500 Club

[VascoDaGama]

I don't think (No I Know) that I will NOT be in the club. It's going to take a lot for me to invest is SW, I've had two Ramisis now and both have not been functioning and the boxes don't fit. However If you lot don't invest I don't think SW will be able to complete this adventure.

Lets think why SW have made this offer.....It's not to save you money, it's not so you get the puzzles quicker.
There is only one reason £500 x 500 = £250,000.00

I recon the take up is more likely to be about 20 to 30 hardcore puzzlers (£15,000.00).

Signed

One sad disillusioned Isis Adventurer

[stet]

this is the lowest value for gbp in at least 5 years

As of this posting, £500 = $749.10 which really makes me want to take advantage of this offer. But I still feel burned on the Ramisis. Mine still hasn't shipped and as it turns out (due mostly to the huge change in currency) I would have saved a lot of money and had it already if I waited and ordered from Firebox. The only reason I haven't canceled my order is that I have faith that Sonicwarp will treat me better if there are any issues with it (no lights, etc) as well as fixing the bad box issue if I ordered it directly from them.

Now what about special editions? If the Isis III, IV, and/or V have their equivalent of the "Ramisi5" will we have the choice to get that instead of the standard ones? What about the option to get both (us collectors like that kind of thing)? And if something like the 1A/1B/1C come along for these future puzzles, will we be given first crack at them or at least some advanced notice that they are coming so that we can be prepared for them?

[bit1313]

The only reason I haven't canceled my order is that I have faith that Sonicwarp will treat me better if there are any issues with it (no lights, etc) as well as fixing the bad box issue if I ordered it directly from them.

FYI - be careful with this one too.

I asked for a refund of my original purchase price of £151.81 (which was $260.67). What I got back was $219.97.
When I looked up the exchange rates from the two days and did the math, there was approx £10 missing.
When I asked, I was told:
"the refund takes into consideration the fees we incur as a purchased and a refund process".

So they basically had my money, did nothing to fulfill the order and kept a tenner since I decided to cancel.

By the time the exchange rate got me, the bank hit me for international fees, etc... I was out over $60 US.

Oh and the result you ask? I got my Firebox puzzle... completely hosed up nasty looking box... and the electronics don't work. Big slap in the face, eh?

[Kheldar]

I do believe that once I open Texas Pyramid #30 and claim my gold coin I'll be joining the 500 Club. Oh wait, that assuming I can figure it out before the end of the year... Hmmmmm... I'd better put down my Ramisi5 and get to work!

[cornettracing80]

hey Kheldar..have you ever seen Joel Olsteen live?......

[Kheldar]

hey Kheldar..have you ever seen Joel Olsteen live?......

Nope.

[bit1313]

I'm gonna bump this back to the top, since the original intent of the thread was sidetracked.

I, for one, would still like this info and these questions answered.

The 500 club
Folks,

Update 17th November 2008

As some of you are aware I recently offered the opportunity for Z3r0San1ty to buy the remaining isis series in advance of production, which he has accepted. A few others have shown interest.

I have now created a club called the 500 club for anyone wishing to take up this offer. This offer is open to all at £500 for the remaining 3 puzzles in the series. Any gold coins claimed can of course be exchanged for this offer. Anyone on this list will be guaranteed priority on release of future Isis series puzzles.

Currently anyone joining this club before January 1st 2009 will be guaranteed to receive the Isis III puzzle in March 2009. General release of Isis III is expected to be Sept/Oct 2009

Isis III is already at prototype phase, and testing will commence before Jan 2009

Puzz

Puzz,

I want to, in an open post here on the forum for all to see, ask a few questions of this.

* At £500, that is £167ish per puzzle over the next 3 puzzles over the next three years
* I assume that £500 upfront is kind of a price lock if you will... if the puzzle prices go up, we are locked in.
* I can't imagine how much higher these puzzles could get in price before you price yourself out of the market... so you are either ramping down production as you move to puzzle III and IV and finally to V, or are not foreseeing a huge jump in price, which means the £500 investment doesn't net us a price break. (right now at the £149 + £25 pp intro price for the US, that nets us £21 savings over the next 3 years). That assumes a like intro price for puzzles III, IV and V. If the price goes straight to £169 to start with £25 pp, that is a 3 year savings of £81... but that only applies to USers, as pp in the UK is much cheaper.
* I call this an investment, because frankly it is. We are investing in Sonicwarp and its ability to create three more awesome puzzles that will be on-time, functioning and and worth £167 or more each.
* What guarantee do we have once the £500 changes hands that March 2009 doesn't slip to May 2009? Or June 2009? Or that the puzzle we get doesn't have first round issues like puzzles of the past?
* Does this 500 Club come with bonuses? Added incentives? White Glove Treatment and Priority Shipping and Issue Resolving?
* What assurance do we have that we won't be doing this in 2009 while everyone else is still waiting for their puzzles and we, the pre-paying guinea pigs are with issues that need resolving?
* We are on the heels of a couple of false starts, a recall, poor display boxes and a backed up queue of orders that were pre-payed months ago. What would make us think that March 2009 or even Sept/Oct 2009 will be different? (That is a true and honest question, because these are all facts)

You are the salesman and you have my attention. (I truly am interested in the pre-buy concept and I'm not just trying to put you on the spot.) Sell me your puzzles... make me not just GIVE you £500, but make me WANT to give you £500.

How do we know that the lessons learned from ISIS I and ISIS II will not be repeated and that any unforeseen issues will be resolved quickly and with priority?

I am truly not trying to be a jerk. I want to know the added benefit of the 500 Club before I forgo my next months car payment for a 3 year investment.

