I think group buys should be done a slightly different way.
If you stated that "I will buy the package if it hits some minimum amount." Then put in your credit card for that amount (as long as the amount was one of the listed ranges) then you could easily assess the number of people willing to jump in at any specific point. If it goes less, then they get a refund or their card is charged only the minium and the difference up to their stated amount if thats the amount thats hit.
That way, you'd hit the max number within a day or two on these things and thered be no painful waiting. Then the rest of the people who didn't even want to risk the minimum will have some time to hum and haw and likely jump in anyways.
I've already got the grand c7 in this current group buy, so i'd definitely be willing to buy at some of the lower categories, but not the higher ones. I'd imagine a lot of people have that premium piano now because it was a group buy a while ago, was then offered as a freebie when you buy 2 refills and now with this group buy package - so the incentive of the piano isn't that much incentive for me, or possibly others who already have it.
Just a thought. Anyone care to comment?
steve
Group Buys
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- KVRist
- 233 posts since 10 Aug, 2004
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- KVRAF
- 5257 posts since 16 May, 2002 from Brisbane , Australia
Sounds good, not sure of the logistics.
Intel Core i7 8700K, 16gb, Windows 10 Pro, Focusrite Scarlet 6i6
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- KVRian
- 1157 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Good old Germany
nice idea. One could "order" I'll pay the $79 maximum if we get enough people, that might really spee up the process, on the other hand if 250 people signed up for $59 and nothing else, noone would get anything, nothing would be sold.
I think the way to go is: Put some personal evaluation and trust on the road and jump in, if you believe that enough people will join.
tele
I think the way to go is: Put some personal evaluation and trust on the road and jump in, if you believe that enough people will join.
tele
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 233 posts since 10 Aug, 2004
Well, the thing is, if i've expressed interest that the item isnt worth more than 59, or 69 or whatever, then at least i've had the opportunity to chime in early. Otherwise, i'd sit here and watch it until it hit my price of interest. So even in the 250 case, you've got 250 people who weren't willing to spend more than 59 bux. And no more people willing to jump in at all. So then at least you get a feel for how many are out there and what they're willing to pay. I think you'd get a lot of people that would go for a little bit higher than the bottom (i'd probably go in at 79 for example, cause at that point i'm betting many people would go in and i'm not willing to buy it for more). But if more do go in, then I'll be able to take advantage of a price lower than the max i'd be willing to spend and the group buy gets an interested party joined in at a certain amount early on. As it stands, no one gets to see that i'm interested and the count doesnt go up until it hits a point that i feel comfortable joining in if it does at all.
At the end of the day, the vendor is willing to sell so many copies at such a price on a sliding scale. If they get it, they get it, if not, then theres always time for another on.
I just think some variation of this method would give people the ability to gauge the likelyhood of these group buys reaching a certain point. Obviously in the current method, the risk is on the early entrants although, the prices usually start out pretty good anyways.
steve
At the end of the day, the vendor is willing to sell so many copies at such a price on a sliding scale. If they get it, they get it, if not, then theres always time for another on.
I just think some variation of this method would give people the ability to gauge the likelyhood of these group buys reaching a certain point. Obviously in the current method, the risk is on the early entrants although, the prices usually start out pretty good anyways.
steve
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- KVRian
- 1157 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Good old Germany
We got your point - and who knows, maybe someone is going to do that in the future?
tele
tele
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- KVRist
- 222 posts since 3 Mar, 2004 from Austin, Texas
That's an interesting idea. I suppose one possible downside is a situation where nearly everybody signs up for the lowest possible price, but that number ends up being not quite high enough to get there, so there ends up being no discount at all, and few if any copies sold as a result of the group buy.
For example, say the discount tiers occur at 50, 100, 150 and 200. Suppose 160 people sign up for the 200 tier discount amount, but with only a handful of people signing up for the other tiers, and not in large enough numbers to obtain any of the discount levels. In such a scenario, the vendor would only end up selling a few copies to those willing to sign up at the highest price.
Other than that possibility, I think it's a good idea. Maybe there would be a way to tweak the idea to avoid such a problem.
Any ideas?
For example, say the discount tiers occur at 50, 100, 150 and 200. Suppose 160 people sign up for the 200 tier discount amount, but with only a handful of people signing up for the other tiers, and not in large enough numbers to obtain any of the discount levels. In such a scenario, the vendor would only end up selling a few copies to those willing to sign up at the highest price.
Other than that possibility, I think it's a good idea. Maybe there would be a way to tweak the idea to avoid such a problem.
Any ideas?
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- KVRist
- 194 posts since 11 Apr, 2001 from Burbank, CA
This would be great for the customer, but it may not be so good for the developer. By doing a Group Buy both us customers and developers are taking a gamble. So I don't think developers will change the way they do group buys, but I definitelly do support the idea.
