March Madness ain’t. . .

exstarsis · March 2018

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

Wonderland · March 2018

dreamfarmer said:

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

I haven't purchased a thing at Hivewire because their prices are too high. I wanted some of their animals, but for their prices, just not worth it, I have all the millennium animals and I can make them look better in post.

I do spend more when prices are ridiculously low. I would rather get over 200 items for $100 even if I might never use them than 6 or 7 things, no matter how great they are. I spend much more money during "glitches" or super sales that are like 90% off than I do during regular sales. I can still use older products (and some are still great!) because I usually do a lot of artistic postwork anyway and have Poser.

So far, I'm not impressed with the prices of MM, only purchased when I still was able to find a freebie to make it worthwhile to get the two required items.

Cybersox · March 2018

maikdecker said:

Cybersox said:

maikdecker said:

Cybersox said:
that really is the way people think.

Can we change that to "the way some people think", because although I'm not to happy about it, I also belong in the global category "people" and I definately do not think so. Like, for example, I don't buy at Wallmart, which can easily be explained by the fact, that there is none close to where I live. But even if there was, I wouldn't, as I prefer quality local food products and do my clothes shopping, whenever something I usually wear is degraded/damaged enough to be replaced, on the interwebz. And for the new clothes, I have my favourite internet shop, where I know the price and quality of the product suit my budget and taste.

Yeah, I am a special snowflake... german, old and seeing advertisement only as a way to amuse me, but not as something to give me information about what's the best to buy...

What counts in the end - for me, personally - is that my money stays where it is when the offer doesn't fit my needs/budget/etc.

Um... sure. Some people is fine, but data does indicates that it's at least the larger percentage of customers statistically when it comes to how they actually spend. And, of course, saying that you you don't shop at Walmart type stores because of the perceived quality of the products plays into exactly why the "everyday low price" concept has a big problem from a marketing standpoint. There's something about human nature that doesn't trust something that seems to be unusually cheap. And yet, while there are definitely some products sold at the mart of Wal that are definitely of lower quality than other products sold elsewhere, there are also many others that are the exact same products but at lower everyday prices than most other retailers. I wouldn't buy jeans at WalMart, for example, but name brand beverages, frozen dinners, cameras, TVs, DVDs and Blu-rays? Those are generally fine. In fact, with a lot of the DVD/BluRays you actually get a free digiti\al download that you wouldn't get if you bought the product at a Best Buy or video store, because WalMart also owns the VUDU streaming service and they toss that in as a way to compete with Amazon and it's Prime service.

Daywalker Designs · March 2018

Wonderland said:

dreamfarmer said:

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

I haven't purchased a thing at Hivewire because their prices are too high. I wanted some of their animals, but for their prices, just not worth it, I have all the millennium animals and I can make them look better in post.

I do spend more when prices are ridiculously low. I would rather get over 200 items for $100 even if I might never use them than 6 or 7 things, no matter how great they are. I spend much more money during "glitches" or super sales that are like 90% off than I do during regular sales. I can still use older products (and some are still great!) because I usually do a lot of artistic postwork anyway and have Poser.

So far, I'm not impressed with the prices of MM, only purchased when I still was able to find a freebie to make it worthwhile to get the two required items.

And yet, those products actually have better value, since you get both Poser and DS versions, including materials for all supported render engines.

Cybersox · March 2018

Serene Night said:

I shop wherever things are least expensive. I will buy things at Walmart, target or sears wherever I get a deal. I live in a wealthy area and can not afford boutique prices.

Yep. Which is why even Amazon, Target and WalMart/Asda have to run frequent discount promotions to keep people coming into their doors, virtual or otherwise. In the typical retail store numbers I've seen, between 50-70% of the total dollars earned come from discounted product sales. I would suspect that number is even higher for DAZ, as most of the PAs who've commented on the subject have mentioned that the majority of most products sales come during the firist month or so of release, when just about everything is on sale.

Cybersox · March 2018

Daywalker Designs said:

Wonderland said:

dreamfarmer said:

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

I haven't purchased a thing at Hivewire because their prices are too high. I wanted some of their animals, but for their prices, just not worth it, I have all the millennium animals and I can make them look better in post.

