Curse

strcpy · Jan 15, 2008, 07:55 AM // 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcanemacabre

Well, alright, I can see why you and others would be upset. However: upset at the situation, not Anet. These things happen. I don't think Anet, or Gaile even, should be blamed for this situation, though I do understand the frustration and anger needs to be vented somewhere.

You posted this between when I originally quoted you and I clicked submit.

I would say that Anet *caused* the situation with not being upfront. There were quite a few places where they didn't word clearly and carefully.

In fact, in many threads saying they didn't need more slots and it was all they could purchase Anet told them oh well, that's the only option you have. True Gaile almost always used the word "promotion in there (but not always, though I'm sure we can just chalk that one up to typos and in those cases the *exact* wording doesn't count), but in *all* of those cases it was obvious what the poster was asking and *all* the answers reinforced that they had to get in on it.

I can not believe Gaile (and the rest at Anet that regularly read the forums) really though we were all just this intent on participating in the promotion that many people were willing to purchase 30 dollars worth of slots they didn't want or didn't need. If so then I propose that they (whomever they were - again for all I know Gaile has been tearing her hair out dreading the flood to come) are stupider than those of us who believed them and need to be removed from their jobs as they are the cause of the whole thing. In fact, if *that* stupid they shouldn't be put in any managerial position which they obviously are. Of course, intentional misleading would be a totally different story.

And, lastly, one will note that Anet isn't holding themselves to the letter of their words also. They said *any* activated NCSoft purchase will count when it clearly doesn't - it only counts on Anet products. While yes I would call that obvious they are playing that what is "obvious" isn't the case and we have to look at their exact wording (after all, those official press releases went through many eyes to make sure they said *exactly* what they meant).

arcanemacabre · Jan 15, 2008, 08:00 AM // 08:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by strcpy

And, lastly, one will note that Anet isn't holding themselves to the letter of their words also. They said *any* activated NCSoft purchase will count when it clearly doesn't - it only counts on Anet products. While yes I would call that obvious they are playing that what is "obvious" isn't the case and we have to look at their exact wording (after all, those official press releases went through many eyes to make sure they said *exactly* what they meant).

Totally agree on this one, actually. They need to own up (if they haven't already) and do something about this. A simple fix would be to give the BMP to anyone who did qualify with purchases to the NCSoft store, followed by a huge apology.

strcpy · Jan 15, 2008, 08:01 AM // 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcanemacabre

I do think what they are doing is par for the course, I just don't call what they are doing "misleading." Think about the Game of the Year. Were the in-game items that came with it a special bonus? I think so. Did they choose to re-release them as a separate store purchase? Why yes, yes they did.

We are back to saying I think others shouldn't have it and I'm not arguing that. The GOTY was *NEVER* remotely billed as limited time, exclusive, or *any* wording like that. It was never even implied. This is much more like releasing CE stuff (though some of it was billed as "exclusive" I note it says nowhere on any of my boxes "limited time" and only a handful of in-game things were billed as "exclusive")

Jessyi · Jan 15, 2008, 09:27 AM // 09:27

Looks like I'm days late to this whine-fest. I actually talked it over with my wife when she read the news. I was positive from the beginning that the BMP would eventually be offered for sale separately. There's a few reasons why, like people having preordered GWEN, people unwilling to spend money on char slots they don't need to get content, and of course people without credit cards. The main reason though? Why shouldn't they offer it when there's a demand for it? And of course there was going to be. Why should ANet turn down our money for a service we want and they're willing to provide? Nobody ever signed a contract with them that they wouldn't be able to release the BMP separately later. Sorry, that's just good business.

If you have a problem with that, I can think of a couple reasons why. Either you're a knob who's now unable to lord their exclusive weapons over the rest of us (in which case I have zero sympathy for you) OR you paid for char slots you didn't need to get the pack. The latter is a better reason, but it's still not a good one and here's why: you paid for the slots. That's what you paid for, not the BMP. The money you exchanged was for a service rendered: the slots, and that's it. Yes, the BMP was an incentive...that's how incentives work, but at the time you paid you agreed to the deal. ANet didn't tell you at the time they'd offer the BMP later, this is true - but this should only be a problem if you fall into the above category and you purchased the slots on the belief that it would be exclusive to you forever and nobody else could get it. Again, zero sympathy. It should have crossed your mind that ANet might make it available in the future and if it did you made a gamble. You took the sure thing, knowing you'd be able to get the BMP. We made the opposite gamble knowing we might lose out on the BMP forever. That's why it's called gambling. You win some, you lose some.

