In a perfect world ? and what if that external drive fails..

One month ago I had a 2 TB drive fail with ALL of my downloads plus my ORBX junction link. So I went and bought 2 hard drives. One for a back up and the other for a back up of the back up so it never happens again. 

 

A CD? I would need a thousand of them! Some people just dont have the $$ for a back up drive, thats life..

 

My point is FS pilot shop are the only company doing this. Its not advertised and just plain sneaky IMO

There is some validity to Venturi's statements.  Backup's of backup's can get expensive.  I lost a WD MyCloud HDD about a month ago...no warning, just died.  I had my fair share of sim content disappear but fortunately, I still had an old portable 2tb drive that still had a bulk of the content.  I recently started to backup certain software to DVD, don't ask me why it wasn't all of my archived software, but point being, physical media can be just as cheap and save a whole lot of hassle later on.

 

Cost of an external DVD reader/writer: $30

DVD media can vary in cost, but as long as you know where to get it, you can walk away a winner...Microcenter sold me 50 blank DVDs for $15.

 

Whether we are diligent with backups or not, I still don't see the point why a business would charge to reactivate a download link for someone.  If they bought the rights to install and use the software, then it comes down to one person at a computer to push a couple of buttons to reactivate a link...sounds like the cable company charging a $36 installation fee when in reality they just push a button to send a signal.  Businesses have a right to do whatever they want but if they want to stay competitive and retain customers, they need to bend a little.

 

Here's a simplified example to end my post:  XX software is on a vendor's server.  They send out a download link to customers who purchase the rights to install and run it.  Every customer, supposedly only has 5 downloads available.  After the five, you have to pay to gain the rights to re-download software you paid for the right to install and run.  It just doesn't sound kosher ALTHOUGH, if a vendor is selling digital titles and the software technically comes from a developer's server, then perhaps THAT could be the reason for a fee...I could be wrong folks, so take it with a grain of salt.

this is legal non-sense... no manufacturer has the right to control a price of a good sold through a third party! there have been many competitive lawsuits where big boys thought they could do exactly that, even if it was not obvious. They paid for it at the end.

 

there is no trick. often it is just down to exchange rates or specific limited promos etc.... and if there is a real difference and you prefer to buy at your preferred shop, than a) pay more or b) contact your shop and let them know there is a cheaper offer. Most of the time they will align, and often they are not aware.[/quote

 

 

You obviously didn't read my post in its entirety; moreover, you're speaking in absolute terms concerning a subject you obviously have little, or no, expertise in. Simmarket (etc) are not manufacors or third-party sellers; Instead, they are brokers. They operate in a manner similar to your local consignment store. To that pint, they provide the mechanism/platform to sell their products. In return, the devieloper agrees to pay a % of each sale. Simmarket (etc) could set sales prices if they purchased the rights to the software, in its entirety; however, that doesn't conform to their typical motus operandi. For you're own education, I suggest you read the following before responding:

 

Http://secure.simmarket.com/authors.php

 

And

 

http://www.fspilotshop.com/software_publishers.php?osCsid=re2n6ft6cejafmc2s0sd1oap41

 

 

"You DO get to decide how much you want to sell the product for. You DON'T need to set up any complex payment gateways or security schemes (but we do support unique license key distribution). You just need the file and we'll take care of the rest."

this is legal non-sense... no manufacturer has the right to control a price of a good sold through a third party! there have been many competitive lawsuits where big boys thought they could do exactly that, even if it was not obvious. They paid for it at the end.

