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No, There is Nothing Wrong With Selling Skins!

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No, There is Nothing Wrong With Selling Skins!

from JoeUser Forums

Over the weekend we had a little flamefest going over a skin, and one of the comments was basically trying to trash people for selling their skins.  Now since I posted a warning about a 3 month ban from WinCustomize if any other trolling was going to continue, a certain person decided to go to my personal blog and send me an e-mail to my personal account about it.

The e-mail:

“So you think that there's nothing wrong with selling skins between $4 and $5 a pop, uh. Everyone of you is ripping off the the american public. Do you know how much money it takes to make a simple song? Do you know much mp3 files cost? I get them for 10 cents a piece, and yet songs take a hell of a lot more time and money to make, than your skins, and your selling them for more than what a gallon of gas costs. You need to wake up, and look around you. You obviously don't know what the hell is going on in this country right now. You got the nerve to sell some desktop skin for the price your selling for. You Spencer Scott are very little piece of the problem we have in this country, you Spencer Scott, are very good example of an asshole.”

My first reaction at this e-mail was a very good chuckle.  I then read it again and wondered what this person was really thinking.  Trying to compare .mp3’s to skins really made no sense to me, but then I realized probably what they were saying, and then once again realized this person had no clue about skinning.  Let me explain something to this person specifically.  Making skins is not easy, and making professional-type skins is much, much worse.  A high-quality WindowBlinds skin can easily take months to complete, so what really is the PROBLEM with selling a skin?  Nothing at all, that’s what!

I work with many of our Master Skinners here on WinCustomize, and I think every one of them also creates plenty of free content that is also released, so not only do I not have a problem with someone selling skins, I encourage people to buy them as well and support these works.  WinCustomize will continue with the Master Skins programs, and if you have an issue with it, you can contact me via the WinCustomize or Stardock e-mail. 

Better yet, lets have a discussion about the selling of skins.  What is your opinion about it?  Do you buy skins?  So instead of following me around the internet, step up and post some reasons why someone should not be allowed to sell something they have worked countless hours on.  I really can’t wait to read the communities opinions, especially from this commenter (which I do know who you are ;) ). 

213,237 views 99 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nah....he's just hoarseing around...

:LOL:
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just putting my input in here, but it seems I'm in agreement with most of the posters here: if the master skin is to my liking, I have NO problem with paying money for a high-quality skin.
Reply #79 from WinCustomize Forums Top

no karma for you ya little asshat.

When you wear your ass as a hat....

 

Anyway, back on topic-

I always find it funny when people complain about the cost of goods or how artists are "ripping off" people.  It's like talent and hard work has no worth.  Yet, they are fine driving their SUV's getting less than 20 mpg to McDonald's to buy a super sized death meal.  I somehow think that is more than $5.00 and will last much less time.

People will also blow $5.00 on a specialty coffee, or a beer when they go out to eat.  They pay inflated price at theme parks or other events for a bottle of water.  They find all sorts of ways of "wasting" money, yet complain about not getting somebody else's hard work for free.

My thoughts- if you think it costs too much, don't buy it.

Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if you think it costs too much, don't buy it.


Thats what it all comes down to...choice.
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
no karma for you ya little asshat.

When you wear your ass as a hat....
 
Anyway, back on topic-
I always find it funny when people complain about the cost of goods or how artists are "ripping off" people.  It's like talent and hard work has no worth.  Yet, they are fine driving their SUV's getting less than 20 mpg to McDonald's to buy a super sized death meal.  I somehow think that is more than $5.00 and will last much less time.
People will also blow $5.00 on a specialty coffee, or a beer when they go out to eat.  They pay inflated price at theme parks or other events for a bottle of water.  They find all sorts of ways of "wasting" money, yet complain about not getting somebody else's hard work for free.
My thoughts- if you think it costs too much, don't buy it.



Well said.....

