WinCustomize Subscription Drive Begins
We need your help
Friday, September 30, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
WinCustomize.com is having a subscription drive. From September 30 to October 31 we are hoping to gain 2,000 new or renewed WinCustomize subscriptions.
Stardock has hired long-time skinner Mike Bryant who is going to work on creating at least one (probably two) premium suites that will be just for WinCustomize subscribers. In addition, WishX has been brought on board to help better coordinate efforts between the site development team and the volunteer moderators and administrators so that new features, changes, and bug fixes can be done even faster.
On top of that, monthly visitors have increased from an average of 14 million at the start of the year to over 22 million now. Those extra millions of users mean more bandwidth and more servers which is very expensive when you're at that level.
IF we make the 2,000 subscription goal we will also commit to adding some specific new features such as:
- Subscribers will be able to select their own "skin" for the site.
- An extra premium suite for subscribers
- Lots of additional new features for personal pages
- RSS feeds for select galleries
Presently, a WinCustomize subscription provides:
- No Ads on site
- Two Premium skin suites
- The WinCustomize Browser
- Unlimited Downloads
- A WinCustomize Personal page with your name as part of the domain
- A Personal photo gallery to upload images to.
- And various minor features with more being added regularly.
A WinCustomize subscription costs $19.95 for an entire year. Renewals cost $19.95 for an additional two-years. We will be keeping you up to date on the status of the subscription drive. In order to make 2,000 subscription we have to sell over 60 subscriptions per day.
 |
|
Page 3 of 4 | |
|
|---|
Elsius Saint
Reply #42 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:42 AM
Reply #42 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:42 AM
I'm going to subscribe real soon 
Price: $19.95 is very fair.
Price: $19.95 is very fair.
Rich
Reply #43 Friday, October 7, 2005 11:34 AM
Reply #43 Friday, October 7, 2005 11:34 AM
I've been a member since 2001, it's a great service and it's very nice to be able to at least change your interface so it doesn't LOOK like Microsoft made it. Next stop for Stardock, make a good OS.
Robin Siebler
Reply #44 Friday, October 7, 2005 3:05 PM
Reply #44 Friday, October 7, 2005 3:05 PM
I've never subscibed to WinCustomize. I can't justify paying the $20. It's not something I use that frequently and some of the features that I'd be paying for are simply things I have no use for:
Subscribers will be able to select their own "skin" for the site.
A WinCustomize Personal page with your name as part of the domain
A Personal photo gallery to upload images to.
No Banner Ads - It doesn't matter to me, my browser blocks them anyway.
Since I'm a current OD subscriber, the only feature I'd really be paying for is the WinCustomize browser and an extra suite or 2. I'd be willing to pay $10-15 for that, but not $20.
Subscribers will be able to select their own "skin" for the site.
A WinCustomize Personal page with your name as part of the domain
A Personal photo gallery to upload images to.
No Banner Ads - It doesn't matter to me, my browser blocks them anyway.
Since I'm a current OD subscriber, the only feature I'd really be paying for is the WinCustomize browser and an extra suite or 2. I'd be willing to pay $10-15 for that, but not $20.
Rich
Reply #45 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:40 PM
Reply #45 Friday, October 7, 2005 5:40 PM
Well, the site does provide for a great place for skinners to gather and put thier skins Robin. Without the skins you don't change much within your operating system. I think that alone is worth keeping this site running. I don't go to any other site to get my skins. This site is the authority on skins and the best skinners choose to put their skins here. Let's keep this portal open!
Cerebus1970
Reply #46 Saturday, October 8, 2005 7:06 PM
Reply #46 Saturday, October 8, 2005 7:06 PM
how hard would it be to get a subscripition from australia,want to subscribe,got the money but don`t know what to do.we have western union if that helps
Erk.
Reply #47 Saturday, October 8, 2005 8:27 PM
Reply #47 Saturday, October 8, 2005 8:27 PM
Link <<< Easy access to the order form, see below:
| Q: I don’t have a credit card. How can I purchase Stardock software? A: We also accept checks or money orders in US funds (no Eurocheques, please, as they are not certified funds). Please print and use the order form at https://www.stardock.com/order.txt (also found in the directories of Stardock’s shareware products) and mail with payment to: Stardock Systems, Inc. 15090 Beck Rd., Suite #300 Plymouth, MI 48170 USA |
Jafo
Reply #48 Sunday, October 9, 2005 8:28 AM
Reply #48 Sunday, October 9, 2005 8:28 AM
UserID: 252281
Real Name: Rxxxxx Sxxxxx
Email: xxxxxx@xxxx
Member Since: 5/3/2002
Last Visited: 10/7/2005 2:58:30 PM
Access Class: Citizen (1)
User Level: CurrentCustomer (4)
Bytes Downloaded: 528 MB
For me to receive a half GIG of downloads I pay Bigpond [my ISP] approx $15.00 AUS.....3 GIG monthly limit.....94.88 per month.
