Comments on: Wowio Returns; Customers Unhappy, Going Elsewhere http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/ Independent Opinions on Comics of All Kinds Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:59:57 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Wowio No Longer Owned by Platinum » Comics Worth Reading http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-105846 Wowio No Longer Owned by Platinum » Comics Worth Reading Sat, 22 Aug 2009 21:00:43 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-105846 [...] by Platinum about a year ago, so that didn’t last long. (And the combination was generally unsuccessful.) Practically, I’m not sure how much of a change this actually is, since Altounian is still [...]

[...] by Platinum about a year ago, so that didn’t last long. (And the combination was generally unsuccessful.) Practically, I’m not sure how much of a change this actually is, since Altounian is still [...]

]]> By: Remember Wowio? » Comics Worth Reading http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-101654 Remember Wowio? » Comics Worth Reading Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:53:52 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-101654 [...] a shady track record. The changes they implemented, including eliminating most of the free PDFs, were unpopular. Then the payments [...]

[...] a shady track record. The changes they implemented, including eliminating most of the free PDFs, were unpopular. Then the payments [...]

]]> By: Wowio Traffic Declines; Now Same as When Closed » Comics Worth Reading http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-98769 Wowio Traffic Declines; Now Same as When Closed » Comics Worth Reading Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:29:06 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-98769 [...] figures, Wowio’s traffic now is about what it was when the site was shuttered during the handover to Platinum. [...]

[...] figures, Wowio’s traffic now is about what it was when the site was shuttered during the handover to Platinum. [...]

]]> By: Wowio Gives Free Gift » Comics Worth Reading http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97443 Wowio Gives Free Gift » Comics Worth Reading Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:55:57 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97443 [...] Wowio was down for its ownership transfer earlier this year, I said I wanted to be notified when they returned. Because of that, I [...]

[...] Wowio was down for its ownership transfer earlier this year, I said I wanted to be notified when they returned. Because of that, I [...]

]]> By: Strip News | ArtPatient.com http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97262 Strip News | ArtPatient.com Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:17:29 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97262 [...] There is also another news item from CWR which talks about the new Wowio site. [...]

[...] There is also another news item from CWR which talks about the new Wowio site. [...]

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97211 Johanna Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:51:40 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97211 I see now that some Wowio publishers are being more specific about what, exactly, they're offering. I just got a press release today in which the provider is announcing a new comic available. They specify that it can be read online worldwide for free, that downloads in the US will be free, and downloads elsewhere will cost 99 cents. I'm glad to see them setting expectations from the start, given the confusion over the recent changes. I see now that some Wowio publishers are being more specific about what, exactly, they’re offering. I just got a press release today in which the provider is announcing a new comic available. They specify that it can be read online worldwide for free, that downloads in the US will be free, and downloads elsewhere will cost 99 cents. I’m glad to see them setting expectations from the start, given the confusion over the recent changes.

]]> By: Johanna http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97204 Johanna Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:18:27 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97204 That's a big question mark in some people's heads, whether Platinum will pay as promised, since they've had recent problems in that area and seem to have lost money over most of their corporate life. Wait and see, I guess, and hope for the best. That’s a big question mark in some people’s heads, whether Platinum will pay as promised, since they’ve had recent problems in that area and seem to have lost money over most of their corporate life. Wait and see, I guess, and hope for the best.

]]> By: Tiff http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97199 Tiff Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:48:36 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97199 I found how to change my pricing, but I am still less than enthusiastic about this whole deal and will be removing all of my books by the end of the month if things do not pick up. My out of country readers are most upset... because even though Wowio is now global, there are not any advertisers at all, so they are still getting the raw end of the deal. Although.. now my US readers are upset because there's only been ONE sponsor and one download and they already read it on my website, so why bother with reading it on Wowio. (I also don't like giving Wowio money to hold onto for months at a time. My greatest fear is that they aren't going to pay.) I found how to change my pricing, but I am still less than enthusiastic about this whole deal and will be removing all of my books by the end of the month if things do not pick up.

My out of country readers are most upset… because even though Wowio is now global, there are not any advertisers at all, so they are still getting the raw end of the deal.

Although.. now my US readers are upset because there’s only been ONE sponsor and one download and they already read it on my website, so why bother with reading it on Wowio. (I also don’t like giving Wowio money to hold onto for months at a time. My greatest fear is that they aren’t going to pay.)

