Platinium club renewal for existing members at $35.40 per year? Woo hoo, I'm there Steve! (Like later this year, when M3 comes out) Meanwhile, I gonna clear out DAZ's existing stock of $1.99 items...muhahaha!

greenbd vouchers were never usable on brokered items. and sorry folks I think this is still a deal for what you get even without the vouchers. for months i've been hearing people complaining about the 99 dollar membership fee, well now you can have it either way pay the 99 bucks up front with paypal or a check cheeper rate but no vouchers, or get a monthly deal with the slight inconveniance of actually having to remember to deduct it once a month. or if you want it both ways how about putting the 117 into a paypal account and have that debited once a month? then you get the vouchers and its not coming off your card once a month.

deducting every month is not a slight inconvenience for some of us.

Food for thought. Why doesn't DAZ do away with the PC and use a $2.50 area like RDNA . Items at that price for a limited time before they are sold at regular price. No fuss,, no muss. sneeks away to put on flak jacket......

Agrees with Nickeshield. DNA's way is really nice. Keeps me coming back. ~L~

1. Back to your Questions,.. by SKondris on 7/3/03 11:48 [snip] With $5 Vouchers to boot. The only hard part left is deciding what to buy with all your discounts and specials once you're a member. ;) Or perhaps rather finding something you want to put the $5 towards before it expires. 75. Re: Platinum Club at Daz membership change ATTN ANYONE FROM DAZ by Little_Dragon on 7/3/03 12:19 * does the math * [snip] Renewing members: ( $7.95 - 5.00 ) x 12 = $35.40 per year NO - actually it's REALLY 95.4 per year, with up to $5.00 x 12 = $60 discount on DAZ original products. Which is not quite the same thing at all, though at least it now appears that THESE vouchers will be redeemable against DAZ original PC products.

Oh I forgot - the "No Start-Up Fee" is blatantly untrue - you get a 30 voucher after you've paid your $29.95 annual fee. This voucher will probably have at least one of the catches of all the other vouchers from DAZ, namely cannot be used against brokered items. I'm starting to get really wound up not about the offer/s, but about the "spin" or inaccurate descriptions of the offers. To be polite. Something which is free doesn't come with costs or catches, by definition.

The reason I'd suspect for the rebate mentality rather than the straight out pricing is because it is often known that people will tend to miss using the vouchers and thus Daz will get more money than if they offered the PC club for $33 a year straight out. Since rebates have become the lay of the land, this doesn't surprise me that much.

I do think that a $29.95 startup and $7.95 a month is a lot easier for most people to handle and will at the very least get people to try it and maybe stay. A lot of people I know don't want to hang out $99 at the start. Also if you do use the vouchers, then you've got an added bonus that you wouldn't have with the $99 as it is now, which can only be good. Also, if you decide the PC club isn't for you, you are only out $29.95 and not $99...

I was on the edge about whether to resubscribe for $99, since the current trend has been less of the standalone models (that aren't of the cute variety, which are fun admittedly) and props, but rather addons to various products and only of value if you want to spend the money to buy that product. If you don't have V3 for instance, you are out a lot of the PC items as of late. So this gives me a chance to see how the trend goes...

All in all, it's a pretty decent deal, especially if you use the vouchers and much easier, BUT Daz needs to explain it as it is, not how the marketing says it is (IE: You still lay down $95.40 a year whether you use the vouchers or not).

My 2c
ShadowWind

I still have problems with the need to pay for a membership fee, then also pay a fee for each item. And if you haven't yet joined, you'll be paying $7.95 a month just to have the privelege of spending more money. On the other hand, you can pay a one-time fee for PoserWorld or PoserStyle, and download all their stuff for free during the term of your membership.

Attached Link: http://www.daz3d.com

A Newsletter has been sent out which contains all the information that the Platinum Club Membership product page contains, and hopefully explains it even more clearly.

Who3D: You are absolutely mistaken, what has been said by DAZ is 100% accurate: If you are a current member and wish to renew, you may do so WITHOUT any startup fee and ON TOP OF THAT you will get a $30 voucher as a thank you for having stuck around for a year already as a member. So, there is no "hidden fee" or something "free that's not really free". There's no need to renew before your expiration date, either, btw.

wdupre is right, except you don't even have to remember to make your payment each month. It is automatically done for you. We debit your card automatically each consecutive month, there's nothing you have to remember to do except buy things at 30% off when your friends are sitting around saving up for things that they have to pay for without any vouchers or discount.