I do spend more when prices are ridiculously low. I would rather get over 200 items for $100 even if I might never use them than 6 or 7 things, no matter how great they are. I spend much more money during "glitches" or super sales that are like 90% off than I do during regular sales. I can still use older products (and some are still great!) because I usually do a lot of artistic postwork anyway and have Poser.

So far, I'm not impressed with the prices of MM, only purchased when I still was able to find a freebie to make it worthwhile to get the two required items.

And yet, those products actually have better value, since you get both Poser and DS versions, including materials for all supported render engines.

That's not exactly correct. There are many products in Hivewire's store that are sold as Poser only or DS only. Their core figures are compatible both ways,but even there many of the add-ons will only work in one software or the other. I appreciate that Hivewire trys to appeal to both sides of the market, but I have to wonder if all of the extra effort involved is really paying off for them in the long run.

maikdecker · March 2018

Cybersox said:
And, of course, saying that you you don't shop at Walmart type stores because of the perceived quality of the products plays into exactly why the "everyday low price" concept has a big problem from a marketing standpoint. There's something about human nature that doesn't trust something that seems to be unusually cheap.

Shows again that I am a special snowflake.

On our local weekly market day, a butcher from a neighboring village sells his wares. He raises his own pigs, bovines, chicken and even has an enclosure where he keeps deer. He also produces the food for all his animals and if one gets sick, he separates it from the others, so he only has to treat one animal with medicine, not all of them. If he wanted, he probably could get that european organic food seal, but right now it wouldn't be worth the added effort. He regularly has "open door" days, where people can visit his butchery and the farm, where he keeps his livestock (which is managed by his eldest son) so everyone can see exactly what he sells and where it comes from.

Nonetheless his prices are lower than those of other butchers or even those meat departments of shops from larger supermarket chains like SPAR or Edeka (probably not known in the states.. they got a couple hundred outlets in germany and partially over europe). And thats not all, because not only is his stuff cheaper, but it also is of better quality.

So, if humans distrust the quality of cheap stuff, what are we supposed to do? Easy... just buy those cheap items once and check the quality yourself. Don't look at facebook, twitter or youtube and what people there tell you about stuff. Don't look at advertisement or listen to gossip from others around you. Just check the stuff yourself. And then, if it's in a quality you deem proper and worth the price, start to buy there regularly.

That butcher... well, his quality is so good and the prices so low, that we told him a couple of times already, that he should raise the prices a bit, so that we can be sure he will be able to make a living from it for a long time...

And yes, he is a special case. He is fortunate enough, that all of his children work for and with him, which of course helps to keep the production cost low...

But the method of "check the quality yourself" is built in for me. And yeah, it might be because I was raised in times before advertisement became as dumb as it is now...

Havos · March 2018

Daywalker Designs said:

Wonderland said:

dreamfarmer said:

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

I haven't purchased a thing at Hivewire because their prices are too high. I wanted some of their animals, but for their prices, just not worth it, I have all the millennium animals and I can make them look better in post.

I do spend more when prices are ridiculously low. I would rather get over 200 items for $100 even if I might never use them than 6 or 7 things, no matter how great they are. I spend much more money during "glitches" or super sales that are like 90% off than I do during regular sales. I can still use older products (and some are still great!) because I usually do a lot of artistic postwork anyway and have Poser.

So far, I'm not impressed with the prices of MM, only purchased when I still was able to find a freebie to make it worthwhile to get the two required items.

And yet, those products actually have better value, since you get both Poser and DS versions, including materials for all supported render engines.

I suspected it is a very small percentage of users that actually use both significantly (ie not where one is just for importing/converting etc), and as such most are unlikely to pay any sort of premium for this dual support.

Serene Night · March 2018

I actually don’t have a problem with the quality of items at Walmart or other less expensive stores like sears. To me that just isn’t reality and quality is fine.

I think it depends on what you buy but jeans, flannel and outdoor wear from a stores which cater to working class last a good long time. In fact I think more of the expensive stores sell thin stuff not suited for work. Or stuff far too overpriced for what you get.

I think people get a bit too caught up that less expensive items must also be lesser quality but can’t say that is true. Then again I’m blue collar and wear clothing from stores many turn their nose up at but I don’t care at all. I’ve never really cared too much about buying brand name stuff. Comfort and fit are more important and warmth.

I live in a colder area and pretty much cold weather autumn or winter clothes are worn most of the year due to the heavy fog and sea winds.

