I feel bad for upgrading 3 weeks ago on sale,only to see the new discount for the existing customers

JaDoShaJu · 2024-12-26T14:47:59+00:00

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I upgraded Komplete 14 std to Komplete 15 ultimate, but a couple weeks later and now there’s a discount of 20%. Why wasn’t this in place to at the beginning? Was there some issue on the backend? I reached out to support and they responded initially, when I explained my situation it’s been radio silent ever since. I was hoping that someone from NI would help me get some sort of refund for the difference. I love the software, but I feel like I was taken for because the initial sale didn’t really benefit existing customers until a couple weeks later. I read that they have helped others resolve this previously, but if support won’t respond to me, I’m not sure who else I can talk to about this to see if they could help make it right for me. Anyone have any advice for me?

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Vocalpoint

See here:

How can I communicate directly with NI about unfair cyber season pricing before "holiday sale"? — Community

The world is on sale for different price points all the time.

Unfortunately - you cannot feel bad by scoring a great deal one minute (your standard update price) and then seeing the same product at a better price a week later. That is just the way it is

Just be thankful you did not pay full price.

JaDoShaJu

Hi VP,

I wish I could feel as so, however when you spend $599, when the product was “On sale” that sale wasn’t given to me the exisiting customer, it remained the same price even before the sale. Because I wanted to get a start on some projects, I figured that NI wasn’t going to extend the deal to exisiting customers. I’m a big fan of the software and I’m not looking to return it or anything like that. However, when I see that a couple weeks later they NOW offer the discount of 20% which makes the price $479, that’s a substantial difference that should’ve been there at the start of the Black Friday sale. imo. It almost looks like there was some system issue, but seems like this may’be been the intent? Which isn’t very straightforward nor honest. I’ve already submitted a case, but I’m just not getting any help as of yet from that channel either. I’d be happy with some sort of credit or refund to make it right. If at all possible. I wanted to see what others who have had some success here have done to get resolution. I did submit a case, just not getting any further reply.

LostInFoundation

NI does have a grace period.

Read on the other thread that Vocalpoint linked

Vocalpoint

@JaDoShaJu

"However, when I see that a couple weeks later they NOW offer the discount of 20% which makes the price $479, that’s a substantial difference that should’ve been there at the start of the Black Friday sale. imo."

Totally understandable that you feel this way. I have had this happen as well.

But let me ask you this - if you somehow do manage to get a refund for the difference this time - are you going to run the same game on June 1, 2025 - when existing Komplete upgrades will be 50% off?

Or because of the passage of time (6 months-ish) will you be OK that you 'only" got 20% off and I got 50% off because I decided to strike at the optimum time?

I mean where does it end?

JaDoShaJu

@Vocalpoint Well, this is my first upgrade experience, I started with 14 STD. I love the software and want to support the company, but as Black Friday came and went, it was apparent that there wasn’t going to be any further discount for sale. Then Surprise, weeks later. So knowing what I know now, I’ll know better when they offer discounts to only new customers and would just wait for discounts given to existing customers.

But to be fair, sounds like this is the first time they’ve done it like this? Where previously, they offered everyone a discount at those same times, ie: Black Friday, summer sale, etc. Why they did it this way this time around, just seems shifty. Unless there was some back end issue. I would think as a business wanting to retain and attract new customers, being straight forward by offering a sale to all customers at the same time would be in everyone’s best interest. I’m not alone in this from what I’ve seen. I guess I deserve it for not knowing this and because the company is changing how they conduct their sales, pushing more smoke and mirrors tactics. Just sucks. :(

BIF

Dude, you need to just let it go. This is torturing you, because you are allowing it to torture you. You made the decision to buy at the price you paid. At one point, YOU WERE OKAY WITH THAT.

Now you're not. Alright then, when NI comes back from the holidays around January 6th, present your case. Calmly. Then accept the decision. Remember, YOU ALREADY DECIDED IT WAS WORTH IT AT A HIGHER PRICE.