Oh and i love the pic :CONGRAT:
:LOL:
Reply #82 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Certainly, skinners have a right to sell their skins at any price they like, and I have a right not to buy them. For me, it's just not worth the cost. For example, $5 for an animated wallpaper is a lot to ask for considering that you can get DVDs for $10 at Wal-Mart. That's a few seconds of video that repeats in a loop compared to a two-hour movie.
Reply #85 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For example, $5 for an animated wallpaper is a lot to ask for considering that you can get DVDs for $10 at Wal-Mart. That's a few seconds of video that repeats in a loop compared to a two-hour movie.


Sounds like a plan....run your DVD as an animated background......problem solved and look at the money you save!
Reply #86 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Suuuper ID ....

u r supporting these works ..... and thats what we all have to do ........
i mean .... there is no wrong .... if someone gets some bucks on his hours of work ....

u scott spencer, are very good example of a very good guy ....  ;) 
Reply #87 from WinCustomize Forums Top

considering that you can get DVDs for $10 at Wal-Mart.

oh..god...don't bring Wally World into this.  Do you even know what they do to get prices that low?  Wal-Mart- it's everything that's wrong with America wrapped up in one nice little package.

But, hey!  If you think it's too much money- don't buy it.  I think a Porsche is too much money.  I can get a Cobalt for 1/6th the price.  I think they should lower the price of the Porsche so that I can justify paying for it! 

Reply #88 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think they should lower the price of the Porsche so that I can justify paying for it!
They are not free?
Reply #89 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh..god...don't bring Wally World into this.  Do you even know what they do to get prices that low?  Wal-Mart- it's everything that's wrong with America wrapped up in one nice little package.


You do realize that Wal-Mart is one of the retailers that sells the packaged copies of your employer's games right?

WWW Link
Reply #90 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You do realize that Wal-Mart is one of the retailers that sells the packaged copies of your employer's games right?

If anyone at all realizes I'm sure that will be KarmaGirl.

Fear not....;)

Reply #91 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What an idiot. I have purchased and downloaded skins. I do not have the talent that the skinners have. However, i do realize that it takes time and effort to produce a high quality product and these folks have the right to do what they want with the fruits of their labor. Where is this losers (or cheapskate) sense of entitlement coming from? I'm sure he would not go to work for 40 hours a week and not expect to be paid (presuming he has adequate employment). What a GOON!!!!
Reply #92 from WinCustomize Forums Top
After doing some long winded calculations, I have estimated that my income from skin sales versus amount of time spent on them is about 10c an hour.. If I add in the free skins I have made... around 20 WB's and 25 VS, I have made approx. .05c an hour for my work.


AMEN! If i had to live on my DX Gadget income, i would be living in a box under the interstate overpass.

Anyone that complains about buying a skin needs to make their own and then will see how much they complain.
Reply #93 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think a Porsche is too much money. I can get a Cobalt for 1/6th the price. I think they should lower the price of the Porsche so that I can justify paying for it!


Hold up, you're not fooling us, KG. We've all seen the photos here: WWW Link, so we know the company bought you your Porsche! ;)
Reply #94 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What an idiot. I have purchased and downloaded skins. I do not have the talent that the skinners have. However, i do realize that it takes time and effort to produce a high quality product and these folks have the right to do what they want with the fruits of their labor. Where is this losers (or cheapskate) sense of entitlement coming from? I'm sure he would not go to work for 40 hours a week and not expect to be paid (presuming he has adequate employment). What a GOON!!!!


It's comments like these that are continuing to bring these forums down. CAN'T WE PLEASE STOP THIS
Reply #96 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If I ever have surgery again I'm going to ask for the free version.Stretcher 2
Reply #97 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It's comments like these that are continuing to bring these forums down. CAN'T WE PLEASE STOP THIS

Since there is no disclosure of who the person was/is comments such as that cannot be construed as personal attack since there is no 'defined' person ....;)

Reply #98 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Idiot.


Zu! play nice. Yes, the email was nasty and illogical/ill tempered/churlish/foolish.

But we promised to respect and not sink to that person's level, right?