...

Yes, there's a very long history regarding the 'drama' that is paid-for skins...not quite as long as there has been a money/bata system, but roughly as long as there has been skinning itself.

Some went ballistic when Skinners actually achieved commercial success....there are a few.  The very first of them all to face the wrath was Frogboy and Stardock itself.  That was last Century....Millennium even.

Then it was a pair of skinners who formed 'Pixtudio'.

The oldest/first skinning site had a supreme hissy-fit that saw many people leave in disgust [over the fit, not the issue].

20 years later [almost] and nothing has changed.  People still do not understand the simple reality that purchase is always optional as there are, and always will be freely released skin options.

Moshi is right, though.  There's no commercial benefit to anyone to 'have a meeting to discuss pricing revision'....

The income Masters receive is simply a small opportunity for others to say 'Thank you for your contributions to skinning.'

-Buying a skin is getting something you want A N D giving some  appreciation for all the work the artist put into it.

It's not an 'excuse' for anything. It's a statement of fact.

What's better for a skinner to get....a few sales at the current price...or complaints their works do not warrant the price?

One's a financial 'support'...the other is a slight.

No-one has to justify the price-point to anyone...at any level.

Do you want the price to be less?  Obviously.

Will your 'want' be met?  Probably not.

I'd like the price of an Aston Martin to be less....

...my 'liking' isn't going to change that, either.

...and yes, if an Aston Martin were a third of the price they'd sell more too....

wow!some read.so hows life here!

Quoting Fuzzy Logic,

reply 86

Haters gonna hate. They always have and always will

Ignore them - such tirades are not worthy of anyone's attention

Not everyone who offers a suggestion or even opposes change is a hater. I do not agree with being promoted to a master and never offering a free skin again but I will not go as far as saying it is wrong and then continue to spew crap about those masters. I strongly believe they should be compensated well for their work but I also believe it would not hurt to reward your supporters once in a while. It is good business and if you want to take and never give back then do not whine about those who oppose what you do, that being said there is a right way of speaking your mind and some of the comments in this thread went to far.  

I use to enjoy certain skins from people but I have fell on hard times (Oil Industry) and cannot buy every skin I like. Sometimes I have a little extra money after the bills get paid but there is always something I feel better about spending it on. Some people are struggling financially for many reasons. In some cases it comes down to spending that 5 or 6 bucks on a skin or an extra loaf of bread and jug of milk for the kids. And then there are those who have been blessed not to have experienced the tough economical times some are facing who say things like "it is only 5 bucks so stop bitching about the price you cry babies." It would not hurt to exercise a little empathy or at least do not judge someone unless you have walked a mile in their shoes.

Most of what I have wrote was not meant for you Fuzzy. I got on a rant again.

hmmm.... back in the day, I did a few windowblinds, a bunch more Winstep themes and a few odds and ends.  I think I end up paying around $5 for a master skin and I'm very glad to do it. 

It's really difficult to do a good, classy WB these days.  It takes a lot of time and patience.  I'm not rich, but I appreciate what these folks do.  It's worth it.  There are other skins I would like to buy, when I save up a few bucks to spare, I will.

Everyone has a choice in this.  You either pony up the fiver or get one of the free ones.  THERE ARE A BUNCH OF EXCELLENT SKINS AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE(exclamation point)

Wanker

-Making it out like we don't give the supporters anything......

 -Oh, And what Kitty said. (Above)

Then don't say it at the first place, its pointless and barrage of nonsense.  

I know that one of the reasons people are seeing many Master Skins on the front page is that a lot of mine and vStyler's are now being updated for Windows 10 and they show up back there. But, I really think too that other Master's should offer free skins and stop increasing their prices. In my opinion no Master Skin should be listed above $6.95, but that is up to the skins creator. I know that out of my last 20 submissions to the site that 6 were free, 7 were Master's and 7 were Windows 10 updates of older Master Skins. All Master's should try and maintain a balance like that I think. As time goes on I will be updating all my older Master Skins to Windows 10, and many of vStyler's skins will be updated as well. I will also be updating many of my older free skins to Windows 10.

Please be kind to all fellow skinner's in this thread, as you must realize by now that there are only 5-6 skinner's left doing WB skins at all. All thread's like this will do is make them want to quit entirely, and that would not be good for the community at all.

Peace and respect among us all please... 

LightStar is correct for the most part. 

I place all the updated skins on the latest skins so people can see there are updates. This is especially important for several reasons including getting more Windows 10 compatible skins noticed, and showing people that skins they previously purchased have been updated.

This can make the galleries seem a bit flooded with Master skins sometimes, but there still is a very disproportionate number of skins in the WB gallery.

A Master skinner who releases free skins and maintains a balance seem to do much better in sales.  

First... I respect all of you out there.  Skinners, Masterskinners, etc... you are A+ in my book.

There appears to be no quality standard once a skinner reaches Master Skinner status.  It is simply attrition then.  They think all or most of their skins are worthy of the price tag.  If they offer a freebie, it really is a freebie.  But it is not usually of the same quality.

  Skin creators want to justify their price with a time comparison.  It is apparent that they don't skin because they just like to skin.  Sorry, it doesn't work like that.  People spend boatloads more time making items with more or less impact on their community and command a much less profit of then 65%.  Just look at the music industry, the food industry, or any other industry for that matter.  Creator makes no where near 65% sales profit.

I love windowblinds, but I certainly don't get to test, use, or play with as many skins from here as I used to.  Why.... the sheer cost of the bling.

I have bought a couple.  There are many out there that interest me, but honestly I don't have $75 to $150 a month to get them all.   I have a new widescreen monitor on the way and am leary of what will work from here on it.  Is that new $12.95 skin going to work with an unusual resolution?  It use to be try and see, now it is buy and see. 

Perhaps a solution:

Try a real sale sometime.... and I am not talking about 10% discount for subscribers.  Maybe subscribers should get a free one a month.  You might have me on that one.   Or, when you purchase Windowblinds, you should get a voucher for 3 skins of choice.  Promote the product, and treat the customer base with dignity.  We all want to see this wonderful product and user base grow.