Frontier: Can you please define your understanding of "Limited"

[adoredtv]

^^Exactly

Also, when that TV dropped price by 1000 dollars on holdiay sale...that would have been a limited time offer. When it goes back down again to an even lower price 6 months later...by the logic seen in this thread...should be illegal.

I mean, continuing this logic, shouldn't backers be peeved that other people are getting the game for cheaper now?

Not unless another source (newsletter 40 in this case) stated clearly that "Also, availability of the limited edition flag paint jobs will end this Monday"

Anyway I'm not complaining for myself - I just grabbed the Swedish Viper skin actually. On the other hand we should never allow companies or corporations free reign with dubious behaviour regardless of how much or little the sums are.

 

[Zorro]

And FD's reputation takes yet another drop. Pretty clear trend here.

Btw, if I remember that film correctly what he actually said was "I don't think it means what you think it means".

 

[Monk]

On the other hand we should never allow companies or corporations free reign with dubious behaviour regardless of how much or little the sums are.

I get what you are saying, but this is a slippery slope to just handing corporations over to the government. Corporations need regulation to keep them from outrightly exploiting resources and consumers negatively.

We are talking about purchasing digital paint jobs for digital ships in a a digital world. There is no tangible loss to the consumer because, when you purchased it, you agreed to the value of that purchase.

Now, some time later, Frontier is offering it again to attract more customers. This isn't hurting anyone, or damaging some held value that you could liquidate, therefore what are we protecting?

 

[T@F]

No, because that was made very clear from the start the game would be sold on release at a normal price - of course backers paid higher to get access, that's what Frontier sold as a package, they also sold the game at around the same price to Kickstarter backers (they also sold many copies at below the release price)

They also sold the game saying offline will be included but it wasn't.
seems like not just ppl that bought it for offline are upset then.

Anyway it would be stupid to make things LIMITED atm until it's fully released imo.

 

[Javert]

Why? That is a broad assumption on consumer behavior, no? If people want it they will buy it or they won't. Marketing terms like limited time offer or special offering are just that, marketing...meant to lure you in and get you to pay. Everyone does this.

I don't care about whatever words they attach to it...words from any person or entity are just words and should be taken with a pinch of salt ALWAYS no mater who it is.

I saw the paint jobs, the price was reasonable to me, I bought them. If someone else comes in later and gets a cheaper deal, well then, good for them. I still valued it at the price I bought it at.

Fair point I suppose. Let me rephrase it to say that I won't believe them next time, and it sounds like the OP won't either.

That said, it appears that they haven't yet tried to put the special limited editions that they were selling for£10 on sale again. The wireframe one, if I remember correctly, they said it was a special paint job only available to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Elite, and they charged a whopping £10 for it.

I'm not that bothered about the flag ones, but I don't think they should put the £10 ones back up, at least not for a long time anyway.

 

[Jorlin]

I don't always agree with Titus (besides bashing our heads in in space).

But i'm completely with him on this one.
If something is advertised as "limited" in regards of availability, be it in numbers or time, it CAN'T be offered later on...especially not with a "special offer".

 

[RustiSwordz]

Do i sense a touch of jealousy & selfishness in your original post Mr Titus?

Many people who missed the flags first time around have requested the flags be brought back because we missed them via various social means. Myself included.

I find your post... selfish. the money could go on to help further finance the game, a small cost I'm happily prepared to pay and it also shows that the Frontier are listening to the wishes of the community and not the exclusive few. Well done frontier, please continue in that fashion.

PS: You have commented in the past over how you disagree with the offline issue. Now you have just shown yourself to be selfish and exclusive. There is only so much room to sit on that high horse Mr Titus.

 

[Titus Balls]

This is Google's cache of https://store.zaonce.net/game-extras.html?dir=desc&limit=20&mode=list&order=price. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on 8 Sep 2014 23:48:17 GMT.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...ce+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

So most of these have been edited by the looks of it, just Frontier have missed a couple but as you can see, Denmark:

Considering how much good will I had for Frontier over the whole offline issue, then meeting them at the party and even shaking DBs hand and getting a photo taken...

If you had just been upfront guys - just said something like:

"As part of our upcoming release, we have taken the decision to re-release the Viper Flag Skins again for another LIMITED TIME AT THE SAME PRICE" then that would have been fine.

But they are no longer limited, or the same price. They are just devalued bits of crap now.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

Do i sense a touch of jealousy & selfishness in your original post Mr Titus?

Many people who missed the flags first time around have requested the flags be brought back because we missed them via various social means. Myself included.

I find your post... selfish. the money could go on to help further finance the game, a small cost I'm happily prepared to pay and it also shows that the Frontier are listening to the wishes of the community and not the exclusive few. Well done frontier, please continue in that fashion.

PS: You have commented in the past over how you disagree with the offline issue. Now you have just shown yourself to be selfish and exclusive. There is only so much room to sit on that high horse Mr Titus.

If you paid the same price as everyone else at the time, fair enough - not 50% less than the Premium Beta and Alpha backers (who already paid a lot more than you did). See my above reply on it - if they were just clear as to why they offered them again and at the same price this would not be an issue.

 

[Roybe]

Anyway, the point I was making is Frontier can do what they like - it's their store - but the next time I see something as "LIMITED ONE TIME OFFER ONLY" I'll have second thoughts about buying it if this is their take on the definition.

You are misreading, adding your meaning, to an advertisement. A 'limited time offer' does <=> 'one time offer'. The assumption of 'limited time' to 'limited quantities/increased collectability through scarcity' is a consumer misunderstanding of the marketing offer. Caveat Emptor. Understand the nature of the sale and offer. Some consider this shady practice. I consider this marketing an item. They never promised, explicitly or implicitly, exclusivity of a good to those that 'buy right now'. If they did, then the statement should say, 'available as a limited, one time offer'. Assuming that 'a limited time offer' is the same is the consumers misunderstanding.

