find trading a necessity. Overall, I feel that the poll was quite informative. I do believe that shops need to do a better job advertising, and have broader hours. A plugin would be nice, but it is not essential to the survival of privatized shops. It's ultimately up to the shop owners to stay open longer, always have items in stock, and exercise successful advertising tactics.

-plane

[connorartman97]

I really liked the ideas, and just the writing of this article. I myself have just recently become involved in the Minerealm Business field, With the beginning of the International Bank of Lumina, And Now we bought a plot extremely close to spawn, and have begun, and are almost halfway done with the construction of a Second bank at spawn. I personally think the idea for a plugin would be great, Becuase yes minecraft was not meant for shops etc, But as you said, Its not minecraft, its minerealm. We have organized cities, Massive ones at that, and realm credits, and more. And my thought on realm credits are that, This is not exactly what intelli intended them to be, They were most likely meant to be just a way of buying realms, but realm credits turned into basicly our server having a currency, so if were going to have a currency why not make it beneficial and add plugins etc, to help it prosper. And, Other things to help Shops be more known and prosper.

Like Heres some ideas that are very radical and most likely will never be implemented but im going to go ahead and state them. What if, you could set your realm to be a shop or a realm. And you could do /realm set realm and /realm set shop. then people could not just have a realm list command, but a /shop list command. And that would benefit the idea of having a realm for your shop and also encourage the usage and well being of the shops that already exist.

Ideas on the Whole-Server-Shop: Simply No. I could go in to much more detail, But i really dislike the idea. Its very Capitalist and just something that seems like people would abuse. But if people really wanted a shop why not make it be stocked by the players? like The whole store starts off with zero inventory, then when PlayerA sells a stack of cobblestone to the store the store now has a stack of cobblestone for someone to buy. And make it also have a limit of buying and selling per day, and also significantly higher prices.

[texas_hitman]

Business is going well for Foxtopia Bank and store. The biggest problem I have is that people either dont trust us or don't understand how to get to the bank or store.

[Suikadesu]

Ah finally got this account up lmao.. stupid confirmation code. Anyways..

I Agree with all of the entire poll, the only thing i can really say is. well i hope everyones bank or business prosper's on people as per business that is. As for myself and the rest of frogtown. we have a 200x200 completelly walled off city
with a general store, an art museum and a Bank just outside East of our gate. but we are ever growing up and beyond our glorious walls.

Thank you panthers17nfl for this post. this will be the first time ill talk about what frogtown has to offer at this time.
Bank wise that is..

ill represent FrogBank right now. At this current time the current specs of the bank are as follow's

Bank Size - 41x41 Block
Direction Located - Directly East of Frogtown Gate
Co-'ords x -75 z1775
Deposit box Sizes
6 Day Rooms 16 single chests per room All Secured via LAVATEK and redstone switched iron doors unable to be opened by the general public
1 Main Vault, 200+ Chests ( not all installed )
Main Vault will be constructed with LAVATEK CORNER Installments and arrow traps ( maybe ) still working on that.
Also has an 3 OBSIDIAN thick Barrier to prevent None Diamond Pick Users who have rights. all Bank Employee's are on constant SS Camera Via my computer.

Bank is also being fitted with a doorbell, Redstone Alarm system and PP Security Lights in Redzones for security.
WaterTreK Fire prevention might be installed, not sure yet.
Security to the bank will be enforced by a resident within Frogtown already Allotted to.
All Main doors and vaults will also be equipped with Emergency Piston activated Storm doors made of obsidian to
Lockdown the bank by the flick of a redstone switch which all teller's and Area sensitive locations will have.


Frogbank is playing around with some little addons that no other bank has to my knowledge including but not limited to

-Insurance Quotes on all Accounts within the bank that are higher then a grade 1 deposit. (just dirt or cobble)
-Return rates of up to 8,000 RC Upon anything that happens to your stuff. More information not included here at this time.

We are also actively renting out Plots that are Pre-cleared and are Rent To Own VIA Frogbank's Payment plan.

