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Showing 1 of 16 conversations about:
ManSally
25
Oct 17, 2014
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This is massively sexy and if I hadn't just dropped the Lamy 2000 and wasn't anticipating some of the other pens currently in polls, I'd go for it. I still don't entirely understand how this site works... I never saw a poll for this and therefore had no idea it might be upcoming. I have no idea how far away any of the pens I really want are and I don't therefore don't know if I should just go for this now on impulse. What am I missing?
Oct 17, 2014
beesings
83
Dec 18, 2014
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ManSallyThink about it from the seller's perspective. They want us to be in a state of incomplete information. If we knew exactly what was coming and when, then we'd likely buy less stuff. Also, just look at how vague the product copy is; way too many basic details are left to the imagination.
Dec 18, 2014
ManSally
25
Dec 23, 2014
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beesingsWell I hope it's not that. Things have improved a bit since I made that comment; they hired a proper buyer for the Writing community and there have been some good stuff coming out. The real difficulty for them seems to be getting the initial relationship with the vendor set up. What we want in the polls is irrelevant if that vendor doesn't want in, and some vendors seem to be testing the waters with lower end products before going straight in to what we really want, eg Franklin-Christoph with their cases and entry level pens. Products from other vendors don't seem to have any poll presence at all. I think that just shows that MD are casting as wide a net as possible at this point, to get a relationship with vendors however they can. The most reliable indicator of products coming up seems to come from the "Request" button for previous drops; when that hits the right number the drop comes back pretty fast. Existing relationships with vendors are more significant than user polls for undropped items in determining what the next drop will be. So if I sit this round out on this pen (and I really do want it, it's just not a priority) I feel like it's a decent bet I'll get another chance.
Things might rationalize a bit when Massdrop builds a better reputation. If more users fulfill more drops (because they know they will get the stuff in, ahem, a timely fashion let's say) for a wider range of vendors, then more vendors will sign up or even be eager to hear that they've been requested in a poll. But right now it is as you say... I just come onto the site every now and again and hope I'll be surprised.
Dec 23, 2014
beesings
83
Jan 10, 2015
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ManSallyThat was a very thoughtful comment. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I was speaking about MD generally, not the writing community reps at MD in particular. My main beef (shipping has been slow for me only this last drop) is with the merchandise copy on Massdrop. It is always vague, always leaves out important details and is sometimes downright misleading. I suppose it is buyer beware always, but MD fronts like they are anti-corporate greed, so it feels wrong to take advantage of people.
Jan 10, 2015
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