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New Plex System, false "plex for free" by CCP in the current offer ?

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Meerclaw
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#1 - 2017-05-24 17:28:06 UTC  |  Edited by: Meerclaw
basic calculation:
1 month of subscription : 14€99 https://secure.eveonline.com/addGameTime/
1 month of game time using the Plex system = cost 500 Plex
super generous offer zomg discount click here by CCP : 440 + "60 free" for.... 19€99 https://secure.eveonline.com/PLEX/

No need to be a Rocket Scientist V to suspect a curious pattern

Shocked

Did I miss something or what ?


Meerclaw
Mr Epeen
It's All About Me
#2 - 2017-05-24 17:37:07 UTC
Meerclaw wrote:


Did I miss something or what ?


No. Adding game time with PLEX has always been substantially higher than paying with cash (subscription).

If it's any consolation, there is a "half price" PLEX offer right now. The reason I quoted half price is that I haven't done the math yet. It might be perfectly legit and not one of their marketing misdirects..

Mr Epeen Cool
Meerclaw
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#3 - 2017-05-24 17:42:34 UTC  |  Edited by: Meerclaw
thanks for answering.

I know, but still, for free 40 when 500 is the plex cost for 1 month
when before you had 1 plex (aka 500 now) for the same price is that really for free ?

doubtful

not to mention that for the 99€ offer , it was ( if I'm correct, or was it 104€ ?) for 6 plexes during the discount offers.
so it should be, at least , 3000 plexes, not this very curious 2200 "+ 600 free" offer

right ?
Bjorn Tyrson
Brutor Tribe
Minmatar Republic
#4 - 2017-05-24 17:45:52 UTC
Mr Epeen wrote:
Meerclaw wrote:


Did I miss something or what ?


No. Adding game time with PLEX has always been substantially higher than paying with cash (subscription).

If it's any consolation, there is a "half price" PLEX offer right now. The reason I quoted half price is that I haven't done the math yet. It might be perfectly legit and not one of their marketing misdirects..

Mr Epeen Cool


I did run the numbers, and it checks out... mostly, but its limited to only the 110 and 220 plex packages (still dirt cheep) and only 1 of each can be purchased.

it also doesn't seem to have been extended to all accounts, since only 1 of mine got the offer (and i've tried logging in the others to see if I just didn't get the e-mail for them). it might be tied to only 1 offer per e-mail address associated to accounts.
Mr Epeen
It's All About Me
#5 - 2017-05-24 17:56:48 UTC
Bjorn Tyrson wrote:
Mr Epeen wrote:
Meerclaw wrote:


Did I miss something or what ?


No. Adding game time with PLEX has always been substantially higher than paying with cash (subscription).

If it's any consolation, there is a "half price" PLEX offer right now. The reason I quoted half price is that I haven't done the math yet. It might be perfectly legit and not one of their marketing misdirects..

Mr Epeen Cool


I did run the numbers, and it checks out... mostly, but its limited to only the 110 and 220 plex packages (still dirt cheep) and only 1 of each can be purchased.

it also doesn't seem to have been extended to all accounts, since only 1 of mine got the offer (and i've tried logging in the others to see if I just didn't get the e-mail for them). it might be tied to only 1 offer per e-mail address associated to accounts.
It's like their marketing dept is working from manuals printed in the nineteen seventies.

I know what's old is new again, but not in the marketing of products.

Selling half a months playtime at half price, forcing you to buy a bunch at full price?
Keeping the price the same but lowering the quantity and adding back the balance as a freebee?

These techniques are ancient. Does anyone fall for it any more?

Mr Epeen Cool
Steve Ronuken
Fuzzwork Enterprises
Vote Steve Ronuken for CSM
#6 - 2017-05-24 18:40:35 UTC
The 'extra' plex you get, is extra compared to what you get if you buy multiple of the cheapest packages.

So with the 19.99 package, you get 500. But if you spend the same on four 4.99 packages, you only have 440 plex. So you have 60 extra. (yes, it's 4p more expensive. that's just quibbling)

Woo! CSM XI!