Wonderland · March 2018

Havos said:

Daywalker Designs said:

Wonderland said:

dreamfarmer said:

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

I haven't purchased a thing at Hivewire because their prices are too high. I wanted some of their animals, but for their prices, just not worth it, I have all the millennium animals and I can make them look better in post.

I do spend more when prices are ridiculously low. I would rather get over 200 items for $100 even if I might never use them than 6 or 7 things, no matter how great they are. I spend much more money during "glitches" or super sales that are like 90% off than I do during regular sales. I can still use older products (and some are still great!) because I usually do a lot of artistic postwork anyway and have Poser.

So far, I'm not impressed with the prices of MM, only purchased when I still was able to find a freebie to make it worthwhile to get the two required items.

And yet, those products actually have better value, since you get both Poser and DS versions, including materials for all supported render engines.

I suspected it is a very small percentage of users that actually use both significantly (ie not where one is just for importing/converting etc), and as such most are unlikely to pay any sort of premium for this dual support.

I doubt that. A lot of people like me were Poser only until iRay became really big, so we still have the latest version or a recent version of Poser. IRay kind of killed Poser a bit, but if I don't need IRay and want to use V4, Poser is MUCH easier to use and renders ridiculously faster! And I purchased a product (that I still have to test) to make V4 bend better and I have sooo much V4 stuff and still like her face better and the way expressions work on her better so I'm pretty sure there are many like me who use both...

AllenArt · March 2018

Yeah, I use both programs to their strengths. Poser for generations before Genesis because those figures were made for that program, and DS for generations after Genesis because those figures were made for that program. I hate trying to shoehorn a figure into piece of software that it wasn't really made for ;). I'll go the path of least resistance every time. LOL

I'm with Serene Night as far as clothes and stuff go. If I perceive it to be be good enough for what I need, I'll buy it whether it's a brand name or not. We're a blue collar, middle-class family and I don't mind if everyone knows it :P I'm disabled (previously a graphic artist) and hubby is a cable guy, and neither of us are the type to put on airs :).

Oh, and I guess I should comment on the MM so far. *yawn*....shall I elaborate? LOL

Laurie

Daywalker Designs · March 2018

AllenArt said:

Oh, and I guess I should comment on the MM so far. *yawn*....shall I elaborate? LOL

Laurie

ZZZZ....

maraich · March 2018

cclesue said:

. . .fun like it used to be. . .

It’s just another clearance sale where the DAZ folks are doing the same old same old. Way back before the Hivewire folks deserted, March Madness was a hoot!! Way back then I guess, the “Nordstrom style” folks took over the J. C. Penneys of Poserdom and the neighborhood store became a big-box sort of thing ruled by big city marketing rather than the local merchant that had his finger out to measure the wind. Heck I remember the day when I was just getting started with DAZ, back when the first thing I bought was the Mill Dragon figure seen below. I was having trouble with the whole Poser thing so I went down to SLC and walked in (no receptionist) and asked a bunch of guys huddled around a table (hashing out the future of DAZ no doubt) where I could get some help. They laughed and pointed out a guy back off in his own little cubby. He immediately dropped what he was doing and gave me twenty minutes, helped me much, and invited me back “anytime”. I should point out that his project at the time was the very beginnings of DAZ Studio.

Can’t do that sort of stuff now. Have a problem, start a ticket, and wait in line that is getting increasingly long, sorry to say.

Anyway back to March Madness perhaps the merchandizers need to go back and review the Madness “way back when”. Back before DAZ&Company became The DAZ Corp. Sadly, I’m betting, too few remember those days.

That's about when I got involved with 3D. It felt like a family. Yeah, I'm right there with you on the nostalgia. Thank you for sharing that story, by the way - do miss those days.

exstarsis · March 2018

Daz is definitely running under an ambitious business model these days, not as a mom-and-pop store. That’s Hivewire and I suspect they live on ramen sometimes in support of their ideals re-business-as-family. I love their stuff, especially the rigging, but in terms of price-for-quality it’s a bit like that butcher described above.

Meanwhile Daz is more like... Target, actual-price-to-quality. There’s some excellent store exclusives and lots of sales and it’s a really solid point of commonality for people looking for others with similar experiences.

On the March Madness front I really do think it’s about the new releases. There’s got to be some new stuff from some of the Popular Names and then more people will be delighted.

