massive price hike

[CosmicFishy7]

So I was researching this product on the verge of buying it. While on the official site I notice a video that showcases the item. I believe it was the today show. Durring your video you claim that it can be bought for 249$ but when you try to buy it the price is actually 400$. So apparently you raised the price by 150$. And from the amazon reviews it is comparable to a 150$ excercise bike. So, tell me why is it now so much more expensive? You lost me at the price increase. And to be honest, if I had not watched the video on your site, I probably would have purchased today. But the fact that I now feel like it is a ripoff at a higher price point and no improvements have been made to raise the cost. So what is going on? You lost this customer until the price goes back to reasonable. Fix your site, take down the false video please. You wasted too much of my time with false advertising.

[76561198295368552]

Which video is this? This might have been mentioned in passing in one of the press clips from when we were still taking pre-orders before launch, but our own official videos and our Order page should only have accurate and up-to-date pricing information. If I'm wrong on that point, though, we'll definitely correct the error.

The $250 price was a deep discount for early customers who were taking a chance on a product that hadn't released yet, but now that it's launched, we're keeping the price as low as a small startup reasonably can. We're definitely not trying to trick anybody here.

[76561198295368552]

Going back over the videos, I see that a couple of the old press clips are out of date. (One even says we charge a monthly subscription, which we do not!) We'll have to add a disclaimer that press clips may mention out-of-date features or pricing. When folks get back from the holidays, we'd like to update the site with more up-to-date videos as well. Thank you for the heads up!

[Ron ︻气デ 一]

I remember seeing that old video. I seemed like a pre-release video - I think it was being demo'd by a news show team? I remember the price being cheap and didn't hesitate at final release price because I figured like MOST THINGS - the actual price will go up from what is a early prediction. The Rift and HTC were much higher than initially expected. I think the Rift was suppose to be around 300-399 initially? well - wasn't. I figure that upgrades to the design are applied which adds to the cost. well worth the 399 to me - especially when that includes around 80-100 in shipping costs.

[Ron ︻气デ 一]

The VR roto chair I ordered (I paid around 900) I think was initially annouced to be 499. in all the early annoucment videos. I get what he means - I hate it if I feel it just went up and everyone else got the LOW PRICE - but no one did... the release price was updated. I figure to include better hardware and more games. The unit also looks different (better) than the old version.
Just part of the new rproduct release story, but you're not paying more.

[76561198295368552]

Thanks, Ron. And yeah, as you can see from the comments about a subscription fee, pricing models changed here over time too. I can understand being thrown off by the videos we show on our own website, too, of course. The last thing we want to do is confuse or frustrate anybody. It's tough to make updates with the holidays and increased support volume from folks who just opened their bikes from Christmas, but I do want to make sure the website's clear.

[CosmicFishy7]

its on your site, main page. The today show people are testing it out durring a show. And they say the price is 250.

[CosmicFishy7]

Do you have this device Ron? I would love someone to chime in that is an actual customer. And can say from experience how well the item and the software work, before I spend money on something that may end up taking up valuable storage space in my home.

[Gothic Lollipop]

I'm an actual customer, and although I've only had my VirZoom bike for the past couple of days, I'm loving it so far. It was a lot of money for me, but I think it was money well spent. Unlike any other exercise equipment I've bought in the past, I actually look forward to using it! If anything, I'm a little worried I'm going to overdo it.

I think it would be great if VirZoom could get demos into places like Best Buy, so people could see how cool it is for themselves. Right now, it is a bit of a leap of faith to just buy something you haven't gotten the chance to try out. Then again, you could always buy one, try it out, and return it if you don't like it. That was my plan. But mine isn't going back :)

[76561198295368552]

Thank you, GothicLollipop! And just to clarify that comment at the end: If you order from virzoom.com, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. Doesn't have to be defective – we'll take it back even if you just don't like it, as long as you bought it directly from us.

And I'll let Ron speak for himself, but I want to give him a shout out not only as one of our more active bike players, but also an invaluable provider of feedback and user-submitted bug reports. Thank you, Ron!

[CosmicFishy7]

ok, Jason, go to your site main page. Scroll down to the first video with the today show. The video starts out with a banner that the cost is 249$ so this is why I feel like the price was recently raised. As the today show is acting like it was the set price and available at that price. And obviously its on your main page. It even has an NBC news logo on the banner with the price. So I now feel like maybe that was not really a estimated price but an actual price when the today show reviewd it. So while I was back on the site to consider a purchase. That video just makes me feel like im being overcharged and I left without buying it again. Maybe you can take that video off the site, so when I start feeling better about the new price again I wont be put off when I go to your site again to try and purchase the product.

[CosmicFishy7]

Last question Jason, what is the 10 dollar a month subscription fee that the gamespot video talks about. And by the way that video the girl says the bike is only 200$.

[76561198295368552]

Thanks for following up! See my reply above from Dec 29, but just to recap quickly:

- No subscription fee
- Those are out-of-date press clippings, not ads we made
- We're discussing the best way to handle (remove videos? add disclaimer text?)

Thanks again!