]]> By: Mark Waldmann http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97182 Mark Waldmann Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:07:26 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97182 To Jr-Thanks for that update but I already knew about the $1.99 price which was my point. These were in my que before as free downloads and now they cost. I am sorry but the draw, my reason for going to WOWIO was to download free books that interested me. If you take away the free option and instead replace it with pricing or the ability to only read the book online, you remove the draw and thus remove those like myself who came there for free (FREE) books. That was my whole point. Also, the book on Caesars cavalry is apparently no longer there along with some others in my que so that ended that. I will not be going back. Nuff said on that. Take care Jr To Jr-Thanks for that update but I already knew about the $1.99 price which was my point. These were in my que before as free downloads and now they cost. I am sorry but the draw, my reason for going to WOWIO was to download free books that interested me. If you take away the free option and instead replace it with pricing or the ability to only read the book online, you remove the draw and thus remove those like myself who came there for free (FREE) books. That was my whole point. Also, the book on Caesars cavalry is apparently no longer there along with some others in my que so that ended that. I will not be going back. Nuff said on that. Take care Jr

]]> By: Gerry Manacsa http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97175 Gerry Manacsa Tue, 05 Aug 2008 02:37:44 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97175 Bill, I'm definitely no expert on distribution strategy, and I didn't mean to imply that giving away the books was the right approach for you. I just wanted to clarify that "free" was a pricing option open to any publisher who wants to use it. Regarding the search issue — we're not aware of any problem or changes in the search function on the site. While it's possible that some glitch occurred immediately after the initial launch, it should all be working normally now. I did random tests on a few of your titles and the books seemed to come up as expected. Feel free to email me with details of the issue that you're seeing if it continues. [disclaimer: I’m speaking for myself, not for my employer WOWIO] Bill,

I’m definitely no expert on distribution strategy, and I didn’t mean to imply that giving away the books was the right approach for you. I just wanted to clarify that “free” was a pricing option open to any publisher who wants to use it.

Regarding the search issue — we’re not aware of any problem or changes in the search function on the site. While it’s possible that some glitch occurred immediately after the initial launch, it should all be working normally now. I did random tests on a few of your titles and the books seemed to come up as expected. Feel free to email me with details of the issue that you’re seeing if it continues.

[disclaimer: I’m speaking for myself, not for my employer WOWIO]

]]> By: Bill Williams http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97174 Bill Williams Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:54:19 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97174 Gerry, Why would I want to give work away on a third site? My webcomic is already free on Graphic Smash.com and Lone Star Press.com. Does a third free venue really help me? I look forward to the day when WOWIO can catch up to Drive Thru Comics when it comes to bundling product. As a publisher, I am disappointed in WOWIO's relaunch too. The search function on the site is worse now. If you really want to find something, you have to remember to use quotation marks. And the money is much worse. My enthusiasm has gone from high to marginal at best. Bill Gerry,

Why would I want to give work away on a third site? My webcomic is already free on Graphic Smash.com and Lone Star Press.com. Does a third free venue really help me?

I look forward to the day when WOWIO can catch up to Drive Thru Comics when it comes to bundling product.

As a publisher, I am disappointed in WOWIO’s relaunch too. The search function on the site is worse now. If you really want to find something, you have to remember to use quotation marks.

And the money is much worse.

My enthusiasm has gone from high to marginal at best.

Bill

]]> By: Jr http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97173 Jr Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:33:44 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97173 Mark Waldmann, I look in the Wowio search engine. Those books have a download price of 1.99 except Caesars Cavalry which is not listed. Check again Mark Waldmann, I look in the Wowio search engine. Those books have a download price of 1.99 except Caesars Cavalry which is not listed. Check again

]]> By: Jr http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97172 Jr Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:27:23 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97172 All this banter is good. It looks like problems are being solved. It may take some time, but it looks like compromises are bing met on both sides. As with any retooled business, you have to find things that work and work for both sides. IMO All this banter is good. It looks like problems are being solved. It may take some time, but it looks like compromises are bing met on both sides. As with any retooled business, you have to find things that work and work for both sides. IMO

]]> By: Gerry Manacsa http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97170 Gerry Manacsa Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:58:11 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97170 Bill, The minimum non-zero price is $0.99, but publishers can actually give away their work for free if they choose. The $0.99+ pricing is set to ensure that credit card transaction fees are covered while still allowing a fair return for content creators, publishers and WOWIO. On a related note, we're working on a feature that will enable publishers to bundle their titles, which effectively will allow the price of individual works to be less than $0.99. For example, four books in a series can be bundled together at a price of $2, resulting in an effective price per book of $0.50. Bill,

The minimum non-zero price is $0.99, but publishers can actually give away their work for free if they choose. The $0.99+ pricing is set to ensure that credit card transaction fees are covered while still allowing a fair return for content creators, publishers and WOWIO.

On a related note, we’re working on a feature that will enable publishers to bundle their titles, which effectively will allow the price of individual works to be less than $0.99. For example, four books in a series can be bundled together at a price of $2, resulting in an effective price per book of $0.50.