I would have thought that 'obtaining' half a gig of content probably deserves some form of recompense, even assuming no other content/value/use for/from the site...
Liquidmantis
Reply #49 Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:05 AM
Reply #49 Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:05 AM
Except that without the availability of content to be downloaded, OD is useless. If Wincustomize.com didn't exist I wouldn't be a continued OD customer personally. I'm another user who doesn't see any enticement from the $20 WC subscription package. I don't need a personal page and don't care about skinning the site. Premium skins would be the only real benefit for me. Now, if it's getting close to the 2000 mark I'll probably subscribe to contribute.
SiFiSpy
Reply #50 Friday, October 14, 2005 7:44 AM
Reply #50 Friday, October 14, 2005 7:44 AM
I'm sorry. Somewhere along the line I thought that since I subcribed to OD, I was automatically subscribed to WC (my mistake - I wonder how many others think the same thing?). I'm signing up now because the articles and forums alone are worth it. I don't download graphics much (maybe one skin or wallpaper per month) but the inspirational value of seeing the creativity of others is priceless! Support those that feed you! 
lynnyf
Reply #51 Monday, October 17, 2005 3:05 PM
Reply #51 Monday, October 17, 2005 3:05 PM
LOOK I AM HAVING A BIG PROBLEM TRYING TO RENEW MY SUBSCRIPTION!
I entered my code into the box to renew and it takes me to another page where I click on the check out button. The next page brings up my personal information and billing information; when I hit submit at the bottom of the page it takes me to another page with not only my renewal but an additional WC subscription!! For a total of $39.90 and it won't let me delete the additional subscription.
I've written Stardock for a week. Today I get an email stating they have no record of me renewing my subscription to kindly resubmit the order. OF COURSE THEY HAVE NO RECORD BECAUSE THE TOTAL CAME TO $39.90 AND I DID NOT PUT IN MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER BECAUSE I COULD NOT DELTE THE EXTRA SUBSCRIPTION!!!!!
I tried calling Stardock and all I get is a recording. Will someone please help me? All I want to do is renew my subscription. I tried again today and when I went to hit the final checkout button again it came up AGAIN with two subscriptions instead of one!!!!
Since Stardock obviously reads these because they answered one of the other users I hope they see this; or answer my emails without a canned response or respond to my phone call because I am getting quite upset!
I entered my code into the box to renew and it takes me to another page where I click on the check out button. The next page brings up my personal information and billing information; when I hit submit at the bottom of the page it takes me to another page with not only my renewal but an additional WC subscription!! For a total of $39.90 and it won't let me delete the additional subscription.
I've written Stardock for a week. Today I get an email stating they have no record of me renewing my subscription to kindly resubmit the order. OF COURSE THEY HAVE NO RECORD BECAUSE THE TOTAL CAME TO $39.90 AND I DID NOT PUT IN MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER BECAUSE I COULD NOT DELTE THE EXTRA SUBSCRIPTION!!!!!
I tried calling Stardock and all I get is a recording. Will someone please help me? All I want to do is renew my subscription. I tried again today and when I went to hit the final checkout button again it came up AGAIN with two subscriptions instead of one!!!!
Since Stardock obviously reads these because they answered one of the other users I hope they see this; or answer my emails without a canned response or respond to my phone call because I am getting quite upset!
FJMAC
Reply #52 Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:00 PM
Reply #52 Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:00 PM
Glad to join the ranks, subscribed today. I visit Wincustomize daily, so I want to support WC. BTW thanks for the 3 Premium skins including the Halloween one by MikeB 
crzy4themes
Reply #53 Friday, October 21, 2005 2:57 PM
Reply #53 Friday, October 21, 2005 2:57 PM
I'm renewing my subscription now, although it's not due until January sometime. I use my computer as entertainment. I love being able to change skins and cursors to match whatever Webshots photo I'm using at the moment. I have neither the time nor the patience to make my own skins and I have great admiration for those who can and are also willing to share them with people like me. I look at my Wincustomize subscription as a whole year's worth of entertainment for the price of one evening out. Dinner and a movie? I'd rather trade that three hours of entertainment for a year of access to all the great stuff here and since I'm renewing that's actually two years of access! I hope more people will view it the same way so the site can continue to entertain not only me, but others as well.
BradG59
Reply #54 Friday, October 21, 2005 10:00 PM
Reply #54 Friday, October 21, 2005 10:00 PM
Speaking from personal experience...
I first discovered this site about 18 months ago, totally fell in love with it then began purchasing their programs; Object Desktop, WinCustomise Subscription, Cursor XP Plus, ObjectDock Plus, Natural Desktop and Orion Icon Suite.