 

there is no trick. often it is just down to exchange rates or specific limited promos etc.... and if there is a real difference and you prefer to buy at your preferred shop, than a) pay more or B) contact your shop and let them know there is a cheaper offer. Most of the time they will align, and often they are not aware.[/quote

 

 

You obviously didn't read my post in its entirety; moreover, you're speaking in absolute terms concerning a subject you obviously have little, or no, expertise in. Simmarket (etc) are not manufacors or third-party sellers; Instead, they are brokers. They operate in a manner similar to your local consignment store. To that pint, they provide the mechanism/platform to sell their products. In return, the devieloper agrees to pay a % of each sale. Simmarket (etc) could set sales prices if they purchased the rights to the software, in its entirety; however, that doesn't conform to their typical motus operandi. For you're own education, I suggest you read the following before responding:

 

Http://secure.simmarket.com/authors.php

 

And

 

http://www.fspilotshop.com/software_publishers.php?osCsid=re2n6ft6cejafmc2s0sd1oap41

 

 

"You DO get to decide how much you want to sell the product for. You DON'T need to set up any complex payment gateways or security schemes (but we do support unique license key distribution). You just need the file and we'll take care of the rest."

 

 

 

I can tell you that in my daily hobby that pays my bills (finance, sales and marketing in my CV dealing with manufacturers, large retailers, e-tailers, value added resellers, box-movers, small resellers, affiliates, you name it...) I am confronted regularly with how to handle this. And if i talk in absolute terms, it is because there is legal base for this and 'cause I know how to turn this around to look nicer, just a question of how you set up your pricing strategy and how you manage your relation with your providers.

 

Anyway, let me tell you that if for a minute you just take a different point of view reading the two links you sent me, they say nothing different, just an intelligent way to tell you as developer, we respect your price recommendation. But maybe you do not want to. In general everyone will stand by these recommendations as they do want to make as much margin as possible, unless they are in need of revenue instead, but this is a different subject. It is just the agreement that the third party or broker if you wish, that himself sets up will bind him to a certain price. But at the end it comes down to an Recommended Street Price. which is built on margins after a re-seller purchase price. Just the backwards maths, you know, no rocket science. A lot of apparently different business models exist, but it is just a question of marketing and how well they are accepted by the market.

 

Take a step back, and for your personal education, try to think a bit more critical about those business models, but maybe you have your reasons not to.

I can tell you that in my daily hobby that pays my bills (finance, sales and marketing in my CV dealing with manufacturers, large retailers, e-tailers, value added resellers, box-movers, small resellers, affiliates, you name it...) I am confronted regularly with how to handle this. And if i talk in absolute terms, it is because there is legal base for this and 'cause I know how to turn this around to look nicer, just a question of how you set up your pricing strategy and how you manage your relation with your providers.

 

Anyway, let me tell you that if for a minute you just take a different point of view reading the two links you sent me, they say nothing different, just an intelligent way to tell you as developer, we respect your price recommendation. But maybe you do not want to. In general everyone will stand by these recommendations as they do want to make as much margin as possible, unless they are in need of revenue instead, but this is a different subject. It is just the agreement that the third party or broker if you wish, that himself sets up will bind him to a certain price. But at the end it comes down to an Recommended Street Price. which is built on margins after a re-seller purchase price. Just the backwards maths, you know, no rocket science. A lot of apparently different business models exist, but it is just a question of marketing and how well they are accepted by the market.

 

Take a step back, and for your personal education, try to think a bit more critical about those business models, but maybe you have your reasons not to.

 

Your entire premise is based on anecdotal information; to that point, you have no idea how distribution works on FSPilotshop/SimMarket platforms.  In short, you're make more assumptions based on an Apples to Jeep comparison...

 

BTW, critical thinking does not include the willful disregard of information or manipulation of facts to fit your assumptions.  It does, however, involve the ability to recognize when your hypotheses has proven false.  The information contained within the links I provided describe precisely how products are distributed via both platforms...there's nothing to spin "around to look nicer."  

 

Finally, although I appreciate the discussion, I don't appreciate the insinuation that I have a hidden agenda. Also, I'm not sure I need an "education" in this field from you.  First, I have an MBA (albeit in CS); so, I have a fundamental understanding of marketing/business strategies as a whole.  Secondly, and most importantly, I have SOLD a product on Simmaket in the past.  To that point, I have FIRST hand knowledge of their business model, which operates precisely as outlined on their website(i.e. developer sets the price and they take a percentage). Have you sold any products via these platforms?  I doubt you have; otherwise, you would have a very different opinion.  If you would like to know more about their distribution model, send me a PM and I'll send you their representative's contact information.