I hate this new trend of having an app installed for each developer. If at all possible I'll purchase from the developer's website for airplanes (high priority updates) and from the MS Marketplace for scenery (low priority updates). If these options are unavailable, then I have to live with the app.

Developer first, if not then through Contrail, ORBX, inibuilds, or Simmarket. I'll only buy aircraft from the Marketplace, not scenery as the files are encrypted if I wanted to edit them for parking or to remove statics etc.

Simmarket seems to be the most expensive option. It's worth checking around before you buy. 

Marketplace first, then developer, then OrbX.

I think the size of the market means there’s not such a need to rescue struggling addon devs with exclusive use of their sites.

Other than planes or major intl airports, I think the addon market is much slower than previously.

I buy from all three places as well, but prefer Simmarket when things are on sale, as it is usually the cheapest. IMO, Orbx is usually the most expensive unless they are having a big sale themselves. I used to dislike SimMarket because you couldn't filter scenery by location, but now you can search MSFS Airports by location (partially at least).

 

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by Alpine Scenery

Marketplace for me is the only way to support Microsoft's continued development of the simulator. 

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by Aglos77

8 hours ago, qqwertzde said:

an awful Orbs loyalty system. That system alone keeps me from buying anything there.

I have often thought that even if someone in the world of flight simulation is given something for free, which can be either taken up or not and that can be ignored completely, with no effect, someone would still find a way to complain.
Thanks for confirming my suspicion. 👍

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by Reader

1. Orbx first as they offer easy auto updating without the delays of the marketplace. I never even read the stuff about "orbs" as I regard any "loyalty" system as a marketing con. If a retail store hands me a loyalty card I toss it straight in the rubbish.

2. If not available on Orbx I try the Just Flight Store.

3. If neither of those stores have it I go direct to the developers.  This is not my preferred first option as most developers seem to use email to notify of updates and those emails, for me at least, tend to get junked.

4. As a last resort, if an aircraft is only n the Marketplace, I will despite all the issues with MS Marketplace buy it there.

5. Never SimMarket for reasons we do not need to go into here.

  

1 hour ago, jarmstro said:

Simmarket seems to be the most expensive option. It's worth checking around before you buy. 

Agree. Therefore I always check Simmarket and the developers site.to see which one has the best price.

Simmarket has its Aoo which works fast and flawlessly on my system. Never slow DL and everything together.

Never I will buy from the Marketplace because of the encrypted Addons. I use PSXT and that addon needs to read the airport info.

10 hours ago, newtie said:

Hi all-

I've been looking at these four sources for some purchases I'm considering.
Is there a preference/advantage to one or the other?

Being new to MSFS I have only one right now, the Carenado PC12, that I was flying regularly in P3D. Looks and flys great except for the dark cockpit which still seems dark after I turn all the lights on including the dome light. Might be an adjustment somewhere in the sim I'm not familiar with.

Anyway, I'm leaning towards purchasing from the developer if nothing else from a support aspect.

Let me know what the pifalls and upside are. I'm interested in your experiences.

Mark

So I think the MSFS marketplace encrypts the add-on when you purchase it. For good reason of course, because otherwise, people can pirate stuff that they purchase from the MSFS marketplace. If you don't foresee yourself modifying the add-on that you purchase from the MSFS marketplace, and if the price is in the MSFS marketplace is equal to, or lower than outside, then I think you should purchase the add-on from the MSFS marketplace. I think this mostly applies to scenery add-ons.  The MSFS marketplace is slower to update though, but with scenery add-ons, that's not a big deal to me, because most scenery updates only have maybe 2 or 3 updates at the most, and then no more updates are done for them. I usually buy my scenery add-ons from the MSFS marketplace (but note I am not the type that will edit the scenery add-on).

For airplanes, though, some planes go through many updates, and the time it takes for it to be updated in the MSFS marketplace can be annoying. So for something like the PMDG 737, which gets quite a few updates, it's annoying to wait in the MSFS marketplace for those updates. So for planes that go through a lot of updates, you may consider buying outside the MSFS marketplace, like directly from the developer.

One good thing about buying from the MSFS marketplace is that you are supporting further development of MSFS.  I think Matt Nischan, the lead of Working Title, said somewhere here in Avsim that if you enjoy the work that Working Title is doing in MSFS, to please support them by purchases in the MSFS marketplace. For this reason, I do like purchasing in the MSFS marketplace, because you are supporting both the developer (although the developer gets less money), but you are also supporting the development team behind MSFS.  I know we like to bash on Microsoft, but of course, if Microsoft isn't seeing a profit for MSFS, they will stop development for it.  The money we spend in the MSFS marketplace does go towards developers like Working Title, and of course, the Asobo team.

Finally, if you have an XBox as well, then you definitely want to consider purchasing in the MSFS marketplace. Because any add-ons you buy in the MSFS marketplace can also be used on your XBox.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 20233 yr by abrams_tank

Simmarkets installer  technology is out of date and confusing  - therefore I avoid Simmarket. Same with Just Flight (no technology at all - just Setup.exes without any details of changes and dates)

Orbx and Aerosoft are up to date and conveniant - Microsoft store needs ages for releasing new versions but is the most comfortable way to be up to date - even after a reinstallation of the sim.

I prefer the Marketplace. All in one place and usually very good sales.

I don't buy much, however. Just an aircraft here and there.

I have been only a small customer since MSFS has been released, about fifteen or so addons, at Orbx and with big name developers. Anyway, this is my take :

Orbx is smooth and generally the cheapest. Updates are available pronto. Their loyalty system is good if you buy a lot, worthless if you are an occasional buyer. The latter issue has been blown out of proportion if you ask me. But then again, I don’t like soap operas either.

Simmarket is also good but expensive. I haven’t bought anything with their new app though. 

Just Flight, I never had the opportunity to deal with them

Developers are as good as you trust their e-commerce solution. Difficult to assess though. But you don’t have problem buying from PMDG or Milviz or other well-established houses. 

The MS Store… Hmmm, how to put it ? A bureaucratic contraption 😏, born on the principle of « why make it simple when you can make it complicated ».

You naive customer think that you select a product, give your CC #  and that's it. No Sir, their software asks you   : « Buys <sic> the number of Flightsim Credits needed to purchase this item. Flightsim credits will then be immediately redeemed to complete your purchase ». If you have a Steam version of MSFS, you have to buy the Steam credits first. And if there is a glitch, be ready for a pingpong game between Steam and MS where you are the ball, a conclusion I drew reading forums. Also, at the MS Store some files are encrypted. Updates takes more time than from other sources. 

 

11 hours ago, Krakin said:

Consider using the marketplace to help keep the sim alive and kicking.

Well, you don't want a market where the MS store would be a monopoly so it is also useful to buy at   Orbx or Simmarket etc. to keep these distributors alive too.   

9 hours ago, pete_auau said:

i always  buy  from the  dev

I often do too but I am not sure that the commission taken by the MS store, OrbX or Simmarket is bigger than the one taken by the e-commerce solution developers go through when they sell on their site.  Do the devs keep more of their revenue   ? Common wisdom says they do. I don't know. 

just some of the Issues with the MS marketplace -

- files are encrypted

- delayed offerings and slow updates

- silly limitations on products, military aircraft have to have gunsights guns and ordinance removed, it is impossible for a dev to offer discounts on multiple purchases etc etc

- no itemised receipt detailing what was purchased just an email saying you sent X number of credits

- issues with money needing to be in a Steam wallet before purchase

- there are entire countries where MS Marketplace does not accept the local credit cards or even paypal

- refunds if you are unhappy are difficult to get or impossible