If NI gives you a discount, great. If not, then live with it. And if you can't just let it go, you will just waste your life-energy on things that don't really matter. You know I'm right.

JaDoShaJu

@BIF lol, you’re reading me wrong, Dude! I’m not upset. Just sharing my experience and opinion around their tactics And seeking advice from others who’ve reached out and got a resolution. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.

Thanks everyone!

BIF

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/200390#Comment_200390

I’m not upset.

In my experience, people who are not upset don't write paragraphs and paragraphs about being upset about "tactics". You've written three long posts on the subject just in this thread alone. That tells me you're upset. At least a little…come on, you can tell me! 😏

But whatever. We gave you advice and either you'll take or not. Either you'll be successful or not. Good luck.

MaikR

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/200354#Comment_200354

Completely can understand your sort of disappointment on this one. It’s exactly how NI is doing business nowadays. A user-centric company wouldn’t do this, nor would they devaluate their product line like this.

Because of this kind of behavior a lot of customers are holding back on upgrades, simply because they know there will be a big price drop once in a while.

That NI is now giving this discount at the end of the year on a fairly new release, is because they need to boost sales figures before December, 31. Otherwise they wouldn’t pull this trick on their customers after the ‘regular’ BF or Summer sales, because it comes at a price.

Vocalpoint

"Because of this kind of behavior a lot of customers are holding back on upgrades, simply because they know there will be a big price drop once in a while".

Not "once in a while" - only one very specific time.

Anyone who has been around NI for at least a short while hopefully should know when it comes to Komplete - and especially for updates/upgrades - The Summer of Sound is the only time you pounce.

It is not even worth your time (or sanity) to get worked up about any other sale.

While 20% off this Cyber Season is of course - attractive - it is no 50% like we will see in June of 2025.

Waiting (according to the late great Tom Petty) is the hardest part…

MaikR

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/200583#Comment_200583

You keep ignoring the part where the topic starter is complaining about: the unexpected price-drop right after the launch of a new product, including that so-called “special upgrade price for you my loyal friend” AND even after the BF sales period.

Nobody was talking about IF it should or could be 20% or 50%, you simply introduced it by stating:

But let me ask you this - if you somehow do manage to get a refund for the difference this time - are you going to run the same game on June 1, 2025 - when existing Komplete upgrades will be 50% off?
Or because of the passage of time (6 months-ish) will you be OK that you 'only" got 20% off and I got 50% off because I decided to strike at the optimum time?
I mean where does it end?

So this has nothing to do with how long you’ve been around, nor has it to do anything with the (well-)known BF or Summer sales. It also hasn’t anything to do with NI being a company that has to make money or some sort of technical problems, but all about how NI is milking the cow in a disrespectful manner.

But I think you should be long enough around to see what has happened in the last couple of years.

Vocalpoint

" You keep ignoring the part where the topic starter is complaining about: the unexpected price-drop right after the launch of a new product, including that so-called “special upgrade price for you my loyal friend” AND even after the BF sales period."

To be honest - I am still at a loss how anyone could/would actually complain about a sale. Any sale.

After all - one could always pay full price.

BIF

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/200679#Comment_200679

Never underestimate the power of envy. Some folks will get angry only because they want OTHER people to pay more. Or to say it slightly differently, they don't want to see anybody else pay less.

Full disclosure of the rules with no "special cases" is usually the best way to avoid drama.

LostInFoundation

Why? Just why do you have to denigrate someone just because he feels bad to have spent more when 3 weeks after the price is better???

What does “envy” have to do at all with this???

Maybe he is a poor guy that decided not to eat for 3 weeks just to have the money to buy something…and with the better price he could have eaten for one week…

Envy??? Really???

BIF

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/202433#Comment_202433

I wasn't referring only to OP.

My mistake for not being clear.

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