Welcome to virtual-secrets, week 422.
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virtual-secrets: Week 422
· Lourdes Denimore ·
Quick link to the 61 Comments
Before we delve into secrets…
• If you hook up with a crazy in SL, it is not our responsibility to help you deal with that. If it becomes a RL issue contact law enforcement.
• Trust no one. If you tell people your laundry they will air it for you.
• Secret submissions are anonymous. We don’t know if your crazy ex or your abuela submitted them.
• Make your secrets legible.
• Do not contact us just to threaten us, especially with e-lawyers. We’ve been doing this for 12+ years. You are not the first nor will you be the last.
• Lastly, if the material submitted here triggers you, please get help. If the materials submitted here make you suicidal please see the suicide hotline numbers posted. They are there to help.
Seems to be so much hate on here, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I personally have never had any problems with Marina, I think every store owner has their own problems to deal with and there will always be people who are unhappy with service such is life.
I cant say I have experience working for her but I am very close to someone who does so I chose to believe her when she tells me the stories are untrue.
Its a shame that such a site exists over….a game. Sorry guys you may call it a Virtual World but its not real, the people behind the screens however are and can really get hurt by things people say.
Just remember that thing you were taught as children, cant say anything nice don’t say anything at all.
Message to all this people who is unfairly targetted on this post:
We live in a time where a huge part of our daily interactions with people lies online, in a virtual world where speed of communication is key, and entertainment value is significant, if not vital. The Internet has enabled us to cross time and space barriers, allowing instant access, responses to and sharing of information. Everyone is no longer mere consumers of information, but also producers.
This overall ease of instant communication, though powerful, is very often abused by people who lack good intentions–people who are careless, mindless, insensitive, unhappy with themselves, culturally unaware, bigoted, self-centered, biased, or simply mean-spirited.
How should we deal with the online bullies who leave nasty comments on our Facebook posts, our Tweets, our WordPress, our Tumblr, our YouTube videos, our Instagram photos, and wherever? How do we deal with these strangers? Pray for them, forgive, pity them, ignore. In life the bad actions you choose, returns as bumerang, so do not worry and hope that they have not this same experience themselves on a future.
I saw a post by a disgruntled former csr of the Aphrodite shop, and read a few other posts. I’ve been a customer of the Aphrodite shop for a couple of years, have typed with Marina on occasion and am nothing but pleased with the products and service. Looks like a lot of haters love this site, gives them a venue to tear others down and feel important about themselves. Its a shame that some people can only feel better about themselves by tearing down others.
If you ever complained about an item to Marina, your name will probably be in the list below:
https://gyazo.com/14466d91a06a0a78519123ade289c11c
https://gyazo.com/308bc09dfe39ee77c2ce7e4ead677f60
https://gyazo.com/d3a31daa6a5a62c7aece9461dea3ff42
https://gyazo.com/0946babcd177c71d92938c05937ee28c
https://gyazo.com/fb5742d12fbfa762dab442ac3c57b0d6
https://gyazo.com/d0b3afcfb7560da0740d3a5cc8497884
https://gyazo.com/440cf84b5e1ddc87aebe3cb1cf4e593a
https://gyazo.com/558b5995fd25dabde6ca0bbfe51f7593
https://gyazo.com/736590428856b4190b3c99fd3ab09dce
https://gyazo.com/7b44e381658af5f6962da020ea31fc78
https://gyazo.com/9059a6679c6d3f6f2d77dbb9107608be
https://gyazo.com/b4df676a825a8a62fbf9fc0feddfe831
https://gyazo.com/fca985a47133257b598c235e5babd373
https://gyazo.com/dd1326f5aebe45098ba8d8cce8c22ebe
https://gyazo.com/06e85734ff5bb1ce6cc8538b1657a1e1
https://gyazo.com/deb6244658b88326ec1290c636a61af8
https://gyazo.com/86399ab2b5df3cfa66e820fa155738d0
https://gyazo.com/7b2e10df9c1d15ef30756475412e022b
Phew, never saw such a long banned list before…
Nah it’s all true. Have you noticed that there’s far more negative comments than positive? And I’m fairly certain at least one was done by Marina, herself. Want to know why I’m banned? Because I asked to be removed from their subscriber (that I never asked to join in the first place and isn’t available to customers in the actual store so they can remove themselves) more than a dozen times. When my request was ignored, I copied all my ignored im’s and notecards to Marina and sent them to her husband. That got his attention and he verbally assaulted me for harassing his wife, threatened to report me for sharing her private im’s and banned me from the store. And still never removed me from the subscriber. He’s one classy dude, too.
I wonder how much she offered on gift cards to come here, report how wonderful she is, and call us all liars.