Of course this is a little different. For one, you got the BMP when people cared about it. You had your fun lording your stuff over the rest of us. The novelty's worn off now. The rest of us want a shot at the content for a fair price. What exactly is wrong with that?

tl;dr - People who think the BMP should remain exclusive: up yours. I'm right and you're not.

-Jessyi

freekedoutfish · Jan 15, 2008, 09:54 AM // 09:54

I'm really failing to see what the issue is here. Is Anet the first company is existance to change their mind about the price they use for a product and/or how you purchase it?

Do none of you ever go to the supermarket and see the constantly fluctuating prices and special offers! Do you get this annoyed when the price of carrots change?

Their a business and they simply realised the current offer was a bad idea and wasnt selling as many copies as they expected. So they decided to make it cheaper and change how you buy it.

Ok so that might go against what they publically stated about not being "do-able" or "desirable", but so what? Thing change in industry and they may have had their budget increased or their bosses decided to let them sell it easier.

I love how you all think this is a simply process, like their all sat in their office thinking "right, how can we rip them off today". Its a lot more complicated then that to do marketting and sales and PR and to decided how best to use a budget.

So they made a mistake and now their tryng to fix it... let them!

pamelf · Jan 15, 2008, 01:25 PM // 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

So they made a mistake and now their tryng to fix it... let them!

I'm certainly not seeing anyone trying to fix anything. We haven't had a statement or anything in this very long thread either for, or against those of us who are unhappy. Whether it was wrong or not is moot, but is WAS badly handled, and I'd at least like a statement to that effect. But the one time their customers seem realistically annoyed, rather than just the usual "they nerfed my favourite build" threads, Anet stay stoically silent...That certainlyd doesn't seem like "tying to fix it" to me...

Cacheelma · Jan 15, 2008, 02:25 PM // 14:25

They haven't actually been silent, actually.

If you read the very recent thread from dec - jan (with exactly the same topic + arguments + replies), you'll see that Gaile chimed in and said that it's "us" players who have mistaken the statement regarding the BMP (and actually the source of all this uproar).

In that same thread, she answered "I don't know of any plan regarding the BMP being on sale later. I'm just trying to point out that we never said it will be a one-time only thing" or something in that sense (splitting hair, as you can imagine) when asked if her whole squirms actually mean that such thing is "coming" (and look what we're about to get).

Basically they blame us for this whole thing. So, don't be surprised that you don't see them admit that they made this so-called "mistake" as the pseudo-CR freakedoutfish tried to claim (you're doing a better job, by the way, but Anet will probably fire you for this if you're working for them).

Edit: A link to the thread to prove my points: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10237061

VanDamselx · Jan 15, 2008, 02:35 PM // 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessyi

Looks like I'm days late to this whine-fest. I actually talked it over with my wife when she read the news. I was positive from the beginning that the BMP would eventually be offered for sale separately. There's a few reasons why, like people having preordered GWEN, people unwilling to spend money on char slots they don't need to get content, and of course people without credit cards. The main reason though? Why shouldn't they offer it when there's a demand for it? And of course there was going to be. Why should ANet turn down our money for a service we want and they're willing to provide? Nobody ever signed a contract with them that they wouldn't be able to release the BMP separately later. Sorry, that's just good business.

If you have a problem with that, I can think of a couple reasons why. Either you're a knob who's now unable to lord their exclusive weapons over the rest of us (in which case I have zero sympathy for you) OR you paid for char slots you didn't need to get the pack. The latter is a better reason, but it's still not a good one and here's why: you paid for the slots. That's what you paid for, not the BMP. The money you exchanged was for a service rendered: the slots, and that's it. Yes, the BMP was an incentive...that's how incentives work, but at the time you paid you agreed to the deal. ANet didn't tell you at the time they'd offer the BMP later, this is true - but this should only be a problem if you fall into the above category and you purchased the slots on the belief that it would be exclusive to you forever and nobody else could get it. Again, zero sympathy. It should have crossed your mind that ANet might make it available in the future and if it did you made a gamble. You took the sure thing, knowing you'd be able to get the BMP. We made the opposite gamble knowing we might lose out on the BMP forever. That's why it's called gambling. You win some, you lose some.

