SphynxDraft/Test Partnership
Introduction
CasperVend does not currently support a true partnership option where things are automatically shared, and you cannot share a DropBox (as it will only support sending data about products from the OWNER of the DropBox.)
This also means you cannot deed a dropbox to a group (as the group is then considered the "owner" and since the group isn't the entity that made the purchase, it won't send any data at all to the website.)
Available Options
If you wish to engage in a merchant partnership with one or more other individuals, or build on one account and sell on an alt, these options are detailed below.
All options are equally possible with the free or paid versions of CasperVend - so it just depends on the available finances of the merchant partner(s) at the time. The free version will incur a 5% commission across the board (whether used as affiliates or in the shop of the system owner) but the paid versions only incur a 2% commission when used as affiliates (0% commission when used in the shop of the system owner.)
1) Build On One Avatar, Pass Copy/Trans versions (Not Recommended!)
The reason this option is NOT recommended is because you are giving full control of all products which are copiable/transferrable to your partner. Unless you've known your merchant partner for *years*, you will always have the risk that they'll "cut and run" with your products, and never give you the required profit splits.
2) Build On One Avatar, Pass Vendors To Another
This option allows you to maintain control over your products, while still allowing them to be sold in someone else's store or as part of a partnership.
However, this method will incur the CasperTech commission of 2% for premium vendors (or 5% for free vendors) since this will result in the system treating them as affiliate vendors (the avatar purchasing the CasperVend set they came from will not be the avatar rezzing them out.)
3) Partner Splits
This method allows each partner to control their own products, without having to give full perm copies to anyone else, or deal with the potential hassle of affiliate vendors.
Each partner will need:
- Their own copy of CasperVend
- To set up profit sharing appropriately with all partners
Option: Customised Vendors
If the partners all wish to have a unified look for all of the vendors, one partner can set up specially customised vendors and send a set of the newly customised (but empty) vendors to the partner(s) for them to load their products in.
As long as all partners have their own copy of CasperVend with a working DropBox, this will allow all partners to have a unified look while each partner controls their own products.
Follow this process:
- Rez out the custom vendor object
- Use the mapping helper and the customisation process to generate a custom MAPPING card
- Once complete, paste the information from the pastebin site into a fresh MAPPING notecard
- Remove the mapping helper script from the custom vendor object
- Replace with the vendor script, and the MAPPING card that you just created
- Do NOT grant debit permissions yet - click "Deny"!!!
- Pick up your new vendor object
- Transfer a copy of this new vendor object to your partner(s)
Once you've sent your partner(s) a copy of the vendor object, you may rez one (or more) for yourself, THEN grant debit permissions, and start using them to show your products.
Limitations
TOS Of Builder Components
Check the terms for any full-perm components that you are using from another builder. If alts and business partners are not allowed, then the only legal solution is to pick up a another set of CasperVend vendors for the avatar holding all the builder parts.
No Gift Cards
There is no way to pay for gift cards to be purchased on one individual's copy of CasperVend, and be able to use them on another individual's copy of CasperVend. So no, partners cannot use CasperVend gift cards AS part of a partnership.
HoloVend Quirks
HoloVend cannot display products that are not set up on the HoloVend owner's own CasperVend account (the action of rezzing a demo is tied to a product listing.)
However, if the partners involved want to only use ONE HoloVend in the store (between all the partners) to show all the products, it is possible but it will need a special set of steps, above and beyond the what is detailed on the HoloVend Setup page.
The additional steps are:
- Other partners send the HoloVend partner a copy/mod version of the product (this will allow it to be physically holo rezzed.)
- The HoloVend partner sets up that copy/mod product to be holo rezzed appropriately (as per the HoloVend Setup)
- HoloVend partner sets up a product listing not set to deliver anything, but with otherwise correct information, and points it to the holo demo in the HoloVend
- HoloVend partner sets the HoloVendor itself to "Only demo products - don't allow sales" via the HoloVendor configuration page.
All sales in this case will be taking place via the regular vendors, not the HoloVend itself.