POLL: The Pre-Order

[Alan Lastufka]

What are your thoughts on pre-orders?

Given that the preorder price is a generous discount for those willing to participate (say 25%-35% off) and there is detailed information and demos posted showcasing aspects of the library. Also guarenteeing your orders to go out the second they've arrived to us form the duplication plant.

Are preorders a good idea, or should product announcements be held until they are ready to ship?

[jeffn1]

Personally, I think pre-order discounts put the buyer in too difficult a position. They cut down the ability to make an informed decision to virtually nil. At least give some time after the release for a discount, preferably with some demos.

Just my $.02 for what its worth.

jeffn1

[jc5]

What are your thoughts on pre-orders?

Given that the preorder price is a generous discount for those willing to participate (say 25%-35% off) and there is detailed information and demos posted showcasing aspects of the library. Also guarenteeing your orders to go out the second they've arrived to us form the duplication plant.

Are preorders a good idea, or should product announcements be held until they are ready to ship?

If the information were detailed and the demos thorough, I see no problem with pre-orders. However, the reality is almost always that information is minimal and demos non-existant. Now that is something I simply cannot abide. 'Faith' purchases simply do not compute. ;)

[scarr]

As someone who's participated in a number of preorders before, I think they're great under the circumstances you describe. While the delays in actual release dates that might result can be frustrating, I prefer to know what products are going to be available in the future so that I have more options to choose from. Getting in line early with a discount isn't bad either. :D

Just don't do what Line 6 has done and announce a product shipping in three months and then be quiet for the next year while you actually complete it. :eek: That'll drive people bonkers!

[Alan Lastufka]

So, say the manual was made available, two or three demos in different genres, where 90% of the demo was created using only the library in question and the discount ran for one week before orders shipped and a week after it had begun shipping?

[scarr]

Depending on how diverse the lib is, I'd probably want to hear more demos. One week either side isn't very long at all. I'm used to about a month's notice (or more).

I don't know how much help one week after shipping will be to anyone since that isn't really long enough to get user reaction. (I presume that is why people would want it after.) A couple weeks either side would allow for some advanced warning and give time to get (very) initial user response.

[Brian McBrearty]

No matter how much I respect the developer, I buy based on the demos and the specs, so of course they've gotta be there.

But it's extremely simple. The launch dates slide, so it amounts to a loan with a fixed return but without a fixed term. And I can't accept that, so I don't consider pre-orders.

But how about this? I'll take the 30% discount and you go ahead and charge my card and begin to get your costs covered and your risks mitigated and whatever you need to keep on developing kool new stuff. But I get an additional 5% off for every week that the launch date slips.

[Alan Lastufka]

Brian,

I understand your concerns with that. Almost every developer I know does pre-orders. Its not that a library might not yet be finished (though it is in some cases), but in other cases *ahem* ;) the library is already finished minus duplication and advertising and pre-orders are a great way to spread the word about a new library and offer a chance for customers to get it at a discounted price while we go thru the steps of duplication and shrink wrapping etc.

I was just curious seeing so many developers do pre-orders and some are very successful and sometimes I hear from customers saying they just wish everyone would wait til its shipping to begin announcing and selling.

[Alan Lastufka]

Thanks everyone for your replies so far. I'd love to hear form others too.

[Journeyman]

There are monetary concerns too. It also depends on how much of a discount is offered, and how far in advance of shipping we are talking about. For instance, there are a lot of people who've pre-ordered a certain "pro"-upgrade to a particular library (wink-wink). Given the amount of money that they shelled out for the pre-order (over $1000), I think that they're having to wait an awful long time. But maybe that's just me. That also means that you've REALLY got to trust that the developer is going to come through on his promise; not only that he'll deliver, but that he'll deliver the anticipated quality.

On the other hand, I wouldn't mind saving some money on a pre-order if it was a $300-$500 purchase.

Just my 2 cents...

[Alan Russell]

Just my two cents,

I truly feel that todays sound developer should work quickly with Volume Sales. (Allow for more slack here) It's more attractive and the profit margins can be made up as long as the samples are top notch. An item that opens at $399 as a drum sample and has a bottom of $149 can easily grab huge sales in volume @$200 IMHO.. It's all about moving your product instead of waiting for fewer buyers at the higher (slightly discounted) or opening price.


Alan Russell

[Bela D Media]

Hi Alan R,

I believe we have achieved that with LD1. When one considers the sound being showcased via the product demos, it is a great low cost solution.

I agree with you 100% and I hope you agree with me ;)

[chmara]

My opinion only - pre-orders can turn into vaporware quickly. In one case a pre-ordered delayed release led to offers of discounts and packages I could not afford because I tied money up in the pre-orders.

I have always been of the opinion, too, that previous and loyal customers should have a first shot at any discounted prices of new product -- and be protected from seeing pre-orders from strangers getting the same deal.

But as a businessman -- I can see pre-orders helping with cash flow on some products when development $$$ are slim.

[JonFairhurst]

Pre-orders are okay, but I think it's best if any discounts offered continue for a month or so after the demos are out and the product is released.

The problem is that the consumer reads the pre-order price, and that kinda sets the value of the lib in the consumer's mind. Then, when the consumer has heard the demos and decides to buy, the price is higher. As a consumer you start thinking about waiting for some future discount down to or below the first price you heard.

Keep in mind I'm a hobbyist, and the oldest of my three kids will start spending my money on his college education next year. That makes me *really* price and value conscious.

Another thing to avoid with pre-order pricing is when the release of libs for different platforms is staggered. Buy the upcoming Kontakt version for a discount today! (But if you want the Giga version, you pay full price.) In that case the developer again sets the value of the lib at the lower price, yet the Giga customers would pay more. (Substitute or swap sampler names for other, similar scenarios.) In this case the people buying the later release have had the benefit of hearing the demos and opinions, while the first release customers didn't get the same chance.

It would be better to say, "To celebrate our new Halion release, we are offering a $50 discount on the library for all platforms until the end of the month."

We live in a world where prices on technology drop over time. The pre-release discount is the reverse. It can work against expectations.

-JF

[Marcussen]

Generaly its fine I would say... But the EWQLSC demos for instance are long over due. For me its no problem - I trust it will be good - but when you start having pre-orders, demos should follow pretty fast imho.

Then there is VSL - I would buy just about anything from them, based off a description :D