Of course this is a little different. For one, you got the BMP when people cared about it. You had your fun lording your stuff over the rest of us. The novelty's worn off now. The rest of us want a shot at the content for a fair price. What exactly is wrong with that?

tl;dr - People who think the BMP should remain exclusive: up yours. I'm right and you're not.

-Jessyi

I don't think it has anything to do with it remaining exclusive and being pissed off about not being able to 'taunt you with our weapons.' I notice that with pamelf and myself that it seems our biggest gripe is that during the promotion, there was no mention of the BMP becoming available again with certainty. It's not fair to say that we should have had an inclination that it would available at a later time, the link I posted with Gaile explaining why it would be hard to make it available in retail stores and why different methods of payment wouldn't work also led most of us to believe that we should act during the promotion. So because if this, many of us ended up spending more money than we needed to. I understand this was an experiment, and they didn't realize how unavailable this was to many of the fan-base and I think everyone should have a fair opportunity. I just hope in the future that it is more clear as to how it will be obtained, whether free for the time being and then released afterwards for a fee or whatever.

Gaile even said in the link that I posted that retail was highly unlikely due to packaging costs, stores wanting a cut, etc. She further went on to say if they could offer it in the store again, it would just entail the same methods of payment so those who missed out would miss out again anyway. It wasn't a fair promotion from the beginning, as not everyone had access to it (couldn't get a credit card, can't borrow someone's, card declined, whatever); however, these issues were well known before the BMP was released. It wasn't until after the promotion was over that the complaints started seriously rolling in ("OMGZ UBER AWESOME WEAPONS!!!11!"), and that's when it became obvious to me that ArenaNet was looking for ways to re-release the BMP so it was more fair to all.

The reason I found it to be a problem is not the reason that you're stating. I could give two shits about whether or not it was exclusive only to those who fulfilled the promotion, but we took a gamble too and I'm sure, many like me, lost out on some money. The only way I could know for certain I could play the BMP was if I fulfilled the promotion. I seriously don't see anyone in this thread bitching about their 'uber leet' weapons being available to everyone, either.

freekedoutfish · Jan 15, 2008, 02:47 PM // 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamelf

I'm certainly not seeing anyone trying to fix anything. We haven't had a statement or anything in this very long thread either for, or against those of us who are unhappy. Whether it was wrong or not is moot, but is WAS badly handled, and I'd at least like a statement to that effect. But the one time their customers seem realistically annoyed, rather than just the usual "they nerfed my favourite build" threads, Anet stay stoically silent...That certainlyd doesn't seem like "tying to fix it" to me...

So email them and mention your concerns and see what they say, instead of sitting around the forums kicking up a fuss. Have you tried to contact them yourself yet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

In that same thread, she answered "I don't know of any plan regarding the BMP being on sale later. I'm just trying to point out that we never said it will be a one-time only thing" or something in that sense (splitting hair, as you can imagine) when asked if her whole squirms actually mean that such thing is "coming" (and look what we're about to get).

Well im not on the Anet pay roll, but I have to agree with Gail on this. I dont remember reading or hearing anything explicity from Anet which stated the BMP would never be released at a later date in a different fashion.

I remember hearing statements like "not at this time" or "we are unsure", but nothing specificially saying it was impossible and wouldnt happen.

But even if they did and they changed the plan... big deal! As I keep saying! You all bought into their promotion and coughed up £17 for an expansion which wasnt worth £17. I mean £17 is almost the same I paid for GWEN itself from play.com, and you all paid that for the BMP which is just 3 or 4 missions and some new weapon skins. Ouch!!!

Lets assume you were one of those individuals who already owned or order GWEN before the promotion was announced and bought £18 worth of other things just to qualify. Stuff like char slots you didnt need!

Did that not sound alarm bells in your head at the time?

Did you not think "hang on, Anet is asking me to pay £18 for a TINY bonus pack which isnt worth that at all, and im buying stuff I need dont need to qualify". How does that not make you automatically think "Woooo stop now.. dont buy it, Im not a complete idiot"!

So yes... you are all partly to blame for 1) falling for such a blatent promotion and 2) Not just waiting to see what happened.

But to those who bought the BMP with GWEN from the store as part of the promotion. You have nothing to complain about!

