I find it frustrating that having been a loyal, paid-up user of Photoshop for years, there's no sliding scale that recognises that I've paid for all those earlier versions! By now, I reckon it should be much cheaper for me to update my CS4 to CS5! And why are UK prices (apparantly) dearer than US ones?
Adobe offers upgrade pricing for users who own a copy within 3 versions back (So currently, users of Photoshop CS2, CS3 or CS4 can upgrade to Photoshop CS5 for $199 vs $699 for the full version)
Student Pricing - Students get an amazing discount on Adobe software.
Subscription License - Great for people/businesses who only need software on a project basis.
Photoshop Elements is very powerful version of Photoshop for non-pros is available for only $99 (the Editor is available on its own from the Mac App Store for $79).
I do agree that the product/pricing structure for Suites is complicated. It's something I'd like to see simplified for our users.
Dear Adobe,
This is the 3rd time I am taking the time to write to you on this topic.
I’m an art photographer, advanced amateur level, once had some buzz around me & currently trying to get back to it. I was a film & paper type with my own B&W darkroom; where I printed & toned my images to hand color. Digital came along & I was a hold out. I bought a used computer that had Photoshop on it. I think the version was 7.0. I liked it very much. I could still shoot on Plus-X & then scan my negatives. I could also scan my older negatives that I did not have the talent to produce a good image from in the dark room. It was great. I started digging thru family photo albums to find old, beat up photos to scan and restore. Photoshop opened some new doors for me. I moved into a new home in farmland, water here is well & septic. Not good or safe for a traditional darkroom. I was embracing digital & making all types of new creative images. I invested in a high end Epson printer to improve the quality of the prints for gallery showings.
As time passed, technology grew & my computer was left behind. Everyday life events stood in the way of my “art career” and it went to the back burner. Recently, I decided to try to resurrect my art photos. I went out and bought a new tower, scanner and monitor. I then went out to buy the newest version of Photoshop. The version I have was out dated when I got it, I could not wait to see what the new software could do. Research showed it was beyond my expectations. I saw new programs and software bundles. Not just photo software, but web site tools, effects, design. Also art graphics, digital illustration & many more possibilities. CS 5 has it all. Actually way more than I need and more than I’d probably ever use. Then I saw the price. I looked at stripping it down to Photoshop only, but I must admit, it was very steep for my budget.
The Adobe website had links to package discounts. I saw that educators and students can get the software at great discounts. Places like E-bay, Overstock, Amazon, etc, carry the software at huge discounts over Adobe as well. But, any site other than Adobe warns the software cannot be registered and might not be able to activate to work. It did not sound legit to me. I was doing more research when it was suggested to me to have one of my nieces or nephews who are active students or one of my friends that are teachers to buy it for me. I’m sure many people do this, but that type of thing is not my style. If there is some problem, it could backfire & since it would not be a legit purchase, I would prefer not to do it and keep to the high road.
I saw that the Adobe site ran a contest, download the trial version of the program to explore for 30 days & get a chance of winning a home office make over. The down load was a nightmare. The amount of data used up the allowed amount in the agreement with my internet service provider. I had to stretch it out over two billing period and still incurred extra costs. The worst part was that after all that, I was unable to open or activate the download to try it out. I understand this is on me. The overages, the extra costs, all on me. Why it would not open is on me as well probably because of not being able to download in one attempt.
This brings me to why I’m writing. Artists don’t tend to make money like commercial users.
We can’t afford the commercial rate. So Adobe shuns the honest people who don’t use connections to get the software. Shuns the money we want to spend to get the software. If you are going to discount to some groups, why turn away others. More artists would submit Photoshop creations to Adobe to use in advertising to allow Adobe to attract more artists and more business. Unless of course the economy does not affect your revenue.
This is what I think every time you send me an e-mail. I’m sure plenty of people are currently taking advantage of your discount program. Your current pricing guarantees this practice will continue.
Consider the market you are missing out on.
If you are someone who is important enough to make changes in Adobe and you are reading this, follow the path this message took to end up in front of you.
From the customer service person who gave it to their supervisor to the person who handed you the printed copy, and every hand that moved to closer to you in between.
