Dear Lanzer

[LaneyRae]

Doskito Dorito

Saffrons_Curse

Doskito Dorito

I just want you to imagine those business practices used by a site that needs money, to get money.
In an environment where they cared about the users, but still tried to give them the best perceived deals possible.

Currently people who did spend, don't want to.
I'm not saying lanzer is ruining anything, I'm not saying that the previous CEOs did anything good.
I'm just saying, that if they made money with it, it could be good in the right hands. Just because they were "evil" doesn't mean their methods were shitty.

The "right ******** thing" is an entirely subjective concept.
Making spending unattractive doesn't seem like the right thing when you need money.

Just my opinion though.

I can see that point, but I think that maybe those methods were already at their breaking point given that anything less than, what was it, like 60 or 80% off didn't seem like a good deal any more? Doesn't sound like a sustainable business practice by any stretch. Sounds to me like CEO and COO were draining the last dregs of the well before ditching, which they have a history of doing [or at least Goldemort does], leaving the site to die.
I'm not confident that Gaia has enough users left for Lanzer and co to keep Gaia going at those grave-digging "discounts." That looked more like Goldemort and ******** "WE'RE CLOSING, EVERYTHING IS INSANELY DISCOUNTED" parade, not any kind of business practice that could actually help them make any money to get back on their feet as a company. -shrug-

Actually, even if I don't get a great deal on it, I'm actually more interested in buying cash now than I was the whole time the previous management was in charge. Simply because I know that Lanzer and co aren't going to just pocket all of the profits and let the site rot while they fatten their wallets. They're providing a better service than the previous management did, they also have a history of doing right by the users and the enjoyment of the site.
A lot of people closed their wallets to this site because they saw right through what Goldemort was trying to do and said '******** you' in the only way they could. With Lanzer back, being active and actually doing s**t and fixing bugs and whatnot, planning updates to various aspects of the site, working to minimize the announcements, being open and frank with users.... I feel like a lot more people are going to want to spend money here again, for a lot of the same reason I want to start spending money here again. I don't need 60% off. I need to know the people in charge are going to properly run this goddamn site and that my money won't be wasted.

I'm glad you're interested, how much do you spend a month on Gaia cash, or hell, could you afford to spend a month, in lieu of the new pricing.
How much are you inclined to spend and how much do you expect to get out of it?


I would like to repeat that what they did wasn't good.
I said that already, but I dunno if you skimmed it or what.

I'm saying that there were practices that are acceptable.
Maybe you don't need a 60% off discount to spend on GC

but also maybe you aren't planning on dropping 400-800 dollars in a month.
I enjoyed seeing it go far, not always for my own benefit, but because it was entertaining to see how it stretched.

I don't anymore.
I don't plan on spending at full price, because regardless of the situation, if what I want to do with the GC isn't sustainable, or doesn't go as far, I can just do it somewhere else.


You make the mistake of thinking everyone cares about the sustainability of the website, and I don't blame you. That's a good practice, and a good moral ground.
But some of us want to spend money and have fun, and this isn't going to be the environment where our fun is equal to the money spent.

I'm not saying that we should jump to the unsustainable discounts, but I wouldn't mind 25-40% off, or some sort of tier reward that's actually worth spending on.

If that makes me uppity about what lanzer is doing, then ******** I don't know.

THANK YOU.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. The fun in it was the ability to purchase the GC and spend it on the cool things that were being released (tickets and such aside, cause that's way too much money.) It was like going shopping, and not having to drain our wallet.
Sure, changes are happening to the site, but tbh its not fun watching little bugs be fixed or announcements decrease. Why would I suddenly want to pay more money for that?
It's lost its fun. Simple.

[Saffrons_Curse]

Doskito Dorito

I'm glad you're interested, how much do you spend a month on Gaia cash, or hell, could you afford to spend a month, in lieu of the new pricing.
How much are you inclined to spend and how much do you expect to get out of it?


I would like to repeat that what they did wasn't good.
I said that already, but I dunno if you skimmed it or what.

I'm saying that there were practices that are acceptable.
Maybe you don't need a 60% off discount to spend on GC

but also maybe you aren't planning on dropping 400-800 dollars in a month.
I enjoyed seeing it go far, not always for my own benefit, but because it was entertaining to see how it stretched.

