And on the subject of topic (as Robin mentioned), I hope it's still the digital downloads we're talking about.

Which is why I find it strange that we should be able to pick up a boxed copy that has had packaging, international shipping, a printed manual, pressed DVDs, etc. included for the same price as the electronic download. I was under the impression that digital downloads were beneficial because they allowed companies to cut overheads.

That's probably quite true. I guess a company like Cakewalk is quite dependant on a strong relationship with it's european retailers and anything that 'rocks the boat' like cut-price direct downloads is going to make it difficult for the local retailers to shift products. A bit like the relationship between some governments and trades unions I guess. :)

I fear my lust for the X1 Pro Channel is going to win out in the end...

(also, I spoke to my local retailer on the phone today, I quite fancy a browse in there anyway, been ages since I was in a bricks and mortar music shop... last time was buying a JP-8000 I think, ironically another Roland purchase...)

Robin Kelly [Cakewalk
]

Twigman


I did e-mail over 2 years ago but that e-mail was ignored.
E-mail is a formal request.

I apologize. You should have received the answer.

Robin

 
 
I too emailed CW a few times about the pricing for downloading synths & stuff during the last 2-3 years.
I waited and waited (and still wait) for a personal response via email.
Not good customer service.
 
(I have emailed CW about other matters and got a quick response)
 
As I never received a response, I assumed you simply would not discuss or clarify pricing.
Also, it took 6 or 7 pages of this thread before someone at CW responded.
Again the impression given is that CW could not care less about pricing.
 
When we did finally get a response it was rather vague and buck-passing, as though the person writing it did not understand the pricing policy.
 
Now we get told that they don't have to give a VAT number.
Well CW I think you'll find that if you trade in the UK you MUST provide a VAT number on every invoice, and have it available to customers if they request it.
 
 
 
Back to a basic unanswered question.
Regarding downloads only...
Why does $99 + VAT (at 17.5%) not equal anything like £89 (even the worst exchange rate in the last 2-3 years)
 
And therefore will you be increasing prices to UK customers in January when VAT becomes 20%
 
I await a response.

Twigman

arkiruthis



BTW - Guinness is for going into sausages, pies and "smooth black russians". Not general consumption.

You probably wouldn't know a good beer if you saw one....

none of your watery fizzy pop american lager piss here

...now a nice spot of real ale would go down a treat...

Oh god not that tired, old misinformed cliche again please. It's really not 1970 here anymore I assure you.

Once you've got a store like this around the corner with more than 1400 beers to choose from you let me know. You also might consider that more than 800 of these are brewed in the USA - most carefully crafted in small batches. Many of us wouldn't touch a Budweiser if you forced it on us (yet oddly and sadly it seems to be relatively popular in the UK...go figure).

A particular favo(u)rite of mine is this:

Allagash Curieux
2008 BRONZE WORLD BEER CUP AWARD! Belgian-Style tripel aged for 8 weeks in bourbon barrels, then naturally re-fermented in the bottle. Full flavored with hints of vanilla, coconut and bourbon.


Hardly "watery fizz pop" is it? I mean if we're going to attempt to point out deficiencies in one's country of residence can we at least keep it based in the reality of this millennium and not some old insular misconception?

Let's all just admit that none of our beers are as good as what the Belgians brew and just be done with it.

arkiruthis

Brandon Ryan [Cakewalk
]

Let's all just admit that none of our beers are as good as what the Belgians brew and just be done with it.

+1! Was in Brussels a couple of months ago. Nothing slips down like a Duvel, a Chimay... or my personal favourite, KWAK! (in it's fancy little little wooden chemistry/hour-glass style drinking glass)

Just a minor point, I think in the UK we're generally more caustic with a sense of humo(u)r that often offends our American friends a little more than is often intended. I didn't pick up on the monkey thing because it sounds similar to other insults like "Muppet", another classic one over here that doesn't really mean any deep offense, just a slight ribbing.

This is why I hate "TEH INTERNETZ", without seeing someone's face or expression or intonation, it's often hard to know how a statement is truly meant.

Anyway... to sum up, £15 is a big distribution fee for a download and I'd rather walk off with a box anyway... (looks nice on the shelf above the PC)

Nick,

Ah I love Kwak - great beer in interesting packaging.