]]> By: Tiff http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97169 Tiff Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:58:01 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97169 Unfortunately, Wowio has not seen fit to ALLOW publishers a way to easy change the prices on their books. :P I'm also not sure if I want to trust them when Lulu takes a smaller cut and pays monthly and Wowio may never pay. Unfortunately, Wowio has not seen fit to ALLOW publishers a way to easy change the prices on their books. :P I’m also not sure if I want to trust them when Lulu takes a smaller cut and pays monthly and Wowio may never pay.

]]> By: Mark Waldmann http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97168 Mark Waldmann Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:57:54 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97168 I realize that many of you out here are selling mags on WOWIO and that your perceptions and your comments are based on that but as a person who just wanted to download some interesting books and perhaps a comic now and again, I think this new site and the new management is a bust! I went there tonight to download some of the books I had in my que (Sun Tzu Art of War, Maxims of Napoleon, Caesars Cavalry, etc.) only to find that I can only view them online now with no options to download. Why in the hell would I want to read them online? I want to download them so that I can read them at my leisure, not be chained to the session in order to read the book. This was, in my humble opinion, a few steps backward to a service that I genuinely liked. I always clicked on the icon to say "Thank you" for my downloads so that someone got credit or paid or what have you and truly appreciated it. Now everything costs or you have to read it right there, right now. It is truly disappointing and I will not be going back. Several friends that I mentioned WOWIO to back when it was worth the visit have already stopped going and have no intentions of returning. Commercialism has once again killed what otherwise worked pretty much as designed. As for me, I leave them to their fate which I am almost sure will come sooner rather than later. I realize that many of you out here are selling mags on WOWIO and that your perceptions and your comments are based on that but as a person who just wanted to download some interesting books and perhaps a comic now and again, I think this new site and the new management is a bust! I went there tonight to download some of the books I had in my que (Sun Tzu Art of War, Maxims of Napoleon, Caesars Cavalry, etc.) only to find that I can only view them online now with no options to download. Why in the hell would I want to read them online? I want to download them so that I can read them at my leisure, not be chained to the session in order to read the book. This was, in my humble opinion, a few steps backward to a service that I genuinely liked. I always clicked on the icon to say “Thank you” for my downloads so that someone got credit or paid or what have you and truly appreciated it. Now everything costs or you have to read it right there, right now. It is truly disappointing and I will not be going back. Several friends that I mentioned WOWIO to back when it was worth the visit have already stopped going and have no intentions of returning. Commercialism has once again killed what otherwise worked pretty much as designed. As for me, I leave them to their fate which I am almost sure will come sooner rather than later.

]]> By: Bill Williams http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97166 Bill Williams Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:55:05 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97166 Giving books away is not an option on the new WOWIO site. I priced most of my work at the minimum allowed- 99 cents. There are still problems, but they are getting solved. Giving books away is not an option on the new WOWIO site. I priced most of my work at the minimum allowed- 99 cents.

There are still problems, but they are getting solved.

]]> By: Gerry Manacsa http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97164 Gerry Manacsa Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:47:10 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97164 As stated in the original post, Platinum is continuing to add a stream of new titles to WOWIO, but note that download pricing has been adjusted across the board for these books since the site was launched — prices now range from $0.99 to $1.99. [disclaimer: I'm speaking for myself, not for my employer WOWIO] As stated in the original post, Platinum is continuing to add a stream of new titles to WOWIO, but note that download pricing has been adjusted across the board for these books since the site was launched — prices now range from $0.99 to $1.99.

[disclaimer: I'm speaking for myself, not for my employer WOWIO]

]]> By: Adam http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97163 Adam Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:39:56 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97163 I just wish there was a way to price things as free automatically. I mean, it'd be nice to be able for publishers to decide if they're going to just give away a certain book for free regardless of if they're going to make any download royalties off of it. I just wish there was a way to price things as free automatically. I mean, it’d be nice to be able for publishers to decide if they’re going to just give away a certain book for free regardless of if they’re going to make any download royalties off of it.

]]> By: Jr http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/comment-page-1/#comment-97161 Jr Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:28:56 +0000 http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/08/03/wowio-returns-customers-unhappy-going-elsewhere/#comment-97161 And just so you know, I contacted Platinum about why the charging. They said the artists make the price, not the company. I say, If your going to sell a book for 4.99, of course you would want a hard copy. Why buy it. Sell for 99c, and pump it out in volume. Guess were screwing ourselves by overpricing our material. Dont let greed motivate you. And just so you know, I contacted Platinum about why the charging. They said the artists make the price, not the company.
I say, If your going to sell a book for 4.99, of course you would want a hard copy. Why buy it. Sell for 99c, and pump it out in volume. Guess were screwing ourselves by overpricing our material. Dont let greed motivate you.

]]>