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Disappointment and confusion
galadiman
Member Posts: 346 Arc User
Regarding this:
"NOTE: Purchasing any one of the 9 ships individually, or any one of the 3-pack bundles, will make the account ineligible to purchase the 9-pack bundle. Also, purchasing one of the factional ships individually will make the account ineligible to purchase that factions 3-pack bundle."
I know it's against forum rules to call out devs, so I won't... but I would not be upset to see a response from someone in some position of knowledge or authority...
Could someone please explain what is the reason for this kind of heavy-handedness? I don't know all that many people who have even 5000 Zen just lying around. I understand that there is a profit motive, I have no problem with that.
But if I can't afford 10k today, and instead purchase one ship, why would you begrudge me the ability to go back later (if I like the ship) and purchase the rest of the pack, and spend MORE than the intended cost to get the 9-pack, or a 3-pack?
Am I reading this incorrectly as nothing more than forcing me to reach into my wallet today or forego a good deal forever? (I understand that this is not a 'need' issue, rather a 'want' issue... but is it getting to the point of pseudo-extortion?)
You wouldn't be trying to stick me with... an surplus shipment of self-sealing stembolts, would you?
"NOTE: Purchasing any one of the 9 ships individually, or any one of the 3-pack bundles, will make the account ineligible to purchase the 9-pack bundle. Also, purchasing one of the factional ships individually will make the account ineligible to purchase that factions 3-pack bundle."
I know it's against forum rules to call out devs, so I won't... but I would not be upset to see a response from someone in some position of knowledge or authority...
Could someone please explain what is the reason for this kind of heavy-handedness? I don't know all that many people who have even 5000 Zen just lying around. I understand that there is a profit motive, I have no problem with that.
But if I can't afford 10k today, and instead purchase one ship, why would you begrudge me the ability to go back later (if I like the ship) and purchase the rest of the pack, and spend MORE than the intended cost to get the 9-pack, or a 3-pack?
Am I reading this incorrectly as nothing more than forcing me to reach into my wallet today or forego a good deal forever? (I understand that this is not a 'need' issue, rather a 'want' issue... but is it getting to the point of pseudo-extortion?)
You wouldn't be trying to stick me with... an surplus shipment of self-sealing stembolts, would you?
Please reconsider ARC. Please make it optional, at the least. PLEASE.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
Post edited by galadiman on
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On the surface, this seems like an extension of the above, poorly implemented but with that theme in mind. Its my best guess for the "why" logic.
The only other thing that comes to mind would be some sort of inability to make it work properly --- perhaps buying the same item twice borks something in their database.
Its not greed or profits .... the greedy thing to do is allow people to buy it all over and over again.
Personally I think it should warn you (you already own part of this package, do you still want it?) and then let you buy it.
I bought the Odd Duck 3 pack and I am disappoint.
Why would you buy the bundle anyways if you bought one already? You would simply just buy the other two. The simple answer is wait until you have enough zen to buy the bundle if that's what you want.
As for earning zen... I made over 1.5 million dilithium this past bonus weekend on my account which is more than enough to buy the 9 pack bundle not to mention I had earned 6k in zen previously by converting dilithium I already had. It's not that hard to do and I think a lot of people earned their dilithium in anticipation of using it for this.
I plan on buying the 9 pack because this will be the best science ship in the game for now especially for Klingons and Romulans. I have 6 science toons who can use this ship and swap with my vesta bundle or my atrox.
Think about it like this... If I want just the science version, one for each faction, I am going to spend 2500 zen each or 7500 zen. I might as well pony up 2500 more zen and have all nine and the associated consoles and set bonuses.
Lifetime Sub since June 2010
Purchase 1 ship: 2,500 Zen.
Purchase 3 ships individually: 7,500 Zen.
Purchase 3-Pack: 5,000 Zen.
Purchase 1 ship and then attempt to purchase 3-Pack: 7,500 Zen.
IE, the cost is the same. You will get no cost-break by purchasing 1 and then attempting to get the 3-Pack later. Since the cost is the same it is simply easier on their system to require you to purchase each ship individually then it is for you to buy a single and then also try and buy the 3-Pack.
Should have been a three pack with one per faction. Each faction gets one of the unique consoles that then unlocks for all factions on an account.
Making 9 of the same ship is almost criminal..
Happy anniversary!
Now don't we all feel ever so appreciated?
Seriously, that IS "THAT HARD TO DO." I played a LOT that weekend. Across 7 characters, I cashed in about 7 rep projects, for about 7x16,000 bonus rep, in addition to running contraband all the time, dumping prisoners, other doffing, and VERY heavy Dyson BZ action, broken up by a significant number of STFs. And I didn't come CLOSE to 1.5M. Of course, I am pathetic, because I:
have a 40-hour per week regular job,
a wife,
and a cat,
don't whizz in a bottle,
cook my own meals,
(out of actual food),
like to occasionally breathe fresh air and see the sun,
and don't have the stamina or the desire to sit at a computer screen for... 96+ hours straight.
Seriously, don't judge others by the ability to play as if you have no responsibilities whatsoever - you are in the minority, and I surely hope the game designers aren't considering people like you anything but statistical outliers.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
This!
Oh, and 10k Zen for 9 Lame ships???
This came in my mind...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfUM5xHUY4M
If you go to a Grocery Store and they are selling 10 cans of soup for $10.00 or $1.50 per can and you only purchase 4 cans for $6.00 can you return to the store later and demand they give you 6 more cans for $4.00 because you already paid $6.00 for the 4 cans? Of course not.