For me, I haven’t been tempted by the ‘freebies’ and ‘deals’ for a long time. There’s still Genesis 3 feature characters I want... but I’m not in a hurry and I’m not going to buy something I don’t want Right Now just to either get 50% instead of 40% off something I _do_ want, or to get a figure I’ll have a chance to get later, as part of a pro pack, when a gen 8 figure I want comes out. But it is certainly nice to get 40-50% off on stuff I’d be buying even at 30% off (but never, ever for full price... ever. When was the last time I paid full price at Daz or Hivewire or Rendo? Not since the beginning, I think.)

Serene Night · March 2018

I don't tend to buy at hivewire. Mostly because they don't have what I need, and I'm not a dusk/dawn/bighorse/cat fan/poser/v4/m4 user.

I do buy at Rendo, since they seem to have more samesex couple and decent male characters and some great PA's sell there. Prices are also pretty good.

Daz has a strong female focus which leaves me cold most of the time. I would buy more here if they didn't but just can't use the girl stuff. I sincerely have more females than I will ever possibly use.

Zylox · March 2018

I have one reason I shop at HiveWire: Ken Gilliland. I bought most of his birds when he sold here at DAZ, but have bought more since he went to HiveWire.

FSMCDesigns · March 2018

Wonderland said:

Havos said:

Daywalker Designs said:

Wonderland said:

dreamfarmer said:

I like to think I'm a special snowflake, too, but I still buy a lot less at Hivewire and part of it is because the stuff goes on Big Sale less often, even if I can get similar prices using their own discounting scheme. The whole 'Limited Time BIg Sale' thing does add a time pressure, especially for non-neccessaries, and that time pressure provides a 'buying excuse' that just isn't there with an optional thing always on moderate low pricing. Stuff you get at Walmart, and in general clothing, only really counts if you buy clothes for fun, or you bargain shop for fun.

And learning to resist sales is an acquired skill. If you're old, perhaps you've long since acquired it. People at Daz eventually acquire at least partial immunity too, although it's generally phrased as "this sale isn't good enough" (or see the general sales thread title theme). People on a punishing budget definitely acquire it. But that doesn't make it less of an extremely proven sales tactic.

I haven't purchased a thing at Hivewire because their prices are too high. I wanted some of their animals, but for their prices, just not worth it, I have all the millennium animals and I can make them look better in post.

I do spend more when prices are ridiculously low. I would rather get over 200 items for $100 even if I might never use them than 6 or 7 things, no matter how great they are. I spend much more money during "glitches" or super sales that are like 90% off than I do during regular sales. I can still use older products (and some are still great!) because I usually do a lot of artistic postwork anyway and have Poser.

So far, I'm not impressed with the prices of MM, only purchased when I still was able to find a freebie to make it worthwhile to get the two required items.

And yet, those products actually have better value, since you get both Poser and DS versions, including materials for all supported render engines.

I suspected it is a very small percentage of users that actually use both significantly (ie not where one is just for importing/converting etc), and as such most are unlikely to pay any sort of premium for this dual support.

I doubt that. A lot of people like me were Poser only until iRay became really big, so we still have the latest version or a recent version of Poser. IRay kind of killed Poser a bit, but if I don't need IRay and want to use V4, Poser is MUCH easier to use and renders ridiculously faster! And I purchased a product (that I still have to test) to make V4 bend better and I have sooo much V4 stuff and still like her face better and the way expressions work on her better so I'm pretty sure there are many like me who use both...

My experience is just the opposite. "i" am a long time poser user and find Poser to be clumsy to navigate and use now that I am used to DS, so poser just sits on my desktop except for when I need one of the few features that it has that DS doesn't. The only reason I posted this is I don't want a new user to see your post and think that is the global view for poser/DS based on your wording, which it isn't.

As for the pricing rants, I like a good sale as much as the next person, but I also do commercial 3D work and can understand more than those that don't what is involved with vendors and those trying to sell their hard work. DAZs sale prices can be totally insane at times and sadly it's made many users jaded. So many users in the forums rant about even sale prices being to high and that they won't purchase. Would be funny if DAZ dropped their sale prices, much like Rendo has done this year. I have no issues paying full price for a model if I need it for a project/commision and can justify the cost vs use. I can totally understand users that really can't afford a 3D asset due to finances, but there are also many that can and do.