I don't anymore.
I don't plan on spending at full price, because regardless of the situation, if what I want to do with the GC isn't sustainable, or doesn't go as far, I can just do it somewhere else.


You make the mistake of thinking everyone cares about the sustainability of the website, and I don't blame you. That's a good practice, and a good moral ground.
But some of us want to spend money and have fun, and this isn't going to be the environment where our fun is equal to the money spent.

I'm not saying that we should jump to the unsustainable discounts, but I wouldn't mind 25-40% off, or some sort of tier reward that's actually worth spending on.

If that makes me uppity about what lanzer is doing, then ******** I don't know.

I'm glad to be interested again.
Haven't spent anything in years, really. Can't say I've wanted to all that much with how things had been going. Been a bit more... I'll stubbornly stay with this ship until it inevitably sinks... or someone kicks the [previously] new CEO out.
And I'll admit, I'm no big ballin son of a b***h who's got $1,000s to drop here each year; I might try for something like $25-50 a month. But I'm also sure that I'm not alone in this and other people* will, like me, be more willing to chip in these little bits and those little bits, and while no, not one particular person is making a significant contribution to be able to boast about it, more people giving less money to the site is still more liable to outweigh a handful of people dishing out substantial amounts. Granted, a nice combination of both would be truly ideal.
What do I expect to get out of it? Items that I don't have to grind LK for gold to buy in the MP; maybe on occasion to sell in the MP myself.

Mmm, yeah, I tried to keep myself in check on that. XDa Guess it still seeped out anyways. My main point was, they weren't out for the safe, healthy stability of the site in the long-term... their whole everything has been about short-term gains, but you can't use the same tactics you would for the short-term that you would for the long-term. Plus, their methods came across as legally acceptable, but morally dubious, and I don't think that sits well with Lanzer and co, either - but maybe I'm wrong on that.
But I've been noticing, they actually are offering a discount of sorts [more like giving a percentage of bonus cash] for a few different tiers up to 30% bonus cash for spending $100, if you're dropping 400-800 a month on it, is 30% more so bad?
Add to that the fact that there's lots of CI's being released at 80% off, project tickets look like they're still really on sale, PLUS if they work on lowering the price of new items.... How is this much different?
It just seems less roundabout and manipulative to me.

--------------
* Btw where did I say everyone? I said that once in regards to how everyone who bought cash was actually getting screwed by a morally bankrupt piece of crap, which was true [though I'll also admit I'm grateful for the sacrifice as they've kept the site afloat, especially in these last few years], but I never said everyone cares about the sustainability of the site - but I know for damn sure that I'm very far from the only person who does, if all those signatures, posts and threads I've seen about people boycotting gcash in response to Goldemort's questionable practices mean anything. People with those sorts of messages in their signatures aren't hard to find, so it's not unreasonable to assume that there's a decent chunk of users who actually do in fact give a s**t about the sustainability of the site.
[I'll admit, there are also some users who are extremely ******** stupid and just boycott the use of gcash at all, as if simply purchasing a cash shop item would increase MP inflation or something and those people are just delusional. lol But I wouldn't count those ones as being particularly interested in the sustainability of the site either - they'd be more interested in some utopian ideal built on a rose-colored obsession with 'the good ole days' where the only cash items were the MCs from what I can tell.]

[Nymphadora Tonks Airman]

This might a bit off topic, but isn't there any legal action that can be taken again the horrible old CEO and COO for taking the money and running... Isn't that embezzlement? And you know they ran with a lot of money, so shouldn't that be a Federal Crime? Can't we go after them (in a legal manner) and get some justice for what they did?

[Reve Casse]

emotion_facepalm

[Lanzer]

Nymphadora Tonks Airman

This might a bit off topic, but isn't there any legal action that can be taken again the horrible old CEO and COO for taking the money and running... Isn't that embezzlement? And you know they ran with a lot of money, so shouldn't that be a Federal Crime? Can't we go after them (in a legal manner) and get some justice for what they did?

No there's nothing illegal with what previous management did. When one organization take over a company, the purchase do not include cash in the bank. The original investors want to recover the money that they spent, and asked a CEO to do just that. It's common practice, but not any less painful for the rest of us, and especially for the founding team who put their livelihood and years of effort hoping to build something great.

