Ending Transfers to Classic from New Not in the Spirit of One Year's Notice13740
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 WGAN ForumFounder & WGAN-TV Podcast Host Atlanta, Georgia |
DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Hi All, Matterport's notice today (Please see Matterport eBlast below | 8 December 2020) that it is ending free transfers to Matterport Classic Cloud accounts from Matterport New Pricing Cloud accounts is not in the spirit of Matterport's assurances that it would give 12 months notice that it is ending Matterport Classic Pricing. This change prevented Matterport's earliest adopters and most successful customers from processing unlimited models for $69 per month and then transferring their Matterport models to their old pricing cloud account where hosting is about one-sixth the cost (of the new Cloud accounts). (WGAN Cheat Sheet: Compare Pricing) While Matterport is giving nearly two months notice of the change - after a sneaky attempt to implement last week without notice - falls short of commitments made by Matterport executives when Matterport new pricing was announced: According to Matterport CEO RJ Pittman in a Facebook livestream (video) on Thursday, 9 May 2019 about the introduction of Matterport new Cloud pricing and grandfathering in Matterport Classic pricing: My commitment to customers is what I said before, maybe I'll just be super sharp about that. It's indefinite. Can this change? It's entirely possible, but our instincts around this and the direction we're headed, I want to be really clear, is change for the better, and making sure that again our customers and the way that you've built your businesses are not disrupted and as we create new plans and if you are moved into a new plan in five years, 10 years down the road it would be self-motivated because we'd be creating so much value and a better plan that you'd want to get out of the grandfathered plan to get on something that's much more scalable and cost efficient. Transferring of Matterport Spaces to Classic Cloud plan from Matterport new pricing plan is likely the only reason that kept Matterport's early adaptors from jumping ship as was documented during a WGAN-TV Town Hall and with a portion of the transcript reprinted below. I could imagine that many successful, Matterport early adapters will be seriously looking at other platforms and other 3D/360 cameras that offer: 1. processing and hosting for far less than Matterport; 2. without the need for a proprietary camera; and, 3. clear guidance regarding copyright and no derivative works (use of content created by service providers) You may recall from this WGAN Forum discussion what former Matterport Chief Marketing Officer Chris Bell and Matterport Vice President of Product Management Damien Leostic. said during WGAN-TV Live at 5 Town Hall: Matterport New Pricing 16 May 2019: Chris Bell: But as far as not changing, we are on record saying we have no plans to change the classic situation the way that they're set up today. If we do ever change them, there'll be at least a year notice, a year's notice before we do anything with them. That should give you some comfort levels. It should really give everyone some comfort level. We have not even discussed a timeframe for this because the whole point of it is to give you something that you can run your businesses against for the foreseeable future. Chris Bell: Which is why we've said indefinite and you can hold us to that promise. As far as the differences in currency and economics worldwide, I think that's a business problem that we can all appreciate. But we may need to talk about some kind of arrangement where your usage as it grows and grows has more of an enterprise arrangement with us. Damien has spent a lot of time looking at the differences between or not the differences but the outcomes of different size hosting plans and how we're transitioning from the old to the new. So I'm just gonna ask him to comment on your around hosting fees and your observations of your employees and colleagues. And, then there is this exchange from the WGAN-TV Live at 5 Town Hall: [i]Dan Smigrod: Good. I hear we'll get at least a year's notice in terms of a change related to classic pricing. If that was to change, would that also be the case with transfer meaning we presently can transfer models for free. Can we count on at least the year that we'll be able to transfer models for free? Damien Leostic: That's good. So, first of, thanks for highlighting your use case. I've seen that on your forum. I've seen the [inaudible 01:25:08] that you had on- Dan Smigrod: I'm trying to look for a way, Damien, that perhaps those of us that are on a classic plan can be happy with classic. What I'm suggesting is, "Okay, I'm on a classic plan, forever at least I can activate for $19 get up to another 50 models." If I'm paying for processing more than $69 a month, then it would make sense to open up at least have a second account, process my models, transfer them from my new account back to my existing account. Dan Smigrod: As long as transfer is free, then I am still at the, I want to say at $2 per additional model for hosting. Right now at 300 models in a $1,500 a year account, I'm paying $5 a year for hosting under the new plan that's going to be $29 or even as high as 48, depending on how you count going back to Leon's explanation. If you don't fill up the the account overnight and therefore you don't get the benefit of it. What I'm trying to ask is can I transfer my models pay for the $19 for another 50 models and still have the benefit of that lower original price for hosting? Damien Leostic: I completely understand the use case. Sort of what you're saying is like, "Look, I see the benefits of the new plan and I'm going to go sign up for a new plan because I realize those benefits." It's a first step towards adoption and realizing the value of what you bring. Now the paradigm that you explained