tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post5524441966499034540..comments2020-04-14T11:59:20.228-07:00Comments on Applied Abstraction: Behaving Stupidly in GroupsMichael Barberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15713879666980145844noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-21878711423362759172007-07-15T10:38:00.000-07:002007-07-15T10:38:00.000-07:00Oops, posted that comment too soon. I wanted to al...Oops, posted that comment too soon. I wanted to also add that I think you're totally right about making the matter known to your MUG. Far better to be honest about these things, and not become some shill for MacUpdate in the hopes of overcoming their poor sale plan.Michael Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15713879666980145844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-4531781881219445192007-07-15T10:35:00.000-07:002007-07-15T10:35:00.000-07:00Thanks for your comments, Free. I actually saw you...Thanks for your comments, Free. I actually saw your rapidly deleted comment with the details about being spammed, and found it a bit inappropriate that it was removed, rather than being addressed. Companies that address problems rather than denying them are much nicer to deal with.Michael Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15713879666980145844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-89753979016072708322007-07-15T10:18:00.000-07:002007-07-15T10:18:00.000-07:00First of all, while you're waiting for the counter...First of all, while you're waiting for the counter to update, click on the names of the most prolific posters to the promo forum. That'll open their profile where you'll see that probably two thirds of them have not bought the bundle. I ask myself why they haven't put their money where their mouths are. Hmmm. Secondly, it's true that what someone over there wrote about, shall we say, careless remarks. I posted that I was spammed at a temporary address I'd set up the night before specifically for requesting an invite for this promo. I posted a reminder to the group to take care and included the email address of the Federal Trade Commission's spam busters. Joel deleted the post and fired off a nasty email to me. I responded that I was stunned that he interpreted my message as an accusation that MU was spamming and suggested he needed a nap. He replied that people usually blamed MU for spamming. (Do tell!) My MUG was holding a special meeting that night to review and demo apps in the bundle for members who hadn't bought. Part of the MUG mission is to share our sales, tech, and customer support experiences, which I did, showing copies of the original post and exchange of emails. The bottom line is the members there decided to pass on the promo unless Joel "wipes the dollar signs from his eyes". My guess is there were around a dozen sales lost. Yeah, it hurt my chances of getting more free apps since I bought early but I feel better remembering that, as arrrghsmythe says, this is no more than a flea on the arse of the ship's monkey in the real world. IMO Michael's got it right, puts it in proper perspective, when he steps back and observes the interesting psychology of group think. I'm going to go enjoy a sunny Sunday. Que sera, sera.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02269908699751270174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-81953654060440154962007-07-15T08:43:00.000-07:002007-07-15T08:43:00.000-07:00I tend to agree that they couldn't have done it an...I tend to agree that they couldn't have done it any worse. The whole thing seemed to be based on ideas that they were convinced to be good, rather than taking a look at standard practices.<BR/><BR/>The MacHeist group were also involved, and they were definitely pretty young. Could be that they persuaded some peers that the unlocks were brilliant, without really understanding the problems inherent therein. Most of the explanations that Joel Mueller has given have been theoretical, rather than empirically grounded. <BR/><BR/>Well, let's hope they do manage to pull it out of the fire. I certainly wouldn't mind getting Intaglio!Michael Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15713879666980145844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-53700324611228579412007-07-15T08:17:00.000-07:002007-07-15T08:17:00.000-07:00It has certainly been interesting to watch and, al...It has certainly been interesting to watch and, although it's no longer "politically correct" to point it out on the MUpromo thread itself, the guys behind it could not have messed it up more badly if they had been trying.<BR/><BR/>Making mistakes is one thing, but the complete unwillingness to accept, once it became obvious, that there was a problem and to adapt is astonishing.<BR/><BR/>The long, rambling self-justification in the FAQ (and which they have know headlined above the discussion area in order to scare off any waivering customers) reveals an extremely deluded perception. I guess these guys must be pretty young.donnachahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03385163783890557418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-91721387751057585642007-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:002007-07-15T08:01:00.000-07:00Sadly, I'd say there's a good chance that getting ...Sadly, I'd say there's a good chance that getting close will just encourage people to wait it out. Really, if there's only a few left, why should you risk it at all? Wait and see doesn't become any worse of a strategy, and maybe even better.Michael Barberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15713879666980145844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164056879958238384.post-19910100554371326392007-07-15T07:57:00.000-07:002007-07-15T07:57:00.000-07:00Interesting analysis. I'm curious what you predict...Interesting analysis. I'm curious what you predict will happen in the event that the end of the promotion approaches and Intaglio is close (within 1-200 sales) of being unlocked. Based on recent sales rates, this seems to be an increasingly likely scenario. Will some of the people who are currently sitting on their hands decide to buy when the goal is much closer, or will they still wait until after the 4,000 mark is reached?ericthemagnificenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777353298205328324noreply@blogger.com