I'm blog toteming again, but that's nothing strange in and by itself. So much to see and do. And that includes shopping! 
Already one day has passed, and I notice Gigas Group has streamlined and rearranged some of their content so that Gigas WebShop is more obvious to the firsttime visitor. I like that.
Basically, you just go to their website, order stuff, and it should be delivered to you inworld in a few minutes. Try this test: go to the item page of the Gigas Vendor System v2.1, and click the "Order (Free)" link. Within a few seconds, you should get the item inworld. See how it works??Make sure your avatar isn't set to (BUSY) mode or else it'll say this:
You decline Gigas Vendor System v2.1 from Gigas Vendor System – Server.
But if it works right, it'll say:
Gigas Vendor System – Server has given you a object named 'Gigas Vendor System v2.1'
In the typical blue box on the upper right-hand corner of your screen. I like?this method because it is so efficient and elegant.
There are a few things I am confused by, I hope the savvy Adam Zaius will clarify them for me soon. Items that cost L$?will arrive in a generic box with a generic name, which you then pay to "unlock". So how do you know how much to pay into each one to unlock the items? It would be better — if it could be implemented, to rename the delivery box name to include the name of the item and the price. For example, "Gigas Package – Watermelon – L$2086" instead of just "Gigas Package". A better way?to buy batch items would be most welcome in situations such as assembling a home with many custom textures, pieces of furniture, and even a vehicle or two. It would greatly expedite the process and facilitate compilation of pieces of the project. Again, I personally emphasize that vendors selling items at the WebShop should include plenty of helpful pictures and descriptive information to help the consumer make an informed purchase.?Otherwise, what's the point??;)
Oh my… it seems like I have gotten myself into a mess. I ordered several items sequentially just to try things out, and now I can't remember which order went where… and how! I paid L$1 for the heck of it into several boxes too, and they vanished (since will automatically derez) and I didn't receive an item — nor received change. Eeek. I am unable to currently find a page on the Gigas site showing my "queue" of ordered items either so I straighten the situation out. Okay, I need help. Thankfully, customer support is looking good. *goes to file report*
I also wonder: in the future, instead of the SL Exchange approach of having multiple terminals around the gridverse and the Gigas Webshop way of sending the item boxes to you for payment directly, why not have a personal terminal of your own (not unlike a PDA)? It?would ideally?be a potent combo of form & function — looking cool strapped onto, say,?your waist as an attachment — and autoupdateable to the latest version so there's minimal hassle. You could conduct?various types of transactions through this?device, engage in other infoservices, and even browse websites with an integrated GUI.?Ha ha ha… I say the last part semi-jestingly,?but I remain hopeful for?greater future interoperability involving SL.?It would be disconcerting for me to use a computer within a computer — at least initially — but nested interfaces are not necessarily a bad thing. Aye, maybe this is already being worked on yet and I don't know about it yet. If it is, please send me an IM.
On one hand, it's nice — just like in "real life", to travel around to malls and to shop in person and really see the product for yourself, even touch it. On another, there are times when you know exactly what you want, and you want it now. I feel it is important that SL helps vendors cater to?their customers in a variety of ways. These alternative choices make for a healthier marketplace!
That being said, be a good capitalist pig and buy buy buy!