These are the Adobe employees who care about the company and are team players. Find them, reward them, they are Adobe’s future.
I’ve sent this before and I will continue to send it until I hear a response.
Thank you for your time.
R. Sinkus
You'll be lucky if Adobe even read it. Manufacturers like Adobe have forums for one reason, so subscribers can share knowledge and fix issues so they don't have to bother. Ever tried Adobe support? it sucks and that is why everyone is here, everyone but Adobe.
This Forum is officially being monitored, just because • some requests are not being implemented, • some bugs linger, • some threads don’t feature replies from Adobe employees does not mean the threads have not been registered.
Yep. First of all, this is a very old thread and no longer valid anyway. People complain about paying 999 for Photoshop, but today Photoshop can be had for only 10/month.
And secondly people always think that their idea/report/complaint is the most important remark ever made in any forum. So if there's no answer, or their suggestion is not implemented, they get frustrated and complain that Adobe never listens to its customers.
Ah. Thing is, I only need 4 programs and end up paying for 10. It’s ok when I have work but it’s been 5 months with no money coming in and I have to gamble with the prospect of getting a project or paying for my dog to see the vet. I am at wits end. You can’t get AE, AI, and PS for less than $52 a month. I am a 30 year user.
"Please lower the prices for Photoshop. Do you really think that poor students who want to use your software pay $999? We don't have that money, and saving for it takes years, which will make us have no jobs because lack of software."
Edit: If one were to open a carpenter’s shop acquiring the necessary tools would appear to be a necessity and due to their haptic nature most people are likely to not contend that their prices correspond to some actual value.
With software many people seem to have somewhat of a disconnect – by copying the software the proprietors of the intellectual property does not suffer a reduction of any material possessions so they appear to have suffered no damage.
But if a creative professional’s copyright is infringed upon – by unlicensed and unpaid use or re-use of their photographs, illustrations, layouts, animations etc. – they might appreciate the point more.
I was suprised to see this pop up again 4 months after my first post.
I'm still not going after a boot copy for myself, but I was suprised to see this pop up again after 4 months. Then I saw a thread on a model website.
How Come YOUR software is so HIGH, who has $700 just to edit pictures, how come you can't bring the price down..I think it is ridiculous to be so high, guess i will never be getting any of your products!!!
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled HIGH PRICE!!!.
Adobe corporate officers & staff, for every person who has posted for fair pricing, there are dozens who do not yet own Photoshop & never will. One look at the price & they move along. How many current PS software customers see the price & never update, while not bothering to send you feed back. Take a lesson from Kodak, accept the market as it is, adapt, work with the consumer & survive.
My wife, she's unsatisfied. I got her Photoshop Elements, but it's,
of course, not enough to express her incredible talents. :)
Is there a Middle Path, because a whole 800-1000 dollars is kind
of an issue. Don't you guys have a thing where you can get it in
pieces, or maybe a Photoshop Elements ++ option?
I'd settle for pretty much anything, just don't... make... me...
homeless. LOL.
Can I purchase Photoshop Super (or whatever) in monthly
chunks or something? PLEASE. My wife's hot. I'll do anything.
> My wife, she's unsatisfied.
>>And you are sure a Photoshop license can help it? :D
Yes, I wrote, "my wife, she's unsatisfied" because it was like a funny way of putting it, sort of like the way someone who doesn't speak good English would put it, all the while being unaware that they're inferring rather strong (and embarrassing) sexual connotations.
After I posted it, I said to my wife, "Now watch, someone's going to see the opportunity for a cheap joke, and they won't be able to help it."
My wife said, "How much you wanna bet that it's a GUY who will take the bait first?"
And here you are. The predictable, dumb guy who took the bait. :P
I am using a great plug in system that works with & expands Elements. Great control, good pricing.
I don't want to break the terms of agreement set by Adobe, so I don't know if it's ok to post the name of the software here.
If an Adobe mod weighs in, I'll know.
My God, what is this, a communist country?? Is Stalin running this place?
Speak freely, my dear. Don't let fear enslave you any more than it already (quite obviously) has. Respect for Adobe is one thing, but being afraid to speak freely is quite another. That's not integrity, it's just fear. Speak freely, and let the responsibility for it be mine. If anyone gets banned, for this, I'll take it.
