Thunderbolt by Pretty 3D
shadowhawk1
Posts: 2,208
in The Commons
I just noticed that the Thunderbolt by Pretty 3D that I purchased back in 2010 on Renderosity is now being offered here with updated shaders. Will those that purchased it previously be offered the updated version since it is no longer offered there?

Comments
Greetings,
It's been my experience that products that move across stores never do anything like that, with the exception of RuntimeDNA and that was because it was a complete acquisition. There's really no way for a seller to correllate 'rosity buyers with DAZ buyers (they don't get a list of buyers email addresses, for instance, which I'm grateful for), so the answer will almost always be 'no'. On the other hand, the price for the model and very nice new shaders is pretty decent, especially with the current discount.
-- Morgan
Well I can easily prove I have previously purchased the product so I am not to happy with the prospect of paying for it a second time.
You can always try CS, and have them contact the vendor, to see what he/she says about it. It's worth the try.
Are you unhappy with the product and did not get good use (your money's worth) out of it? I'm not sure why you have to buy it again unless you want some added functionality.... a fast food place might have free refills but, for the most part, if you finish the bottle of champagne, you are expected to buy a new one if you want more.
I'm kind of in the same boat as shadowhawk1, in that I already have a copy of the Thunderbolt, and am hesitant about purchasing it again. Add to that, I've already spent my budget on other products, so I won't be able to buy the new version until after the sale is over.
It would be awesome if Pretty3D offered an update or discount for previous buyers, but in the meantime, the Thunderbolt will have to sit in my wishlist.
If this is the exact same product with updated materials I agree it is rather cringy not to upload the update to Rendo so your existing customers can get it.
This.
Only in Daz/Poserdom have I ever run across anyone feeling entitled to free upgrades/products.
Perhaps you could encourage the vendor to release an Iray materials upgrade if that's all that was changed. Or maybe the vendor changed more than just the shaders.
Laurie
I don't know, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any software vendor who didn't get railed for charging full price for a minor technology update.
Well, moving everything to .duf would have also been a part of it. But it really does appear to mostly be an Iray upgrade.
Your comparison of a 3D product as a food product doesn’t really fit. I have purchased a product that has since been moved from one store to another, if you want to equate it to food it would be like going in to a restaurant with the intent to have the “All you can eat” buffet and going back for a second plate find out the buffet has been moved to restaurant 3 doors down and you will have to pay there if you want another plate.
The only thing I am seeing is that it has been updated for iray.
Have you never purchased other forms of software? Antivirus, photoshop are just two of many types of software that get updated that may not involve studio or poser. I am not asking for a "FREE" product. The product I own has been updated, I was just asking if current owners of a product that has changed stores will have access to the updated version.
Understood. Nonetheless, the new version is not a repaired version i.e... something didn't work properly and is now patched; it is a version with a new functionality i.e. iRay. You have the product already and sound happy enough that you use it. It is reasonable to ask you to pay for added functionality since you are already getting value from the product. It is not defective. In your analogy, Adobe Photoshop or other software don't charge for changes within a single version (going from version 5.1 to 5.3 which patch functionality) but do charge from going from 5.0 to 6.0 when new features are added. Moreover, you have the option of converting the existing product you have to iRay which is patient/tedious but technically easy to do if you have the time and don't want to spend the money. If the autoconversion when you render isn't too odious, that is what I would do. I have been shopping here from before Michael and Victoria 10 in the days of Posette and if they produced a version of Michael or Victoria 1 that had uptodate dual lobe iRay textures, I would expect to pay for it because I have had decades of ownership and use of the product. I do understand you are not asking for a free product but the vendor has sold you an honest product that isn't broken.
My whole point is that the only change is an iray shader update, so it is unreasonable to pay for this item a second time when either a free update or a discounted price is a viable option. As we all know the way some items are UV mapped trying to convert shaders can be a dificult or for some near insurmountable process. Not everyone has the same level of experiance.
They could do what Jack Tomlin does, and release it as an iray upgrade for a few bucks. Seems to work for him.
Another thing to consider is even with the discounts available, I would still be paying more to re-purchase just the Thunderbolt car than I did buying the car AND the Tuning Style add-on at Rendo.
I wouldn't be opposed to a deal like that, I just don't want to pay for this item a second time for just an upgrade in shaders.
Your comparasion to this is not even close and IF YOU READ my first post I clearly said the PA and not daz. Daz is a broker for most items and not the actual seller. Considering that you don't have DAZ_ in front of your name I am pretty sure you can't talk for daz.
Has contacting customer support and them forwarding your request to the vendor brought any result yet?
There is a difference in the models between the two products: check the promo with the listings/renders of the different color schemes. The base, and front end are different, not to mention the original doesn't have the spoiler the second product displays. So- there are additional materials as well as modifications or mesh add-ons.
Actually they are not different, I am looking at the iamges from the one on daz and the one that was on renderosity, with the exception of color choices the mesh is the same. Now the tuning version has a different front end,are you sure you are not looking at it instead of the main product?
Actually Miss Bee, that slipped my mind I will do that and let you know how it turns out.
I remember the original as being poser only, that is requiring conversion to get into Studio. That was the main reason I didn't buy it.
Nevertheless, no one is required to buy this version
I heard back from customer support and was told it was up to the PA and to watch the site. Some help they are.
Actually the original was NOT poser only it worked in Studio you just had to tinker with the shaders.