Why is XBLA way of doing business acceptable?

[QUOTE="lhughey"]I was making cookies yesterday and needed 1 cup of milk, but i had to buy a whole half gallon because they don't sell milk in 1 cup increments. Why is Borden's way of doing business acceptable!?Jandurin

[QUOTE="trakem"]

The gass station is requiring a minimum perchase. That is COMPLETELY different and has nothing whatsoever to do with what Microsoft is doing in any way. Microsoft isn't just requiring a minimum perchase. They are requiring set increments. That's not the same thing. Hell, Sony has a minimum amount. I understand why they do that. What I'm saying it bad is the set increments and the point system.

mythrol

With Sony's system if something costs $10 I can put in exactly $10. With Microsoft, most games cost a different number of points than the set increments that they offer points in. Microsoft's system is more restrictive than Sony's. There are zero advantages to Microsoft's system over Sony's. Online on Microsoft's system you can't just add whatever number of points you want. You have to buy in increments that frankly are not in line with the price of most products so that you will need to buy more points than are necissary for what you want. On Sony's platform you can put in any ammount you want that is more than $5.

Microsoft's "method of solving the problem" is not good for me as a consumer. Sure, they solved the problem of a minimum amount. They then went beyond that to create a business model that is extremely unfavorable to me the consumer. They went beyond seting a minimum and said hey, why don't we require them to put in more money into the account for almost anything that they ever purchase?

It means I can log into my XBL account using a computer and type in the exact amount of MS points I want and they charge my CC for that exact amount. (not sure if there's a minimum requirement, But I used it to load points onto my account to buy Shadow Complex and have the exact amount).mythrol

[QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]believe me the interest adds up.Jandurin

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="lhughey"]I was making cookies yesterday and needed 1 cup of milk, but i had to buy a whole half gallon because they don't sell milk in 1 cup increments. Why is Borden's way of doing business acceptable!?G-O-M-J

You do know not everyone is able to pay off the full balance of their credit cards each month, right?xsubtownerx

i agree it's a bad system, in the long run idk how much it matters though i've probably bought at least $200 in dlc from them alone this gen

[QUOTE="mythrol"][QUOTE="trakem"]

The gass station is requiring a minimum perchase. That is COMPLETELY different and has nothing whatsoever to do with what Microsoft is doing in any way. Microsoft isn't just requiring a minimum perchase. They are requiring set increments. That's not the same thing. Hell, Sony has a minimum amount. I understand why they do that. What I'm saying it bad is the set increments and the point system.

trakem

With Sony's system if something costs $10 I can put in exactly $10. With Microsoft, most games cost a different number of points than the set increments that they offer points in. Microsoft's system is more restrictive than Sony's. There are zero advantages to Microsoft's system over Sony's. Online on Microsoft's system you can't just add whatever number of points you want. You have to buy in increments that frankly are not in line with the price of most products so that you will need to buy more points than are necissary for what you want. On Sony's platform you can put in any ammount you want that is more than $5.

Microsoft's "method of solving the problem" is not good for me as a consumer. Sure, they solved the problem of a minimum amount. They then went beyond that to create a business model that is extremely unfavorable to me the consumer. They went beyond seting a minimum and said hey, why don't we require them to put in more money into the account for almost anything that they ever purchase?

What if something costs less than $5 on PSN like some things do on XBL. What do you have to do to purchase ONLY that item on PSN? Like in my example a theme which costs $2.mythrol

[QUOTE="Javy03"][QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]All I'm hearing here is typical cheapness by some people.. I'd much rather buy POINTS than have to use a credit card for purchasing things. I'm looking at you PSN. So paying interest on your credit card is ok now? Also, what if you don't have a credit card? bah what's the point of arguing this on SW....... xsubtownerx

[QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]You do know not everyone is able to pay off the full balance of their credit cards each month, right?Jandurin

[QUOTE="Javy03"][QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]All I'm hearing here is typical cheapness by some people.. I'd much rather buy POINTS than have to use a credit card for purchasing things. I'm looking at you PSN. So paying interest on your credit card is ok now? Also, what if you don't have a credit card? bah what's the point of arguing this on SW....... xsubtownerx

You seem to be talking about buying pre-paid cards on Xbox Live. As the original post specified, I am NOT talking about pre-paid cards. I am talking about online purchases. If you buy online on XBL, you have to pay interest if you pay by credit card (just like on PSN) and buy in exact increments (unlike in PSN).

