I propose a discount

Since this is NOT a democracy, but I still feel like sounding off... I propose that BRL offer a discount on its products to their customers that have already bought 1 product... say $15.00 off any succeeding purchase...

What say you pundits of the forum??? At that rate I might be able to purchase BMax and B2d as well... (need B2d for a project for POS systems...)

I say you should stick to proposing discounts for things *you* sell. I can't speak for BRL but i wouldn't appreciate someone proposing discounts for things I sell. Particularly when ( as is the case with BRL ) they're already selling for less than the competition in most instances.

Well....... I think that because Ive bought Max GUI I should be able to buy BPlus at the same discount as if Id bought them the otherway round.

Oh And we get Maplet for free anyway ;)

oO why didn't you buy B+ instead and get MaxGUI for free?

Well, cos Im stupid, but now that Ive got MaxGui, why cannot I buy B+ for $30? (B+ - MaxGUI)

Well infact, no, I prob wouldnt buy it anyway, not now

Do you think BRL are millionaires? Unlikely.

As it is now Blitz products are dirt cheap. If you can't afford them, quit programming (and whining) and go do something else with that $100 bucks (like shop at Walmart since you're after a bargain) and see how long it lasts you.

In fact, try developing a very time consuming product yourself... which you will maintain for years and see if you are willing to give it away. They have to make a living too.

Actually, I think they made the B+ to MaxGUI step free so a lot of ppz would get Bmax. There's some point in being able to drop an old product. And if BRL can manage to move everyone from B+ to MaxGUI then they can 'somewhat' drop B+ support.
When they allow the other way, have BMax and MaxGUI and offer a free B+ .. what would they gain? Only more work.. :P

It wasnt sudgested free, just minus the price of MaxGUI so $30. But I agree, it woulnt sell any more Bpluses, so no point really

Blitz products are way too cheap already- even at twice the price they would be too cheap. BRL deserves much more than what they currently charge.

While I agree with you in principle, I don't think you should encourage them.

Ofcourse if they hiked up the prices by another 50%'ish maybe they could afford some half-decent (by NZ standards) Internet connectivity.

I concur that the products have greater value than their cost. Significantly so. However, I think BRL have been at this long enough to know the price that gives them the most revenue. Sure, they could hike up the prices by 50% but how many % of customers would they lose? I'm sure a language like Blitz has a surprisingly high percentage of teenage users, and a budget price probably maximizes profits for them.

The right price is always the price that gives the most income. It may seem to cheap to some and too expensive to others, but since you can't ( practically ) sell at different prices to different people, you have to find that magic middle point.

SIBLY SHIRTS! GET YOUR SIBLY SHIRTS! 2 FOR £20. FRESH FROM MARK'S BACK.

Understand? :/

I propose you shove your hand up your own ...

i say stop your bartering and cough up the dough!

bartering? I wasn't proposing to trade anyhting... Hmmph!!!

Look people it just makes sense. BRL has stated that B+ (and I think B3D) ar enot being supported anymore... Why not disocunt B+ price to loyal customers!

AND any customer can ask for a discount... You don't get one if you don't ask!!!

I can see I am the only person in Purchasing as a career here!!! :)

Geez... I never wanted a flame thread... calm down you over reactive overreactor people!!! Free speech and all that!!!

This is absolutely true, but you didn't ask them for a discount. You "sounded off" and encouraged comments. You got them, and only one or two were vaguely flame-like. You're absolutely entitled to email BRL privately and attempt to negotiate a lower price. I have no idea what the response will be.


Not at all, I like to negotiate if I think I can get a better deal. I didn't believe I could negotiate for a better deal with any of my Blitz-related purchases, so I didn't waste anyone's time trying. However, when I do negotiate, I do so privately. I don't sound off in public on the sole point of sale of the person I'm trying to negotiate with in an attempt to get people on-side with me, because I believe it's entirely counter-productive to the negotiation to annoy them before I even get in touch.

Try PlayBasic instead of B+, worth a look.

lol..unreal - im quite happy to fork out for brl stuff when
it becomes available..i didnt bother with b2d/b+, i jst
continued developing with b3d..which given the number of
updates and the fact i havent had to shell out a single penny,
well..thats a damned good deal..