WendyLuvsCatz · March 2018

if it did not all involve buying the very newest stuff I'd be happy

as the latest stuff suits my needs less and less

mmalbert · March 2018

You can also purchase the HW animals and people at Renderosity. I picked up the cat, dog, and kitten during one of those 50% off wishlist sales. Bought the horse at HW.

I still use M4/V4 a lot, along with G1, G2, G3, and Dawn/Dusk. I even break out the old Mil3 gang from time to time.

I have decent clones for Dawn and Dusk and G2 poses work well with them, so they can come play with the rest of the DAZ kids. I don't really have issues with older figures in DS and I feel they often benefit from some of the newer features (just not dForce, because it doesn't work on my machine, sob!)

I miss the fun March Madness sales of the Days of Yore too, but those times are gone.

What puts me off about the current sale is how it's structured: To participate in any way, I'd have to buy something I don't want or need. Just not a big fan of that kind of sale and so I don't participate much.

Some folks are probably having a blast with this sale, though, and I can have vicarious fun through their excitement. :)

Butch · March 2018

AllenArt said:

I'm with Serene Night as far as clothes and stuff go. If I perceive it to be be good enough for what I need, I'll buy it whether it's a brand name or not. We're a blue collar, middle-class family and I don't mind if everyone knows it :P I'm disabled (previously a graphic artist) and hubby is a cable guy, and neither of us are the type to put on airs :).

And, when it's a 150km (100 mile) drive to the nearest department store, you tend to be not too fussy or go too often.

AllenArt said:

Oh, and I guess I should comment on the MM so far. *yawn*....shall I elaborate? LOL

Yep!

maikdecker · March 2018

mmalbert said:

What puts me off about the current sale is how it's structured: To participate in any way, I'd have to buy something I don't want or need. Just not a big fan of that kind of sale and so I don't participate much.

Yepp, that's one of the main reasons for me to keep my money in my pocket, too.

And for me there's little logic behind an offer, which asks me to spend (for example) $ 25.- on two items to get a $ 2.50 reduction on the price of another one. Especially, when none of the items eligible to produce said reduction is of any vital interest to me. Even the offer to get one of those "Pro Packages" for free - which usually is a great offer, as long as one only looks at the relative price reduction - usually doesn't trigger my buying interest, as these Pro Packages usually also come with way to much "stuffers" in them, that I have no need for. So getting stuff for free that I don't need isn't a motivation to buy, either... Damn, I'm such a special snowflake...

Considering the number of posts here in the forum that say "that will be an instant buy when it comes out" even for extremely specialised items the ordinary user probably will never have any need to use, many customers here seem to have an awfully big amount of money available to spend on something, that for others is only a hobby. That's good for DAZ, but less good for the hobbyists with limited financial resources.

So I guess DAZ is doing well with it's sales politics. And my money goes elsewhere...

Richard Haseltine · March 2018

The 50% off for two or more applies to non-new Featured Artist catalogues as well as new items, and the bonus for buying so-and-so has applied to somewhat older items as well as brand new. As far as I know any new item (anything less than 60 days old) earns the dscount on the bonus item.

daveso · March 2018

daveso said:

I HAD QUOTED A POST AND NOW CANT GET RID OF IT .. SORRY FOR THIS ONE

Ati · March 2018

@daveso: click the "Source" button in the editor (first row, last one), and delete everything. Click "Source" again to get back to the visual editor.

Night Owl 3D · March 2018

maikdecker said:

Yepp, that's one of the main reasons for me to keep my money in my pocket, too.

And for me there's little logic behind an offer, which asks me to spend (for example) $ 25.- on two items to get a $ 2.50 reduction on the price of another one. Especially, when none of the items eligible to produce said reduction is of any vital interest to me. Even the offer to get one of those "Pro Packages" for free - which usually is a great offer, as long as one only looks at the relative price reduction - usually doesn't trigger my buying interest, as these Pro Packages usually also come with way to much "stuffers" in them, that I have no need for. So getting stuff for free that I don't need isn't a motivation to buy, either... Damn, I'm such a special snowflake...

Considering the number of posts here in the forum that say "that will be an instant buy when it comes out" even for extremely specialised items the ordinary user probably will never have any need to use, many customers here seem to have an awfully big amount of money available to spend on something, that for others is only a hobby. That's good for DAZ, but less good for the hobbyists with limited financial resources.