All I can say is that what is past is history. I can only spend every day now planning for the future, and I'm happy that there are so many Gaians I can share my plans with. 3nodding

[DjAngelicHentai]

it hurts my heart reading comments stating that people dont care about the stability of the site and just want "cheap fun"

[Alexius08]

lanzer

The original investors want to recover the money that they spent, and asked a CEO to do just that.

That must be why all previous companies that he took over eventually shut down. Some of us figured that out quite early, but he didn't acknowledge that role until after he left. Here's what he recently added to his LinkedIn profile:

Quote:

A successful entrepreneur and corporate executive, Mr. Schofield has led five of his six companies to successful exits resulting in over $1B in returns to his shareholders.

Guess which sixth company he's talking about, the one where his exit strategy failed? Hint: We're currently on its flagship product.

[Nymphadora Tonks Airman]

lanzer

Nymphadora Tonks Airman

This might a bit off topic, but isn't there any legal action that can be taken again the horrible old CEO and COO for taking the money and running... Isn't that embezzlement? And you know they ran with a lot of money, so shouldn't that be a Federal Crime? Can't we go after them (in a legal manner) and get some justice for what they did?

No there's nothing illegal with what previous management did. When one organization take over a company, the purchase do not include cash in the bank. The original investors want to recover the money that they spent, and asked a CEO to do just that. It's common practice, but not any less painful for the rest of us, and especially for the founding team who put their livelihood and years of effort hoping to build something great.

All I can say is that what is past is history. I can only spend every day now planning for the future, and I'm happy that there are so many Gaians I can share my plans with. 3nodding

sad that's so messed up, I'm sorry about all this Lanzer. I'm thrilled your back in the pilot's seat, but I'm sorry for the circumstances that made it so. You have one more loyal Gaia supporter, who has been here in (almost) the begging, and I'm not going anywhere any time soon wink

[AurinJade]

DjAngelicHentai

it hurts my heart reading comments stating that people dont care about the stability of the site and just want "cheap fun"

I wonder if it's a difference of new user versus old. The users who have been around for more than a handful of years remember the site before the Goldemort debacle, and so know how much more it has to offer, while newer users only see it as a glorified dress-up site because that's all it's been for them. Seeing it from their perspective, I understand how these changes would make Gaia less appealing. They are essentually losing the site they know (quick-fix cash grabs and emphasis on dress-up as the main source of entertainment), while we are getting the one we know back (a variety of reliable features that create community-oriented mini-fandoms).

Because the site does rely so much on cash users, I hope they find a decent balance going forward to keep the appeal to them without sacrificing large chunks of the site like the last administration. Going back to the previous model is unsustainable. We all knew that immediately after the last takeover. I just hope that the people who decide now to invest in cash outweighs the number of people who are going to stop. I think it's inevitable that we will lose some users to the new regime to "loss of fun" reasons, but maybe that addiction will keep them straggling on while Gaia rebuilds and figures out sustainability.

Personally, I'm ecstatic that bugs are being fixed and features looked at and prioritized for revamping. This site holds stupid amounts of nostalgia for me. And the transparency going forward from Lanzer has been stupendous. I'm so grateful for the hard work he and his team has put in so far. (Anybody else notice that he made a staff notice at nearly 1am last night? Please do sleep sometimes, Lanzer!)

[Night born of Raine]

Personally with no sales I feel like Gaia will be making less money then with them ( I mean the old management made enough money to pay the bills and run off with some at 60% off). Personally I haven't needed to restock my GC yet since the 35 % sale. And I would have had restocked about 3 times already with sales. But I think more about what I buy with my GC when I pay more. I can think of at least 3 things I would've gotten (the independsea bundle, the BE of the exorciblings tailor ticket recolor, and the LQI yesterday) That's not to say I wouldn't have gotten other things too it's just those all take more then 1000 gc which means I would've well exhausted the 4000 gc I had stocked up getting those things and the stuff I have purchased.


I would've bought that would have drained my GC enough to have to restock had there been a discount of some sort. The psychology of sales in play. That's why I think the people coming in saying well "Gaia has to make money" doesn't understand what they are talking about. Yeah they do and I want them to make money that's why I'm asking for them to put discount because I would gladly spend more if I felt I was getting more for it.