I have no reason to lie. Even her own csr admits they have to harass customers twice for reviews. If you make good products people will l3ave good reviews. No need to contact them.
# 4 / Anyone who takes images in SL starts from somewhere, either knowing photo shop or not, some choose to use online editors as well . Some use photo shop so much that it doesn’t even look like original avatar at all. If your going to criticize, show us what you can do !
I worked for Marina Ramer. I took every single position at that shop and can attest with many many LOGS saved and unnedited that all said here is true. if you guys publish logs and stuff I will be happy to share.
She demands us to spam people, threaten people, threaten US to threaten customers, her food is from the past century (and she accuses other places to steal from her, the irony…) She does the food-from-children drama… she bans customers left and right… cuss at people or tell her CSR to do it for anything less than 5 star reviews that she PESTERS for…
Of all the dirty jobs out there in second life, not even the private-use-copybotter lays so LOW.
I have many many months of logs and emails with this woman when I worked for her I have no problem sharing the Exp I had with her.
I think transparency is good so could you both screenshot them and put a link here to Gyazo so we can see them?
#4 – Why is photoediting the measuring stick for a SL photographer? Wouldn’t you rather see things the way they are in world?
I rarely edit my pics all that much. Imo they look good and get decent views so they can’t be that aweful. Imo if you have to edit your pic beyond recognition then your not a good sl photographer to began with.
That isn’t true in the slightest. If you are selling something in-world then yes, it’s very deceiving to edit your photos beyond recognition. However for the most part, SL photography is an art form within itself and many are talented enough to make a bad photo look good.
You should have to make a bad photo look good. You should just take a good photo. Photoshopping is a talent sure but if you have to photo shop it that much it’s no longer and SL photo and you probably shouldn’t call it that. It’s just a photoshop piece at that point.
Sorry Should say shouldn’t have to…it’s late
#4 Screw you. I just had an absolutely gorgeous pic done by Prue. It has gotten a lot of compliments.
#7 – How is this even still news to anyone?
I fucked Pixel Sideways once; that is until we had to stop because of his COPD.
Who hasn’t Pixel tried to fuck. He sent out a notice for some one to fuck him for 10k. Sad when you have to pay for it because you are too much of a pill abusing addict to win people over genuinely.
That’s hot, Sjors.
Also, I see grammar is being tossed to the wind in the Secrets this week.
I bought a hold-able tea platter from aphrodite, and it did not look like the quality in their ad. Their shop had no samples, and their stuff looked like sculpty-trash. Not only that! The tea set was full bright with no option to turn it off!
I recommend =Feather=, even if their stuff is old and primmy, it’s prettier and more functional. It’s a shame they don’t have a hold-able tea-set or are bringing in newer products. But I definitely say you should check out =Feather=’s store.
I tried looking for feather on the MP and inworld but no luck – do you have a link please?
=Feather= by Sakuya Lane https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/16418
I’ll have to look them up. And I’ll go ahead and plug KittyCat Ninetails. Her stuff is pretty old-school, but not in a bad way, and she’s very friendly and honest. You know exactly what you’re getting from her ads, too. Specializes in pixel adult beverages. I’m a fan. XD
#2: So did we ever get a store name or link for #12? I couldn’t find one in the comments. Still curious!
#3. Wow, I haven’t been to Aphrodite in forever. (Also, wow, I actually recognize a store on here. A store I’ve patronized, I mean.) At worst, it’s been inoffensive and, at best, rather useful. Automatic NC givers and stuff are annoying, yes, but… maybe I’m used to them?
Dunno. Maybe the place has gone downhill lately. Which would be sad.
Okay…obviously it’s the same thirsty bitch posting ’bout Aphrodite. Like. no. Marina would NEVER EVER pull the bullshit y’all are posting about. That’s just ridiculous. It’s also clear that none of you have ever seriously met her. She is the exact opposite of what’s being said. Get off your fat asses and jog on.
Known Marina and Co, for YEARS, my entiire SL. It really saddens me to see someone who got fired (for not doing their job at all,) would do something like this. I have also worked for Marina as well, She is a kind person, only wants her customers happy,we reach out to customers to see how the product is, and don’t force to leave a review, we are supposed to say “Consider leaving a review” we are also only supposed to contact TWICE. If you were being harassed by a CSR at any given time more than two(we send two IMs in case sl eats it,and usually days or weeks apart) With that said, people who areposting are only heariing lies and an untrue side of the story. This really sickens me. I mean, we’re all human behind our avatars, why would you even post something ike this? or any of the other posts on this site. You people obviously have nothing better to do then to create drama on a silly website. This hate has to stop, yea people are not perfect, some people may piss you off, but to defame them on a public forum? That’s illegal. I hope you all go to her shop and get tomeet her, she’s an amazing person with an amazing store and treats her employees great. I don’t care if people don’t agree with me, I think it’s silly and shows what type of people come to a site like this, i am only here because a concerned friend showed me and I am only commenting to remind eveyrone we are all human, we come to sl for fun, why all the hate? why al thebullying? well i guess it’s easier to bully behind a computer screen I wish everyone well, and… Read more »
In fact, you can go ahead and read the marketplace terms of service to see that the practice of bribing for reviews is a breach of it.