Fuzzwork Enterprises

Twitter: @fuzzysteve on Twitter
Chainsaw Plankton
FaDoyToy
#7 - 2017-05-24 18:51:24 UTC
the however many "free" plex is just a marketing gimmick. people see "free" and think that's a good thing, even though it is the same price it used to be.

honestly it seems extra silly to me as people that can't compare the various packages probably won't last long in eve anyways.

@ChainsawPlankto on twitter
Meerclaw
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#8 - 2017-05-24 18:53:37 UTC
Steve Ronuken wrote:
The 'extra' plex you get, is extra compared to what you get if you buy multiple of the cheapest packages.

So with the 19.99 package, you get 500. But if you spend the same on four 4.99 packages, you only have 440 plex. So you have 60 extra. (yes, it's 4p more expensive. that's just quibbling)


means that prices have raised in the store without saying it right ?

1 "ancient" plex was ( without any discount ) 19€99 (aka 500 actual plexes right now) or am I wrong ?

because basically I see no super zomg discount at all if we do consider how it was before the changes

Meerclaw
Meerclaw
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#9 - 2017-05-24 18:56:12 UTC
Chainsaw Plankton wrote:
the however many "free" plex is just a marketing gimmick. people see "free" and think that's a good thing, even though it is the same price it used to be.

honestly it seems extra silly to me as people that can't compare the various packages probably won't last long in eve anyways.


Idd they ll burn in a Jita Scam quite fast for sure
Chainsaw Plankton
FaDoyToy
#10 - 2017-05-24 18:58:57 UTC
Meerclaw wrote:
Steve Ronuken wrote:
The 'extra' plex you get, is extra compared to what you get if you buy multiple of the cheapest packages.

So with the 19.99 package, you get 500. But if you spend the same on four 4.99 packages, you only have 440 plex. So you have 60 extra. (yes, it's 4p more expensive. that's just quibbling)


means that prices have raised in the store without saying it right ?

1 "ancient" plex was ( without any discount ) 19€99 (aka 500 actual plexes right now) or am I wrong ?

because basically I see no super zomg discount at all if we do consider how it was before the changes

Meerclaw

nope, one old plex was 19.99, 500 new plex is still 19.99 which is the same price. someone on reddit did more analysis on all the price packages and apparently you get slightly more plex/money on the high end packages. although they shifted the prices/quantities a little so it might not be as straight forward as it was.

@ChainsawPlankto on twitter
Meerclaw
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#11 - 2017-05-24 19:06:12 UTC  |  Edited by: Meerclaw
Chainsaw, read the title of my topic and visit the official page https://secure.eveonline.com/PLEX/

it's not 500.
it's 440 "+60free"

so there's no such thing as "60 free" :)

then you'll understand my point

Meerclaw
Tau Cabalander
Retirement Retreat
Working Stiffs
#12 - 2017-05-24 19:48:53 UTC  |  Edited by: Tau Cabalander
Meerclaw wrote:
Chainsaw, read the title of my topic and visit the official page https://secure.eveonline.com/PLEX/

it's not 500.
it's 440 "+60free"

so there's no such thing as "60 free" :)

then you'll understand my point

Meerclaw

Nope. Still don't get it.

One month of game-time: 1 old PLEX was $19.99, and 500 nuPlex is $19.99

The only thing that has changed is that the ad no longer shows the bonus amount of 60, but rather "13% bonus" on the 500 nuPLEX package.
Chainsaw Plankton
FaDoyToy
#13 - 2017-05-24 20:50:04 UTC
Meerclaw wrote:
Chainsaw, read the title of my topic and visit the official page https://secure.eveonline.com/PLEX/

it's not 500.
it's 440 "+60free"

so there's no such thing as "60 free" :)

then you'll understand my point

Meerclaw

there is effectively no difference, like I said earlier, marketing gimmick, it's a pretty simple bulk discount. For example if I go to the supermarket I can buy a small pack of chicken for something like $3/pound, if I buy the big pack its $2/pound they could say the pricing is buy 4 pounds get 2 free and it would pretty much be the same thing.

of course is prices change and ccp drops the "free" plex well then I foresee interesting things happening.

@ChainsawPlankto on twitter
Do Little
Bluenose Trading
#14 - 2017-05-24 22:20:51 UTC
CCP has always offered volume discounts on PLEX. What's changed is the base they are calculated from is now the 4.99 package.