It's coming up to income tax season and I get a profit sharing check this month, and for the first time I actually am contemplating NOT spending it here (the first time in YEARS I GOT A TICKET and a few STUBS for GC, LAST YEAR at this time). Since obviously Gaia thinks they need to hike up the GC price without any other payoff (and I am not buying RIGS so the 80% off on items that'll give me 20 of the same BS item isn't a sale to me) is kind of insulting. Especially since they are driving more paying people off.

I have not asked ever for them to do the 60% just something shaved off would be nice. There is not a store in my neck of the woods who isn't running a sale right now (except Gaia).

[DjAngelicHentai]

AurinJade

DjAngelicHentai

it hurts my heart reading comments stating that people dont care about the stability of the site and just want "cheap fun"

I wonder if it's a difference of new user versus old. The users who have been around for more than a handful of years remember the site before the Goldemort debacle, and so know how much more it has to offer, while newer users only see it as a glorified dress-up site because that's all it's been for them. Seeing it from their perspective, I understand how these changes would make Gaia less appealing. They are essentually losing the site they know (quick-fix cash grabs and emphasis on dress-up as the main source of entertainment), while we are getting the one we know back (a variety of reliable features that create community-oriented mini-fandoms).

Because the site does rely so much on cash users, I hope they find a decent balance going forward to keep the appeal to them without sacrificing large chunks of the site like the last administration. Going back to the previous model is unsustainable. We all knew that immediately after the last takeover. I just hope that the people who decide now to invest in cash outweighs the number of people who are going to stop. I think it's inevitable that we will lose some users to the new regime to "loss of fun" reasons, but maybe that addiction will keep them straggling on while Gaia rebuilds and figures out sustainability.

Personally, I'm ecstatic that bugs are being fixed and features looked at and prioritized for revamping. This site holds stupid amounts of nostalgia for me. And the transparency going forward from Lanzer has been stupendous. I'm so grateful for the hard work he and his team has put in so far. (Anybody else notice that he made a staff notice at nearly 1am last night? Please do sleep sometimes, Lanzer!)

yea. i joined in 2007. i rmemeber spending 25 dollars on two pico urns and a cascoon. lol. and looking forward all week the EI Report. since then i just look at all the announcements and think, i cant keep up with the site anymore. (also, the items have looked horrible as of late, i assume it was the giant workload on artists)

[Dota-chan]

Y'all talking about wanting sales back and stuff but....you do know they weren't sales, right? It's similar with some developers with their games on Steam. During sales, they hike up the base price of their games to make it look like people are getting a good sale when it's still pretty much the same originally.


Hiked up prices on purpose so that when there were sales, it make it look like you were actually getting money's worth when in actuality they were still getting the base expense of what it cost and then a "little extra" when it was bought not on a supposed sale.


This is how it goes. Goldemort had you all along. emotion_facepalm

[Night born of Raine]

Dota-chan

Y'all talking about wanting sales back and stuff but....you do know they weren't sales, right? It's similar with some developers with their games on Steam. During sales, they hike up the base price of their games to make it look like people are getting a good sale when it's still pretty much the same originally.


Hiked up prices on purpose so that when there were sales, it make it look like you were actually getting money's worth when in actuality they were still getting the base expense of what it cost and then a "little extra" when it was bought not on a supposed sale.


This is how it goes. Goldemort had you all along. emotion_facepalm

None of the prices on lqis or anything in the cash shop have gone down since the sales have ended. User bundles have always been 12- 15 bucks LQIs ranged 7-10 and BE bundles are always 14- 20 and recolors were 3- 7. None of those prices have changed but the cost of GC has so who's been had?

[DjAngelicHentai]

Wren_Fritsche

Dota-chan

Y'all talking about wanting sales back and stuff but....you do know they weren't sales, right? It's similar with some developers with their games on Steam. During sales, they hike up the base price of their games to make it look like people are getting a good sale when it's still pretty much the same originally.


Hiked up prices on purpose so that when there were sales, it make it look like you were actually getting money's worth when in actuality they were still getting the base expense of what it cost and then a "little extra" when it was bought not on a supposed sale.


This is how it goes. Goldemort had you all along. emotion_facepalm

None of the prices on lqis or anything in the cash shop have gone down since the sales have ended. User bundles have always been 12- 15 bucks LQIs ranged 7-10 and BE bundles are always 14- 20 and recolors were 3- 7. None of those prices have changed but the cost of GC has so who's been had?

To be fair, I don't think the "new" management has had time to adjust much as of late, with fixing and maintaining a falling apart website