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Showing 1 of 34 conversations about:
ConsumerAdvocate
259
Sep 20, 2017
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Sythrix
302
Sep 20, 2017
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ConsumerAdvocateMassdrop has been a really good place for me to find ideas for things I want, but so far they haven't offered a compelling price point on most of the items I've found that I would want. I was under the impression that they were going to be this website where I could get products I wanted at prices available nowhere else... well that is true for perhaps a handful of drops.
The majority seems to be things at the same or a couple dollars below what you could find it for elsewhere and often at a much slower shipping speed. Now I wouldn't mind a slow shipping speed if they were offering actual deals, but the fact is this isn't really that good a deal. The original price on the website right now is $65. If this were being offered for say... $30 - $40, that would be a good deal and one I didn't mind waiting for.
This is only ~10% off. That's not that interesting or compelling. I initially joined because I never saw it anywhere else, but now that I know it exists in another form, for a similar or cheaper price in a much faster time frame, there's simply no reason for me to order from Massdrop, nor should they expect that I would for such a small discount.
The majority seems to be things at the same or a couple dollars below what you could find it for elsewhere and often at a much slower shipping speed. Now I wouldn't mind a slow shipping speed if they were offering actual deals, but the fact is this isn't really that good a deal. The original price on the website right now is $65. If this were being offered for say... $30 - $40, that would be a good deal and one I didn't mind waiting for.
This is only ~10% off. That's not that interesting or compelling. I initially joined because I never saw it anywhere else, but now that I know it exists in another form, for a similar or cheaper price in a much faster time frame, there's simply no reason for me to order from Massdrop, nor should they expect that I would for such a small discount.
ConsumerAdvocate
259
Sep 20, 2017
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SythrixHey, great feedback, I appreciate the dialog. I don't work for Massdrop and have no stake in them what-so-ever, so take my comments here at face value and they are my own.
When I first looked at Massdrop, I had the same impression, and in fact, I think they were more like we both view(ed) their business model - price first. This kind of 'group-buy' is powerful, but only if they can get substantial numbers of folks on-board and willing to get in on the drop. I'm ok with a drop not happening because they don't get enough people to join in, it just shows the supply-demand side of things better. Unfortunately, I think Massdrop has gradually elected to complete a higher number of drops, and spending more time/effort/money doing better product descriptions/pictures, responding to customers and all the other things that are required to make this business model work. So its a tradeoff, I get that. And I have complained in the past about some of these fundimentals not being done so well; but on the other hand, I feel like the deals were better though, but I had to do more homework learning about the products, etc.
So we can't have it both ways, full service website AND best possible price. I'm mostly happy with the slight adjustment to quality content (including managing this discussion section; which is one of the BEST parts about Massdrop!} I've been very honest and critical of Massdrop at times, and every time I go back to read my old comments, they are there, and not edited in anyway I could detect. This online marketplace is becoming more deceptive, and I so appreciate that Massdrop has incredible integrity in my book. They will even admit and apologize if appropriate when they do (still occasionally) screw up. There are now entire (fake) review websites that manipulate reviews based on business subscribers and how much they pay; look at Yelp as an example of how bad it can get.
I generally only buy luxury items from Massdrop, things like you said, I'm in no hurry to get, but want a good deal and I really like the format and features of their site. So to me this is worth the premium. Big sellers like Walmart, Amazon, etc. already leverage large quantity (bulk) purchasing power, so its unlikely Massdrop can do much better than those prices on most common stuff they sell. Plus with so many people just waiting for the price to go down before they will sign up, it will rarely enjoy the 'mass' numbers and leverage it once had. I do like one of their relatively new features, the 'Would you commit if the price were this (listing a lower price)"? If that alternate commit price were significantly lower, they might be able to do a lot better getting more people in on the drops.
Whatever they do, and however they evolve I'll be watching, I'm a fan now. Like you said, the really great deals are fewer and further between; and I'll still get in on those, but I'm also ok with the premium content and exceptionally fair pricing.
When I first looked at Massdrop, I had the same impression, and in fact, I think they were more like we both view(ed) their business model - price first. This kind of 'group-buy' is powerful, but only if they can get substantial numbers of folks on-board and willing to get in on the drop. I'm ok with a drop not happening because they don't get enough people to join in, it just shows the supply-demand side of things better. Unfortunately, I think Massdrop has gradually elected to complete a higher number of drops, and spending more time/effort/money doing better product descriptions/pictures, responding to customers and all the other things that are required to make this business model work. So its a tradeoff, I get that. And I have complained in the past about some of these fundimentals not being done so well; but on the other hand, I feel like the deals were better though, but I had to do more homework learning about the products, etc.
So we can't have it both ways, full service website AND best possible price. I'm mostly happy with the slight adjustment to quality content (including managing this discussion section; which is one of the BEST parts about Massdrop!} I've been very honest and critical of Massdrop at times, and every time I go back to read my old comments, they are there, and not edited in anyway I could detect. This online marketplace is becoming more deceptive, and I so appreciate that Massdrop has incredible integrity in my book. They will even admit and apologize if appropriate when they do (still occasionally) screw up. There are now entire (fake) review websites that manipulate reviews based on business subscribers and how much they pay; look at Yelp as an example of how bad it can get.
I generally only buy luxury items from Massdrop, things like you said, I'm in no hurry to get, but want a good deal and I really like the format and features of their site. So to me this is worth the premium. Big sellers like Walmart, Amazon, etc. already leverage large quantity (bulk) purchasing power, so its unlikely Massdrop can do much better than those prices on most common stuff they sell. Plus with so many people just waiting for the price to go down before they will sign up, it will rarely enjoy the 'mass' numbers and leverage it once had. I do like one of their relatively new features, the 'Would you commit if the price were this (listing a lower price)"? If that alternate commit price were significantly lower, they might be able to do a lot better getting more people in on the drops.
Whatever they do, and however they evolve I'll be watching, I'm a fan now. Like you said, the really great deals are fewer and further between; and I'll still get in on those, but I'm also ok with the premium content and exceptionally fair pricing.
Jaysun
1855
Sep 21, 2017
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ConsumerAdvocateYou, Sir, are a gentleman and scholar in my book.
Massdrop truly is unique in that we not only allow open discussion we encourage it.
Thank you for taking the time to understand Massdrop as well as sharing that understanding with the community.
Cheers!
Massdrop truly is unique in that we not only allow open discussion we encourage it.
Thank you for taking the time to understand Massdrop as well as sharing that understanding with the community.
Cheers!
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I like the Massdrop business model and friendly/honest community. Although I was not able to find a better price for this specific model, I don't doubt those of you that have found slightly better deals, especially if its part of some VIP membership or other running 'special'. It's just not worth it to me to create another account or to order through another vendor, I'm perfectly happy with Massdrops service and I'm in no hurry.
Everyones comments always appreciated!