Yea, I think the invite system works. That's not the main issue, I think it should work as follows:
Open up sales to all:
Those with invites pay 499
Those without pay 599
Send out orders in batches of x with priority to invite only users.
For every batch sent out, cross reference the invite codes and if anyone didn't cash in an invite code, fill their place in the order (not price) to one user from the non voucher orders.
This way for example, I could place my order now with fanatec (as a new customer who wants a product to use not to sell) with an expected delivery date of jan 2015 but with the potential to be selected as a "filler" for anyone who didn't use their code and take their place in the queue (but still paying full price).
The only reason I bring this up with fanatec is last year I tried to buy a wheel from them, there Is a x post of this elsewhere. It wasn't a pleasent experience. The emails I had with customer service were really bad. They refused to answer simple questions re: warranty, product specs, compatability, deleivery, returns etc and become really rather rude, I just wanted to ensure I bought the correct products as £2000 is a big deal to me, particularly for a games accessory package.
I complained to fanatec and nothing was done. I therefore did not buy/spend my £2000 with them as I was not confident in dealing with them, particularly with all the horror stories online, and instead invested my money in a new camera (70D plus a few L lenses etc).
I had many conversations with friends online and afk and I never really heard anyone have a positive thing to say about the company or the quality control of the products including weak motors, items dead on arrival, customers having to pay to return dead on arrival items etc.
I never gave it a second thought after I bought my 70D and began saving for a new solution, such as a steam machine (or console) plus rig, whatever was best.
Now 12/18 months later I am faced with a similar situation.
Alienated by fanatec, scalpers selling their products on eBay but not allowing a genuine new customer to purchase the product? Making me wait another 3 months before I can order, therefore making me think I'll maybe upgrade my home theatre and maybe purchase a sim rig another year... Or buy from an ebayer?
But this means again fanatic lose a £2000 sale just to get a 499 euro sale to someone who is selling their product on eBay?
The invite system is good, I genuinely don't disagree with it. But I see this as another way to alienate new customers again. I think it's not doing them a great deal of justice with new potential customers as their Facebook seems full of negativity.
It's just a wheel, so it's no big deal. And since buying my 70D I have traveled to Italy, Iceland and Scotland on short trips taking photos. So thomas did me a favour in a way as I would not have have the funds to do all that if I had spend that money at the time.
But I feel that by December, I (and likely a few others) will likely walk away and buy something else I need. Therefore meaning, yes, Thomas might sell 10,000 wheels at 499 euro and some of those customers sold them on eBay for profit.. While Thomas yet again loses out on new business of bigger sales, more customers, buying more than just a wheel base, and assisting in improving the overall reputation of the company.
I know many have had a good experience with fanatic, but it can't be denied that if you google them, the overwhelming majority seem to give them a bad wrap which could be improved by demonstrating to new customers just how far you have gone to make a difference.
But what do I know, I'm not running a business, so I suppose he knows something I don't
Edit:
It's just my opinion (which is meaningless to the world and I understand that), but I just was interested in how/why Thomas came to the conclusion that this was a good idea?
It's not a hate post or flaming for an argument etc. I just wanted to understand his reasons, because I am unable to see any real positivity in this decision (genuine verified consumer or business benefit), which is possibly why I'm not in business and he is
Open up sales to all:
Those with invites pay 499
Those without pay 599
Send out orders in batches of x with priority to invite only users.
For every batch sent out, cross reference the invite codes and if anyone didn't cash in an invite code, fill their place in the order (not price) to one user from the non voucher orders.
This way for example, I could place my order now with fanatec (as a new customer who wants a product to use not to sell) with an expected delivery date of jan 2015 but with the potential to be selected as a "filler" for anyone who didn't use their code and take their place in the queue (but still paying full price).
The only reason I bring this up with fanatec is last year I tried to buy a wheel from them, there Is a x post of this elsewhere. It wasn't a pleasent experience. The emails I had with customer service were really bad. They refused to answer simple questions re: warranty, product specs, compatability, deleivery, returns etc and become really rather rude, I just wanted to ensure I bought the correct products as £2000 is a big deal to me, particularly for a games accessory package.
I complained to fanatec and nothing was done. I therefore did not buy/spend my £2000 with them as I was not confident in dealing with them, particularly with all the horror stories online, and instead invested my money in a new camera (70D plus a few L lenses etc).
I had many conversations with friends online and afk and I never really heard anyone have a positive thing to say about the company or the quality control of the products including weak motors, items dead on arrival, customers having to pay to return dead on arrival items etc.
I never gave it a second thought after I bought my 70D and began saving for a new solution, such as a steam machine (or console) plus rig, whatever was best.
Now 12/18 months later I am faced with a similar situation.
Alienated by fanatec, scalpers selling their products on eBay but not allowing a genuine new customer to purchase the product? Making me wait another 3 months before I can order, therefore making me think I'll maybe upgrade my home theatre and maybe purchase a sim rig another year... Or buy from an ebayer?
But this means again fanatic lose a £2000 sale just to get a 499 euro sale to someone who is selling their product on eBay?
The invite system is good, I genuinely don't disagree with it. But I see this as another way to alienate new customers again. I think it's not doing them a great deal of justice with new potential customers as their Facebook seems full of negativity.
It's just a wheel, so it's no big deal. And since buying my 70D I have traveled to Italy, Iceland and Scotland on short trips taking photos. So thomas did me a favour in a way as I would not have have the funds to do all that if I had spend that money at the time.
But I feel that by December, I (and likely a few others) will likely walk away and buy something else I need. Therefore meaning, yes, Thomas might sell 10,000 wheels at 499 euro and some of those customers sold them on eBay for profit.. While Thomas yet again loses out on new business of bigger sales, more customers, buying more than just a wheel base, and assisting in improving the overall reputation of the company.
I know many have had a good experience with fanatic, but it can't be denied that if you google them, the overwhelming majority seem to give them a bad wrap which could be improved by demonstrating to new customers just how far you have gone to make a difference.
But what do I know, I'm not running a business, so I suppose he knows something I don't
Edit:
It's just my opinion (which is meaningless to the world and I understand that), but I just was interested in how/why Thomas came to the conclusion that this was a good idea?
It's not a hate post or flaming for an argument etc. I just wanted to understand his reasons, because I am unable to see any real positivity in this decision (genuine verified consumer or business benefit), which is possibly why I'm not in business and he is
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