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Devalued ISHUKONE Shirt? CCP Marketing Malpractice? [UPDATE]

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Rond Dorlezahn
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#41 - 2012-06-25 18:44:23 UTC
If you bought 13 plex for cash to get a SHIRT, I have no sympathy whatsoever for your plight
Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#42 - 2012-06-25 18:44:40 UTC  |  Edited by: Tippia
The Antiquarian wrote:
Once again, as I mentioned again and again, what you say has nothing to do with my issue. "prices on most gear would eventually drop" only applies to items that are susceptible to market forces including change in supplies or the availability of the next best alternatives.
It has everything to do with your issue because it's exactly what happened: the item in question is susceptible to market forces, in particular a change in supplies and availability.

Quote:
Also, we all knew that it was a one-time event since it did specify "special one-time offer"
And it was. It still is. So far, it's the only time that shirt has been offered for free with a PLEX bundle. Now, there's a new offer where you actually have to pay for the item itself. The next time, the one-time offer will be for a Quafe Iteron with the same PLEX bundle.

Again, you're complaining that your free novelty key chain is also available at the store, and spending money on a product just to get the side-offers is just as foolish as it has been for the last, oh, 150 years or so.
The Antiquarian
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#43 - 2012-06-25 18:45:02 UTC
Opodiphthera Eucalypti Lepdoptera wrote:
The Antiquarian wrote:
Opodiphthera Eucalypti Lepdoptera wrote:
The Antiquarian wrote:

No. I had no immediate use for 39 x PLEXs. The cost includes postponement of spending on other alternatives/earning interests from real investments.


But you still got the PLEX. They are worth the same in terms of game time wich is what they are meant for.
And if you paid for exclusivity you had it, for 6 months. I personally don't understand this logic since we are far into the industrial age. No matter what anyone says, no product is unique, even less a digital product.



When Ishukone Special Edition shirt was initially advertised, the site made it sound as if purchasing 13 x PLEXs is the only viable venue to obtain the special shirt. I did get 13 x PLEXs, but the main driver of me having to purchase the PLEXs was to obtain that special shirt. So we can't just easily dismiss the shirt as a "oh it was a bonus item. you shouldn't complain." It's not that simple.

Once again, if CCP was clear from the beginning about how the shirt will be sold for $0.50 cents in the future, even an impulsive nerdy ingame item lover like me, wouldn't have gone through that damn bundle deal.


I don't think CCP knew they would have to sell it cheap. Their intended consumers refuse to buy any digital item that costed more than material items so they had to change. Maybe you should reconsider your values. Now THAT is not simple, but people do it all the time.


I will certainly "reconsider my value" once CCP acknowledges its mishap and be more clear about its future promotions.
The Antiquarian
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#44 - 2012-06-25 18:47:26 UTC  |  Edited by: The Antiquarian
Tippia wrote:
The Antiquarian wrote:
Once again, as I mentioned again and again, what you say has nothing to do with my issue. "prices on most gear would eventually drop" only applies to items that are susceptible to market forces including change in supplies or the availability of the next best alternatives.
It has everything to do with your issue because it's exactly what happened: the item in question is susceptible to market forces, in particular a change in supplies and availability.

Quote:
Also, we all knew that it was a one-time event since it did specify "special one-time offer"
And it was. It still is. So far, it's the only time that shirt has been offered for free with a PLEX bundle. Now, there's a new offer where you actually have to pay for the item itself.

Again, you're complaining that your free novelty key chain is also available at the store and spending money on a product just to get the side-offers is just as foolish as it has been for the last, oh, 150 years or so.


Now you are playing wording games here. When a simple player with mediocre intellect reads a message that says "one-time offer & special edition & only," he/she could logically assume that this item is disseminated only on a definite basis and will maintain its value as collectible item.

