[quote=Pip]Yeah I agree with you Jaspeh. Without being in a mini-mall I wouldn't be making as many neopoints which will eventually help me get to main market. Right now my upgrades are paying for themselves which probably wouldn't be the case if i was mall-less.[/quote] well mini malls dont have to be in branches. Just like main market, it can work perfectly fine with one mini mall, one leader. Not to mention, one mall to manage = more time to design and upgrade graphics.

Sure, I dont think that branches are NEEDED, but if the owner has the time to dedicate to the branches, then why not? If you have a successful mall, I dont see the harm in starting another branch. The mall I was talking about earlier (that made a mini branch to feed into their main branch...) their "main branch" isnt actually main market. But thats just because most of the members arent a main size yet. They occasionally change the upgrading requirements, so that the mall can slowly move towards main, but most of them arent ready to do the jump to main. I dont find these malls useless at all. If a member decides to upgrade to main, they can either find a new (main market) mall to join, or they can stick around with that mall if they like it.

I think it's just because the mall managers enjoy it and possibly because they know how difficult it is to move up to main so they are happy to help others. It may seem pointless, but it's sorta like anything else online that requires time and dedication. Fan sites for bands or actors, other games (WoW, etc). People do it because they enjoy it. Some people enjoy running malls. Lots of newbies want to start a mall "just because", so they give tiny little requirements even though in reality it's totally pointless in the land of Neopia and it probably won't help with sales any. I mean really what's the big deal? Who cares :D Not everything has to have a "point".

lol yea, I agree with you :) Some people wont want to branch their mall because they just want to focus on the 1 mall, and make that run awesome, etc. And thats fine. And some people would prefer to make branches, for easier recruiting, or to expand, or cause they are bored, or to help smaller shops or whatever. And many people benefit from it, so thats fine too. I dont think that branching is useless at all. It just depends on your needs. But omg some people branch TOO MUCH!! Theres one mall, I think they have like 12 branches?? And most of their branches are empty, just like 2-3 members. And even those members, if you go to their shops, most of them have probably switched malls XD. Thats way too excessive and useless and I dont even know what they are doing o_O

There's one mall that starts with a B that makes everyone link to the mall leader under a popular spot. There's another mall that starts with N that makes everyone link to the mall leader under the clothing/grooming spot. And she STILL hasnt figured out that she gave out the thumbnail version of the mall banner rather than the original so you see this microscopic mall banner :P It's ironic because that mall banner kept streching the marketplace and now it's like 200 x 100 pixels big

I guess if you're running the malls, you can choose to put yourself in all the malls :P That'd be pretty sweet haha. Thats hilarious about the thumbnail tho! :P

A few of my mall members actually suggested that but as tempting as it can be, I personally think it's abusing members & graphics ability *unsure* Though I'm pretty sure if i created branches, my sales will go up so much, it won't be funny

I guess some people might look at it as unfair, but I'd probably do it :P If you take the time to actually set up and manage so many mall branches successfully, then why not? Your mall, your choices, your rules. If someone doesnt like it, they wont have to join your mall hehe :P Its alot of work to run malls and branches, so you should get some sort of benefit from it =)

Actually, I used to do something like that. Had 3 other xmart malls but recruiting became a pain and servers were grinding because of the bandwidth. It shouldnt be a problem now, especially with bigger and faster servers and the nicer graphics (in comparison to back then) probably will encourage people to remain but who knows. I don't like the extra work of recruiting and cards/stamps is always a big fat pain the in rear end. :P Not to mention, the mall itself degrades in name if it becomes too common. I've seen people posting snide remarks to people looking for malls - "hey, why not ask ______. They always have a spot open"

If I were you, I'd go for it! Well if you have the time, of course, for the updating, recruiting etc. Putting yourself in both branches could double your exposure & sales! :P I think Xmart is a pretty well known and respected mall and you could probably fill up pretty quickly with great shops (maybe collectables too! xD)