BUT, I have since had many problems with several of the main programs, in particular DesktopX, Natural Desktop (never been able to run without the CPU redlining), ObjectBar, Desktop Gadgets, CursorXP, ObjectDock, even the SmartException program I used to document my problems soon stopped working for no apparent reason?!
Usually I'd wait for the next update to see if that fixed things but to no avail, so then I would contact support for some help. Excuse my expressive language (shouting?) but,
THE SUPPORT SUCKS!
They start out very helpful but before the problems are sorted they stop replying!! Very frustrating, especially for a novice like myself. Then if you keep nagging about a particular problem they reply like it's the first time they heard from you and you have to start from scratch in explaining the whole thing again!
I still visit and use the site as there are some very talented skinners and high quality work to enjoy, BUT I definitely WON'T be wasting anymore of my hard-earned cash on something that's given me so much grief and with no help/support! Maybe I'm not the only one experiencing similiar problems??
Sincerely Frustrated and Disappointed,
Brad Griffin, (mrdarb).
I first discovered this site about 18 months ago, totally fell in love with it then began purchasing their programs; Object Desktop, WinCustomise Subscription, Cursor XP Plus, ObjectDock Plus, Natural Desktop and Orion Icon Suite.
BUT, I have since had many problems with several of the main programs, in particular DesktopX, Natural Desktop (never been able to run without the CPU redlining), ObjectBar, Desktop Gadgets, CursorXP, ObjectDock, even the SmartException program I used to document my problems soon stopped working for no apparent reason?!
Usually I'd wait for the next update to see if that fixed things but to no avail, so then I would contact support for some help. Excuse my expressive language (shouting?) but,
THE SUPPORT SUCKS!
They start out very helpful but before the problems are sorted they stop replying!! Very frustrating, especially for a novice like myself. Then if you keep nagging about a particular problem they reply like it's the first time they heard from you and you have to start from scratch in explaining the whole thing again!
I still visit and use the site as there are some very talented skinners and high quality work to enjoy, BUT I definitely WON'T be wasting anymore of my hard-earned cash on something that's given me so much grief and with no help/support! Maybe I'm not the only one experiencing similiar problems??
Sincerely Frustrated and Disappointed,
Brad Griffin, (mrdarb).
neophil78
Reply #55 Saturday, October 22, 2005 4:22 AM
?????????? Where's that ? are the ones who subscribed since years not having right for it ?
Reply #55 Saturday, October 22, 2005 4:22 AM
| BTW thanks for the 3 Premium skins including the Halloween one by MikeB |
?????????? Where's that ? are the ones who subscribed since years not having right for it ?
NightTrainthedark
Reply #56 Saturday, October 22, 2005 5:02 AM
Reply #56 Saturday, October 22, 2005 5:02 AM
Subscriber skins https://www.wincustomize.com/resources.aspx
David Brelo
Reply #57 Saturday, October 22, 2005 10:30 AM
Reply #57 Saturday, October 22, 2005 10:30 AM
Keep your fingers crossed. I’m trying to come up with the money before the end of the drive. I have an OD subscription. So I may not need a WC subscription, but I want one, mainly to help support WC.
Thanks OD and WC supporters, David Brelo
Thanks OD and WC supporters, David Brelo
neophil78
Reply #58 Saturday, October 22, 2005 2:56 PM
Reply #58 Saturday, October 22, 2005 2:56 PM
Thanks for the link Night Train
Just wonder why the Halloween WB is not accessible through SDC with the other Wincustomize stuff ???
Just wonder why the Halloween WB is not accessible through SDC with the other Wincustomize stuff ???
sheaiiimef
Reply #59 Sunday, October 23, 2005 4:20 AM
Reply #59 Sunday, October 23, 2005 4:20 AM
After sponging off of you for all I could get, I sponged 20 bucks off my wife so that I can now sponge even more off of you all. It's great to have a site where people can show off what they truly love to do instead of showing a client what they wanted. Good on ya'll. I barely know how to get my knuckles to type this out so thank you all for your great work.
Semper Fi!!
Semper Fi!!
Artiepro
Reply #60 Wednesday, October 26, 2005 9:09 AM
Reply #60 Wednesday, October 26, 2005 9:09 AM
Finally bought my subscription and seeing as the whole thing nearly went kaput the $$$ is DEFINITELY well spent. 
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
|
|
Page 3 of 4 | |
|
|---|
Reply #41 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 5:27 AM
Been a Stardock ObjectDesktop customer since May of 2005. A couple days ago when the subscription drive began was the first time I even thought about subscribing to WinCustomize.com. I can add on an honest note, it was well worth it!! I now have access to WinCustomize.com through the use of their own browser and also have their browser integrated into Stardock Central. Amazing what people can make now.