It really doesn't get any better than this in my opinion. 30% Off anything DAZ releases. That means 30% off Michael 3.0, that means 30% off the Millennium Cat that's coming. You also get some vouchers each month to take the edge off of some purchases to boot - for doing nothing by the way - simply because we thought you might enjoy them (but you won't be forced to use them, of course ;) ) And you get full-access to TONS of Members Only benefits. The upcoming galleries, the upcoming forum, a monthly newsletter, and the inside scoop/first look at upcoming products (has everyone forgotten what "highly talked about" products DAZ has coming up?....Am I the only one who thinks this is worth a lot, too?)

Okay, okay, I'll get off my soapbox. I think the math makes this such an obvious decision that none of the "extras" even matter, they just make it that much more fun. I mean think about it, how many of you have spent between $100-$200 at DAZ in the last 12 months? Well, being privy to our business records, I have a pretty good idea, even if you don't have your receipts all stored away nice like the IRS suggests ;) And if you've spent about that much or somewhere close over the past 12 months, you'd have to be blind not to realize that you can spend that same amount of money as a Platinum Club Member and TRIPLE or QUADRUPLE the number of products you'll get over the next 12 months.

I hope the newsletter helps clarify most of your questions here. We have a long weekend ahead, and yes, I'm afraid there won't be too many more DAZ posts until Monday morning. But I think the majority of the questions related to the Platinum Club have been answered. The rest we'll get to as we hack away at our inboxes come Monday. :D

Have a Happy 4th of July everyone, and enjoy yourselves.

Steve Kondris
DAZ Productions, Inc.

Have a great Holiday, and thanks for the replies. :)

Having read all the above, and still getting a bit confused, I thought I'd wait until the actual DAZ newsletter to read what actually was said. But when it arrived in my inbox - it was all BLANK. I use a hotmail account for things like this, and have had no problems at all with recieving the newsletter before. Has anyone else had the same problem ?

Does anyone recieved a Newsletter so far?

I'm really confused... In an earlier post you said vouchers CAN be used on Plat. Club items (if they're DAZ orginals) but the store images say that vouchers can't be used on plat. club items. So which is it, because both things can't be right.. :O( Cookie

Still haven't got mine Maus.. haven't seen a DAZ newsletter in a while for some reason.. :O| If you ever get yours could you by chance forward it to me? :O) Cookie

Yes Cookie, will do that when it arrives over here :-).

Thanks Maus :O)

Can you pay the Platinum Club with PayPal? And if so, how are the monthly payments made?

I am REALLY confused now! The Daz letter has not clarified everything at all. On one hand, we have Steve telling us Vouchers can be used yet Daz FAQ states something quite different. The best deals to be had at the moment are at RDNA or PoserPros....no start up fee and great deals! I understand competition and it's great for us buyers!! We'll go where we get the best deal. I'd much rather see Daz going this route with no start up fee, but low prices on quality items. :) Irene

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12356&Form.ShowMessage=1318526

FYI, I started the attached thread about the vouchers. I placed my order around 6:20 P.M. Central time last night. Before I hit the place my order button, the total showed $0 [I even have a screen shot :)]. After the order was processed, $1.99 was charged to my credit card.

cookie. I just got the newsletter and it has a link back to DAZ where you have to read all about the new changes. It does get confusing.

My newsletter was blank too, Hotmail like Freyfaxi. I tried clicking the "Forward" button and got a readable version - you just have to negotiate the >s.

Milamber42: yes, apparently there is a further bug with the vouchers again. I will get it looked into and let you all know once it's fixed. Thanks, Steve

I'm glad to hear that the monthly vouchers will work on Platinum Club purchases. That pretty much ensures that I'll be able to use them each month.

I got the usual Friday night DAZ newsletter showing new items, but there was nothing in it about the Platinum Club. I'll have to look at it again to see if there's a link back to their website. Did I hear the "Millenium Cat" is coming out soon? I have a feeling this new Plat. Club thing has been designed around the release of a number of new products that won't get released until after we renew. I'm just not crazy about a 7.95 charge to my credit card (check card) every month. Unlike a credit card, I have to remember to deduct this every month at a certain time or I will overdraw my account. I don't use credit cards anymore. And there seems to be too many restrictions for the $5.00 certificate each month. I guess I'll have to wait and see what is in this newsletter that I didn't get.