Until last year's Christmas debacle with the reissuance of old historical frigates, CCP performed extremely well on keeping its purported exclusive items, truly "exclusive" for 7 amazing years. Magnates, GV, Tourney Prices, Annual Frigates, Collectors' Edition Shuttle, and all other special promotional/ingame activity items remained truly unique. It was only RECENTLY that CCP decided to reuse the old historical items. Obviously a miscommunication between the marketing department or a change in personnel (of course, I am being speculative here).

What I am asking here is a simple acknowledgement by CCP that they will be more clear about their marketing practices. Having spent unnecessary $, some kind of reparation for the previous spenders would be only "fair."
Kieron VonDeux
#45 - 2012-06-25 18:51:11 UTC
This is why I don't buy virtual goods.
Especially at a "virtual" price floor, that can "virually' disappear at a whim.
Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#46 - 2012-06-25 19:02:28 UTC
The Antiquarian wrote:
Now you are playing wording games here.
Welcome to advertising.

Regardless, that's what “one time offer” means: at this time, and at this time only, can you get this bundle. It pretty much never means the items you get in the bundle are unique or that it's the only way to get them. If it said anything more, you need to pony up the original text where any kind of promise about perpetual exclusivity was mentioned, because I certainly don't remember it saying anything of the kind.

Quote:
Until last year's Christmas debacle with the reissuance of old historical frigates, CCP performed extremely well on keeping its purported exclusive items, truly "exclusive" for 7 amazing years. Magnates, GV, Tourney Prices, Annual Frigates, Collectors' Edition Shuttle, and all other special promotional/ingame activity items remained truly unique.
…and none of them were exclusive or promotional, and they didn't “come free with purchase” like the novelty key ring you “bought.”
Celeste Taylor
Ruby Dynasty
#47 - 2012-06-25 19:05:19 UTC
I realize many people out there don't see things this way, but here is my take on the situation.

Even though I was directly effected by last night's price drops I am still happy with the new pricing. My philosophy is to not spend more on an item than what you believe it is worth to you. For me that bar is set pretty high for apparel items, although not as high as CCP's original AUR prices. My personal opinion is in general it is dangerous to buy something based off of perceived rareness and potential value and you shouldn't buy something that you feel is overpriced.

Given that theory I do not feel like the money I spent on the Executor Red/Gold or the re-issued shoes was a waste, since I intend on keeping them and did not mind spending the money to get them. On the other hand I bought the ten new apparel items released today for the same price as my Executor once cost. Had CCP released the new items at 3000-4000 AUR each there would have been no way I could have bought the complete set.

I do think that it would have been a bit wiser for CCP to release a new color (like the Quafe shirt, which I don't think would have been difficult) which would have also increased the available inventory, and keep people from getting upset.

I suppose that there is the other side of the coin with the I have something you will never have mentality, but I personally never cared for the divide between the haves and the have nots. I like to buy things that I like, instead of buying things that are rare and cost a ton, although there is sadly often a correlation between the two. That 500m ISK coat is still worth 500m, and if that isn't true to others perhaps they shouldn't have spent that much for it.
Jake Warbird
Republic Military School
Minmatar Republic
#48 - 2012-06-25 19:06:46 UTC
The Antiquarian
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#49 - 2012-06-25 19:09:30 UTC
Celeste Taylor wrote:
I realize many people out there don't see things this way, but here is my take on the situation.

Even though I was directly effected by last night's price drops I am still happy with the new pricing. My philosophy is to not spend more on an item than what you believe it is worth to you. For me that bar is set pretty high for apparel items, although not as high as CCP's original AUR prices. My personal opinion is in general it is dangerous to buy something based off of perceived rareness and potential value and you shouldn't buy something that you feel is overpriced.

Given that theory I do not feel like the money I spent on the Executor Red/Gold or the re-issued shoes was a waste, since I intend on keeping them and did not mind spending the money to get them. On the other hand I bought the ten new apparel items released today for the same price as my Executor once cost. Had CCP released the new items at 3000-4000 AUR each there would have been no way I could have bought the complete set.

