Price Increase

Hi there,
Well I'm sure most (if not all) of what I will write has already been posted, but feeling somewhat "disturbed" at the recent announcement, I figured why not voice my oppinion and "concerns".

First of all, considering how the global economy is and where it is going, I find this increase somewhat inappropriate and in very poor taste. That's like handing a glass of water to someone in the desert and then telling him he has to pay for it with his blood. then on a day that's twice as hot, asking him to pay for it with his life.

2nd, asking for an increase of this magnitude (67% on tier fee and 50% on cost) is extreme gouging in my opinion. When s the last time someone did that kind of increase ANYWHERE in life? And if so, I really doubt it was justified.

Nevertheless, considering how the costs of modern electronics drop so much, I cannot see where class 4 to 5 upgrades justify such an increase.

I have spoke with several friends who presently reside on OS sims and have now decided not to renew their "leases" next month and are dumping their lands, even at the cost of what they paid for it, particularly at Linden Lab's (what appears to be Greedy) over inflated increase.

I was planning to get an OS with some friends but that idea has now gone out the windows and have NO plan to buy or rent (direct or indirectly any land from Linden Labs any time soon.

As for how much consideration Linden Labs plans to give to this issue, well let's just say that last time I had an issue with Linden labs, it took over 10 days of persistence and arguing before I had any satisfaction, and that was just over a lost item. Not holding my breath over policy change relating to land cost/rent anytime soon.

Well these are my thoughts.

Maddy

I'm of the same mind..
just paid my tier for the coming month. So I am awaiting the outcome with bated breath.. Can't honestly see LL backing down and saying ok... prices wont change.. would be nice but somehow I cant see it happening.
I do agree though.. what you say Maddy is one way of putting it.. others may resort to stronger use though... lol
So, at this moment in time, I am still the owner of an Open Sim, but for how much longer? As I have received a message from the Estate Owner, who I get on with very well and she has informed me, and the other owners too, of the proposed increase so I will be getting in touch with her to see what she is doing.
If it comes to it then I will have no choice but to leave the OS and live on my newly aqcuired full sim. My intention was to have the two together and have an open space for sailing/swimming etc and also to continue to have it as light use as my home and also for 3 of my friends living there too! Only 4 homes on there and no lag at all and loads of spare prims as well.
The Full sim was to be the 'workhorse' home/store rentals and a club too, with a link to the mainland and the OS as well.
since LL have now scuppered this idea, and no doubt other peoples plans too, then a massive major rethink is required by all and sundry here.
After all how can they justify a massive price increase like this!?
No doubt they will have to rethink on this action.. and I hope that parity will be restored.. and that there will be no price hike!
Can't see it somehow.. but we can live in hope...
Well I live on RoBeck Isle (OS) and RoBeck Land (the full prim region) is opening soon.lol Do drop by and take a look... Stores/homes for rent very soon. Shopping Mall and a few stores too.. Affiliates are more than welcome
Sorry for hijacking your thread Maddy... Becky says its ok! lol

Maddy - I just bought my two open spaces and one island sim and the last thing I was expecting at such an early stage in my 'investment' was a price increase of this magnitude. It hits just as the pound drops and my costs increase 30% as a result already. Those sims have very, very light usage and I rented one of them to members of my collaborative team at cost price as a 'reward' for working so hard on the Spacexcape Project. I make only the tier money on the other because the rental market is at an all time low on second Life. I was told at purchase that it was fine to rent them as residential and have never been warned otherwise. There is no other financial reward for all my team's time and expertise put into that project and giving them a low cost land deal to 'hang out at' seemed a nice way to reward. I would not have considrd it had I known what Linden were cooking up.

I will abandon both open space sims (and watch my investment go down the plug hole) before the next tier is due at end of November and I am seriously thinking of shutting down the project as a protest against the appalling way we are treated by Linden Labs. If I go, it will be in a storm of protest advertised across every forum and network on the www and I will NEVER spend one single cent more where Linden are concerned. I will go from being their greatest advocate to their worst enemy.

Wow I must confess that I did not expect such anger, however I don't blame you. Yes for those who have invested a lot of time (not to mention what I presume to be substantial amounts of money) this is quite an upset and windfall. Many have already enough difficulty breaking even never mind making a profit.

For those owning an OS sim and abandoning or planning to abandon, remember that the increase IS only as of January 1st, leaving you 2 months before the change. Although not a consolation to what is inevitably going to be a dark day, at least it gives you time to decide what to do.

The worst in this is I foresee many actually ABANDONING their lands. The question LL should ask themselves is, will the drop in tier fees coming in from all these OS affect their judgment in their cost decision. A bird in the hand is worth more than 2 in the air. If 4 had an OS at 75/mo to LL and 2 leave, then LL makes 250 instead of 300.

And it's not just a question of losing land customers, because i can GUARANTEE you that many WILL drop SL altogether over this issue. Why? Well simple! No matter how you lay it out, it's a business. Fun or not fun, IT'S A BUSINESS. And people will go to where it costs them the least and brings in the most.

Better re-evaluate your decision Linden. You may stand to lose more by asking for more.

Scrappy Maddy

This is nothing but a grab for more money. Paying more wont' magically make the sims run better. I understand LL is a company and is in business to make money. But are you telling me that having one box providing four sims and bringing in exactly the same amount of money as a regular sim isn't enough? SL is gravely overpriced as it is. If they want to put some limits on avatars in the voids (like there is a max number of prims) then that's fine. But since this isn't about a tech problem but rather LL just thinking we are an endless font of cash, I object very sternly. And I'll see my maze and home in my void destroyed before I'll kowtow to this blantant bait and switch, crack distributor level of behavior!