To me, Adobe is making a huge mistake by selling Photoshop for either $800+ dollars, or giving you the "renting by month" option, which takes advantage of people who can't afford it, but need it.
When you buy anything else, such as a car, or a large TV, you can pay it off in monthly payments. So why can't we pay Photoshop off in the same way?
If you hire a servant and you leave your wallet full of cash out on the table, if the servant steals your wallet, which of you is responsible? It's you, of course, because you tempted them with a huge stack of cash knowing very well they wouldn't be able to help themselves.
Well, most people have a stolen copy of Photoshop. Why? Adobe leaves a big shiny thing out on the table, knowing very well that most people won't be able to help themselves. If you could make it affordable, in bite-sized chunks, that would alleviate you from the karmic responsibility of all of those cracked copies. People know that paying $22/month (to never even own it) is a ripoff. Adobe is saying, "If you're rich, we like you, and if you're poor, please enjoy a lifetime of enslavement to us." LOL.
This world. Everything is backwards here. The above paying customer is afraid to speak freely here. This is truly backwards. Man oh man.
Ok, I heard from a user & not adobe so......I use the Topaz system. All you need is Elements 10 and Topaz added as a plug in.
It's about $300.00. (259.00 on sale)
It's a direct download straight from Topaz or the CDs can come from B&H in NYC or Hunt's in Boston. http://www.topazlabs.com/
Check it out, affordable editing to expand on Adobe.
»My God, what is this, a communist country?? Is Stalin running this place?«
This is not a country, but a Forum.
»Respect for Adobe is one thing, but being afraid to speak freely is quite another.«
This Forum is maintained by Adobe so it would not only seem unwise to proclaim to any practices that might not be legal, it would be impolite to the Adobe employees who contribute here.
»If you hire a servant and you leave your wallet full of cash out on the table, if the servant steals your wallet, which of you is responsible?«
So you think temptation (at least in financial matters) is insurmountable?
Stating the obvious in order to make me look stupid. (You loveless freak.)
"seem unwise to proclaim to any practices that might not be legal"
She wasn't. She was talking about a plugin.
"So you think temptation is insurmountable?"
Actually yes, in many cases people are still more 'animal' than 'human', such as yourself, who can't help but to try to make others feel stupid, ashamed, and 'morally inferior' as compared to the wonderful wonderful 'you'.
»She wasn't. She was talking about a plugin.«
I guess I had misunderstood the motivation (or what was implied with »terms of agreement«) then and there was indeed no reason for restraint on that poster’s part.
I guess you misunderstood her intent, yep, just as you misunderstood mine and started to attack me. It's called "projection" and it ruins lives every single day. I don't really blame you, I blame the structure of the ego. It's obsessed with being 'right' and feeling 'morally superior' to others, and will usually stop at nothing to achieve those two juicy narcissistic ends. It just can't help itself, not unlike the person who can't help but steal a copy of Photoshop since Adobe doesn't offer more reasonable monthly payment options, and nobody wants to pay $22 a month, for life, and never actually own it. They're losing a lot of money, and they're picking up a lot of 'bad karma' in the process, since we all know that 'simple folk' just can't help themselves when it comes to stealing 'shiny stuff'. Out of compassion, then, I recommend giving people some kind of monthly payment plan. There's a lot of people who would go for it, and many of those same people are just going to steal it. It's simple, really, and getting people to understand simplicity is just about impossible. :)
Why is the software software so expensive? cant you make it cheaper? there are really young people who use it but can't afford it. do you honestly think that's fair?
»there are really young people who use it but can't afford it. do you honestly think that's fair?«
Have you thought this through?
Do you consider fairness a requirement in capitalism?
If things exist that people want to use is it unfair to deny them those things?
With basic necessities like food, shelter, medical care etc. I appreciate the argument, but when talking about professional tools I think it gets pretty difficult to argue that a corporation has an obligation to provide its customers with those goods at a price of the customers’ choosing.
A certain relationship between a company’s production, development and infrastructural costs and the selling price could, I guess, be required to avoid price gauging, but where would that leave the purveyors of brand name luxury goods?
