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RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:12 pm
by MarcelJV
ORIGINAL: rich12545

ORIGINAL: Malagant

Damn it, Jordan, you're going to get me fired!

I did a goggle search for the Ms. Arcuri, and got a whole bunch of NSFW pics...just as my boss walked by! [:-]

LOL. Same thing happened to me just as my wife walked by. That was not fun. She made some assumptions that really weren't true. [:D]
Ms. Arcuri

OK, how come I get hits to a school teacher and not something more interesting? I am based in the US, ah there may lay the problem.

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:13 am
by Joram
LOL, didn't realize this would turn into a little firestorm.

First, to whomever posted the link to what it says you are getting. Despite the patronizing attitude, you still bring up a good point. (If you want sarcasm, read my post. It's not the best example but it's obvious I'm not insulting anyone either. :)) Anyway, it does clearly state that you are getting a backup CD and a box. But it makes no mention if that's all you are getting.

To quote one of the lines
Our Physical Shipment provides you with a printed CD with your serial number enclosed in a printed DVD case.


If that was changed to:
Our Physical Shipment only provides you with a printed CD with your serial number enclosed in a printed DVD case.

then it would be much more clear. Without that simple word, it's reasonable to imply that you would get what 99% of the other companies give you when they ship you boxed merchandise. Sure, it sounds stupid, but then again, it's stupid that McDonalds has to put "Hot" on their coffee - because some people obviously didn't think it was as common sense as you might think. That's also a bit why I said the practice is deceptive, even if not intentional.

The British transplant guy said it best, if it's clearly stated, then no one has anything to worry about.

Again I ask, what exactly are you paying $10 for? Perhaps it was lost in my sarcasm but since you are paying for shipping, does it seriously cost $10 to put a CD in a plastic box? Hey, if the CD-key was written in gold, then I could grind it down and get some of my money back! Right now, it's no more than a scam for any sucker (like myself) too lazy to burn there own CD and stick it in a 50 cent case. No, not the rapper 50 cent, the cost of the CD case! I think he'd get mad if you stuck a CD in his face!

So, back to my point, anyone who gets a bit miffed at the practice has every right to be since it's not necessarily common sense to everyone. Feel free to debate exactly what should be considered common sense, but realize if enough people are complaining about it, then it's obviously not so common as you think. That after all is the definition of common sense, right??? :)

Matrix has every right to keep doing what they want however if they were concerned about customer satisfaction and repeat customers, then they'd either make it absolutely, positively 150% clear on their website what they are giving you or better yet, provide a manual!!!

Ok, that's all I care to add to this subject. :D

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 3:34 pm
by Erik Rutins
Hi everyone,

I'm sorry to hear that some are disappointed in the game on demand copy. I want to state a few things clearly here:

1. We made the description as clear as we thought we could. Up until this release, we have not had any significant number of complaints on this. As a result of feedback here, we will make it more clear.
2. The current description does tell you exactly what you will get.
3. I have posted on this forum and on others responding to questions and stating that there is no printed manual included. Again, we realize now that we can make this _even more clear_, but it has been described this way for over a year without any problems until the CoG release.

The $10 cost for the game on demand is clearly stated and the shipping cost is shown separately, with a total, before you approve the purchase so there are no hidden charges.

We are working with DR based on both customer and developer feedback to try to accomplish three goals:

1. Improve clarity of delivery options as listed on store front page.
2. Decrease cost of international shipping.
3. Decrease cost of game on demand.

In the recent past, we've added these improvements already:

1. Decreased cost of domestic shipping.
2. Improved game on demand print quality.
3. Improved game on demand printing process to make it truly "on demand" to avoid backlogs and back-orders. This also included personalizing each CD with your serial number and order ID.

To the extent that things are possible to improve, we are trying to improve them. In some areas, we've simply hit logistical walls that have been taking a lot of time and work to over come.