 

[RustiSwordz]

Welcome to the world of micro-payments and online gaming Mr Titus.

'Oh dear the offliners are all boo hoo over the loss of offline mode. Boo hoo. Well offliners it's a business decision isn't it.'

Well Mr Titus it's a business decision to put the flags back up.

Suck it in son, it's hanging over your belt. Not so nice when the boot is on the other foot is it.

(Amused)

 

[Titus Balls]

Welcome to the world of micro-payments and online gaming Mr Titus.

'Oh dear the offliners are all boo hoo over the loss of offline mode. Boo hoo. Well offliners it's a business decision isn't it.'

Well Mr Titus it's a business decision to put the flags back up.

Suck it in son, it's hanging over your belt. Not so nice when the boot is on the other foot is it.

(Amused)

Statement retracted (but I admit it wasn't nice, I should have been the better man in the situation and caused it to get more heated than it needed to be. I should have just reported the post)

 

[Cody]

That'll do, guys - enough!

 

[Jorlin]

Welcome to the world of micro-payments and online gaming Mr Titus.

'Oh dear the offliners are all boo hoo over the loss of offline mode. Boo hoo. Well offliners it's a business decision isn't it.'

Well Mr Titus it's a business decision to put the flags back up.

Suck it in son, it's hanging over your belt. Not so nice when the boot is on the other foot is it.

(Amused)

now that was uncalled for.

Neither did i purchase any "limited" paintjob, nor did i beat on the ones that wanted the offline mode (would like it myself).
Still i think this is a bad way to sell "limited" things ever again.

I know you targeted Titus, but with him everyone that thinks this is a bad move.

 

[Arindor]

Just bought the Cobra nest paint pack for GBP£0.00! I must admit, if I'd had already spent money on skins and had seen that FD had reduced them, then I, too, would be extremely unhappy.

I'm not a fan of MTs and didn't feel the need buying cosmetics (besides, you can't appreciate them anyway and paying nothing doesn't count of course ), but I seriously feel for those who are somewhat aggrieved by this.

 

[Zorro]

You are misreading, adding your meaning, to an advertisement. A 'limited time offer' does <=> 'one time offer'. The assumption of 'limited time' to 'limited quantities/increased collectability through scarcity' is a consumer misunderstanding of the marketing offer. Caveat Emptor. Understand the nature of the sale and offer. Some consider this shady practice. I consider this marketing an item. They never promised, explicitly or implicitly, exclusivity of a good to those that 'buy right now'. If they did, then the statement should say, 'available as a limited, one time offer'. Assuming that 'a limited time offer' is the same is the consumers misunderstanding.

Sophistry.

 

[euclydian]

Just bought the Cobra nest paint pack for GBP£0.00! I must admit, if I'd had already spent money on skins and had seen that FD had reduced them, then I, too, would be extremely unhappy.

I'm not a fan of MTs and didn't feel the need buying cosmetics (besides, you can't appreciate them anyway and paying nothing doesn't count of course ), but I seriously feel for those who are somewhat aggrieved by this.

I don't even mind the reducing of prices on some skins, that happens all the time as things get older. Selling things as 'limited time only' and then reintroducing them is dodgy though in my opinion.

 

[Titus Balls]

And you sir are an arrogant little so and so that thinks a bit too bloody high of himself. Get off that high horse before you get pushed off. People here think the sun shines out of your aft end. I see right through you like a sheet of glass. Nasty and arrogant. That's all the time I'm going to waste on the subject.

If you have a personal problem with me, feel free to message me out of the public forums - it's not for here.

I'm not aware of personally insulting you - and I think you'll agree "both sides" got rather heated during the debate.

 

[Unfluffydave]

I don't always agree with Titus (besides bashing our heads in in space).

But i'm completely with him on this one.
If something is advertised as "limited" in regards of availability, be it in numbers or time, it CAN'T be offered later on...especially not with a "special offer".

Really? My local shop has special offers on my favourite drink (Jim Beam Red Stag) every so often. For a Limited Time the price is reduced, then goes back up to full price then might come down again. That is exactly what you are talking about, for that limited time it is available at a reduced price while stocks last and is perfectly legal to be offered in this way.

I have to find these sorts of threads amusing, have some people go so little to do with their time that they have to over analyze every comma, word and paragraph in the newsletter? For smegs sake if the whole thing around the skins is confusing enough for someone to ask about the definition of the word limited then just don't buy it.

 

[Tim Wheatley]

I've seen this use of limited a few times. If they take it out of the store again in a few days, it was limited availability - again.

 

[tucker]

C) They have devalued just a little bit more what it meant to be an Alpha and Beta backer of this game

Yes, this is how I feel, Spot on, and we are the ones that have put the most into this game...

I mean, continuing this logic, shouldn't backers be peeved that other people are getting the game for cheaper now?

No, Not at all, but I do hope to have a little reward, even if it is to buy early made skins that would not be offer to the rest of the retail consumers.

Now, some time later, Frontier is offering it again to attract more customers. This isn't hurting anyone, or damaging some held value that you could liquidate, therefore what are we protecting?

If you had just been upfront guys - just said something like:

"As part of our upcoming release, we have taken the decision to re-release the Viper Flag Skins again for another LIMITED TIME AT THE SAME PRICE" then that would have been fine.

But they are no longer limited, or the same price. They are just devalued bits of crap now.

Couldn't put it better myself, thank you..