It is your choice to take advantage of the bargains. If you only have 2,500 Zen for 1 ship then save the other 2,500 and then buy the 3-Pack. Do not rush in to buy 1 ship and then demand they give you a discount later. Control your impulses. The 3-Pack will be here for the life of the game. It is not going away in a month.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
Yup. In Real Life, if I buy one can of soup and pay 1.50, and there is a sale on 10 cans for 10.00, I can then go back and purchase the 10 cans for 10.00. The grocer doesn't say to me, "Ha! YOU bought the ONE CAN - you CANNOT now buy the 10 cans! What do you think I am, stooopid? Now go away and eat TUNA!"
I never asked for the discount. I asked to be able to buy the 9 pack if I buy one ship and then decide I want all 9.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
You're shopping in the wrong stores then. At my local Kroger's or Wal-Marx...er, Wal-Mart you can buy as many of whatever "10 for $10" items you like, for $1 each, whether in lots of 10 or 3 at a time, for as long as the "10 for $10" promotion lasts. Must suck to live wherever you are?
Does anyone need these ships? They aren't that good, they are a toy you'll put away and play with real ships again in no time. If you don't like the direction the devs are heading then don't support them.
People needing everything they seen kinda gets old fast
Completed Starbase, Embassy, Mine, Spire and No Win Scenario
Nothing to do anymore.
http://dtfleet.com/
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Oh yeah, I forgot about that detail!
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
Well let me be PEDANTIC then. (well, *more* pedantic...)
You make one Thing for $49. The Thing has zero marginal cost of production; selling 1 or 1 million has no added cost to the initial $49.
Would you rather sell 1 Thing for $50 each, or 10 Things for $10 each?
Would you rather have 100 people feel good about getting a great deal, and make twice as much, or have one guy enjoying the item and 9 others resenting the seller for the high price point?
In which scenario did you make more money?
In which scenario are you likely to sell one more Thing?
This is an Extreme example. I understand people may 'value' the thing more if it costs more... which is irrelevant.
The goodwill of your playerbase is important. People will leave if they feel they are being cheated. People will not buy a Thing if they think it is not a good deal. (Some people will undoubtedly buy it, but those who think they're being taken advantage of will not.)
The exclusion from future purchase FEELS like a scam, FEELS like pressure to BUY NOW OR ELSE!
And I think it is a mistake.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
In many states, it is either illegal to not allow the purchase of 1 item for the same cost as the bulk 'each' cost, or the stores have gotten a backlash from people not wanting or needing multiples of the bulk item.
In either case, it's common to be able to get a single member of the bulk purchase for the same amount as the bulk discount. At least, that's the case where I have ever lived (NJ, TX, NY, FL, DE, PA...)
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
It is just that simple nothing more nothing less, otherwise if you don't like to pay for it start grinding so you don't have to pay for it !!!!
Stop whining about it because Cryptic is a company and it needs money, and now that the game is free to play they have to get there money somehow, somewhere.
It is just that simple !!!
"Coffee: the finest organic suspension ever devised. It's got me through the worst of the last three years. I beat the Borg with it."
That depends on what kind of deal it is. That rule only applies to limited time deals. VERY few bundle deals work that way if they are not limited time. As this is NOT a limited time bundle, then it is completely normal.
For example, When you are buying yugioh packs, they are generally about $3-$5each, but you can also buy an entire box of them and that comes out to only about $2-$3 each pack, but only if you buy the box itself.
Another example is Subscription deals. For the most part subbing is $15 per month, but a lot of games allow you to sub for 3 months for $30. Even STO's own life-time sub is a lot less than what it would actually cost individually (obviously)
I've skipped the thread but I did want to comment on the OP.
I know why this has been put so plainly in our faces regarding the packs and savings.
Too many people have lied to Cryptic over "mistakes" in the C-Store and buying 1 "by accident" then Cryptic having to fix these so called "mistakes".
I know someone in real life who did just that, he bought 1 Bortas and was bragging to me he had it (I did not have the cash release day to buy any, he did). The next week, I got the pack and he did not like it, so he contacted Cryptic to explain he "bought the wrong one by mistake" - Cryptic gave him a refund (despite him having the ship and using it for a week).
He bought the pack the day of his refund and proceed to brag about that on Teamspeak that day.
So I fully understand why Cryptic are being so firm and up front on this, as the guy I know is as thick as 2 short planks and he thought of it - so how many more have treated the solo sales as a "try before you buy" option then used customer service to up it to a pack.
Probably a restriction in how their system works, in most bundle cases it is not a big deal (you buy one ship the bundle costs the same as the other 2 anyway, so no point in purchasing it).
The only reason this note is likely there is because of the significant reduction you're getting on the 9 pack.
Interesting story. I would argue that Cryptic BENEFITED from this. Here's evidence of my reason why: (Link: )
LL Bean seems to be doing AOK - they let ANYONE return ANYTHING for ANY REASON. Hmm.
Let the happy client 'get away' with returning the one for the 3. He still bought the 3!! AND he's HAPPY! One happy customer is worth 10 unhappy customers.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.
(Hint: they had this policy since Day One. You know, when they were smaller than Cryptic. And their products DO cost money to produce marginally.)
Go on, please tell me more.
It seems the vast majority of your most active players (forum regulars) hate the idea... and while that's a small subset of the playerbase, I think it's an important constituency.
THE PLAYERS DO NOT WANT THIS.