As is buying items on alts to leave false positive reviews.
First, let me stop in and say that if you’re going to preach legalities, you may want to know what “defaming” is. People posting their negative experiences with the Aphrodite Shop is not defaming. It’s truly not even different than leaving a yelp review online for a restaurant.
What WOULD be defaming her store would be people coming up with random lies about it with the purpose of losing her business. I’m sad to be the one to point out here, but that isn’t what’s happening here.
As far as your experience with her goes, you just admitted right before you went on your long, defensive rant that she’s your friend.
Now, I’m sorry to say to you, but people are going to take your positive, friendly experience with her with a grain of salt simply because you’re going to defend your friend.
When people want to hear about how a store is run professionally, they’ll look to customer experiences to decide (and most of these customer experiences tell plenty).
I’d completely understand your stance if she were wrongfully being posted about on here. However,speaking as one of her customers, she’s not wrongly posted here. If that little truth being spewed out about how her CSR’s harass the customers with im’s and coaxing for positive reviews (again, there’s already a notecard included in her items that already bribes for a review), then that’s tough shit. She can suck it up if she’s oh-so-offended by the fact that people are speaking out about her less than favorable business practices.
And no, bribing for reviews is NOT a favorable business practice. When you bribe a customer with a gift card to leave a positive review, then you’re shady as all shit.
i at one time WAS a blogger for Aphrodite and I was coerced into buying items off MP and leaving positive reviews. Once I realized how shady that really was..I quit, and removed the 2 reviews I had left up till that time. To say that Marina is opposite of what everyone is saying is totally absurd to me. When I told them I quit blogging and removed my reviews, i was threatened several times and it was all reported to LL, however, as you can be sure, no action was ever taken by LL.
ROFL That is such a lie! I used to work for her and I know first hand everything that goes down! She, and her CSR’s hound you to leave a review and will send you a @250L gift card “TEXTURE” – you then have to IM her to spend it.
I once left a 4 star review on an alt and she LOST HER MIND and called me an idiot and said I was in the wrong. – over a 4 star review.
I worked for her as well for quite sometime and had this same outcome It’s sad but very true she treats her employees like shit and the way she talks about her customers behind there backs is horrible, she is never in the wrong it is always the CSR’s fault for everything. Something seriously needs to be done to these people
Ugh, I am not sure where you get you’re information from, You obviously haven’t seen the other side that a lot of people have, I have personally had a bad experience with the owner as well, When I purchased an Item and it was no Mod, I was informed I was allowed to get a Mod version then Marina went back on her word, I asked for a refund and she said ok at first then refused. Then said Blocked and banned all because I was a customer asking for assistance. Lowsey items, Customer service on her part.
Yeah was bombarded with request after request to leave a review, kept ignoring, fast forward 3 weeks later and still got ims. The desperation of it made me never shop with their brand again.
that would be a lie. I recall a couple years ago, and might even be able to find the NC, when I was asked to be a blogger for Aphrodite Shops. I was told that sometimes I would be asked to buy items on the MP and leave a 5 star review. I’d be reimbursed for the lindens.
And yes i agree with Lourdes, some years ago, i got banned, when i wrote her a NC about her gacha which wasnt working and didn’t deliver, as response i got she throw some tantrums and banned me…
LOL People in Second Life are so mean!
#3 – How awful that a business harasses customers for reviews and not only treats employees AND customers badly.
It is my firm belief to NEVER buy from a rude Shopkeeper no matter how badly you want the product.
I hope her kids don’t grow up to be like her.
#4 – lol. idk who Prue is but it irritates me when SL Photographers be like “Looking for Clients” and have shit portfolio. Or on SL forums, people be like “Interior Decorator Looking for Work” and no link to a portfolio flickr etc.
#5 – YESSSS. HADES made virtual-secrets. It’s Slfamous now.
#6 – Unfortunately some of those insecure internet bully’s in Second Life hold positions of management/boss in 1st Life? Scary thought. But yes, they are still insecure and lashing out in a virtual world.
