What is the price model?

Question

I am very hesitant to spend time learning a new software
without knowing the price model.
I checked the FAQ and it basically says FREE for now...
Any ideas?

Answer 1

Corey,
I'm a little late finding this forum.
1. Adobe have sold this CS4 on the back of a helpful
webmaster benefit (ICE), but have failed to communicate in their
literature that the service is provided at an additional cost, or
publishing the pricing up front so prospective CS4 buyers can make
a decision on the value of buying the product. They are laying
themselves open to some mis-selling accusations and can expect
demands for refunds by recent buyers.
2. When asked, they have failed to elaborate on the pricing
policy or detail or timing of its implementation
3. The range of pricing being planned as appropriate is said
to be between $120 and $240 for up to 5 domains. This translates to
a revenue to Adobe of at least $120 and up to $240 with additonal
revenue for extra domains. Nice earner if you can get it and
potentially more than the total charged for buying the CS4 upgrade
software.
4. However when viewed by a one-man webmaster with a
portfolio of 20 clients of which 3 might be willing to pay for ICE,
the economics look like:
1 Domain costs Min $120 Max $ 240 per annum
2 Domains cost Min $ 60 Max $ 120
3 Domains cost Min $ 40 Max $ 80
4 Domains cost Min $ 30 Max $ 60
5 Domains cost Min $ 24 Max $ 48
(a) He has no idea what to charge as he doesn't know how many
of his clients will (a) want it (b) pay for it (c) pay the
appropriate amount (d) how long it will take to bring them on
stream.
(b) He bears the burden of risk that he might end up paying
the full subscription but not get the clients to pay
(c) He may have a time lag in bringing on 5 clients to
maximise the value of his subscription.
6. Wouldn't it be nice if Adobe would share the risk, the
stress and the rewards with its client webmasters by having exactly
the same interests as them, and address many of the concerns raised
in recent days on this forum by setting A SINGLE PRICE PER DOMAIN
ADDED - say $30 per domain per annum
(a) The webmaster will add the service as and when he needs
it.
(b) The revenue to Adobe and cost to the webmaster is the
same. This ensures transparency and consistency across all clients.
(Transparency seems to be sorely lacking from this product/service
so far)
(c) the marginal cost and marginal revenue are the same for
all clients of Adobe and for clients of the webmasters. Those
clients will get a fair deal, rather than the early ones being
stung and the later ones getting a cheaper service.
(d) In the end the final client (the webmaster's client) will
determine the success of this product. If they like it they'll ask
their webmasters for it and recommend it to others. If they
discover they're all getting differing prices for the same service
they will not be endorsing it. Let's look after the end customer
here which will be good for Adobe and the webmasters too. Good,
simple, fair services will result in maket share, not the
ill-conceived and complex pricing model proposed in your message.
In summary folks, isn't a "Pay-as-You-Go" service fairer and
more transparent all round?
The CS4 buyers and webmaster users in this and other forums
will ultimately determine whether you make the right decision, or
whether the many alternative offerings mentioned in this form are
the most sensible option.
ClandonMan
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