is value today. Yes, you can sign up two to plans. Oh sorry, sign up to the new plan and keeping your classic plan. You can transfer the models. Damien Leostic: I'm not here to comment necessarily whether or not this is going to be in definitive transferring capability. Our job here is, look- Dan Smigrod: Well, Damien, I need to push back a little bit because the transfer feature is presently part of the classic plan. It's a huge benefit to the existing Matterport service providers that have been around quite some time to say, "Oh well this would be a way that I am not capped with a number of models that I can host on my classic plan." If I really do have a thriving business and I'm processing with more than $69 a month, then it would make sense for me to add another account. Dan Smigrod: Then at some point if you keep loading on membership benefits into the professional and business account, then maybe they would actually be a reason to switch. But in terms of keeping everybody happy who is a classic member, if you let us know that transfer would remain free for another year, then I think that scenario may resonate with a number of pros. Chris Bell: Dan, I think it's a good suggestion. We're not going to make some feature and policy decisions on live TV, but we're going to go back and we're going to answer this question and we're going to answer it on your forum. Let's take it head on. I understand the use case. I also believe in my heart of hearts that as many of you start to use the new tiers and we start to add value to the tiers that you'll want to be at that level. Chris Bell: But for now, I applaud the creative solutions to make what we have on the table work for your businesses today and I appreciate the flexibility. So if you're willing to work that hard to keep things in kilter for your business, I think it just shows a lot of passion for Matterport. So we'll do our part and go back and evaluate that exact question. Additionally, a 2020 Matterport job posting: Matterport is looking for a passionate, dynamic leader of our Customer Success and Customer Support functions to help us achieve our goal of maniacal focus on our customers to truly differentiate our business. Obviously, the sneaky move by Matterport did not live up to its goal of maniacal focus on our customers. What are your thoughts? Best, Dan   Matterport eBlast received 8:36 am EST Tuesday, 8 December 2020 Hi All, From a Matterport eBlast sent Tuesday, 8 December 2020: 1. “Classic” plans aren’t going anywhere. Our community would not be where it is without the early bets placed by the charter members of our community who subscribed to our “Classic” plans. We will therefore continue to support these plans fully. If you are happy with your “Classic” plan, rest assured we are not taking them away. We are happy for you to keep using those plans, with one caveat, which we are spelling out below: 2. The ability to transfer spaces from “New” to “Classic” plans for free will be removed, effective 1/31/21. Our new plan subscribers represent the majority of Matterport customers. As such it is important we keep parity of features between both sets of plans but that we also maintain fairness across our customer base. While the ability for “Classic” plan holders to transfer over spaces from “New” accounts for free has technically existed for a while, it created an unintended exploitation of our commercial terms that undermined the value offered to the majority of our customers. As such, we will remove this ability for all “Classic” plan holders, effective January 31st, 2021. Your thoughts? Dan |
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Matt19 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Matterport has so much to offer yet they do things sneaky like this and it creates a love hate relationship. Sadly this type of behavior seems to keep happen over and over! This type of behavior kills my loyalty to them when I would have been a loyal customer for years. What they should do is allow the transfers to classic plans but only allow one per month (or some other resonable restriction) so that it can't be abused. It's likely one per month would not be a major revenue killer and would stop the "abusers". | ||
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WGAN Forum Founder & WGAN-TV Podcast Host Atlanta, Georgia |
DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by Matt19 Respectfully, I disagree. When Matterport introduced New Pricing, it dramatically altered the business model for Matterport Service Providers. The only reason the WGAN Community did not go nuts was this transfer feature. Matterport should have given 12 months notice - given that this change dramatically alters the business model for its important, "charter members" ... Dan |
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Matt19 private msg quote post Address this user | |
| @DanSmigrod I agree that Matterport has created their own problems which ultimately created problems for MSP's. While it is their company they should consider the implications on MSP's. They should engage in this forum or others and get stakeholders feedback and ideas so that they create less love hate. Instead they don't say anything and try to sneak a change without saying anything...once again egg on their face! They have not been above board on numerous other situations. I wonder if they will ever get it?! | ||
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WGAN Forum Founder & WGAN-TV Podcast Host Atlanta, Georgia |
DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user | |
Quote:Originally Posted by @Matt19 Well said! Dan |
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WGAN Forum Founder & WGAN-TV Podcast Host Atlanta, Georgia |
DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user | |
| Hi All, ✓ It's January 27th! Are you Matterport accounts in order for the change? Dan |
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