Attached Link: http://www.daz3d.com/products/platclub.php

The newsletter has a link for news on PClub with a link which I have put here. Funny thing is the freebie says V3 pointy shoes which is this weeks freebie but the picture is of the dragonfly saddle. so many changes so quick and things are starting to slip. Daz, please slow down. wow there is so much happening my head is spinning.

comments by SKondris
A Newsletter has been sent out which contains all the information that the Platinum Club Membership product page contains, and hopefully explains it even more clearly.

Steve, mate, "even more clearly" ??? Another publicity gaff from DAZ is hardly clear - or do the "Weekend Confusion" escapades attract enough attention that DAZ does them on purpose now? *Who3D: You are absolutely mistaken, what has been said by DAZ is 100% accurate:
*Err... I can accept that I'm wrong, but DAZ being 100% accurate?
If you are a current member and wish to renew, you may do so WITHOUT any startup fee and ON TOP OF THAT you will get a $30 voucher as a thank you for having stuck around for a year already as a member. So, there is no "hidden fee" or something "free that's not really free".
Steve Kondris
DAZ Productions, Inc.

Kewl. It's still a damned site more confusing than it need be - even with the current scheme it could all be presented in Plain English with the sums pre-done rather than let everyone come up with their own interpretations (mostly made possible by the lack of clarity in the announcements) and - let's face it, neither your record with Pay Pal nor the reliability of vouchers working with PC products is exactly spotless.

Meanwhile - DAZ Studio and (perhaps more importantly) the add-on modules. I'm surprised that DAZ appears to be changing tack on DAZ Studio "beta for all" (if it is) just as Poser 5 is settling down to being a distinct benefit to a sizeable proportion of Poser 5 owners (even if sadly way below 100%). I have, based on this years customer services, much more faith in DAZ than I had last year - but we could do with getting the English "real story" first time IMHO, not hours or days later.

Are they changing tack on the beta for all? At the risk of having the same effect as Corporal Jones running around saying "Don't panic! Don't panic!" I read the members' previews bit as a limited access version of Product Showcase, rather than special access to the D|S beta release.

I keep biting my tongue and limiting my comments on topics such as this ... but in general I find the Poser community frustratingly unequal. That DAZ should give benefits to paying club members is only right and proper - after all, they're (we're? I'm a PC member) paying money that others aren't, they should get SOME appreciable benefits. That is why I haven't carped on about PC-only products/benefits being made available to non-members - they aren't because they're a benefit of signing up and chucking money at DAZ and then praying it'll be worth it. So far the prayers have largely been answered (I don't know of a PC member who is unhappy with whats/he has got from the old PC deal). I am however concerned with deals that appear to change, making the DAZ scene a bit like quicksand. For example, a $30 MIMIC2 rebate that, it turns out, is useable on only a fraction of items from the store. Or "hints" that suggest that we PC members will get some form of early / preferrential / benficial treatment with regard to upcoming "Big" events (of which I can only imagine Studio and perhaps Mike3 must be a part). Perhaps the marketing hyperbole is on overdrive, and the actual intention is considerably tamer and more consistent - in which case I could do with less marketing and more plain English. I don't want to be schmoozed, I want the facts, just the facts. If the truth is good, it doesn't need to be heavily sold because it'll sell itself.

Many of us have been DAZ customers for years before the Platinum Club arrived. We've been treated as the worthy customers we are. Now suddenly we have a PC Club, and us "poor old regular customers" will be left out of the Preferential Treatment PC Club members enjoy. The money from our "regular purchases" is not good enough? Wow, that stinks.

OK, how about we take this thread in a new and positive direction (err... yeah...). Let's say DAZ hadn't created the Platinum club yet but were going to do so. Their aim is to take money off of punters, naturally (they're a business). What shuld they give PC members for their money that would be distinctly beneficial (for teh members) but which will not upset people who didn't hand out their cash "on faith". After all, even with the new system PC members will be handing over money BEFORE finding out what they get for it. This is probably scary as all hell to many because that's also a standrad part of many, many classic con schemes. PC members give DAZ money first, then they get the rewards (usually as a result of handing over more of their money, but this time knowing specifically what for). I'd be most interested in what people think DAZ could offer that would please PC members without upsetting non-PC members (many-if not all-of whom were DAZ customers previosuly). Or, indeed, whether there's just an anti-Platinum Club contingent regardles of how much it costs or how frequently it's paid for.

