Call me crazy but I’m going to go out on a limb and say people don’t deserve actual death threats or harassment over this.
I’m in no way defending Polyend though.
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If you don’t understand it then you’re not listening. It has been spelled out over and over again to you.
Example: Elektron just released an update for Analog Rytm, 10 year old device getting new sound engines. Free update.
Polyend buys a cheap processor with apparently no headroom for major updates and then sells a new version a year later that addresses issues the first one had.
It’s just a clear difference in how companies treat their paying customers. Even if the practice was totally acceptable you can still see that you get better value from Elektron or Synthstorm or Dirtywave.
You trying to diminish people’s feeling by saying it’s “pointless” is quite rude to be honest. I have personal experience with the Medusa, Tracker, and Play. The way they’ve treated their products and their customers definitely justifies a form of outrage. People are done with them. You may not be but there are many people with valid opinions that don’t like how they operate their business. It’s as simple as that.
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They don’t. But I also feel like they are using death threats which as far as we know was one person and the other person saying “influencers need to be wiped from the face of the earth” which is open to interpretation (and I understand how it can be viewed as a death threat but it could also be viewed as the job needs to stop existing).
It feels like a company using two very extreme and non-typical examples to shield them from the much more centered and appropriate reactions they have received. It’s a way to direct the conversation, just like when protests happen and there’s 2000 people on the street protesting and 10 people who lit a trash can on fire and the media looks at the 10 people.
Those people who said those things are shitty but we all know they do not represent the vast majority of people.
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Well, time to mute the thread. I don’t like PE either, or the way they’ve handled this, or the extreme vitriol in so many comments about it here and elsewhere. The synth community collectively bullied someone so hard over this that he’s stopping something that he enjoys because he’s tired of the negativity. That’s not cool.
Those of us who aren’t happy about this release or PE’s QC or communication are likely never going to be happy about it. There’s no sense coming back repeatedly to argue in circles.
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I’m happy that I didn’t pay $400 to PE and could use it for K.O. II. (It can play stereo samples!)
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So we now know where Polyend stands. No further action needed. They have been digging their own grave for a while and this is just another step closer to them losing all credibility.
It will all solve itself for them. Reviewers on YT will think twice before posting content about their new gear as they are not trustworthy.
The buyers still accepting this will also reach a point where they cannot defend Polyend anymore.
And then that will be it… a lesson for other companies to learn.
Both Elektron and TE had massive wins this week. No matter what you think of TE, they do not screw their customers like Polyend does.
Spend your money elsewhere or get burnt.
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I have nothing but respect for this company.
No one was looking forward to TE’s big announcement more than Polyend, I can tell you that much.
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They should have made the new Play+ $900 (suggesting a more capable product) and discounted the original Play to $700 (acknowledging it has been surpassed).
And forget about the silly trade in scheme, I’m really not sure what the purpose of this is or was.
Introducing a newer, better version at the same price as the old one WHILE slashing the price of the old one, existing customers were always going to feel like they got slapped in the face. That’s like a double whammy. Then on top of that thinking the trade scheme was going to somehow soften that blow? Crazy.
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and it’s not even over. what will they do with all the exchanged units, or rather, for how much?
Exactly! Anyone upgrading their play will essentially be paying $1200 for it. If you plan on selling your play good luck getting over $400 for it.
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Probably refurbish them into Play plus? Idk
Is the original Play now referred to as Play Minus?
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You are going down a line of nonsense (from them) . No one here made any threat so why are you talking about something you didn’t see and is irrelevant here? I’m a psych student I can read and interpret and wasn’t born yesterday. Polyend should have written yes we told loopop it would be this price but we couldn’t manage it or something. Instead they hid a discounted price for a small few. They don’t even have the sense to offer a future discount. So if they cannot be honest about what loopop said, why should you trust anything that’s said?
It seems an oversight to me. The upgrade route should ideally be something an end user can do. Synthstrom are different. An exception to that rule and example of decency. Which folks recognise.
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‘old play’
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‘played’
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This debacle reminds me of cyberpunk and how they refunded everyone, except for all the people that bought the game as a gift or did not see the refund. The damage is already done with these companies, they know exactly what they are doing, and can calculate the risk reward with these types of products.
The more surprising thing to me is that there CEO openly stated that “the more profitable option would simply be to release a new device”
I do hope any Polyend shareholders don’t read that!! If that’s the most profitable option, then why on earth haven’t you done that if it’s that simple (seeing as he used the word “simply”).
Wow! When it comes down to it, the only reason any business exists is to make a profit, so I’m baffled why Polyend openly chose a route that apparently makes them less profit and has also had the knock on effect of alienating many of their customers. Including me.
This stinks of making a quick easy buck, rather than a long term strategy for customer satisfaction and sustaining business longevity and success.
Elektron on the other certainly know how to impress…the FREE 1.7 update to the Rytm is truly stunning. So much so that I’m considering buying one. That’s how you do it.
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it seems to me they just keep making bad decisions, not from a place of greed or malice or whatever. mistakes, followed by poor communication.
they could really do with someone external overseeing decisions before they go to market, or something like that. theyve a fair few blunders on their books now. I feel for em cause they’ve some great ideas and seem genuinely passionate.
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I think most of the bad decisions Polyend make are driven, by this, but the reality for a small company making hardware it’s often a choice between this or going out of business.
Look what recently happened with Modal and scores of Modular manufacturers.
My expectation with Play is that it probably should always have had the more powerful processor, but because of the chip shortage they used what they had in stock which was the processor from the Tracker. Now they can get the correct chip they have released the device they probably always wanted to make, but they haven’t thought through how their customers are going to feel about it.
The other choice was probably cancel the Play altogether and lay off half the staff, so I can see why they did what they did.