You've paid very little more then we will! Those of us who bought it for around £17.99 from a highstreet store are paying £8-9 for the BMP, so thats roughly the same price you paid at the online store for GWEN + the BMP free!

Its only those who bought meaningless things from the online store to qualify for the promotion who have any real complaints. But they didnt have to go through with it. As I said above... its sheer madness that it didnt register in your heads that it was a bad deal!

Would you pay £17 at the supermarket if you were told "Right, if you buy £17 worth of dog food, you will get 3 apples free", despite not even having a dog and despite 3 apples not being worth £17. Its pretty much the same thing. You would stop and think "hang on, that moronic.. why would I do that?".

If you dont want to get ripped off, then dont buy into such blatenly ripp-off promotions! This is why people complained about the BMP when it was announced how we had to buy it first. Not so much that we didnt realise it would later be released again, but because Anet was honestly expecting people to cough up £18 for an item which isnt worth £18.

Cacheelma · Jan 15, 2008, 02:52 PM // 14:52

....I don't know which is better, really; Gaile's hair-splitting acts to avoid any blame to the company, or, an "My hindsight horse is so tall I'm high-up you won't even hear me laughing at you" attempt from some pseudo-CR here.

Both of which don't even seem to try to make the customers feel any better, though.

My (personal) solution: fire them both.

pumpkin pie · Jan 15, 2008, 03:01 PM // 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamelf

my god...they're the same party...Gaile is hired by Anet to do the job that she is doing. She speaks for the company in these matters just as she speaks for us TO the company. She is not exclusive to Anet...she IS PART OF Anet. Therefore that point is completely moot...

hrmz, sorry for not being clear there, in my opinion, Anet did not try to cheat anyone with the BMP. This scenario is solely In my humble opinion.

1) Anet create mission packs. The main intention of creating mission packs are for sale like any other business organization would do.

2) Anet found out online store not popular. while they are developing this Mission packs, GWEN is launch, so it is obvious that to encourage players to use the online store, a little incentives is added. hence mission packs become Bonus Mission Packs for a limited time. But don't forget number 1.

3) When promotion ends, naturally, any business will go back to 1) sell the mission packs. Do you seriously think all the programmers, 2D artists, 3D artists, concept Artists, marketing personnel, the tea persons, the cleaning persons, the mail persons involve in Arena Net, work for free? off course they are going to sell it after the promotion.

Therefore, when I say get angry with the right party means: an entirely different organization/merchant/business and not Arena Net, because I don't see any deception on their part. its all very logical. It is only the wishful thinking of players that the BMP will remain exclusive.

freekedoutfish · Jan 15, 2008, 03:04 PM // 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

....I don't know which is better, really; Gaile's hair-splitting acts to avoid any blame to the company, or, an "My hindsight horse is so tall I'm high-up you won't even hear me laughing at you" attempt from some pseudo-CR here.

Both of which don't even seem to try to make the customers feel any better, though.

My (personal) solution: fire them both.

I can tell you've never actually worked in a job where you had to handle cutomers. I spent 4 years working in a supermarket and being expected to believe "the customer is always right" and to smile and be polite.

Despite having customers scream in your face, being rude, treating you like dog-muck.... all because they wanted something which we couldnt offer most of the time and they wouldnt accept it.

Dont talk to me about pleasing the customer, because ive been there and its a load of crock! Customers need to accept when they make mistakes and drop themselves into situations they dont like.

Its not always a case of "lets scream at the staff member until we get what we want", just because you want to act like a 5 year old.

Im not saying Anet didnt do anything wrong (if you bothered to read my posts). What im saying is both sides are to blame and so far Anet seems to be trying to please the customers by offering them the BMP for less and as stand alone item, while the customers are just stood there screaming and shouting and giving abuse.

Would you give a customer an apology if all they were doing was standing in your face shouting and screaming and trying to wear you down?

I've seen a lot of posts in here now which have basically been abusive towards Gail and the general Anet staff, and others talking about legal action before they have even bothered to probably contact Anet themselves and talk about it.

Its all "lets shout and scream now" and you expect Anet to come running to keep you happy. I wouldnt blame Gail if she posted a reply telling you all to F-off... I know I would.

Has any one of you even bothered to email or call Anet and ask politely about the situation?

Has anyone bothered to IM Gail and just talk to her politely about it and ask if anything will be done?

