"The limited time $19.99 price is 50% off the regular price and less than the cost of the previous 1Password 2 to 1Password 3 upgrade three years ago."

The key word being LIMITED. What if I don't want to "upgrade" right now but later?

"Even better: the special price is available to *everyone* not just existing customers because we wanted to share the deal with even more folks."

I would say even worse, because the key point with reduced upgrade cost is that old customers are recognized for their support. Right now, they are the same as anyone else and your generosity with upgrades up to now - although commendable - has nothing to do with it. The only thing you could do right now to make things better, would be to permanently lower the price even more for old customers. If Mac App Store has "so much to offer" it can certainly do that? If it can't I would suggest to reevaluate the usefulness of Mac App Store as the only distribution platform.

One more question... let's say I buy version 3.9 at discounted price, and I get the 4.x for free. Would I be offered the lower upgrade price when version 5.x comes out? Or would you say that only those customers who have payed the full price of 4.x have that right?

"I cannot promise how long the offer will be available"

One more reason to reevaluate the usefulness of Mac App Store as the only distribution platform.

"I would have never guessed that the lower price would be an objection just because we decided to offer it to even more people. That sounds like a *good* thing to me. LOL"

This plus what you have already said about ultimately raising the price (for everyone) is saying that the customer loyalty is basically of no concern to you.

"And to celebrate the release, this price is available to everyone, rather than trying to discriminate."

This is what I argue. By discriminating you would clearly state both to old and new customers that you value loyalty. I think the concept is clear and it's the way most succesfull shareware is being sold.

"If you don't feel that is a satisfactory value, you certainly don't need to buy it."

It's not the question of value, but more of a principle. However, it is going to be a question of principle AND value, when you stop offering discounted price to customers of 3.x

On the other hand, I'm sure this won't pose a financial problem for you because you will have access to more potential customers via MAS.


"Maybe by the time 1Password 5 is available..."

I predict that we'll see ver. 5.x much faster than you suggest.


Whatever I said before, I can't deny that 1Password is really nice application and it's clear that you guys really take time with your (potential) customers so kudos for that.

After posting my comments about 1Password yesterday, my smiley rating plunged from +22 to -6, yet I didn't get so many sad smileys on this page. Do I smell a foul intentions?