Well, I'm almost out of ideas. I tried to actually install that product but I guess there are other files that go with it.
Just to humor me - maybe try another template, this time a simple one, to try to track down whether it's related to the vBExperience stuff or the plugin code.
ETA: actually, also try this:
Code:
function prepare_output($id = '', $options = array())
{
$this->block_data['mymodification'] = fetch_template('exp_shop_tab') ;
}
which won't look right but might tell us something about the problem.