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]You do know not everyone is able to pay off the full balance of their credit cards each month, right?xsubtownerx

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="G-O-M-J"]makes perfect sense to me..navyguy21

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]You do know not everyone is able to pay off the full balance of their credit cards each month, right?xsubtownerx

Once again as always you seem to be talking about pre-paid cards. I understand why you have to pay in increments with pre-paid cards. I'm talking about online purchases. BTW, I pay online using a debit card so no I'm not paying interest.

[QUOTE="mythrol"]What if something costs less than $5 on PSN like some things do on XBL. What do you have to do to purchase ONLY that item on PSN? Like in my example a theme which costs $2.Jandurin

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="mythrol"]What if something costs less than $5 on PSN like some things do on XBL. What do you have to do to purchase ONLY that item on PSN? Like in my example a theme which costs $2.mythrol

It's different because Microsoft requires increments. Sony only requires a minimum. With the Sony system, the only way there needs to be something left over is with a small purchase of under $5. With Microsoft you are almost garaunteed to have something left over with every purchase you make.

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="mythrol"]What if something costs less than $5 on PSN like some things do on XBL. What do you have to do to purchase ONLY that item on PSN? Like in my example a theme which costs $2.mythrol

[QUOTE="navyguy21"][QUOTE="Jandurin"] because he wants to buy a small portion of a product, whereas the TC is talking about buying whole games? it would only make sense if the TC was complaining because he couldn't buy games level by level, he had to buy the whole game in one fell swoop :?Jandurin

[QUOTE="xsubtownerx"][QUOTE="Jandurin"] then you wouldn't be able to afford the points in cash, either. Just don't overspend and you're fine. How hard is that?Jandurin

Good point. But my argument is still valid. What happens if you purchased 50$ worth of "games" at the beginning of the month. And then something happens at the end of the month that makes you unable to pay back that amount. BANG! Interest. Now, wouldn't it have been a better idea to just buy the points CASH, and save yourself the 20cents of interest? .. :P

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="navyguy21"]TC is talking about buying POINTS........and with those points, to buy games. navyguy21

That's different for two reasons.

1) We're talking about getting a set amount of a product (milk) not money.

2) (and this is the bigger one), how are you going to buy milk if not in set increments? By having jugs and puting in the amount of milk you want and the going to some weighing station and then using some conversion chart and then getting a sticker with the price printed out? Seriously, when you are trying to sell a good you're almost always going to have to sell it in set increments. When you want to buy something though, there's no reason why you need to pay for the items in set increments.

[QUOTE="Javy03"][QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]All I'm hearing here is typical cheapness by some people.. I'd much rather buy POINTS than have to use a credit card for purchasing things. I'm looking at you PSN. So paying interest on your credit card is ok now? Also, what if you don't have a credit card? bah what's the point of arguing this on SW....... xsubtownerx

Good point. But my argument is still valid. What happens you you purchased 50$ worth of "games" at the beginning of the month. And then something happens at the end of the month that makes you unable to pay back that amount. BANG! Interest. Now, wouldn't it have been a better idea to just buy the points CASH, and save yourself the 20cents of interest? .. :Pxsubtownerx

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="mythrol"]What if something costs less than $5 on PSN like some things do on XBL. What do you have to do to purchase ONLY that item on PSN? Like in my example a theme which costs $2.mythrol

yes now my wallet has £1.01 remaining. so the game kinda costed me £5 instead of £4. alsoi think point system on 360 ends up costing less then psni mean e.g. call of duty WaW map pack costs £8 on psn.....and 800 points on 360. for £8.50 you get 1000 points. so looking at it that way you can see some stuff on 360 actually costs less.