..oi! :] :p

For what exactly?
Typically the only time any software company (from a garage based operation like BRL to a monolithic organization like Microsoft) will offer a discount to you is if you buy licenses for a particular product in bulk. Or, you may get the next major version upgrade for a discount. BRL offers version upgrades for free. (and before you argue that point into the ground, let me remind you that Blitz Max, Blitz 3D and Blitz Plus are all considered seperate products)

The Walmart buyer rules don't exactly apply here.

Actually I work for Revacomp Inc. I buy technology. I am a Certified Purchasing Manager and have been for 4 years. What kind of technology? Dell servers to Zebra label printers... who for??? HP (as we do their contracted services and IBM as we do them too...) Who do I buy from? HP, Dell, NCR and yes... I do insist on better pricing. I insisted IBM give us better prices on the upper wedges for the IBM 4695-211 model POS units (PN# 73G3058) since they were listed at $42.00 new and I got them down to $19.00 new.

NO I didn't have to promise to buy in lots. I bought 1. I have since gone back, but I did not have to promise anything.

A Purchasing Manager has a right and a responsibility to seek the best price. And you don't get it if you don't ask for it.

In other words... till you have an understanding of how my shoes are constructed using SarOx protocalls don't try to walk a mile in them...

Wow, thats what my wife says when she spends a few hundred at an outlet store....

A Mad Purchasing Manager!!! I wouldnt brag about that.

But normaly you would phone, or mail them, or maybe arrange a metting. You wouldnt go round to the house and spray paint the walls asking for one, would you?

I'm not a product of the Texas educational system, so I'm fairly sure I understand how commerse works. :)

Hardware and tangible goods have a much clearer profit margin than software.

Hardware also sits in a warehouse and occupies space that could otherwise be occupied by an item that's in higher demand, or earns a higher degree of margin. Sometimes making ANY money on an item that you're stuck with in inventory is better than nothing.

And, as I'm sure you've found out in your experience...
When you're representing a 400 lb gorilla (such as HP), you're going to get special favors, regardless of the quantity you buy. Nobody wants to burn a bridge over something paltry if theres a chance of a greater return later.

That's far removed from Joe-nobody asking for the exact same discount.

Where you going to buy B2D from?

Who are we to propose discounts, sheesh.

Unless I've missed something... no we haven't.

but.. at least you prefer ppl to move to bmax, right? Not so much for the new income, but mainly for maintainance.. rite?

Well I am a product of the Texas Ed system and I can spell commerce...

I think BRL for the calrification on the support. The death of support for both of the older products has been rumored about these forums for a while...

oh and...
[quote]You wouldnt go round to the house and spray paint the walls asking for one, would you? [quote]
Honestly I would use whatever means at my disposal to facilitate communication... but nope... spraypaint not.

However a forum is a place for free exchange of ideas. My idea has been posted and discussed. Freely. Those who did not display their ignorance and answered with a well reasoned thought; I thank you, and those who flamed... flame on!

Agreed. And when others disagree with you, it's not a flame.

I certainly hope you didn't take my responses as a flame. I merely retorted when your response was in tone that approached a bit of condescention.

Before my days in software development, I used to do retail management for some fairly large corporations. When I wasn't buying inventory and dealing with vendors directly, I was working with the buyer assigned to my region. I know very well how your world works. We played the "I'm a big corporation. Give me a discount, or we might not be compelled to throw money at you in the future" card more often than I care to admit. The power of the evil dollar, right? As you said, it's part of your job, and I (or anyone else who understands it) can't fault you for it. It's a powerful tool for your trade if you have the clout and credibility to back it up.

Perhaps it was the "Walmart buying rules" statement I made. I was speculating when I said that, and your response somewhat confirmed it. Entities with the buying power similar to Walmart (or Target, or HP or Dell, or Revacomp, etc.) have the ability to strong arm a little guy (or not so little guy) to give them a deal. Conversely, one individual (or the minority of the customer base) asking for a discount is likely going to be met with a polite decline to their face and a snicker behind their back.

Since BRL is a mini-ISV, they rely on a relatively small niche market where (the majority) is willing to pay the price they've asked.


Since you've built your career in this field, that is probably a good thing. That's why I just abbreviate my field to I.T.: Inphormshun Teknawlowgee is far too susceptible to my fat fingers.