If I see effort and honesty (and value) in the response, I will forward you £500 and join the club. But like I said, I need to be sold.

Truly and Respectably Yours,
Bit1313
Gene

[Karen_G]

Hi Bit1313,

I've sent an email to Puzz with a link to this thread. He doesn't always have time to check the forum thoroughly so he may have missed the questions the first time around.

Karen

[bit1313]

Hi Bit1313,

I've sent an email to Puzz with a link to this thread. He doesn't always have time to check the forum thoroughly so he may have missed the questions the first time around.

Karen

You are a Goddess amongst peasants.
Thank you!

[PUZZ]

Hi Folks,

I note some interesting feedback on the new 500 club ive created.

in answer to some of the questions:

In march 2009 there will be a version of Isis III available to those in the club, agreed it may be an opportunity for testing it out, but that can only help to ensure everyone gets a working puzzle with all the issues ironed out and at the same time those who are as passionate about puzzles as I am will get their hands on new puzzles earlyier than everyone else.

Regarding price, the isis is £109 the Ramisis is £169 = £278 for two puzzles, thats an increase of £60 per puzzle. Assume we carry on with that then the next 3 puzzles would cost much more than £500 more like £900

However that isnt what we are about, in fact I guarantee Isis III will cost less than the Ramisis, yet it is still an awesome puzzle, I like it as much if not more than the first two and yet it will cost less than the Ramisis !

Regarding Isis V, thats a different matter, Isis V will cost more than the Ramisis without a doubt, but we will try and keep the price as low as we can, but there's going to be alot of engineering in Isis V.

The 500 club will offer those willing to commit an oportunity to get involved at the business end of making puzzles, its not for everyone, but those who do join will not be dissapointed.

Puzz

[steve]

I am very tempted to go for this, it sounds like a good deal.
Having seen the engineering inside both the Isis and the Ramisis, the price difference between the two is plain to see.
I am assuming the comment about the price of the Isis III insinuate that there will be less machining involved; this should make the production a smoother process and less likely to cause problems.
As for the Isis V, we already know that it must have 4 high security locks built into it; obviously this is going to increase the production costs.
I do however have one question that I would like answered before I commit.
Will the adventures that go with the Isis III, IV, and V be up and running by the earlier dates or do the 500 club have to wait until the future puzzles go on general release?

[themagicdude]

Is there any way to recieve the standard puzzles in march and exchange them for any special edition puzzles that come at the general release. I know this sounds odd, but I would understand if special edition puzzles couldn't be made in time for the march release. Better yet, could those in the 500 club get the special editions at the march release. I'm sure that most of the people that end up joining the 500 club would want the special edition Isis III's anyway.

[evilkeen]

In march 2009 there will be a version of Isis III available to those in the club, agreed it may be an opportunity for testing it out, ...

Thanks for the update Puzz, that's good to hear.

Just to clarify though, as I thought you are suggesting that the March takers will really be acting as beta-testers, so when the general release occurs in Sep/Oct will they be guaranteed an upgrade/replacement to the final release version if there are significant modifications/corections?

[bit1313]

...In march 2009 there will be a version of Isis III available to those in the club, agreed it may be an opportunity for testing it out...
...Assume we carry on with that then the next 3 puzzles would cost much more than £500 more like £900...

...I guarantee Isis III will cost less than the Ramisis, yet it is still an awesome puzzle, ...

...Isis V will cost more than the Ramisis without a doubt, but we will try and keep the price as low as we can, but there's going to be alot of engineering in Isis V...

The 500 club will offer those willing to commit an oportunity to get involved at the business end of making puzzles ...

These are a few of my favourite (damn, you have me doing it too now) lines.

ISIS III
March 2009
500 Club
Testing it out
500 Club = Beta testing group and super special secret early bird club.
I can dig that. (except normal beta testers wouldn't pay full-ish price for something to help out or have issues).

My main concern is this. Let's say March 2009 comes along and we get the ISIS III. And everyone's widget A pops out of their slot B after a bit of fidgeting and POOF the puzzle opens. Great.. we can help fix it! Get it ready for the masses. But for a true puzzle person, isn't that kind like having a magician say... I'm gonna show you how I palm this coin... okay, how stand back and tell me if you can see it when it slides out of my sleeve.

I'm not saying that ISIS III in March won't be perfect ... but there is potential for the magic to be gone. So then they fix it... but we still know the trick. That is one concern of mine... but I do want early ISIS.. I do, I do, I do.

ISIS III £ < ISIS II £
That formula makes me happy.

ISIS V £ > US National Debt
Yeah... not a big deal. It will be super and it has to be sexy... if you need ISIS I thru IV to open it... it's gonna be like the padlock from hell. Or... it will be a box with 4 locks on it and an ISIS V inside.

500 Club = Business End of Making Puzzles
(i.e. I want a corner office, a trip to the UK and all the coffee my hot little secretary can bring me.... oh... yeah.. and a title... "Jr. Partner of Tomfoolery and Poppycock"

You know what... I can dig this. There are still some grey (dammit again!) areas... but I can see this being a "cool club". I'm sure Puzz will afford us some extra luxuries as time goes by (maybe a super secret sneak peek at a prototype? Or a signed edition? Or boxes that actually fit the puzzle (sorry - had to stab)).

Okay... where is the form? Where do I sign in triplicate? Where is my membership card?
Bit likey... Bit likey Club idea.

(Hey Kids! No Crimbo presents for you! (Dammit - AGAIN!))

[cornettracing80]

hahah @palm a coin...yeah you would have to jump the fence to puzz's side a little bit ,,but thats what i am into...i am going all in you guys sit here and discuss it....see you at the finish line!