12,000 Credits for a fully cleared 50x50 Plot Ready to go on Day one. no money down. 1,000 RC Every week till its payed off, If rent is not paid. you will be Evicted after 5 daily mandatory notices and house torn down and all building mats you used will be returned to you.

We also are playing are hands in Loans, FROGBANK will loan players who qualify (have an account, and have collateral) loans of up to 10,000 RC At this time. The easiest way to explain what i have for the public at the moment is,
- You pay us Collateral for the amount requested.
- We store said Collateral in a LOAN Room
- Your Information is recorded Via Pen and Paper IRL
- Your given a time limit on your loan for Good hand measures ( Pay it back in time, receive full collateral)
- Pay the Loan Back to us, we'll pay the 10% Service fee, You get the collateral Back.
- Don't pay us back in time, we collect Interest and pay you whats left.
- Don't pay us at all, we collect the collateral and you get the credits + no further transactions with the bank.

Unfortunately, as the Manager at this time for the bank, I won't be opening the bank until i get back from Tokyo in Sept I leave for Business and Vacation August 1st 2011 till Sept 1 2011 so i wont be able to attend my minecraft fixes. but when i return i will be opening the bank.

Their is many other ideas that we will be presenting upon release. so stay tuned. The bank is already being temped for the people of frogtown in other means until the bank is up. so even if nobody needs our bank, ill still let our words out for others to decide if they wish to dip down to frogtown and check it out.

We've been told that our ideas are great but they dont hold promise because of the amount of RC and mats needed.

At this present time. The FROGBANK will have more then enough to support its own even if its just for people of Frogtown. via the amount of RC being collected from people. via other means.. And our deposit box system to my knowledge is Biggest on Minerealm Survival. i could be wrong, im not sure ^.^ and the security is above the highest to my knowledge also. More Information will be released on the Main Vault later, as well as ill touch up on the LAVATEK security.

By the way. to the people who need more trust in our bank wether you are new to the town or just a random player. Our bank is like i said above, fully insured for all clients. any breach of security especially to the vault room will trigger the LAVATEK to Destroy everything before anyone can steal it. all materials collected daily are tallied on Paper irl and on computer. so everything can be insured out to the owner. not to mention, we will be adding the function of Thanks from your Bank upon opening to new clients. it works like TD's Thanks from your Bank In Canada, if you have a TD Account IRL. you'll know how it works, if not, ill touch up on it later. =o

Also. we dont need your stuff. we have enough credits and materials. this bank is for the general public and frogtown members alike to enjoy and use at their own discretion. If you dont trust using a bank system please do not use a bank. Banks are to be used at your own discretion. all people and questions are welcomed but not needed, remember this.

Have a great day People from all of us at Frogtown ^.^

SUIKADESU
-VIA SUIKA C&C

I will update all things on the bank regularly now and ill have a full updated list in Sept when i Open.

After reading about everything panthers said. Being a new Bank manger is at the top of my excited things to do list.
Have fun and good luck everyone with your business's!

[eagleclaw6]

1. How many of you have been to a player-owned shop, business, or bank? The responses to this question were fairly balanced in both directions. An estimated 55% of the poll-takers said that they have attended a shop.
The other 50% had a question directed at them.

Oh really? The other 50%?

I'm not too familiar with shops myself but I do think that some sort of commission would be the best of the mentioned payment methods. Panthers mentioned a problem keeping track of transactions, but if you can't trust your employees to do that simple task, why would you trust then to work for you at all?

I can think of two forms of commissions. A fraction of the total sales or an amount derived just from the number of sales. Both of these have downsides and ways in which they could be exploited, but since purchases are somewhat of a rarity now a payment based on the number of customer sales is the better option. This would give incentives to draw a greater number of people to stores, and that is what is required in the current state.

[ChronicTacos]

First off, let me just say you did a fantastic job! It looks and is very professional.
Thanks for spending your own time conducting this research.
Now, let's start.