#7 – Another SLSabout Lost & Found lol. Some people were booted for selling TEMPLATE work lol. Also, English isn’t their first language. :i
#8 – It blows my mind people call Second Life tattoos art thieves. Do you ANY of all these tattoo makers even OLD SCHOOL Aitui DRAWS their own tattoo? Unless it’s a minuscule graphic or a quote… that shit is /always/ from internet pasted onto a template. Why are people surprised?
#9 – Nile, like his ex-boyfriend is sexy af. Don’t go anywhere, bruh.
“Be like” – what does that even mean?
#7 English is not their first language – ironic?
#7 could it be JustAnotherShop who got booted? Horrible mesh and rude owner, which is more interested in fucking his models than meeting the eventtimeline…
A whole slew of folks were booted, except one and owner knows about that one so who knows why it was allowed to stay. And owner has allowed one store to sell sets with obvious full perm & template stuff in both Lost & Found and Chapter Four for MONTHS, so folks are pissed because of the inconsistency and hypocrisy of selective rule enforcement.
Which store was allowed to stay? Have the other stores also taken to social media to air this out? I only saw that one certain store’s FB posts about the situation, and knew she’d make a secret this week.
The Pose Shop with the pumpkin gacha was allowed to stay.
And demos rezzed out clearly full perm stuff if you go into Edit linked. I think folks are bent out of shape because Pupito was screaming in group notices over and over about it, kicking creators without warning or giving chance to fix or replace items without refund yet letting someone stay who was clearly breaking same rule. If rule had been consistent throughout the various rounds as well as this one, folks would not be so angry.
And yes I have seen at least 3-4 stores posting about it.
Which stores and where? That was the only store I saw posting sl conversations and acting a tart. Would love to see what they also have to say about the situation.
Idk if JAS got booted. Their work is good/ok but they have worst store name i have ever seen. Why would i want to buy from “Just Another Shop?” I dont.
It was a template shop That’s So Kyoot, the owner Abigail/Eden is all sorts of salty and insane. The invite stated original mesh. Why accept if it’s not something you offer?
#11 THAN
The owners of Aphrodite Shop are disgusting human beings and completely, mentally unstable. It sickens me that they make as much money as they do with their horrid business practices.
I’ve never heard of Aphrodite Shop until now and I SORT OF noticed their new fall chairs on Seraphim but not enough to look twice.
Do they really make that much money? Because these products are ugly af and to top off that they are rude to their employees AND customers.
That blows my mind, ahahahah!
Their product only look good on their ads which I suspect are highly photoshop-ed but once you rez them out, they are God awful. Their mesh look like sculpties which is a shame and yes, whenever you buy a certain product, their CSRs will hunt you down and inform you to review the product and give you a giftcard worth shit. And if you read the owners profile, they do make a point that if you leave a bad review, it’s because you didn’t contact them first if you had problems with the product.. What a joke.
There CSR’s I believe are forced to have tons of Online Huds out to show when customers come online, So that the immediately message you, I have overheard this many times with that store which is total harassment, I understand the CSR is doing there job I put the blame on the owner for such shallow service.
So I totally used to be friends with the guy who used to be in charge of taking their ad pictures. In fact I was IN one of them. He photoshopped the SHIT out of them and told me they demanded it be done.
Best part of it is that you pretty much have to THREATEN their CSR to STOP harassing you to write a fucken MP review. Like she messaged me 15 times. I finally had to tell her that if she didnt stop fucking messaging me I would write a one star review blasting the harassment. She stopped after that.
Wow. Just wow. @ insert & sherlock
Forgive my ignorance, but what is the first one even about?
Mai hasn’t updated any of his lipsticks and eyelashes for the Fiore head 2.1 but still sells them on the marketplace when there useless.
I have to laugh about #3 because they literally harass you and bribe you with a gift card to leave a positive review on their page – something they’re NOT allowed to actually do.
When you open a marketplace store, you agree that you won’t bribe customers to leave feedback and that you won’t treat less-than favorable feedback any differently than positive feedback.
I bought one of the princess party sets from the store a week ago and right upon opening the item, there’s a notecard coercing you for a review. Then within a week, I had TWO (that’s right – multiple people) CSR’s message me and leave me notecards to review the product that I hadn’t even gotten a chance to use yet (I had purchased it to throw someone a birthday party in world that I’m planning).
As a store owner myself, that sort of behavior is fucking shady to me. Not to mention that it’s awfully desperate and pathetic.
I’d always wondered why their items were so well rated when they appeared to range between completely mediocre and total shit, with prices which don’t match the quality at all. I’ve never actually bought anything from them that I can recall, but this definitely solves that mystery. Making a note to put them on my ‘Do Not Buy’ list even if they ever put out something worth a second look.
It’s also seriously overpriced.
Very overly priced for such noob, primy awful looking items!
#9
Would someone drop it with Nile already? Obsessed much?