So I guess DAZ is doing well with it's sales politics. And my money goes elsewhere...

I'm with you on this. I really wanted the Alexandra Base Figure, but wait. If I buy the pro bundle I get can choose three other legacy pro bundles for free! All but one of the free pro bundles were stuffed with filler content I really wasn't interested in. So now I'm spending close to 60 bucks for a total of four base characters (only one I really wanted) and a few other outfits and and such that I have only a mild interest in. Way too expensive to achieve my original goal. But wait, I can lower the cost of the Alexandra pro bundle by purchasing 3 additional add-ons for her. A few of these texture add-ons I was slightly interested in. Total cost of this venture is now up to almost 70 bucks. While it seems as if I'm getting a ton of stuff for a very good price and I am if I do the math. The problem is that the vast majority of that stuff I'm only slightly interested in so It's not a good value for me personally. Enough torment for one night, clear cart. Then I fire up studio and remind myself of all of the great content I already own and begin again to think about ways to use it.

Illucid · March 2018

BornTechy said:

cclesue said:

What puts me off about the current sale is how it's structured: To participate in any way, I'd have to buy something I don't want or need. Just not a big fan of that kind of sale and so I don't participate much.

maikdecker said:

Yepp, that's one of the main reasons for me to keep my money in my pocket, too.

And for me there's little logic behind an offer, which asks me to spend (for example) $ 25.- on two items to get a $ 2.50 reduction on the price of another one. Especially, when none of the items eligible to produce said reduction is of any vital interest to me. Even the offer to get one of those "Pro Packages" for free - which usually is a great offer, as long as one only looks at the relative price reduction - usually doesn't trigger my buying interest, as these Pro Packages usually also come with way to much "stuffers" in them, that I have no need for. So getting stuff for free that I don't need isn't a motivation to buy, either... Damn, I'm such a special snowflake...

Considering the number of posts here in the forum that say "that will be an instant buy when it comes out" even for extremely specialised items the ordinary user probably will never have any need to use, many customers here seem to have an awfully big amount of money available to spend on something, that for others is only a hobby. That's good for DAZ, but less good for the hobbyists with limited financial resources.

So I guess DAZ is doing well with it's sales politics. And my money goes elsewhere...

I'm with you on this. I really wanted the Alexandra Base Figure, but wait. If I buy the pro bundle I get can choose three other legacy pro bundles for free! All but one of the free pro bundles were stuffed with filler content I really wasn't interested in. So now I'm spending close to 60 bucks for a total of four base characters (only one I really wanted) and a few other outfits and and such that I have only a mild interest in. Way too expensive to achieve my original goal. But wait, I can lower the cost of the Alexandra pro bundle by purchasing 3 additional add-ons for her. A few of these texture add-ons I was slightly interested in. Total cost of this venture is now up to almost 70 bucks. While it seems as if I'm getting a ton of stuff for a very good price and I am if I do the math. The problem is that the vast majority of that stuff I'm only slightly interested in so It's not a good value for me personally. Enough torment for one night, clear cart. Then I fire up studio and remind myself of all of the great content I already own and begin again to think about ways to use it.

As a relative new comer to this, it is hard to decide just what to buy. I don't have a bunch of legacy products directing me one way or the other. The Alexandra and Edward bundles looked tempting, but some of the content would be G3 some would be G8 I have some basic morphs for G8 that won't work with V7. Suddenly I'm looking at rebuying those morphs for G3. The older stuff (G2 and earlier), has attractive prices, but once I buy it, I have to either invest into an older base model or invest in compatibility products to get it working on G8. Then there is the whole IRay vs. 3DL decision. Buying a shader mixer or lighting set becomes a choice of what graphics card I see my next computer having.

AllenArt · March 2018

Illucid said:

BornTechy said:

cclesue said:

What puts me off about the current sale is how it's structured: To participate in any way, I'd have to buy something I don't want or need. Just not a big fan of that kind of sale and so I don't participate much.

maikdecker said:

Yepp, that's one of the main reasons for me to keep my money in my pocket, too.