Having an English wife and a veritable boat-load of English in-laws and friends and business colleagues over the years (I just spent 16 days there last month) I definitely get the sarcastic and caustic British humo(u)r. And I have true affinity for many things British.

But I also know when someone is "having a go" and throws a strop because they don't like the answer they received to an otherwise serious conversation about business and product pricing that previously contained no hint of humo(u)r whatsoever. I wish it weren't true but I'm calling this one like a genuinely see it.

mike_mccue


FWIW, any Irishman aware enough to know about your boys Disreali and Cromwell doesn't want to hear the terms monkey or chimpanzee bandied about.

It is fighting talk... no matter how many times you all use the terms amongst your friends.

Having said that, I'd rather enjoy your friendship and comradeship than stir up old hostilities.

But, I don't like Belgian style beer at all... at the very least... it all seems stale by the time it gets to our local stores.

all the best,
mike

PS Brandon, the offer of a night of beer tasting still stands. Bring Robin so he can get to know that I am a lot more friendly than our correspondence sometimes suggests. You guys work hard and do a very good job for Cakewalk. The Fermetation room is the new hot Tally town watering hole. Stop by and visit.. we'll treat you all like royalty.

I look forward to it Mike and many thanks for the kind (and hopefully standing) offer. I know we've had our disagreements at times but I've also been sincerely pleased and content with how they've turned out in the end.

And any place called the Fermentation Room most certainly sounds like my kind of place.

arkiruthis


Likewise, the offer of a warm beer (and welcome!) is extended to those Bakers braving the chill of Edinburgh.

(I think Cakewalk had a promo at Red Dog Music or somewhere a few months back re: SONAR 8.5  - was sadly out of the country at that time.)

Many thanks Nick. Always wanted to visit Edinburgh and I'm sure a nice warm-ish beer would hit the spot so to speak. Hope I can take you up on that some time.

It is indeed a commonly used phrase, but its also an insulting one, as I've got no doubt you know full well. You're basically saying "You're too small-fry to answer my questions to my satisfaction".

X1 looks superb..I've decided to buy it...but it'll be the £89 boxed version from a local retailer, not the download (nor the 8.5 and X1 download offer on at the moment).  I do think the UK pricing feels unfair relative to other regions- which is the only reason why I skipped 8.5, but X1 does look to be too impressive to miss.

So to the Cakewalk guys...you have a great product and long may it continue..but please do note the disatisfaction at the UK pricing...

Brandon, with respect; do you not think it's somewhat unprofessional for a representitive of a Company to start getting embroiled in arguments on the Companys forum?
You have hinted the price is what it is so not to compete with local distributors, which is more than a little crude, considering you have also done this for the download too. - It's a poor business model and one that is sure to p**s a few people off. - So let us vent, offer your tedious explanation, and leave it at that. 

John T


Yeah, dripping with respect, that post is.

Ha, yea. All due respects were paid. But we got the finger from Cakewalk....

My comment reagrding Brandon not being qualified relates to him not being either the CFO or the CEO and that he is unlikely to be the decision maker behind pricing policy. I did question whether or not this was true though by asking 'or is he?'

and Cakewalk wonder why we get suspicious?

UNBELIEVABLE

FastBikerBoy


I've just upgraded to 8.5 from the Cakewalk store and my receipt is as follows
SubTotal:
£89.00
Tax:
£0.00
Shipping:
£0.00
Handling:
£0.00
Gift Wrap:
£0.00
Grand Total:
£89.00

Oh dear.
 
A VAT receipt should show the amount of VAT and the company VAT number.
This shows neither.
Clearly there is no VAT charge.
The word "Tax" is not good enough... it has to state VAT.
 
If Cakewalk are charging VAT, they are not declaring it... now that is illegal.
 
 
My wife has her own IT business. She is also VAT registered and has her own VAT number.
She must declare this on all invoices/receipts, and show the VAT breakdown.
She looked at the above receipt and thought it some kind of joke!
If she had received that she would be asking Cakewalk immediately for a full VAT receipt clearly stating their VAT number. If one was not forthcoming she'd just simple report then to HM Revenue & Customs.
 
 
 
So come on, someone from Cakewalk must have an answer explaining the above receipt.
Do you really want to continue upsetting a lot of your UK customers.

PH68

So come on, someone from Cakewalk must have an answer explaining the above receipt.

Did you really expect Cakewalk to answer this?
They've dodged this subject for years.