I doubt it, or very few of you have! You cant give abuse and threaten legal action and then expect staff or the company to be polite back! You can only hold that smile for so long.

And per usual... if someone doesnt agree with your opinion or says a nice word about the company, they must be working for them!

VanDamselx · Jan 15, 2008, 03:08 PM // 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

So email them and mention your concerns and see what they say, instead of sitting around the forums kicking up a fuss. Have you tried to contact them yourself yet?

Well im not on the Anet pay roll, but I have to agree with Gail on this. I dont remember reading or hearing anything explicity from Anet which stated the BMP would never be released at a later date in a different fashion.

I remember hearing statements like "not at this time" or "we are unsure", but nothing specificially saying it was impossible and wouldnt happen.

But even if they did and they changed the plan... big deal! As I keep saying! You all bought into their promotion and coughed up £17 for an expansion which wasnt worth £17. I mean £17 is almost the same I paid for GWEN itself from play.com, and you all paid that for the BMP which is just 3 or 4 missions and some new weapon skins. Ouch!!!

Lets assume you were one of those individuals who already owned or order GWEN before the promotion was announced and bought £18 worth of other things just to qualify. Stuff like char slots you didnt need!

Did that not sound alarm bells in your head at the time?

Did you not think "hang on, Anet is asking me to pay £18 for a TINY bonus pack which isnt worth that at all, and im buying stuff I need dont need to qualify". How does that not make you automatically think "Woooo stop now.. dont buy it, Im not a complete idiot"!

So yes... you are all partly to blame for 1) falling for such a blatent promotion and 2) Not just waiting to see what happened.

But to those who bought the BMP with GWEN from the store as part of the promotion. You have nothing to complain about!

You've paid very little more then we will! Those of us who bought it for around £17.99 from a highstreet store are paying £8-9 for the BMP, so thats roughly the same price you paid at the online store for GWEN + the BMP free!

Its only those who bought meaningless things from the online store to qualify for the promotion who have any real complaints. But they didnt have to go through with it. As I said above... its sheer madness that it didnt register in your heads that it was a bad deal!

Would you pay £17 at the supermarket if you were told "Right, if you buy £17 worth of dog food, you will get 3 apples free", despite not even having a dog and despite 3 apples not being worth £17. Its pretty much the same thing. You would stop and think "hang on, that moronic.. why would I do that?".

If you dont want to get ripped off, then dont buy into such blatenly ripp-off promotions! This is why people complained about the BMP when it was announced how we had to buy it first. Not so much that we didnt realise it would later be released again, but because Anet was honestly expecting people to cough up £18 for an item which isnt worth £18.

Yes because we all had crystal balls, we knew that it would be released in RETAIL stores when Gaile had made a post basically saying that it would be a bad business decision for them to do so. The only way anyone was 100% CERTAIN that they would be able to play the BMP was by fulfilling the requirements of the promotion.

I don't think many of us desire any compensation for what has happened, but it may have us think twice about participating in future promotions and if we do, we should know FULLY what is going to happen. You're quoting pamelf, saying that she basically spent as much money as you. That's not true. She had to convert her Australian dollar to the much more expensive Euro.

And while there was never anything 'explicit' about it never being offered again, the same logic applies to whether it would be offered again. Don't sit there and tell me, "Oh well you should have known like me!" I'm sorry that I can't foresee the future. If I had known it would have been offered again with a standalone price, I would have taken the time to carefully consider my options as a consumer. I figured that if it were to become available again, it wouldn't be offered as a standalone, but as another promotion; which is why I figured I should just get it then.

Cacheelma · Jan 15, 2008, 03:15 PM // 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

I can tell you've never actually worked in a job where you had to handle cutomers. I spent 4 years working in a supermarket and being expected to believe "the customer is always right" and to smile and be polite.

Despite having customers scream in your face, being rude, treating you like dog-muck.... all because they wanted something which we couldnt offer most of the time and they wouldnt accept it.

Dont talk to me about pleasing the customer, because ive been there and its a load of crock! Customers need to accept when they make mistakes and drop themselves into situations they dont like.

Its not always a case of "lets scream at the staff member until we get what we want", just because you want to act like a 5 year old.

Im not saying Anet didnt do anything wrong (if you bothered to read my posts). What im saying is both sides are to blame and so far Anet seems to be trying to please the customers by offering them the BMP for less and as stand alone item, while the customers are just stood there screaming and shouting and giving abuse.