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- KVRian
- 1157 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Good old Germany
Tweak? Hmmm. Maybe something like this?
One could not let the people choose the lowest options.
In this case we got prices from $109 to $ 59
So SR could give options for I'm gonna take it for
a) 0 - 49 = $109
b) 50 - 99 = $99
c) 100 - 149 = $89
Also, for this game, SR could think about encouraging the joins by putting the first numbers down like this, so that the first drops in price come earlyer. That might speed up the start.
a) 0 - 25 = $109
b) 26 - 70 = $99
c) 71 - 149 = $89
It's a little extra risk for the vedor though and may not result in reaching the 300+ either.
That'll really be a pain for the customer as well, cause he will have a time of fear that he might not get the product.
One other tweak is to allow the customer to change his opinion and join a more expensive category. Like take a look 2 days before the end and see that it's down to $79 but not more and change one's bid from $59 to $79 to get it done.
tele
One could not let the people choose the lowest options.
In this case we got prices from $109 to $ 59
So SR could give options for I'm gonna take it for
a) 0 - 49 = $109
b) 50 - 99 = $99
c) 100 - 149 = $89
Also, for this game, SR could think about encouraging the joins by putting the first numbers down like this, so that the first drops in price come earlyer. That might speed up the start.
a) 0 - 25 = $109
b) 26 - 70 = $99
c) 71 - 149 = $89
It's a little extra risk for the vedor though and may not result in reaching the 300+ either.
That'll really be a pain for the customer as well, cause he will have a time of fear that he might not get the product.
One other tweak is to allow the customer to change his opinion and join a more expensive category. Like take a look 2 days before the end and see that it's down to $79 but not more and change one's bid from $59 to $79 to get it done.
tele
Last edited by telebunke on Wed Aug 17, 2005 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 233 posts since 10 Aug, 2004
Ya, i realize its not perfect. I just think the current process is missing this one aspect: I know i'm willing to jump in at a certain price. I don't know if you are. If i knew you were and we both agreed to both jump in or not, then you wouldnt get the people not jumping in cause they're not willing to risk. If the fact that 10 people sit ont he sidelines because they're willing to jump in at a price yet not knowing that others are so they just dont jump at all, then thats 10 sales that just dont happen. I think a benefit of this current suggestion is that it gets that ball rolling very very quickly as opposed to people sitting on the sidelines.
Look at the GPO group buy for example. It hit bottom price in no time and then people just kept climing on board in huge numbers because they were willing to. In the current SR group buy, i know i'd jump in at 79, and would definitely appreciate the benefit of having more buyers drop that even further to 59. I'm not willing to jump at 109 because i already have the piano so no one gets the benefit of knowing i'm willing ot jump at a certain level. And at the end of the day, i think its the quantity sales that matter on these things, its not like people knowing that i'm willing to jump in at 79 is detrimental to anyone and in fact might sway others to state the same.
I absolutely love these group buy - i've bought far too much stuff this summer because of these and great discounts. Each person has to assess the value of something though and wouldnt it be nice to have a little insight as to what others are thinking if what they're thinking might help push you over the edge.
steve
Look at the GPO group buy for example. It hit bottom price in no time and then people just kept climing on board in huge numbers because they were willing to. In the current SR group buy, i know i'd jump in at 79, and would definitely appreciate the benefit of having more buyers drop that even further to 59. I'm not willing to jump at 109 because i already have the piano so no one gets the benefit of knowing i'm willing ot jump at a certain level. And at the end of the day, i think its the quantity sales that matter on these things, its not like people knowing that i'm willing to jump in at 79 is detrimental to anyone and in fact might sway others to state the same.
I absolutely love these group buy - i've bought far too much stuff this summer because of these and great discounts. Each person has to assess the value of something though and wouldnt it be nice to have a little insight as to what others are thinking if what they're thinking might help push you over the edge.
steve
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- KVRian
- 1157 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Good old Germany
Looks like lots of people were yearning fot an orchestra way below $200. One of the advantages of the GPO group buy was that it was just one product.sghoughton wrote:Look at the GPO group buy for example. It hit bottom price in no time and then people just kept climing on board in huge numbers because they were willing to.
steve
This one is 4 products and therefor is not very interersting for those that have some of the CDs already. This reduces the number of potential sign-ups.
This also may have been the key to the SS1 group buy success.
tele
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- KVRian
- 1157 posts since 1 Apr, 2003 from Good old Germany
That should save the issue, you can just join and if the price doesn't come down to what you need it to be you can quit.Squids wrote:Go to www.esoundz.com and join! It doesn't even cost anything to join, no deposit like other group buys. You CAN cancel if you change your mind... but why would you? This bundle rocks!
tele
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