I do think that it would have been a bit wiser for CCP to release a new color (like the Quafe shirt, which I don't think would have been difficult) which would have also increased the available inventory, and keep people from getting upset.

I suppose that there is the other side of the coin with the I have something you will never have mentality, but I personally never cared for the divide between the haves and the have nots. I like to buy things that I like, instead of buying things that are rare and cost a ton, although there is sadly often a correlation between the two. That 500m ISK coat is still worth 500m, and if that isn't true to others perhaps they shouldn't have spent that much for it.


What you say is absolutely valid as well.

I am not espousing for maintaining this "great wall" between the haves and have-nots. I am just asking CCP to be more clear about its deceptive marketing practices because I wouldn't have wasted hundreds of dollars on "early PLEX purchase" when i could've simply go on with my real-life for 6 months, come back to EVE, and buy that same item for $0.50!

I am just asking CCP to be CLEAR. And of course, for the sake of fairness, some kind of reparation for the previous collectors, is just.
mmorpg lol
The Dark Space Initiative
Scary Wormhole People
#50 - 2012-06-25 19:26:58 UTC
aboo! aboo! The free lamborghini keychain I got with my lamborghini is now on sale for 5 bux. brb, suing lamborghini.
Natsett Amuinn
Caldari Provisions
Caldari State
#51 - 2012-06-25 19:32:12 UTC
Flakey Foont wrote:
At least the Mercedes is real.

Once upon a time there was a British car manufacturer that went by the name of Jaquar. One dark day the evil car manufacturer Ford purchased Jaquar, and in a mighty uproar thousands of loyal Jaquar owners all cried at once "this is unexceptable! Our lovely overpriced luxury cars won't be worth anything because ford is going to produce a cheaper model car under the Jaquar name!"

Ford did.

The rest of the world could care less; very much like the OP's problem.
The Antiquarian
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#52 - 2012-06-25 19:35:08 UTC
Natsett Amuinn wrote:
Flakey Foont wrote:
At least the Mercedes is real.

Once upon a time there was a British car manufacturer that went by the name of Jaquar. One dark day the evil car manufacturer Ford purchased Jaquar, and in a mighty uproar thousands of loyal Jaquar owners all cried at once "this is unexceptable! Our lovely overpriced luxury cars won't be worth anything because ford is going to produce a cheaper model car under the Jaquar name!"

Ford did.

The rest of the world could care less; very much like the OP's problem.




Nice speech there, but everyone values things differently. You might not care. Most likely, many others don't care about my issue. But there are certainly a few who cares deeply about this issue. I wouldn't just discount this issue right away.
The Antiquarian
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#53 - 2012-06-25 19:37:50 UTC
Natsett Amuinn wrote:
Flakey Foont wrote:
At least the Mercedes is real.

Once upon a time there was a British car manufacturer that went by the name of Jaquar. One dark day the evil car manufacturer Ford purchased Jaquar, and in a mighty uproar thousands of loyal Jaquar owners all cried at once "this is unexceptable! Our lovely overpriced luxury cars won't be worth anything because ford is going to produce a cheaper model car under the Jaquar name!"

Ford did.

The rest of the world could care less; very much like the OP's problem.




And your small summary is very misleading. The cae of the Ford's acquisition of Jaguar had huge implications for millions of shareholders and certainly for the outcome of other similar mergers and acquisitions. You can't just say "the world does not care" because you don't care. Oh wait... that's the usual "goons mentality," right?
Din Chao
#54 - 2012-06-25 19:38:50 UTC
At least with hookers and herpes, you'd have a story worth telling...
Cloned S0ul
POCKOCMOC Inc.
#55 - 2012-06-25 19:39:33 UTC  |  Edited by: Cloned S0ul
I agree with op, i buy this shirt for my main one hour ago for 500 arum, i know it was rare and expensive before, and some people pay a lot for this item long time ago, CCP should reimburse arum form those people.

