Cost of an upgrade

[Brookfield67]

Hi, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this but here goes.... I have EWQL Silver and would like to upgrade to Gold. I have looked on the SoundsOnline site and see that an upgrade is 255Euros. My local dealer, sells Silver at 85 Euros (equivalent) and Gold at 200Euros. This makes it cheaper to scrap the Silver edition and buy a new version of Gold? I know that this is a business and people have to make money but isn't this penalising loyal customers? By my reckoning the cost should be cheaper for those that come back to EW etc for their business. I even tried to use the 'Anniversary' discount but got nowhere. It seems to be a lose/lose thing for the return customer all round? What's everyone else think?

Cheers

Paul

[Stefan Podell]

It's only that upgrades aren't eligible for coupons. At the moment, because of the anniversary promotion, you're correct that it's most cost effective to buy Gold on its own (currently €177.50 excl VAT with the coupon at Soundsonline Europe).

[Brookfield67]

Hi Stefan, that's exactly my point. It seems that the loyal existing customers don't get the value that new ones do? It doesn't encourage me to think 'I'll stick with the EW stuff' and upgrade but sort makes think well........ what else is out there? IF you know what I mean. And just out of principal I refuse to by a new copy of a product to get an upgraded version.

Cheers,

Regards

Paul

[sinkd]

if you buy Gold then you'll have BOTH not just an upgrade.

Remember the parable of the workers in the vinyard?

[mconnelly]

Originally Posted by sinkd

if you buy Gold then you'll have BOTH not just an upgrade.

What's the benefit of having both?

[NGPixel]

Originally Posted by mconnelly

What's the benefit of having both?

None, you can't sell licenses. Useless argument is useless.

[chest]

Originally Posted by mconnelly

What's the benefit of having both?

If you have both (ie EWQLSO Silver & Gold), you'll have two separate licenses - uses could include allowing you to run Silver and Gold at the same time on different computers, or having Silver on a laptop in use as a composing "sketchpad" which you can then carry with you without risking losing the iLok that has the Gold license in it.

(And, as has been said, Silver has instruments that Gold doesn't.)

[playz123]

No, it's called "Marketing 101". In any case, this is not the first time or the first company that has offered a better price on 'new' than on 'used'. The new product is discounted, the upgrade is not...that's the reason why the upgrade is more expensive. The market conditions and pricing are not the same as when you first bought a product either. Some of us also paid thousands of dollars for products that are now being sold for hundreds. Do we have grounds for complaint now? I suggest "no", for the reasons I just mentioned. The marketer decides which products they wish to offer for sale and at what price and when. The consumer can then make a choice, at the time they choose, based on what is offered. Everyone should follow their own principles of course, but for many there is no harm in purchasing the higher grade product at a price lower than an upgrade. Also, personally, I see no 'moral' reason not to do so, nor do I feel that loyalty to a customer is an factor here at all. Just some thoughts.........frank

[Brookfield67]

Hi Frank and thanks for your responce. I understand entirely you're point re marketing and can see where the company are coming from. It's definitly not a charity and I wouldn't exptect it to act like one. Still, for my thoughts, marketing can work 2 ways, more money for the company by higher sales (inlcuding duplicates of products) and more money from loyal customers who get a sence of trust and a feelng of being looked after and who keep make a b-line for the firm to buy new products without looking twice at the competition. I appreciate there are some great discounts on at the moment and real good value for money but I'm afriad this gripe of mine re the upgrades won't seem to subside. Perhaps at least the discount coupon could be applied to upgrades. After all what have they got to loose, at least in my case - a little less profit with a purchase of a discounted upgrade or no purchase at all and no profit and the likelyhood that a valued customer (one would hope) go'es looking else-where for similar products.

Cheers

Paul

[chest]

It does seem odd that an upgrade costs more than the new product. But I'd say don't get so hung up on the principle of the thing that you miss the opportunity to not only get Gold for $200 but also keep your Silver license.

I just Googled to see UK prices - one retailer has it for £339 and another for half that - but even that half price is still almost double the $200 that you'd have to pay.

Can you really, definitely, get it for $200?