I think there's just an anti-Platinum Club contingent regardles of how much it costs or how frequently it's paid for. ;)

But there are an awful lot of forums and, how to put this diplomatically?, most are quiet and restrained places - I doubt R'osity is quaking in its boots. DAZ are hardly going to cut non-PC members off with NO product previews, presumably we'll just get more/earlier. The forum/preview/newsletter stuff DAZ are offering may or may not prove to be interesting, but I very much doubt it's going to be so earth-shatterlingly wonderful that the great unwashed will fall on Vicky's sword.

so.... not so much "anti-PC" as against missing out on PC membership "features" just because one doesn't pay to be a member? Quality is in the eye of the beholder - there's a huge swathe of $1.99 modelos that I don't own because I simply don't want them, even at that price. I have, however, had my values worth so far in more expensive (less frequent) items.

I just never could see paying $99 up front, and getting absolutely nothing for it. It's still not much better with the current scheme of things. I'd be paying $7.95 a month for the privilege of spending more of my money. The $1.99 price isn't always so hot. It appears they've broken up some packages that had gone together, or would have gone together if they hadn't broken them up. Why buy 3 packages of textures for an item when you only bought one in the past? Didn't DAZ offer "non-PC" customers 30% off DAZ-created products in the past?! They called it a "Sale." We didn't need to pay $99 to get a sale price. Again, I can pay $30-50 for a membership at some subscription sites, and immediately gain FREE access to everything they make. So why would I want to pay $99, or $29.95 down, and $7.95 a month, and get NOTHING for my money?

yes several packages have been broken up in the PClub, but if you bought say 3 $1.99 to make the 'regular' package you still saved over a non-PClub purchaser. Those that didn't want all the items in a package got to pick the items they wanted and saved even furth. non-pclub purchasers did not have this option. sale? yeah non pclub get intial sale pricing of 30% off on inital release, but PClub members get additional reduction of 30%. There have been releases that were just dirt cheap for pclub members. V3's release comes to mind. There are also items in pclub that will never be in the general store and can only be bought by being a pclub member. another tid bit, pclub items don't go away and are always $1.99. over time items have been pulled, retired, etc in the general store. Pclub items are there when you want to purchase them. There have been several items that I have boughten way after the initial release in pclub, only month later to find that I really wanted them. so I got them for $1.99, not full price like a general release that is reduced on inital release then marked up to full price. there are several items in the general store that I want but they are just too damn expensive to justify the purchase for a one off render for me, not so with the pclub. yesterday I took some time to reread this thread, do some calculations on how much I spent at Daz and how much I would have had to pay not being a pclub subscriber. I was floored. After spending almost $600 in less than a year at Daz, I've managed to save myself almost $1200 had I not been a member. And also got several items that couldn't have been bought had I not been a member. is it pay for the privilage to buy? Has been. Looks like the new system is givin a bit back with the $5 vouchers, and they are trying. I started looking around at other sites, prices and Daz still is one of the lowest cost, high quality sites for poser and models. I can justify the costs, savings, and quality. if anybody can't justify it, then by all means they should not join or reup their memberships to the pclub. no amount of slamming Daz is going to change the fact that they are a store, their to make money, and so far have greatly helped the poser community and inovations. I'm looking forward to seeing how this year folds out with new toyes, new art and a lot of fun, and I think my experience has been greatly improved due in large part to Daz.

to add to what MachineClaw has said... Only the initial releases are available in both Platinum and Premier. For several moths and hence more items release into the Platinum Club are only available there. Platinum Club members will soon begin to have access to features, more exclusive products, galleries, forum, and contest and information not available to anyone who is not a member. Platinum is considered a valuable comodity and the PC members are entitled to priviledges accordingly for their commitment. Non members will get the same low prices and features they always have. Platinum CLub members are not paying for new features. They are getting them free because they are members. Platinum CLub items are as high or higher in quality than standardly created items. Just becoause they are $1.99 does not mean they are not of the highest quality. The whole point of being a PC member is being apart of something special. --------------------------------------------- On a personal note: Respectfully Daz has shown its appreciation many times with constant low prices, 30% off intros, vouchers and storewide sales through out the year. Daz product don't stop selling. They do not put them on sale because they are pressed for sales but because they want to say thaks for the support they receive. People don't just give Daz money. :) they are getting a high quality item for their money at the lowest price around. Seems like that makes everyone fairly comphensated.