The marketing follows the old Aurum pattern - x + y free works with the more granular product while the % discount was used for the old PLEX. However the cost of 1 month of game time remains the same - 19.95.

CCP is under no obligation to hold the price of PLEX constant forever. There is, after all still a bit of inflation in the real world.
Wanda Fayne
#15 - 2017-05-25 00:42:20 UTC
Chainsaw Plankton wrote:
the however many "free" plex is just a marketing gimmick. people see "free" and think that's a good thing, even though it is the same price it used to be.

honestly it seems extra silly to me as people that can't compare the various packages probably won't last long in eve anyways.


FREE Antimatter! Come Get some! Twisted

"your comments just confirms this whole idea is totally pathetic" -Lan Wang-

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Sylvia Kildare
Kinetic Fury
#16 - 2017-05-27 08:05:52 UTC
Wanda Fayne wrote:
Chainsaw Plankton wrote:
the however many "free" plex is just a marketing gimmick. people see "free" and think that's a good thing, even though it is the same price it used to be.

honestly it seems extra silly to me as people that can't compare the various packages probably won't last long in eve anyways.


FREE Antimatter! Come Get some! Twisted


Ooo, ooo! Yes, please! :::hops up and down:::
Meerclaw
Federal Navy Academy
Gallente Federation
#17 - 2017-06-02 10:48:53 UTC
YAY ! Big smile -15% right now

Enjoy Folks Bear

https://secure.eveonline.com/PLEX/

Meerclaw
Frostys Virpio
State War Academy
Caldari State
#18 - 2017-06-02 13:46:19 UTC
Do Little wrote:
CCP has always offered volume discounts on PLEX. What's changed is the base they are calculated from is now the 4.99 package.

The marketing follows the old Aurum pattern - x + y free works with the more granular product while the % discount was used for the old PLEX. However the cost of 1 month of game time remains the same - 19.95.

CCP is under no obligation to hold the price of PLEX constant forever. There is, after all still a bit of inflation in the real world.


They are also technically not selling the same product so that gave them a good point where they could re-adjust their prices.
Teckos Pech
Hogyoku
Goonswarm Federation
#19 - 2017-06-02 17:47:32 UTC
There is some element of truth to the original post, IMO.

Prior to "nuPLEX" the price was around 1,230,000,000/PLEX which allowed, among other things, 30 days of game time.

After the change you now need 500 nuPLEX for the same 30 days. But now people can buy PLEX packs with different amounts of nuPLEX.

What was the implicit exchange rate with the old PLEX, around 61,530,000 ISK/cent. That is 1,230,000,000/19.99.

So if you buy 110 nuPLEX at 4.99 and given the exchange rate one would translate into 1,395,490,070.04 ISK for 500 PLEX. However, purchasing 500 nuPLEX (440+60 "free") we get the same old 1,230,000,000 ISK.

So what is the market price going to be? Probably some sort of a weighted average. So doing some simple Bubba math--i.e. taking a simple average of the two in-game isk values of 1,395,490,070.04 and 1,230,000,000 gives a price of 1,312,745,035.02 ISK which is close to what I get by taking the lowest buy order off of eve-central and multiplying it by 500 (1,306,449,500.00 ISK).

Now eve-central does not report PLEX in citadels, so the price is probably a bit lower than what is showing on EVE central, but almost surely above the old in game price of 1,230,000,000 (+/-). So, this says to me that the OOG price of 500 PLEX is a bit higher than $19.99.

Another way to think of this is, depending on which package you buy, the price/PLEX is different. So basically the OOG PLEX supply curve has shifted upwards (the supply cuve, I contend it perfectly elastic--i.e. a horizontal line). Before it was pegged at $19.99 for 1 PLEX. Now, we 500 PLEX being equivalent to the old single PLEX in terms of game time. So, if a person is buying 110 PLEX they are implicitly paying $0.045363636/nuPLEX. If you buy 500 at $19.99 you are paying $0.03998/NuPLEX. Thus, the OOG supply graph is some sort of weighted average of these different supply graphs which, based on the in-game price, is higher than the old price.

Caveat: other things can effect the ingame price.

"The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design."--Friedrich August von Hayek

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