So what the point of reduce rare items price while monocle got old price ?
Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#56 - 2012-06-25 19:41:15 UTC
Cloned S0ul wrote:
I agree with op, i buy this shirt for my main one hour ago for 500 arum, i know it was rare and expensive before
Actually, it was rare and free before. It didn't cost any AUR and as such, no AUR should (or indeed could) be reimbursed. Blink
adam smash
Department of Gub'nent Welfare
Harkonnen Federation
#57 - 2012-06-25 19:42:24 UTC
So your just now mad you spent $200 on a fake shirt?

Don't see the issue if it was worth the money then ( guess it was it was bought) who cares wtf the price is now. Either way you got ripped off rofl... $200 or .50 cents.

Um new car... $$$$$$ 10 years later what is it worth 10% of what it was? maybe 20? lol And that is a REAL item...

Well welcome to online space game... 10 year = 6 months your thing is now worthless...

Also since everyone seems to like RL...

CCP roll play it as a cheaper knock off... BOOM done /thread
The Antiquarian
Imperial Academy
Amarr Empire
#58 - 2012-06-25 19:43:26 UTC
Tippia wrote:
Cloned S0ul wrote:
I agree with op, i buy this shirt for my main one hour ago for 500 arum, i know it was rare and expensive before
Actually, it was rare and free before. It didn't cost any AUR and as such, no AUR should (or indeed could) be reimbursed. Blink


But those items were advertised as if obtaining the items was contingent upon the purchase of either EVE Online Russian Collector's Edition, 13 X Plexs, or "blank." The value came from exclusivity and there are people who took additional risk and actual cash to obtain these exclusive collectible items. You can't just ignore that.
Tippia
Sunshine and Lollipops
#59 - 2012-06-25 19:49:18 UTC  |  Edited by: Tippia
The Antiquarian wrote:
Why shouldn't CCP apply that to these other unique promotional items?
Why do you assume that they're unique?

Quote:
Why show selectivity?
For one, the items you listed are not promotional or “free with purchase”.

Quote:
But those items were advertised as if obtaining the items was contingent upon the purchase of either EVE Online Russian Collector's Edition, 13 X Plexs, or "blank." The value came from exclusivity and there are people who took additional risk and actual cash to obtain these exclusive collectible items. You can't just ignore that.
No additional risk or cash was required to get these items. You got exactly what you paid for: 13 PLEX. You also got a free item thrown in just for fun. The value came from the rarity, and now (like most promo junk) it's available on the market. Your problem here is that you assigned value to promo junk, when the only way the price could go was down.

If you wanted the item for collection purposes, you got it for less than anyone else.
If you wanted to make money on the item, you should have cashed out early and not doing so was an error of judgement on your part.

Quote:
Once again, what you describe here has nothing to do with my issue. Thanks for your story though.
Once again, it is the exact same situation, no matter how much you try to dismiss it as such. You chose poorly and the market happened.
Bruce Wie
Useless Industries
Memento Moriendo
#60 - 2012-06-25 19:51:08 UTC
The Antiquarian wrote:
I try to keep myself calm, but this is just way too outrageous that I had to vent here again and again.

You, CCP, made it sound as if ISHUKONE SPECIAL EDITION Shirt was only available contingent upon the purchase of 13 X PLEXs several months ago. I didn't have to, but I took the damn bait, with the expectation that CCP and its honest marketing department will maintain the "uniqueness" and rarity of these special items.

But you decide to reward those who took that "extra leap of faith" by treating us like ***** and dingleberries and having these same items available for 50 cents each several months later. Where is fairness in this?

CCP, You should have MADE IT ADAMANTLY CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING THAT AFTER 6 MONTHS, THESE SPECIAL ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR 50 CENTS EACH!

CCP should make appropriate reparation by rewarding the previous faithful ISHUKONE SPECIAL SHIRT owners with other equivalent UNIQUE items.

Prior to this debacle, the shirt had a market value of approximately 1.2-1.3B. Now, it costs 11 million to purchase.



Welcome to ccp customer services === which hole do you wish filled.

Your tinfoil hat is in the post.