Manuals are one of those walls. It's simple to print a manual - costly, but simple. The problem is integrating it into an "on demand" process such as we have now and, ideally, offering customers the option to include or not include a manual in their order at the time of purchase. We want you to be able to customize your order and pay only for what you have ordered. If you want download only, that will be the least expensive. Download + manual will be more, Download + box + manual will be the most expensive but also the full "boxed game" experience that is important to a segment of our customers. We are working to implement that and keep the costs down, but this simply has to take as long as it takes. We would really, really like to have this option for you now, but it is not possible yet.

Regards,

- Erik

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 4:17 pm
by oi_you_nutter
thanks for the detailed reply Erik




RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:01 pm
by Joram
Yes, thanks for the reply. I do think it would be in your best interest to include a "with manual" option.

As it is, you still haven't really answered what exactly you are paying the extra $10 for. Do you really think a plastic case is worth that much? Anyway, I don't really expect an answer to that but do appreciate you taking the time out to look at the issue.

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:16 am
by jnier
ORIGINAL: Joram
As it is, you still haven't really answered what exactly you are paying the extra $10 for. Do you really think a plastic case is worth that much? Anyway, I don't really expect an answer to that but do appreciate you taking the time out to look at the issue.

On the contrary, I think it's crystal clear what you get for the extra $10. You get a CD backup of the game. If you don't want a CD backup, DON'T PAY THE EXTRA $10.

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:04 am
by eMonticello
ORIGINAL: Joram
As it is, you still haven't really answered what exactly you are paying the extra $10 for. Do you really think a plastic case is worth that much? Anyway, I don't really expect an answer to that but do appreciate you taking the time out to look at the issue.
He did mention it, although not by name. You're paying for "handling". From Erik's message, it appears they use Digital River for the "handling" work. For a just-in-time, low volume product, it isn't cheap. The handling charge would include managing the inventory (requesting new boxes from the printer, burning CDs, etc.), packing, and shipping of the product.

So, it appears that when DR receives a request, they create a CD on-the-spot, place the CD in the jewel case, pack the jewel case in the retail box, pack the retail box in the shipping box, address the shipping box, and, finally, send it off to the shipping room for FedEx/UPS/Postal pick-up.

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 11:20 am
by Marc von Martial
ORIGINAL: Joram

Yes, thanks for the reply. I do think it would be in your best interest to include a "with manual" option.

As it is, you still haven't really answered what exactly you are paying the extra $10 for. Do you really think a plastic case is worth that much? Anyway, I don't really expect an answer to that but do appreciate you taking the time out to look at the issue.

If you really think it´s "only a plastic box" then you miss some pretty important other things that should be pretty clear to anybody:

10$ incl.

- high quality printed CD label
- high quality printed DVD case inserts
- handling (this is not done by robots or so, it costs working hours)
- additional order handling due to the "on demand" process, that does not occure with the download product
- stock and inventory handling
- a plastic DVD box ([:'(])

RE: really pissed (I paid for download and physical copy)

Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2005 6:47 pm
by beserko
OK all.
Since I started this pissing contest I might as well end it at least as far as I am concerned. I paid an extra $18.94 for insurance. Some people think I'm dence because I didn't read the small print . Well I'm over it.

It was meant as a vent and a warning to matrix as I want companies like this to succeed so I am willing to invest more into it. I have the Alexander and Caesar titles, reach for the stars, Battles of the Danube, Massive Assault,Shattered Galaxies etc. etc etc. I also have World at War which I had waited for for years. I actually finished Mr Grisbys Pacific War years ago but I digress.

Look at this page
http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MA ... CACHE_ID=0

then this
http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MA ... CACHE_ID=0

They are the same essentially.
You can laugh but I am one of those people who love to read manuals and World at war is one of the best lately. While others read Potter or Clancy I reread my Rome Total war manual. (OK I need a life LOL)

Now compare these 2 to this
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/244249.asp
with $1.99 super saver shipping
I also saw from a post earlier that said this version includes the manual which it did.

What do you think I did?