Plug-in (mostly FX) prices: lost in a devalued world

[cocoazenith]

This topic has probably been talked about in the past but I just want to express
my frustration towards the constant huge price cuts but all the same ridiculous
full prices for plug-ins. And I'm talking about processor plug-ins mainly, although
it applies to a lot of instrument plug-ins also.

I'm the type of person that believes in the saying: "What you give is what you get".
In the past a premium price usually was equal to a premium product. Call me a price
snob, but this is still true for a lot of things out there.

So here's the deal. I want to buy a plug-in. I see it's original price is very high. Yet
products with high prices suddenly get discounted by 60%-%70 margins in a cyclical
manner. (each products has it's turn - but the high price vs. huge reduction remains).

How can I guide myself now using prices if prices are so volatile?
What is the real value of a plug-in? It's clear to me now that most software companies
earn their money from the constant 365 day cyclical sale.

Is this ethical? I would just love if everybody who plays this game to just drop their prices
so that I can get a grip on what's REAL, that's all...

What is real? I know for a fact that u-He products do seem real.

Cheers!

[recursive one]

Some top-priced plugins are nothing special. Some cheap or free plugins are of awesome quality. Price set by a developer is definied by his expectations of what people would pay for this kind of product and it is hardly a measure of quality. Some of them originally have their expectations too high and then they have to readjust their prices (which is essentially what sales are).

The only real value of a plugin is how it is useful for you.

[GaryG]

I would just love if everybody who plays this game to just drop their prices so that I can get a grip on what's REAL, that's all...

Would be simpler for sure.

That's why I admire ValhallaDSP, fifty bucks, no messing, no sales.

[ere2learn]

How can I guide myself now using prices if prices are so volatile?

You should check out audiofanzine,they have a price checker on there listed products,its not all products unfortunately

I look at it this way,if you need it now you pay the asking price or if you don't need it now you'll always get a better price later

[Googly Smythe]

How can I guide myself now using prices if prices are so volatile?
Cheers!

You visit KVR and ask - simples!

[chaosWyrM]

What is the real value of a plug-in?

zero.

you cant judge the quality of software based on price...its nonsense. one thing has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

these arent real things and they have no value whatsoever beyond what people are willing to pay for them. software isnt a commodity (nor is it comprised of any commodities), it is intrinsically worthless. you cant point to a component of software and say "oh thats quality right there...that surely makes it worth more".

no. software is completely without value beyond what we assign to it. the worst software and the best could easily be priced the same with no real reasoning behind it. its not like an item made with higher quality materials which obviously justifies a higher price over a similar item with lower quality materials.

ill stop here before we bleed into the realm of drms and eulas and any number of other ridiculous entirely manufactured concepts about the "worth" of software and people start getting their panties all in a bunch.

[Robmobius]

I'm the type of person that believes in the saying: "What you give is what you get".
In the past a premium price usually was equal to a premium product. Call me a price
snob, but this is still true for a lot of things out there.

This is not all that applicable in music software imo. For every overpriced product, there are two or three replacements that can do the job (virtually) as well. Expensive plugin companies, tend to rely on 'you get what you pay for' mentality. I never listen to the marketing and judge a plugin by its performance.

The other aspect of the high price model, as you mentioned, that you can simply wait, and then grab it for a lot less a year later. That's what patience ans sales are for.

[chk071]

Whenever i read "ethical" in a trhead about business practices, i gotta rub my eyes, and wonder why people confuse companies with charity organisations. Also regarding the question of "What is the real value of a plugin": As much as the customer is willing to pay for it. I could sell used toilet papers for ten thousands, if i was a star, and some people would surely buy it. Maybe even frame it, and showcase it in their living room. Really, we're living in a free enterprise economy, not in a socialist one, where everything has its set price, and noone will take more or less. Embrace it, instead of appraoching it with weird perceptions and beliefs. And if you believe that something is too expensive, please, don't even think of buying it anyway. Because that's how economy works. If the price is too high, and people don't think it's justified, then it won't be sold, thus the price will be lowered. That's how it's done. But if you think it is too expensive, but you still want it, then buy it. Even that is allowed. In the end, it all bows down to self-responsibility.

[cocoazenith]

I'm the type of person that believes in the saying: "What you give is what you get".
In the past a premium price usually was equal to a premium product. Call me a price
snob, but this is still true for a lot of things out there.

This is not all that applicable in music software imo. For every overpriced product, there are two or three replacements that can do the job (virtually) as well. Expensive plugin companies, tend to rely on 'you get what you pay for' mentality. I never listen to the marketing and judge a plugin by its performance.

The other aspect of the high price model, as you mentioned, that you can simply wait, and then grab it for a lot less a year later. That's what patience ans sales are for.

Sadly I do not have the expertise, the objectivity or the time to test too and choose between so many products.

Of course waiting for a sale is a good ideea but in this oversaturated market there is a sale everyday from a different company for an overpriced plugin that promises the world on a plate.