Don't worry so much, the instant one person knows anything everyone will. :)

When I mentioned that Platinum Club members would get the inside scoop on the latest gossip and happenings at DAZ, I by no means meant that there has been any change in plans for the public BETA of DAZ|Studio. As Anton pointed out, nothing at all has changed for the regular customer who is not a Platinum Club member. But, we're going to try to provide some interesting tidbits of corporate information that will be released monthly in the upcoming Platinum Club newsletter whether it be about products or other issues as well. Thanks, I hope that clarifies things a bit. Steve

It sounds more than fair to me- nothing changes whatsoever for non Platinum Club members. New things are created for the Platinum Club members... as in, added benefits.. Makes sense, they're paying for more. Heck, even without special forums and galleries, and whatnots it's well worth joining, financially speaking.

Can you pay month by month with PayPal? I realize that this can't be done automatically, but I am not allowed to use my creditcard online any more (paranoid hubby ;o) ) - however the money I make on my Poser stuff are mine to use on whatever I want :oD

Attached Link: http://www.daz3d.com

I have to apologize for the confusion regarding vouchers. I was right in stating that the normal store vouchers are good on Platinum Club DAZ Original items, but I was very wrong in not understanding (even myself) that the vouchers being issued to Platinum Club members on a monthly basis after signing up for the monthly payment plan are separate and distinct from the normal store vouchers. The Platinum Club Vouchers are a cross-promotional voucher designed to give platinum club members an extra boost in buying items from the Premier and Special Interest sections of our store. I apologize for the huge confusion this became. Unfortunately, I was confused myself on this. Hopefully, this post will clear up the rest of your main concerns. As I explained above, Platinum Club Vouchers are separate from the normal store vouchers and may be used on all non-Platinum Club DAZ Original products. These vouchers are only given to Platinum Club Members who choose the monthly payment option. These are a gift to each member every month they remain a member and are good for that month only. Due to many requests from our customers, we have added a new payment option for joining the Platinum Club. Now instead of having to come up with $99.95 at once, you have the option to spread your payments over time and join for only a $29.95 start-up fee and $7.95 a month after that. And as a bonus, everyone who joins via the monthly payment plan will automatically receive $5 Platinum Club Vouchers each month (good for one month). Or, if you wish, you may enjoy the Platinum Club benefits by making a single payment of $99.95 for a full year of membership ($69.95 for renewing members) vouchers not included. Full-year up front payments are accepted via Paypal or a check or money order. By joining the thousands of people already members of the Club, you will have full-access to the Members-Only Galleries and Forum areas, enjoy a sneak-peek of upcoming DAZ Products, and hear all the latest happenings with DAZ3D in a new monthly newsletter. And get an extra 30% off of hundreds of DAZ Original Items - even when theyre on sale. Since the start of the Platinum Club in October 2002, we have released over 40 DAZ Original Items that total over $1,000. As a Platinum Club Member you could purchase all these items for over 45% off by combining the introductory sale prices with your 30% Platinum Club discount. That means you could have purchased every one of those 40 products for under $600. There have also been many people talking about how they dont like the fact that they cannot use their credit cards to purchase the full-year upfront membership. As hard as it may be to believe, the companies we work with to process credit cards (NOVA services and CSI) will not let us process thousands of year subscriptions without paying hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, we do not have that extra cash floating around to appease the credit card processing companies. We do hope that each customer that wants to join can now do so under the new payment options. Were really trying hard to make the Platinum Club more accessible to our customers, as we realize that the more it benefits our customers, the more it benefits us as well. Thanks, Steve Kondris DAZ Productions, Inc. We are also working hard to get caught up with our email and hope to have our customer service back up to par soon. Reba Vest is helping us part-time while we work to get our heads back above water again. We are confident that there will be less bumps throughout the rest of the year.

... Just back from vacation, need time to digest all backed postings.