Would you give a customer an apology if all they were doing was standing in your face shouting and screaming and trying to wear you down?

I've seen a lot of posts in here now which have basically been abusive towards Gail and the general Anet staff, and others talking about legal action before they have even bothered to probably contact Anet themselves and talk about it.

Its all "lets shout and scream now" and you expect Anet to come running to keep you happy. I wouldnt blame Gail if she posted a reply telling you all to F-off... I know I would.

Has any one of you even bothered to email or call Anet and ask politely about the situation?

Has anyone bothered to IM Gail and just talk to her politely about it and ask if anything will be done?

I doubt it, or very few of you have! You cant give abuse and threaten legal action and then expect staff or the company to be polite back! You can only hold that smile for so long.

And per usual... if someone doesnt agree with your opinion or says a nice word about the company, they must be working for them!

Let me guess, you lost your temper and yelled at some customers and got fired, huh?

No offense, but what you said is "right". I totally agree that the whole "customer is always right" is a totall bulls. But still, isn't that how you manage it in this kind of business? To actually apply your point-of-view in real-life situations (telling your customers to "suck it up" when they make mistakes on their own, for example) would cost you a job (most of the time). You, of all people, should know better than me or anyone else.

freekedoutfish · Jan 15, 2008, 03:20 PM // 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

Let me guess, you lost your temper and yelled at some customers and got fired, huh?

No offense, but what you said is "right". I totally agree that the whole "customer is always right" is a totall bulls. But still, isn't that how you manage it in this kind of business? To actually apply your point-of-view in real-life situations (telling your customers to "suck it up" when they make mistakes on their own, for example) would cost you a job (most of the time). You, of all people, should know better than me or anyone else.

Actually no, I never once got fired. I worked in an area of newcastle where if you didnt give as good as you got... you got walked over.

I've had guys twice my size, threatening me on the other sides of counters and I've just told them I wasnt surving them because of their attitudes. Granted I had to go calm down afterwards before I served anyone else, but still.

I've never actually told anyone to f-off, or used foul language. But ive put customers in their place when they've been rude and quite honestly... it feels good.

I had a bloke say to me "how long you worked here" and I said "4 years" and just glared at him and he soon dropped his snooty tone and the women next to him just said "I know the feeling".

But when the shop was closing, because it got sold, I lost my rag completely with a women in a wheelchair who had been a complete pain for years! But concidering that was the last day ever before the place got bulldozed!

It harder for people like Anet because they have to maintain customer relations and keep everything polite, which is different for someone who is face to face with a customer in a tiny shop tucked away in the corner of Newcastle.

But the same applies... treat others how you expect to be treat and be polite first and THEN (if need be) give them more. But seriously... has anyone here even bothered to contact Anet to complain about this? or didd you all just launch into your irate posts before trying!

mcsumo · Jan 15, 2008, 03:27 PM // 15:27

For those who think they seem to know so much about everything.

Do you know how long it takes to plan and execute a worldwide release of an expansion pack?

I mean I have some experience of dealing with printers etc. And it seems to me that on the scale we are talking about a LOT of planning and coordination would have been needed.

Printing of packaging and manuals, production of the CD (or printing gamecode card) organisation of a worldwide distribution. Surely that would take a lot more than 2 months from 'we have no plans' or 'it would be unfeasible' etc to where we are now....... released next week.

I am more convinced than ever that they lied to us.

EDIT.... And yes I did contact customer support as soon as I became aware of this. Still awaiting a reply 2 days later.

I am not quitting over just this, in fact I am not quitting GW at all. This is just the latest in a long line of disasters that are eroding their player base.

You may think that they will not care about me no longer purchasing any of their products. You are entitled to that view and could be correct. But they damn well should.

Remember for every person who cares enough to come here and express their disappointment, there will be many MANY more who just walk away. That is a well known and accepted FACT in business. Which is what Anet profess to be, although they fail spectacularly at what all successful businesses do well. Customer care.

pamelf · Jan 15, 2008, 03:30 PM // 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

So email them and mention your concerns and see what they say, instead of sitting around the forums kicking up a fuss. Have you tried to contact them yourself yet?

Short answer: yes. I wrote and asked for future promotions to be far more clear, and to perhaps iron out the kinks in their badly designed online store and offer more payment methods before running anything of this kind again since I'm sure the last thing they want is to lose players.

