TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Sep 93 Editorial
Volume Number:9
Issue Number:9
Column Tag:The Editor's Page

Pricing yourself right out of the market!

By Neil Ticktin, Editor-in-Chief

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the cost of upgrades. Most of you in the software industry know that upgrades are the bread and butter of your business. With the long development cycles of new products, many of us rely on upgrades to run our businesses. That’s all well and good, but it’s important to make sure that the pricing of the upgrades has a positive effect on the business.

If you are the type of company that comes out with frequent upgrades, you will want to price them accordingly. In other words, you might want to price the upgrade as more of a “knee-jerk” reaction instead of one that people have to think about.

However, if you are the type of company that comes out with a new version only once in a while, you will want to charge more. The key here is that you can charge more only if your product is worth it.

As you do your pricing, consider the price of ownership of your product. What does technical support cost? What does training cost? What do the upgrades cost? And most importantly, are your customers getting benefits to match the cost?

Don’t make them mad

Remember back to the last round of Microsoft Word and Excel upgrades? Microsoft charged people a whopping $129.00 for the privilege of using the latest and greatest version. Microsoft made a bundle of money on this upgrade, but they also made people angry.

If you’re Microsoft, that’s fine they can afford to do that - they’re the industry standard and therefore people have no choice but to pay. But, if you are a small to medium sized developer, you don’t have that luxury. You actually have to keep your customers happy.

But Neil, what does this all mean?

Update your customers on what is going on - people deal a lot better with known situations. You can communicate information and upgrade status through ads, direct mail, newsletters, online presence or telesales. This may boost your sales and will increase goodwill. It is very important to ensure value for your customers, and therefore, profit for you.

THINK Top 10

You may have noticed the new THINK Top 10 column in the August issue. If you didn’t, this is a Q&A article on the Top 10 technical support questions from THINK Technical Support, Symantec Corp. It is written by Symantec people. This column is now a regular feature of MacTech Magazine. Let us know what you think about it!

Apple certified: the best way to cheap hardware - Not!

For a long time now, many people have thought that they should be an Apple Certified Developer - now called Apple Partners and Associates - so that they can get equipment cheap. Apple’s hardware purchase program is wrought with problems though.

Take one example. In July, we needed a Centris 610 in our office. Supposedly at this time, Apple had inventory stacking up somewhere. The problem was so bad that they introduced rebates through the dealer channel. Yet, if you called Customer Service for developer purchases, they told you that the wait was four weeks, no rebate is offered and you still have to pay with a cashier’s check in advance. Wow, such a deal!

If you do need hardware, it’s probably just better to go to your local dealer and negotiate. One of my favorite stores is Personal Support computers in West Los Angeles - they move more Macintoshes than any other single store in the United States. As a result, they are willing to make a reasonable profit - not take you to the cleaners. The little bit extra that you might pay over Apple’s price is well worth the speed and lack of hassle. Think about it - you might find your local dealer to be the better solution.

Next Month

By the time you read this, Macworld will have just passed. We’ll follow up the show with a Macworld Report from the developer’s point of view in the October issue.

Neil Ticktin

Editor-in-Chief

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Whitethorn Games combines two completely...
If you have ever gone fishing then you know that it is a lesson in patience, sitting around waiting for a bite that may never come. Well, that's because you have been doing it wrong, since as Whitehorn Games now demonstrates in new release Skate... | Read more »
Call of Duty Warzone is a Waiting Simula...
It's always fun when a splashy multiplayer game comes to mobile because they are few and far between, so I was excited to see the notification about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile (finally) launching last week and wanted to try it out. As someone who... | Read more »
Albion Online introduces some massive ne...
Sandbox Interactive has announced an upcoming update to its flagship MMORPG Albion Online, containing massive updates to its existing guild Vs guild systems. Someone clearly rewatched the Helms Deep battle in Lord of the Rings and spent the next... | Read more »
Chucklefish announces launch date of the...
Chucklefish, the indie London-based team we probably all know from developing Terraria or their stint publishing Stardew Valley, has revealed the mobile release date for roguelike deck-builder Wildfrost. Developed by Gaziter and Deadpan Games, the... | Read more »
Netmarble opens pre-registration for act...
It has been close to three years since Netmarble announced they would be adapting the smash series Solo Leveling into a video game, and at last, they have announced the opening of pre-orders for Solo Leveling: Arise. [Read more] | Read more »
PUBG Mobile celebrates sixth anniversary...
For the past six years, PUBG Mobile has been one of the most popular shooters you can play in the palm of your hand, and Krafton is celebrating this milestone and many years of ups by teaming up with hit music man JVKE to create a special song for... | Read more »
ASTRA: Knights of Veda refuse to pump th...
In perhaps the most recent example of being incredibly eager, ASTRA: Knights of Veda has dropped its second collaboration with South Korean boyband Seventeen, named so as it consists of exactly thirteen members and a video collaboration with Lee... | Read more »
Collect all your cats and caterpillars a...
If you are growing tired of trying to build a town with your phone by using it as a tiny, ineffectual shover then fear no longer, as Independent Arts Software has announced the upcoming release of Construction Simulator 4, from the critically... | Read more »
Backbone complete its lineup of 2nd Gene...
With all the ports of big AAA games that have been coming to mobile, it is becoming more convenient than ever to own a good controller, and to help with this Backbone has announced the completion of their 2nd generation product lineup with their... | Read more »
Zenless Zone Zero opens entries for its...
miHoYo, aka HoYoverse, has become such a big name in mobile gaming that it's hard to believe that arguably their flagship title, Genshin Impact, is only three and a half years old. Now, they continue the road to the next title in their world, with... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