But back to the example at hand: What is the price of an educational license? Because when you talk about »young people« I assume some of those might qualify.
Cloud for Photoshop is too expensive. Piracy will continue.
Traditionally I pay $200 about every 20 months to upgrade to the newest version of photoshop. This comes to $10 a month. The new Cloud rate is double that for a single program.
The benefit of immediate access to new features is not worth that price hike.
Also, structuring it this way de-incentivies Adobe from needing to pursue new ways to expand its products capabilities and value to encourage its users to upgrade. Since they now must pay to even use the program, Adobe no longer will feel any pressure to truly push its product further.
Piracy is wrong. But based on these things, I believe Adobe will continue to lose the war against it.
However, people will stop pirating something if the price point is good. Please consider lowering the price to $10 a month. Even if it is $10 a month only if you sign a 1-year plan or something. Just lower the price.
I agree the pricing structure is too complex. I also get annoyed that it costs so much more in the UK than the US - but I believe that's down to our government and its import taxes, not Adobe. (If it is Adobe though, it should be addressed).
I do think the software offers good value though. Yes, it hurts when you have to pay for it yourself, but then all artists and professionals have to pay for their tools. A violinist pays a fortune for a violin! A career mechanic needs to buy expensive spanners, but if it's just for DIY you buy cheaper tools and it doesn't hurt as much. I suspect that on the whole we expect to pay for tangible goods, but most people aren't aware of what it costs to develop and distribute slightly intangible stuff like software.
PS Elements is amazing for the price, but if you're a pro and need a more sophisticated package, bite the bullet and put it against tax. The Cloud subscription option looks like decent value to me - h**l, the monthly cost is cheaper than my mobile phone, works a whole lot better and doesn't deliver any nasty financial surprises at the end of the month. It worked out cheaper to subscribe to the entire suite than just upgrading the 3 apps in CS Standard, and you get a whole lot of extra stuff on top. Plus it's all tax deductible. The only thing that would make it better would be if I could suspend the subscription when I'm on holiday (but telecoms companies don't let you stop payments while you're on holiday either).
Software IS expensive, because it costs a lot to develop it! No I don't work for Adobe, but I've spent decades working with companies who develop digital imaging software for other markets that cost around £10,000 per license (it was double that in the 90's). Why? Because it costs a fortune to hire the kind of brains and the manpower required to make such products. Photoshop offers a great deal of functionality for less than a tenth of the price - which is only possible because its market is so huge. If Adobe were forced to bring the price down, there would undoubtedly be a negative effect on future upgrades, not to mention the next product. (Yes, there will one day be a new product - it's probably happened already a few times. Software has a life-cycle and eventually has to be re-written from the ground up - and that ongoing development can't happen without massive investment.
(*The 2 e's are missing from the middle of this word because the site considers the word for the opposite of heaven to be a profanity. Sigh...)
Responses
roger_walton
9 Messages
•
598 Points
10 years ago
1
beaur
2 Messages
•
82 Points
10 years ago
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop: Can't afford it?.
0
0
JeffreyTranberry
Adobe Administrator
•
15.9K Messages
•
295.3K Points
10 years ago
Adobe offers upgrade pricing for users who own a copy within 3 versions back (So currently, users of Photoshop CS2, CS3 or CS4 can upgrade to Photoshop CS5 for $199 vs $699 for the full version)
Student Pricing - Students get an amazing discount on Adobe software.
Subscription License - Great for people/businesses who only need software on a project basis.
Photoshop Elements is very powerful version of Photoshop for non-pros is available for only $99 (the Editor is available on its own from the Mac App Store for $79).
I do agree that the product/pricing structure for Suites is complicated. It's something I'd like to see simplified for our users.
Sr. Product Manager, Adobe Digital Imaging
0
robert_sinkus
10 Messages
•
192 Points
10 years ago
This is the 3rd time I am taking the time to write to you on this topic.