I do know a few things about marketing. Until a few months ago I worked for a dancewear wholesaler, and was in charge of customer relations, PR and marketing. I know how all this works, and trust me when I say, this entire situation was one huge f'ck up.

freekedoutfish · Jan 15, 2008, 03:52 PM // 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamelf

Short answer: yes. I wrote and asked for future promotions to be far more clear, and to perhaps iron out the kinks in their badly designed online store and offer more payment methods before running anything of this kind again since I'm sure the last thing they want is to lose players.

I do know a few things about marketing. Until a few months ago I worked for a dancewear wholesaler, and was in charge of customer relations, PR and marketing. I know how all this works, and trust me when I say, this entire situation was one huge f'ck up.

This is another thing though... its mayb their first major f'up?

I cant say i can think of anything else majorly bad they have done in the past, and I think their allowed one mistake... provided they sort it out somehow.

If it was the 5th major mistake they made, I could understand people getting as irate as they are. But I still have to come back to the customers needing to accept some fault and stupidty for actually buying a BMP which wasnt worth that much.

I knew it wasnt and thats one reason I didnt buy it!

Cacheelma · Jan 15, 2008, 04:54 PM // 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

This is another thing though... its mayb their first major f'up?

I cant say i can think of anything else majorly bad they have done in the past, and I think their allowed one mistake... provided they sort it out somehow.

If it was the 5th major mistake they made, I could understand people getting as irate as they are. But I still have to come back to the customers needing to accept some fault and stupidty for actually buying a BMP which wasnt worth that much.

I knew it wasnt and thats one reason I didnt buy it!

You are not viewing it from our side; the customer side.

For you: "If it was the 5th major mistake they made, I could understand people getting as irate as they are." That's because for a business company, you shouldn't make that many mistakes to begin with. And because your company is operated with humans, you'd think that some mistakes can happen (true) but it shouldn't be too often. And of course this is all true.

But, for us customers: If this were the 5th major mistake, we'd have learnt NOT to trust this company long time ago, and wouldn't have been so upset because "well, not like this is the first time". But this could be, as you said, their first major breach of trust. Of course people who trusted the company completely (like me) would be upset.

And as I said, you're better than Gaile or Anet because you actually ADMIT that this whole thing is more or less a mistake made by both parties. Anet and their CRs, on the other hand, BLAME US.

And that's all that matters here.

Turtle222 · Jan 15, 2008, 05:00 PM // 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

This is another thing though... its mayb their first major f'up?

I cant say i can think of anything else majorly bad they have done in the past, and I think their allowed one mistake... provided they sort it out somehow.

If it was the 5th major mistake they made, I could understand people getting as irate as they are. But I still have to come back to the customers needing to accept some fault and stupidty for actually buying a BMP which wasnt worth that much.

I knew it wasnt and thats one reason I didnt buy it!

A few things:

Many people here, if I am not mistaken, are making a huge fuss just to replicate what others did earlier. Must i remind you of the 200000 threads regarding "i want my cool weapons". And now they feel if it worked for the others, it must work again. That is none of your customer bullcrap, it is human assumption.

Yes, the customer does not realise the hell that is in the back of the kitchen restaurant...but that is why you signed that amazing contract, meaning you have condemned yourself to tolerate their crap...and if not - take it up with their manager.

You'd think that after all the fuss Anet would not slip a single peep that they would be releasing the content again. Ofcourse they had it in mind. They were 100% going to release it again. But they did not say that. They just became wordsmiths. All this crafty bollocks about fulfilling the PROMOTION... Come on people....it is blatant what they wanted people to think. once they have what they wanted...in goes the relief...sell it to the rest. Why the hell do you think they placed the scribes and historian in the middle of the fountain instead of at the lighthouse etc. They stirred up confustion and uncertainty. And GW customers, being the good supporters that they are, decided to get into this promotion. Now they have been ripped off and lied to, losing the support of many members.

Just to reinforce what i have stated above. I did send write to anet..asking if they are planning on releasing the bmp at a later date. the reply was "There have been no plans as to the releasing the BMP at a later date". There we go - i qualified just to be safe. Did they lie to me then and there? yes they did. Because there definitely HAVE been plans to release it at a later date.

Don't ask me "well how do you know that they planned to release it later after their response". That is a load of rubbish. Any human with a shred of business knowledge would know this.