And for me there's little logic behind an offer, which asks me to spend (for example) $ 25.- on two items to get a $ 2.50 reduction on the price of another one. Especially, when none of the items eligible to produce said reduction is of any vital interest to me. Even the offer to get one of those "Pro Packages" for free - which usually is a great offer, as long as one only looks at the relative price reduction - usually doesn't trigger my buying interest, as these Pro Packages usually also come with way to much "stuffers" in them, that I have no need for. So getting stuff for free that I don't need isn't a motivation to buy, either... Damn, I'm such a special snowflake...

Considering the number of posts here in the forum that say "that will be an instant buy when it comes out" even for extremely specialised items the ordinary user probably will never have any need to use, many customers here seem to have an awfully big amount of money available to spend on something, that for others is only a hobby. That's good for DAZ, but less good for the hobbyists with limited financial resources.

So I guess DAZ is doing well with it's sales politics. And my money goes elsewhere...

I'm with you on this. I really wanted the Alexandra Base Figure, but wait. If I buy the pro bundle I get can choose three other legacy pro bundles for free! All but one of the free pro bundles were stuffed with filler content I really wasn't interested in. So now I'm spending close to 60 bucks for a total of four base characters (only one I really wanted) and a few other outfits and and such that I have only a mild interest in. Way too expensive to achieve my original goal. But wait, I can lower the cost of the Alexandra pro bundle by purchasing 3 additional add-ons for her. A few of these texture add-ons I was slightly interested in. Total cost of this venture is now up to almost 70 bucks. While it seems as if I'm getting a ton of stuff for a very good price and I am if I do the math. The problem is that the vast majority of that stuff I'm only slightly interested in so It's not a good value for me personally. Enough torment for one night, clear cart. Then I fire up studio and remind myself of all of the great content I already own and begin again to think about ways to use it.

As a relative new comer to this, it is hard to decide just what to buy. I don't have a bunch of legacy products directing me one way or the other. The Alexandra and Edward bundles looked tempting, but some of the content would be G3 some would be G8 I have some basic morphs for G8 that won't work with V7. Suddenly I'm looking at rebuying those morphs for G3. The older stuff (G2 and earlier), has attractive prices, but once I buy it, I have to either invest into an older base model or invest in compatibility products to get it working on G8. Then there is the whole IRay vs. 3DL decision. Buying a shader mixer or lighting set becomes a choice of what graphics card I see my next computer having.

With the exception of shoes, most clothing and hair for earlier generations works fine on the next generation of the Genesis figure line. I use Genesis 2 clothes on Genesis 8 quite frequently. There are drawbacks to this: Autofit, while it works well, strips out bones with custom names and so some controls may be missing when fitting things like capes and dresses to newer figures. There are however, templates for sale in the store that adds back some custom bones so that not all functionality is lost after autofit.

Laurie

WendyLuvsCatz · March 2018

I have utterly no idea what these bonus items are people refer to and how they get them.

I am guessing one needs to be PC+ which I no longer am.

Mattymanx · March 2018

AllenArt said:

Illucid said:

As a relative new comer to this, it is hard to decide just what to buy. I don't have a bunch of legacy products directing me one way or the other. The Alexandra and Edward bundles looked tempting, but some of the content would be G3 some would be G8 I have some basic morphs for G8 that won't work with V7. Suddenly I'm looking at rebuying those morphs for G3. The older stuff (G2 and earlier), has attractive prices, but once I buy it, I have to either invest into an older base model or invest in compatibility products to get it working on G8. Then there is the whole IRay vs. 3DL decision. Buying a shader mixer or lighting set becomes a choice of what graphics card I see my next computer having.

With the exception of shoes, most clothing and hair for earlier generations works fine on the next generation of the Genesis figure line. I use Genesis 2 clothes on Genesis 8 quite frequently. There are drawbacks to this: Autofit, while it works well, strips out bones with custom names and so some controls may be missing when fitting things like capes and dresses to newer figures. There are however, templates for sale in the store that adds back some custom bones so that not all functionality is lost after autofit.

Laurie

Between G3 and & G8, this works best - https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/3377151/#Comment_3377151

There is still some distortion in the shoes/boots but not to the same degree as autofit creates.

zombietaggerung · March 2018

th3Digit said:

I have utterly no idea what these bonus items are people refer to and how they get them.

I am guessing one needs to be PC+ which I no longer am.

No, it's if you've bought something new, I think, in the last three days then an item shows up on the March Madness page and it's 70% off in your cart.

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March Madness ain’t. . .

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