[QUOTE="mythrol"][QUOTE="Jandurin"] i believe you would have money left over in your "wallet" then. but you could use that toward your next purchase, and as long as it was at least 5, you could go back to having 0 in your wallet.trakem

It's different because Microsoft requires increments. Sony only requires a minimum. With the Sony system, the only way there needs to be something left over is with a small purchase of under $5. With Microsoft you are almost garaunteed to have something left over with every purchase you make.

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="G-O-M-J"]makes perfect sense to me..navyguy21

You want a cup of milk and go to the shop to buy some milk. the milk costs £6 (un realistic price but who cares :P)The person at the tillthen says sorry we only accept multibles of £5, so you then have to pay £10 when you only wanted to spend £6.

Sure you can spend that £4 on something else in the shop but if you want to buy something else that costs £6 your £2 off and have to buy an extra £5 instead and if you wernt intending on buying anything else thats £4 wasted.

What MS are doing is by making you buy points they have all ready made that second sell and I don't think we should support that type of business

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="G-O-M-J"]makes perfect sense to me..G-O-M-J

One of these is a product. If you wanted to sell cookies in any count you wanted you'd have to have every shop with their own packaging facility for each product you sell and have a person working there that asks you how many cookies you want and then package those cookies in the count that you wanted it in.

The other is not a product. It is an amount of money. The only thing you have to do to make it to where you can charge the exact amount of money you want is to allow consumers to do it. It's not like money is some packaged good.

did i not just say that??:| and didnt you just agree with me that the points come first:| Also making the milk analogy valid because when you buy milk for just a cup........you still have some left over:| Doesnt matter WHY you bought the milk or points, fact is, there is some left over:|

navyguy21

[QUOTE="Jandurin"][QUOTE="mythrol"]What if something costs less than $5 on PSN like some things do on XBL. What do you have to do to purchase ONLY that item on PSN? Like in my example a theme which costs $2.mythrol

[QUOTE="trakem"]

[QUOTE="mythrol"] So they CHARGE you for $5 even if you only purchase a $2 item? And then give you a credit to use on your next purchase? How is this any different from XBL? LOLmythrol

It's different because Microsoft requires increments. Sony only requires a minimum. With the Sony system, the only way there needs to be something left over is with a small purchase of under $5. With Microsoft you are almost garaunteed to have something left over with every purchase you make.

Not true. If I just want to buy Shadow Complex and that's it, I will have money left over. Sure, if I go and select games based on price I can make it to where there is no money left over but unlike with PSN I can't just buy whatever I want and pay exact so long as it's more than $5. Once again you have to understand the difference between minimum ammount and set increments.

[QUOTE="Next-Gen-Tec"]It's acceptable because that's what MS want to do. Yes it's lame if you just want the 1200pts ($15) for e.g. but for some things you need to pay with credit card. I can see why they do it, it's quite smart on their part, but annoying for people like me.trakem

It's acceptable because Microsoft wants it to be that way? You know, you don't have to put up with any deal rotten or not that Microsoft throws out there. Are you willing to accept any bad deal that Microsoft puts out? Personally, I only like to do business when it's good for me. I'm not a charity for Microsoft or Sony or Nintendo.

It's acceptable because that's what MS want to do. Yes it's lame if you just want the 1200pts ($15) for e.g. but for some things you need to pay with credit card. I can see why they do it, it's quite smart on their part, but annoying for people like me.Next-Gen-Tec

It's acceptable because Microsoft wants it to be that way? You know, you don't have to put up with any deal rotten or not that Microsoft throws out there. Are you willing to accept any bad deal that Microsoft puts out? Personally, I only like to do business when it's good for me. I'm not a charity for Microsoft or Sony or Nintendo.