[cocoazenith]

Whenever i read "ethical" in a trhead about business practices, i gotta rub my eyes, and wonder why people confuse companies with charity organisations. Also regarding the question of "What is the real value of a plugin": As much as the customer is willing to pay for it. I could sell used toilet papers for ten thousands, if i was a star, and some people would surely buy it. Maybe even frame it, and showcase it in their living room. Really, we're living in a free enterprise economy, not in a socialist one, where everything has its set price, and noone will take more or less. Embrace it, instead of appraoching it with weird perceptions and beliefs. And if you believe that something is too expensive, please, don't even think of buying it anyway. Because that's how economy works. If the price is too high, and people don't think it's justified, then it won't be sold, thus the price will be lowered. That's how it's done. But if you think it is too expensive, but you still want it, then buy it. Even that is allowed. In the end, it all bows down to self-responsibility.

No doubt about the free enterprise economy, but why doesn't this happen to hardware?
The discussion concerning and infinitely replicable product in a free market is still a hot topic regardless
of how many employees or rents the software company has to pay. BTW marketing is key but a product
reduced from $300 to $49 is a sales solution but a marketing mistake.

Just look at the Marketplace forum - people are trading Komplete 9 for Kontakt 5. I for one have not heard of such trade-offs in the physical or real world, so the nature of the products must come into play.

[chk071]

Hardware is sometimes manufactured as self-price cost or lower too. Either to advertise for other products, or to generate sales, and generate general interest in the company i guess. Sometimes difficult to say. For example, i know that most telecommunication providers sell highspeed internet packages, and make no money with it really, because there's a lot of money to invest in the infrastructure, and the expansion of it. But new customers means potential to sell further stuff, apart from the internet package.

[Hink]

What is the real value of a plug-in?

zero.

you cant judge the quality of software based on price...its nonsense. one thing has absolutely nothing to do with the other.

these arent real things and they have no value whatsoever beyond what people are willing to pay for them. software isnt a commodity (nor is it comprised of any commodities), it is intrinsically worthless. you cant point to a component of software and say "oh thats quality right there...that surely makes it worth more".

no. software is completely without value beyond what we assign to it. the worst software and the best could easily be priced the same with no real reasoning behind it. its not like an item made with higher quality materials which obviously justifies a higher price over a similar item with lower quality materials.

ill stop here before we bleed into the realm of drms and eulas and any number of other ridiculous entirely manufactured concepts about the "worth" of software and people start getting their panties all in a bunch.

what if someone were to replace every time you said said software with music or song?

[foosnark]

The secret is that money is a totally made-up thing. Prices and fees and wages and interest rates and exchange rates and all of it are just completely artificial, even though it has more importance to us on a daily basis that almost everything that is actually real.

Sorry to break it to you.

[xoxos]

posts by foosnark, recursive one and chk071.

there is a sucker born every minute, but i do not mean "minute" like 60 seconds, i mean "minute" like "very small" meaning the teesny weensy attention span of the desirous consumer.

remember, free software is crap, you needa pay money for teh qualitiez, so you can be virtuous citizen. freeware is the destruction of the good world, nobody ever tried to be a communist to help people. pay your taxes! and eat your beans with every meal.

but never, ever think for yourself, and never ever think that, even some really "big, respectable agencies" might have less respect for you than roadkill.

in the words of william s. burroughs singing "falling in love again", "would i love these people?"

so many good people throw their lives away to stem the tide of culturally instituted predation, and there are new people like you, who come along, trusting what they are told to trust.

[Robmobius]

I'm the type of person that believes in the saying: "What you give is what you get".
In the past a premium price usually was equal to a premium product. Call me a price
snob, but this is still true for a lot of things out there.

This is not all that applicable in music software imo. For every overpriced product, there are two or three replacements that can do the job (virtually) as well. Expensive plugin companies, tend to rely on 'you get what you pay for' mentality. I never listen to the marketing and judge a plugin by its performance.

The other aspect of the high price model, as you mentioned, that you can simply wait, and then grab it for a lot less a year later. That's what patience ans sales are for.

Sadly I do not have the expertise, the objectivity or the time to test too and choose between so many products.

Of course waiting for a sale is a good ideea but in this oversaturated market there is a sale everyday from a different company for an overpriced plugin that promises the world on a plate.

I'm not really sure how to answer this tbh...

As a rule of thumb, companies that charge, really big bucks for their 'new and magical releases' should be avoided and treated with skepticism (imo). Because most of the middle tier (price wise) companies are very high quality and some every bit as good as the so called 'magical' ones. Again, don't equate $$$$ to quality.

You mentioned U-he, these guys are a great example. Great great products, great service and decent prices (imo). Not to mention a very tidy price reduction for buying a product when it's has been released in Beta. And you know you won't be buying Diva for a fiver in a jumble sale a year down the line.

Fabfilter - not the cheapest but great stuff (well worth the investment). As another example.