I think most people are simply saying RPG simply goes to far in pricing. There are premiums for just about everything. However, there is a point when products pricing is set way to far over the top for what it offers.
Until there is compeition, which there is not, the price will remain high.
Look at the shootsac for example. I love mine and use it every day, but $150 is highway robbery for 15 dollars of neoprene. There is no other bag that does what that does so I use it. I think the same goes with the RPG keys...
For small businesses to develop tools like this (look @ RPG's post, 40k development cost) you have to work that into the price of the product. I don't think they will sell millions of these so the cost of development is pushed onto the small consumer base.
Just talked to Tim from RPG on the phone. Sounds like a really cool system and his support is no doubt top notch...
I don't have a problem with the price at all. I think time-savers are almost always a good investment. Personally, though, I'm trying to figure out if it will save me enough time to justify it as I already work pretty quickly.
cordellwillis wrote:
I think most people are simply saying RPG simply goes to far in pricing. There are premiums for just about everything. However, there is a point when products pricing is set way to far over the top for what it offers.
As I already mentioned I am not using RPG ... that said..
$590 - $170 (for the keyboard that they are including) = $420
For that $420 you are getting:
1. Software that allows you to do things on a Mac that I don't believe you could do other ways
2. Premade precustomized labels for the X-Key keyboard
3. Pre-Programmed keys, ready to go from the start
I'm not saying $590 is pennies... it's not.
However $420 for highly customized software, configuration and custom printing of very little expected penetration compares VERY favorably with the $260 or so that the ProPhoto THEME for wordpress goes for and is routinely recommend on this site.
Pro tools keyboard. This is no software, just the keycaps on an apple keyboard and it is 2x the price. These highly specialized tools are given a premium price.
Also look at the kubota actions. They are just ordering things you can do with the built in tools in photoshop. But the complete set is what, $1900 dollars? It's not the material you are paying for it is the time to develop this.
This group as photographers should be able to relate to that. Think of your albums, how would you like a bride saying, well that Album only costs you $300 dollars!? how can you be charging me $x. I only want to pay $350 or something. Well, it is the time you put into developing the spreads etc not the materials itself.
amonline wrote:
All the alternatives are half the price or less and do 90% the same thing.
Just sayin'.
Obviously there will always be those who believe premium pricing is okay. However, this is the way I look at it. Most of the functions of RPG is available. Some folks are okay with a bit of legwork. Others are more off the shelf people who are willing to pay for it. Keep in mind that key (re)mapping, scripts, macros, etc isn't a new technology. RPG made it convenient for some; again, those who want plugin play.
This is one of those sticky ROI that's extremely difficult to quantify.
Wow.... I am shocked how many people have chimed in.
As a side note:
In 2008 we had a user purchase the system for $880. They did not introduce themselves to us, it was just another order. 12 months later they contacted us and told us they had conducted a year long study and had included data from 30 weddings while using the keys... and 30 weddings without the keys... for comparison.
The study showed a savings of 256 hours of computer time. And they only used it in Lightroom!
RPGKEYS wrote:
wow... sorry.
I was just adding to the conversation.
Sorry Mitch, I just saw more sales pitch. I don't like people that come to forums just to plug their products only and never contribute in any other way. Maybe it's not against the rules. If so, sorry I said anything.
I'm with Tony, I think it's a great and slick system, but my wedding edits are already pretty darn fast, and at most would probably only save me 30 minutes a wedding (33% of an average edit time).
I went the autohotkey.com way and found an old PS2 keyboard to plug into my tower. I made some little square pieces of paper and glued them to the number pad. Those are the keys that I assigned the most frequent adjustments to. It works well and I keep that keyboard tucked under my desk till I need to edit and then I whip it out and edit photos with reckless abandon! I can also tuck it away easily when not in use.
That keyboard combined with my wacom makes me happy while editing. I feel like it's a lot faster, I have not timed it, but it feels good so i'm going to stick with it.
Is that second PS/2 keyboard interpreted independently of your (presumably) main USB keyboard? Or is it simply to have a keyboard with your visual paper legend on it available?
Blueirisarts: Having used autohotkeys years back, I do know it is a remarkable time saver.. Imagine it combined with a dedicated gaming keyboard... yeah, DIY, but 10% of cost of having it done for you...
Individual choices aside, here's something that I don't get:
How do individuals (supposedly) belonging to a group of professionals who apparently believe (or would like clients to believe) there is VALUE in buying an 8x10 for $50.00 and who are frustrated to find clients who expect to get a DVD of the images delivered with their one time special $99 session fee portrait session ... and who are appalled to find clients take their branded images, crop out their logo and make their own prints...
...
how do these same people then get off on ridiculing a company that is making a specialized product they believe is worth $XXX, protest at the relatively modest price of a niche product etc?
