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  4. Purchasing strings in smaller chunks

  • Purchasing strings in smaller chunks

    PaoloTP
    PaoloTP

    Hi,

    It's great how you can purchase separate parts of the Special Edition and the individual instruments of the Full Library. However, you can't do it for everything.

    For example, I would love to be able to only purchase Solo Strings Mute from SE Vol. 3, or only Violin I from the Full Library. Will this ever happen? I would love to purchase the full Vol. 3 or the complete String Quartet, but I simply cannot afford them at the moment, and I mostly need the above sounds. Wouldn't this be an additional sale for VSL?

    Paolo
  • PaulP
    VSL Team
    PaulP

    Hi Paolo, 

    Never say never, but currently there are no plans to split up the Special Editions any further. 

    Best, 
    Paul

    Paul Kopf Head of Product Marketing, Social Media and Support
  • L
    L

    He isnt just referring to the special editions, he is referring to all the strings as a whole.

    If you look at your strings and they way they are bundled, they are very expensive with no option to purchase in smaller bite size samples. Your strings all start at 300 pounds (for just the standard libraries) and go up from there. Look at your brass, woodwinds, and percussion on the other hand, most instruments are around 60-200 for each instrument.

    The Special Editions 3 and 4 are the same way, they are a buy all or nothing proprosition. 350 pounds is alot of money for the strings in special edition...personally, it has been the reason I have not purchased them yet... Since I dont have them, I dont know exactly what you get for that 350, but I know its alot of money...
  • PaulP
    VSL Team
    PaulP
    last edited
    last edited

    Hi littlewierdo,

    I understand your point.

    We are adding more options (like recently the Solo Violin 2 and Solo Cello 2 as an addition and/or alternative to Solo Strings I), but there are currently no plans to further split up the existing collections (we offer more than 200 products already!).

    BTW, this is the sample content of the Special Edition Volume 3.

    If you have the time, it makes sense to look out for our Special Offers to get reduced pricing on all our instruments. We are changing those special offers every month.

    Best,
    Paul

    Paul Kopf Head of Product Marketing, Social Media and Support
  • PaoloTP
    PaoloTP

    Thank you very much for you answer, Paul. So, my hint for a next special offer: Solo Strings I + II (normal and mute) at a reduced price!

    Paolo
  • S
    S

    Hi Paul,

    I just wanna chime in with what I think is a valid point...

    We all know that VSL are pricey compared with most other libs. The quality is there for sure so that's fine.

    But still... the whole notion of SE and various 'bundles' makes it -very- hard for a guy on my budget to -ever- get in the door.

    The libs are priced a LOT like auto dealer parts... ie. if you were to buy the libs one instrument at a time, the total cost would be, like buying a car one part at a time, astronomical.

    I know you -think- you're doing people a favour with bundle pricing, but from talking to other people like me,  you're not. You're basically marketing to either 'students' or 'the well-heeled'. There's no middle-ground.

    My suggestion would be MUCH more simplified pricing. IMO, it should be possible to buy each instrument one at a time knowing that the total cost will -never- pay more for the complete library. IOW: If I buy Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, etc. one at a time over the course of a year, my total price paid should match the price of the Brass bundle. In short: the price of single instruments should be lowered so that one can buy a la carte and still feel like they're getting good value. Or perhaps, you could offer an ever-increasing discount--as one buys more instruments, the discounts increase to the point where the total price paid for having all the instruments matches the prices of the 'bundles'.

    As it stands now, I basically -never- buy VSL stuff because as I need various instruments my options are to get an 'SE' which is never quite adequate... OR take out a bank loan to get the full instruments I need. I need may 2-3 instruments a year and if the pricing for single instruments had been lower, I probably would've gotten a dozen instruments by now... and then been close enough to consider getting the complete libs (with the various loyalty discounts). That would've given me more VSL and you more money over time.

    I'm not saying you should dilute the value of the brand, but the pricing choices are currently either: a) big money for what one really -needs- or b) entry-level discounts. There's no middle choice for people like me who do serious work, but are also seriously poor. (ie. every working musician I know.)

    YMMV

    ---JC