I’m an art photographer, advanced amateur level, once had some buzz around me & currently trying to get back to it. I was a film & paper type with my own B&W darkroom; where I printed & toned my images to hand color. Digital came along & I was a hold out. I bought a used computer that had Photoshop on it. I think the version was 7.0. I liked it very much. I could still shoot on Plus-X & then scan my negatives. I could also scan my older negatives that I did not have the talent to produce a good image from in the dark room. It was great. I started digging thru family photo albums to find old, beat up photos to scan and restore. Photoshop opened some new doors for me. I moved into a new home in farmland, water here is well & septic. Not good or safe for a traditional darkroom. I was embracing digital & making all types of new creative images. I invested in a high end Epson printer to improve the quality of the prints for gallery showings.
As time passed, technology grew & my computer was left behind. Everyday life events stood in the way of my “art career” and it went to the back burner. Recently, I decided to try to resurrect my art photos. I went out and bought a new tower, scanner and monitor. I then went out to buy the newest version of Photoshop. The version I have was out dated when I got it, I could not wait to see what the new software could do. Research showed it was beyond my expectations. I saw new programs and software bundles. Not just photo software, but web site tools, effects, design. Also art graphics, digital illustration & many more possibilities. CS 5 has it all. Actually way more than I need and more than I’d probably ever use. Then I saw the price. I looked at stripping it down to Photoshop only, but I must admit, it was very steep for my budget.
The Adobe website had links to package discounts. I saw that educators and students can get the software at great discounts. Places like E-bay, Overstock, Amazon, etc, carry the software at huge discounts over Adobe as well. But, any site other than Adobe warns the software cannot be registered and might not be able to activate to work. It did not sound legit to me. I was doing more research when it was suggested to me to have one of my nieces or nephews who are active students or one of my friends that are teachers to buy it for me. I’m sure many people do this, but that type of thing is not my style. If there is some problem, it could backfire & since it would not be a legit purchase, I would prefer not to do it and keep to the high road.
I saw that the Adobe site ran a contest, download the trial version of the program to explore for 30 days & get a chance of winning a home office make over. The down load was a nightmare. The amount of data used up the allowed amount in the agreement with my internet service provider. I had to stretch it out over two billing period and still incurred extra costs. The worst part was that after all that, I was unable to open or activate the download to try it out. I understand this is on me. The overages, the extra costs, all on me. Why it would not open is on me as well probably because of not being able to download in one attempt.
This brings me to why I’m writing. Artists don’t tend to make money like commercial users.
We can’t afford the commercial rate. So Adobe shuns the honest people who don’t use connections to get the software. Shuns the money we want to spend to get the software. If you are going to discount to some groups, why turn away others. More artists would submit Photoshop creations to Adobe to use in advertising to allow Adobe to attract more artists and more business. Unless of course the economy does not affect your revenue.
This is what I think every time you send me an e-mail. I’m sure plenty of people are currently taking advantage of your discount program. Your current pricing guarantees this practice will continue.
Consider the market you are missing out on.
If you are someone who is important enough to make changes in Adobe and you are reading this, follow the path this message took to end up in front of you.
From the customer service person who gave it to their supervisor to the person who handed you the printed copy, and every hand that moved to closer to you in between.
These are the Adobe employees who care about the company and are team players. Find them, reward them, they are Adobe’s future.
I’ve sent this before and I will continue to send it until I hear a response.
Thank you for your time.
R. Sinkus
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Why I have not updated my software..
6
photoshop_faq
Adobe Administrator
•
158 Messages
•
14.3K Points
9 years ago
"Please lower the prices for Photoshop. Do you really think that poor students who want to use your software pay $999? We don't have that money, and saving for it takes years, which will make us have no jobs because lack of software."
1
0
robert_sinkus
10 Messages
•
192 Points
9 years ago
I'm still not going after a boot copy for myself, but I was suprised to see this pop up again after 4 months. Then I saw a thread on a model website.
Adobe staff, you might want to see this debate.
http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thr...
1
0
christyg_3542920
2 Messages
•
82 Points
9 years ago
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
HIGH PRICE!!!.
0
0
robert_sinkus
10 Messages
•
192 Points
9 years ago
0
0
stephane_hemon
6 Messages
•
112 Points
9 years ago
My wife, she's unsatisfied. I got her Photoshop Elements, but it's,
of course, not enough to express her incredible talents. :)
Is there a Middle Path, because a whole 800-1000 dollars is kind
of an issue. Don't you guys have a thing where you can get it in
pieces, or maybe a Photoshop Elements ++ option?