B&H has Apple’s 13-inch M2 MacBook Airs o...
B&H Photo has 13″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs and 256GB of storage in stock and on sale for up to $150 off Apple’s new MSRP, starting at only $849. Free 1-2 day delivery is available to most US... Read more
M2 Mac minis on sale for $100-$200 off MSRP,...
B&H Photo has Apple’s M2-powered Mac minis back in stock and on sale today for $100-$200 off MSRP. Free 1-2 day shipping is available for most US addresses: – Mac mini M2/256GB SSD: $499, save $... Read more
Mac Studios with M2 Max and M2 Ultra CPUs on...
B&H Photo has standard-configuration Mac Studios with Apple’s M2 Max & Ultra CPUs in stock today and on Easter sale for $200 off MSRP. Their prices are the lowest available for these models... Read more
Deal Alert! B&H Photo has Apple’s 14-inch...
B&H Photo has new Gray and Black 14″ M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max MacBook Pros on sale for $200-$300 off MSRP, starting at only $1399. B&H offers free 1-2 day delivery to most US addresses: – 14″ 8... Read more
Department Of Justice Sets Sights On Apple In...
NEWS – The ball has finally dropped on the big Apple. The ball (metaphorically speaking) — an antitrust lawsuit filed in the U.S. on March 21 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) — came down following... Read more
New 13-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale for $999,...
Amazon has Apple’s new 13″ M3 MacBook Air on sale for $100 off MSRP for the first time, now just $999 shipped. Shipping is free: – 13″ MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD/Space Gray): $999 $100 off MSRP... Read more
Amazon has Apple’s 9th-generation WiFi iPads...
Amazon has Apple’s 9th generation 10.2″ WiFi iPads on sale for $80-$100 off MSRP, starting only $249. Their prices are the lowest available for new iPads anywhere: – 10″ 64GB WiFi iPad (Space Gray or... Read more
Discounted 14-inch M3 MacBook Pros with 16GB...
Apple retailer Expercom has 14″ MacBook Pros with M3 CPUs and 16GB of standard memory discounted by up to $120 off Apple’s MSRP: – 14″ M3 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/256GB SSD): $1691.06 $108 off MSRP – 14... Read more
Clearance 15-inch M2 MacBook Airs on sale for...
B&H Photo has Apple’s 15″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs (8GB RAM/256GB SSD) in stock today and on clearance sale for $999 in all four colors. Free 1-2 delivery is available to most US addresses.... Read more
Clearance 13-inch M1 MacBook Airs drop to onl...
B&H has Apple’s base 13″ M1 MacBook Air (Space Gray, Silver, & Gold) in stock and on clearance sale today for $300 off MSRP, only $699. Free 1-2 day shipping is available to most addresses in... Read more

Jobs Board

Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- *Apple...
Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- Apple Hill Location: WellSpan Medical Group, York, PA Schedule: Full Time Sign-On Bonus Eligible Remote/Hybrid Regular Apply Read more
Omnichannel Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mal...
Omnichannel Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Cashier - *Apple* Blossom Mall - JCPenney (...
Cashier - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Blossom Mall Read more
Operations Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mall...
Operations Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Business Analyst | *Apple* Pay - Banco Popu...
Business Analyst | Apple PayApply now " Apply now + Apply Now + Start applying with LinkedIn Start + Please wait Date:Mar 19, 2024 Location: San Juan-Cupey, PR Read more
All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.