There are more shops opening and with that, more competition. Advertising shops is complicated because doing it via chat will just flood it. Imagine if every shop owner/employees/etc. posted via chat (Ugh, horrible! I know!). I think the area right in front of spawn should be restricted. I believe there is currently a tree farm there. I believe the area in front of the waterfall stairs should be used for advertisement. My idea is that there should be a building in front of spawn that only mods and admins have power to place or remove blocks, signs, etc. In that building, there is an organized line of signs that contains the coordinates of the shop, shop name, and the name(s) of the shop owner(s). I believe it would be very convenient for shop owners and players. (Don't you just hate people that steals signs? Especially if that sign guides a player to a store?)

Moving on to another topic.
Shops vs. Simple Trading.
No matter how many shops open, I'm sure that there will always be simple trading.
Although not as safe, it is still efficient,fast, and easy. The trading area in spawn is too small in my opinion and it would be safer for two traders to walk a bit and trade in an isolated area. Also, simple trading is usually cheaper than shops, so some users will take the time to do a simple trade rather than buy the same item for a higher price or sell their items for lower than the average going rate.

Trusting Shops
Players should ALWAYS take caution when trading.
Shops or not, it should not matter.
When people are trading via dropping, they are trusting the other person to do the same or send realm credits for their item. My opinion is take many screenshots during a trade, whether it's a shop trade or a simple trade. What's the risk of taking more screenshots? It's better than taking none at all or not enough screenshots. And to those who prefer videos, record it! You have the whole story of the trade rather than just a huge collection of pictures. That is all.

Distance
I would actually walk at most 500 blocks from spawn, but prefer the shops to be within 300 blocks from the spawn. Shops that are farther away are usually hard to find because there are no signs that guides us. Most are destroyed by griefers. If there were guidance or if I knew the coordinates, I would go for a nice long adventure

Wages
Ehh, this topic is up to the employee and the owner to discuss. Determining wages can be complicated.

Other Thoughts
MineRealm is a LEGIT server and it is up to the players to decide what to do with their items. Thank you moderators and admins for your time. I know how chaotic it can be when you guys are online, with all the complaints and distress!
I enjoyed this poll and I do hope you do more in the future. Of course, it does not have to be about shops again. Thanks

[panthers17nfl]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. And no, I don't mind you talking about your business and what it has to offer. It would be counter-intuitive if I did (just provide some constructive feedback, not just an advertisement ).

Anyways, all of this technology and the systems you guys speak of is good, but remember, you have to reach the Active Market. Now it sounds like I'm nagging because I preached that in the article, but it is absolutely critical. Your technology and cool ideas for the workings of your shop are great and all, but Active Market and RoC. That's all I can say.

[Suikadesu]

I know i kind of went abit off topic with frogbank. Please dont assume it was just an advertisement i just wanted to point out some more ideas of things we are trying. at this present time. our construction is abit out of line for any means of making a bank close to spawn, thats why im telling people our bank does have some nice offers that arent out their yet. because we are located 2000 blocks west of spawn. its abit of a jaunt to just walk out to us. we will try to remedy this for now. Our bank is mainly used at the moment for the people of our city to place their goods with some nice incentives. at this time id like to say. if their is anyway i can help with Active Market or RoC help for others, ill be able to help out as much as possible and Donate some mats if needed, we are on probably one of the heaviest pay loaded supply towers over other people. so we would be happy to try and help other businesses out.

Suikadesu.

[Suikadesu]

Also on the idea of ChronicTacos.

The Advertisement sign board would be a great idea. even better, since people are jumping out of nowhere with shops.
the sign board could ideally have a RC requirement so dead or inactive stores that are also upon us, would eventually not pay the RC requirement and then not be advertised. as for every other business who pays the fee would keep their advertising up on the board and then people would know their options.

Ex. STORE 1 = Inactive, bad hours, no stock. doesnt pay their RC fee for advertising. = no people knowing about them
STORE 2 = Active, alright hours, some stock, pays the RC fee = Semi good business and people are aware of em
STORE 3 = Active, always good hours, heavy in stock at all times, pays the RC fee, all people are aware and this will affect their business
STORE 4 = Active, alright hours, good stock here and there, doesnt pay the RC fee, some people will know about it and since they dont pay the fee's it might affect their business but maybe not because they got the usuals always shopping.