markandsusanw
Posts: 882
Joined: 5/10/2010
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Healeymr
I have been a paying CT user for about ten years. This is my first post on a forum because I have a problem with almost everything related to social media. But since this is a potentially significant change to the platform, I wanted to say something in the hope that the powers that be will read it.
I am not in the 'excited' camp. I am in the skeptical, apprehensive, and concerned camp. I have no problem migrating to a paid subscription as long as the price stays close to what I am paying now. As someone who almost exclusively uses the Web/PC version, my skepticism, apprehension, and concern comes from watching several other websites/apps go in this same direction. It starts with a desire to improve the mobile experience. The app is then updated, and the website is ignored. After about a year, there are several features that are not on the website or PC version. Calls to incorporate the features are ignored because all that matters is the app. Then things start breaking on the web/PC version. Support for it dries up, and it becomes almost unusable.
The latest app/website that I am watching go through this is STRAVA that I use to track workouts. The website is now lagging significantly behind the app.
My next concern is around user data. As time goes by, there will be pressure to reduce the cost. This will lead to discussions regarding selling limited user data to mitigate the costs of updating the mobile app.
So, while I am not saying that this will happen, I can't think of another website/app that has gone in this direction and not followed the path I outlined. I hope Eric and CT will be the first, but today, I am searching for an alternative in case they do. Today, I need a backup plan. Yesterday, I didn't. That is why I am not excited about this announcement.
I echo all of this.
I'm a paid user, though not at the (I think overpriced) "recommended" amount. I use CT primarily for tracking my collection (what is where), and less often for researching wines I'm otherwise unfamiliar with. I use absolutely none of the premium features (pro reviews, etc.), but pay because the service is something I use almost daily and absolutely believe people should be compensated for their work. But, realistically, 95% of what I use CT for, could be achieved with a spreadsheet, albeit in less aesthetically pleasing form and encompassing the daunting prospect of transitioning all my personal data. So, I'm willing to pay $50-$75/year, but not an amount greater than the annual cost of most streaming services, which is what is "recommended."
I do use the app when I only have my phone handy, but prefer the website experience, and find it much easier to navigate.
Everyone deserves to make a living and I've found both this app, this forum, and Eric himself nothing but kind and helpful in my almost decade of use, so this is in no way meant as any kind of a dig, or even a compliant. What he's done is amazing, and he absolutely should do whatever he wants with the product he created, moving forward.
I'll keep an open mind until we see exactly what the subscriptions are—edited to add that if you're still able to select your payment cost, I'll continue to subscribe and do that—but while I realize the logic is if you can afford to have X number of bottles you can afford to pay more to keep track of them, the value prospect for me is not there if prices mirror the currently set tiers.
< Message edited by markandsusanw -- 4/7/2024 5:43:17 AM >
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RE: New Cellar Tracker mobile app and business model? - 
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