Not true. If I just want to buy Shadow Complex and that's it, I will have money left over. Sure, if I go and select games based on price I can make it to where there is no money left over but unlike with PSN I can't just buy whatever I want and pay exact so long as it's more than $5. Once again you have to understand the difference between minimum ammount and set increments.

trakem

It's acceptable because that's what MS want to do. Yes it's lame if you just want the 1200pts ($15) for e.g. but for some things you need to pay with credit card. I can see why they do it, it's quite smart on their part, but annoying for people like me.Next-Gen-Tec

It's acceptable because Microsoft wants it to be that way? You know, you don't have to put up with any deal rotten or not that Microsoft throws out there. Are you willing to accept any bad deal that Microsoft puts out? Personally, I only like to do business when it's good for me. I'm not a charity for Microsoft or Sony or Nintendo.

[QUOTE="trakem"]

[QUOTE="Next-Gen-Tec"]It's acceptable because that's what MS want to do. Yes it's lame if you just want the 1200pts ($15) for e.g. but for some things you need to pay with credit card. I can see why they do it, it's quite smart on their part, but annoying for people like me.Next-Gen-Tec

It's acceptable because Microsoft wants it to be that way? You know, you don't have to put up with any deal rotten or not that Microsoft throws out there. Are you willing to accept any bad deal that Microsoft puts out? Personally, I only like to do business when it's good for me. I'm not a charity for Microsoft or Sony or Nintendo.

I never said it was illigal. I asked you why you are willing to put up with this kind of rotten deal. Certainly Microsoft can chose to rip off their custerms. I'm just wondering why you're OK with doing business like that.

[QUOTE="trakem"]

Not true. If I just want to buy Shadow Complex and that's it, I will have money left over. Sure, if I go and select games based on price I can make it to where there is no money left over but unlike with PSN I can't just buy whatever I want and pay exact so long as it's more than $5. Once again you have to understand the difference between minimum ammount and set increments.

mythrol

Sony's system deals with microtransactions the same way as Microsoft's except they don't have set increments. They have a minimum. It's more flexible that way.

This thread proves how good is Microsoft at braniwashing. That's why they have so much money! They are expert scammers and people don't even notice.RedruM_I

same contents on XBLM and PSN end up costing a bit less on XBLM. wow sony are teh scammers

This thread proves how good is Microsoft at braniwashing. That's why they have so much money! They are expert scammers and people don't even notice.RedruM_I

even though I always purchase and have more points than I need, it always rounds off my next purchase, so more often than not I have an account of 0 points, so I don't have a problem with it since I will continue purchasing more in the future anyway. and what if the generation ends and you have 60 or 80 points left in your account? after all the money I have spent on video games I won't cry over 60 points, what is that like a buck?

I'll agree its corny but nothing to actually cry about. this has been going on for years, why all of a sudden all the topics about it?

even though I always purchase and have more points than I need, it always rounds off my next purchase, so more often than not I have an account of 0 points, so I don't have a problem with it since I will continue purchasing more in the future anyway. and what if the generation ends and you have 60 or 80 points left in your account? after all the money I have spent on video games I won't cry over 60 points, what is that like a buck?

I'll agree its corny but nothing to actually cry about. this has been going on for years, why all of a sudden all the topics about it?

LEGEND_C4A

Only justification I can see is developers can set a standard price in points for every region and MS takes care of the exchange rates by setting the price of points. It would be nice if you could buy however much you need instead of a few predertermined amounts though.

Note: This is about online purchases using a credit card. Not about online purchases using a pre-paid card.

trakem

I was making cookies yesterday and needed 1 cup of milk, but i had to buy a whole half gallon because they don't sell milk in 1 cup increments. Why is Borden's way of doing business acceptable!?lhughey

Borden's does it that way, so you have milk left over to dip your newly made cookies in.

Microsoft has been coming up with ways to rip off their customers since the 90s. Nothing new to see here.RedruM_I