I'd settle for pretty much anything, just don't... make... me...
homeless. LOL.
Can I purchase Photoshop Super (or whatever) in monthly
chunks or something? PLEASE. My wife's hot. I'll do anything.
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
photoshop for... POOR PEOPLE!.
5
0
robert_sinkus
10 Messages
•
192 Points
9 years ago
I don't want to break the terms of agreement set by Adobe, so I don't know if it's ok to post the name of the software here.
If an Adobe mod weighs in, I'll know.
2
0
robert_sinkus
10 Messages
•
192 Points
9 years ago
0
0
christoph_pfaffenbichler
Champion
•
1.7K Messages
•
25.5K Points
9 years ago
This is not a country, but a Forum.
»Respect for Adobe is one thing, but being afraid to speak freely is quite another.«
This Forum is maintained by Adobe so it would not only seem unwise to proclaim to any practices that might not be legal, it would be impolite to the Adobe employees who contribute here.
»If you hire a servant and you leave your wallet full of cash out on the table, if the servant steals your wallet, which of you is responsible?«
So you think temptation (at least in financial matters) is insurmountable?
4
natalie_connor
2 Messages
•
82 Points
8 years ago
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Photoshop is too expensive!.
1
0
justin_gerard_2951459
4 Messages
•
114 Points
8 years ago
Traditionally I pay $200 about every 20 months to upgrade to the newest version of photoshop. This comes to $10 a month. The new Cloud rate is double that for a single program.
The benefit of immediate access to new features is not worth that price hike.
Also, structuring it this way de-incentivies Adobe from needing to pursue new ways to expand its products capabilities and value to encourage its users to upgrade. Since they now must pay to even use the program, Adobe no longer will feel any pressure to truly push its product further.
Piracy is wrong. But based on these things, I believe Adobe will continue to lose the war against it.
However, people will stop pirating something if the price point is good. Please consider lowering the price to $10 a month. Even if it is $10 a month only if you sign a 1-year plan or something. Just lower the price.
This reply was created from a merged topic originally titled
Cloud is too expensive. Piracy will continue..
0
0
julia_neal
32 Messages
•
432 Points
8 years ago
I do think the software offers good value though. Yes, it hurts when you have to pay for it yourself, but then all artists and professionals have to pay for their tools. A violinist pays a fortune for a violin! A career mechanic needs to buy expensive spanners, but if it's just for DIY you buy cheaper tools and it doesn't hurt as much. I suspect that on the whole we expect to pay for tangible goods, but most people aren't aware of what it costs to develop and distribute slightly intangible stuff like software.
PS Elements is amazing for the price, but if you're a pro and need a more sophisticated package, bite the bullet and put it against tax. The Cloud subscription option looks like decent value to me - h**l, the monthly cost is cheaper than my mobile phone, works a whole lot better and doesn't deliver any nasty financial surprises at the end of the month. It worked out cheaper to subscribe to the entire suite than just upgrading the 3 apps in CS Standard, and you get a whole lot of extra stuff on top. Plus it's all tax deductible. The only thing that would make it better would be if I could suspend the subscription when I'm on holiday (but telecoms companies don't let you stop payments while you're on holiday either).
Software IS expensive, because it costs a lot to develop it! No I don't work for Adobe, but I've spent decades working with companies who develop digital imaging software for other markets that cost around £10,000 per license (it was double that in the 90's). Why? Because it costs a fortune to hire the kind of brains and the manpower required to make such products. Photoshop offers a great deal of functionality for less than a tenth of the price - which is only possible because its market is so huge. If Adobe were forced to bring the price down, there would undoubtedly be a negative effect on future upgrades, not to mention the next product. (Yes, there will one day be a new product - it's probably happened already a few times. Software has a life-cycle and eventually has to be re-written from the ground up - and that ongoing development can't happen without massive investment.
(*The 2 e's are missing from the middle of this word because the site considers the word for the opposite of heaven to be a profanity. Sigh...)
0
0