Second Life group gifts: how groups and join fees work

A group gift is an item a store gives to the members of its group. Stores use them to thank regular customers and to bring people back, and they are one of the best sources of good free items in Second Life. This guide explains how to join groups, what join fees mean and how to actually claim the gift.

How store groups work

A Second Life group is a list of members with a shared tag and a notice board. Stores use groups to send news about new releases, sales and gifts. Joining is done from the group profile:

• At the store, look for a sign or kiosk that says "join group" and click it. It opens the group profile.
• Or search for the store name in the viewer search under Groups.
• In the group profile, click Join. If there is a fee, the button shows the amount.

Join fees

Some groups are free and some charge a one-time join fee in L$. You pay it when you join, not every month. A fee usually means the store gives bigger gifts or regular member-only discounts. If you leave the group and join again later, you will normally pay the fee again, so think before you leave a paid group.

Claiming the gift

1. Activate the group tag. Most gift boards check which group is active on your avatar. Open the groups list and set the store group as active, or choose it from the tag menu.
2. Click the gift board or vendor. It is usually near the entrance or next to the newest releases. Some gift vendors let you page through several gifts.
3. Accept the item. It arrives in your inventory, usually in a folder with the store name.
4. Check group notices. Many stores also attach gifts to group notices. Open the group profile, go to Notices and open older ones to get attachments you missed.

Subscriber kiosks are different

Some stores use a subscriber kiosk (an update or "subscribe" board) instead of, or as well as, a group. A subscription sends you notices and sometimes gifts without using a group slot. Click the kiosk to subscribe; it will tell you how to receive messages.

Keeping your group slots free

Every account has a limit on how many groups it can be in, and Premium plans allow more groups than Basic accounts. To make room:

• Leave groups of stores you no longer visit.
• Prefer subscriber kiosks when a store offers both.
• Before leaving a group with a join fee, grab its current gift and remember the fee for later.

Etiquette

• Do not resell or give away no-transfer gifts.
• Read the gift's terms: some are only for the first days of the month, and some need the group tag active on pickup.
• If a gift board is broken, send the store owner a short, polite message. Store owners are often happy to fix it.

You can find current gifts that stores have sent us on the group gifts page. Store owners can list a gift for free.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to stay in the group to keep the gift?

No. Once the item is in your inventory it stays there. You can leave the group, but you may need to pay the join fee again to get future gifts.

Why does the gift board say I am not a member?

You probably joined but did not activate the group tag. Make the store group your active group and click the board again.

Can I get gifts I missed?

Often yes. Open the group profile, go to Notices and look for older notices with an attachment icon. Attachments stay available for some time after the notice is sent.