HOW DO I SELL MY SUITE

You can sell it on an ecommerce site if you have one.

If you want to sell it on WinCustomize, you have to be a Master-level user, which takes time in the community and a lot of free skins and content.

As far as I know the only one's that are allowed to sell items on this site are those skinners that have been identified as being Masters.

You can create your own web page and sell your items there. One thing to remember, on sites like WinCustomize, and there are a few, there are plenty of free skins.

I believe that you are going to have to establish yourself as a developer of quality skins before you will have people wanting to buy your items. How long have you been skinning and what is your experience? How large of a library of suite's or other skins do you have?

Good luck to.

Edit: Everyone always types faster than me!!!!

There is a company called BMT Micro, that allows you to sell just about any downloadable format. I use it for my sales, they have a pretty reasonable fee split. You would only need to have a web site, and a link to the purchase link they provide you with.

Check out: Commercial Gadgets to see how mine is setup. It works good for me.

I dont have to do anything to complete a sale. I upload my ZIP/EXE file to their server, set a price, enter a description, and then i get a link i use for my "buy" button. They take care of the entire sale. I get an email when its sold, with name, email etc. So far (10 months) and i feel its well worth it.

Enjoy.

Again, it is possible to become a MASTER (i made it, anyone can) and sell it here, but i have not done anything for sale here (yet), my issue is with the 50/50 split of the profits here, that a little much for my tastes. But you do get a LOT of traffic here that you woudnt get on your typical site. So, is the traffic worth the 50%? You have to make that call.

Just wanted to point out that when someone has a problem with a widget, theme, etc that you made, Stardock will be the ones doing the support for that product, not you. That's worth quite a bit.   

True, but if its a gadget, or something like that I would need to be the one that handles the support. And with the BMT you know who is purchasing your work, so when someone emails you a q, you can know if they are a customer, or someone else.

But i do agree, for a WB skin this could be a lot of support.

Actually, the authors provide support for their own creations.  WinCustomize is merely a storefront for Masters.

There are many pros and cons to consider when deciding to sell stuff. I just don't feel that 50% is absurd. If you feel it is too much, your not being unreasonable either. It's business and negotiating is kind of important.

It all comes down to volume. If your overall volume of sales increases, then what does it matter what your cut is. Noone is going to retire by selling skins. Take what you can get would be my approach is all I'm babblin about.

I haven't sold anything yet so I have no clue how sales are going. I don't think I will ever because I'm not worthy and I do it for relaxation so my reward is in the skinning itself.

ROMANDA. no disrespect but plugging your own site and disputing Stardock/ WC's partnership terms in the same breath is sort of disrespectful. Certain powers that be thought you were worthy of the Master's title, as do I. There are many of us in a love hate relationship when it comes to skinning. It just sounded like you were biting the hand that feeds you. Again, no disrespect.

Would you ever walk into a competitor's store holding a sale sign for your store?

Authors are responsible for bug fixes for their skins but Wincustomize handles the 'I lost my dl' link request.Thats definately worth something.  

NIGHT TRAIN: Im sorry, i thought this was an open forum where we could discuss our opinions on things. I have stated my opinion about BMT Micro as an alternative, since the person asking the q is NOT a master. As for "plugging" my site, i posted a link so the person could see how i use the service im talking about. I have multiple items for sale on Desktop Gadgets site, Hell i wrote a HUGE article on it, as for "biting the hand that feeds you" i do not think that was the case at all. I was simply pointing out an alternative to wc, since they CANT post on WC for sale. And as for my site, i started it because i really wanted to have more control over when things get approved, what gets approved, and pricing. As well as getting a list of people who have purchased from me, so i can then sell them more items, or send them updates. I have had things "in moderation" on DG.com for MONTHS and so i gave up on it, it wasn't worth me trying to sell things there, i have made this clear to "the powers that be" and they know my frustration. I have nothing against selling things on WC, to be honest i am looking at posting some of my gadgets for sale on WC to see if i can generate any interest.

I love WC and have done a ton here on this site, as well as with and for a ton of members as well as employees, but i really get upset when i cant state my opinion on things. Not everything that WC does is perfect, and there are things im sure that everyone here has something that bothers them. I have seen MULTIPLE forum posts were people spent WEEKS bitching about everything on WC and SD. I never said not to sell thru WC, i simply said that if you thought the 50/50 split was worth it, go for it, i happen to not think that its a good trade off. Sorry if this isnt the place for me to say things, then maybe i need to not say anything.

It is and that's what I was doing. Please don't twist it around and make a broadway play out of it. I am not you and do not know your history as well as you do. I am only discussing what was said in this thread. I would and will call out anyone trying to plug/spam the site. No matter how piddly it might be. I got nothing better to do.   

What RomanDA did was talk about an alternative path for users who aren't Master Skinners.  His site is an example of what is possible with the alternative system.

He also expressed a personal opinion of the program, which is entirely his right.

Can you make more money PER SALE going through an external ecommerce site?  Yes, it's possible.  What we offer is an instant customer-base.  Master Skins on WinCustomize are seen by thousands of people each and every day.  The idea is that you have a much higher sales opportunity on WinCustomize than you do going it alone.  Think of it almost as free advertising for your work. 

We also handle processing, file storage, transmission etc.  The hidden costs that people don't think about.

But like everything, it's an option.  No one HAS to do it this way, we're just trying to help out those who want the opportunity without setting it all up themselves and going through the hassle of advertising and attracting viewers.

So by that regard ANYONE that posts a link to ANY site that isn't WC or SD is SPAMMING the site?

If you would have taken a minute to see why i was posting a link to my site, than maybe this "Broadway play" wouldn't have happened.

Good luck policing the site for EVERY link that anyone posts that doesn't point to SD or WC.

Play over..



ZOOMBA: I agree 100% and if i didn't have access to a server, and know how to do web design, this would be the BEST way to go. And like i said, I will probably post some of my gadgets here, as i think no one else has posted any "master" gadgets, so might get some good sales. And there is a LOT to say for the amount of traffic, but up until about a month or so ago, i didnt have the "choice" of selling on WC, so just pointing out another alternative.

Enter the Devil's Advocate.. I Like to have my cake and eat it to.. and so.. I do.  

A very wise man once said.. 50 % of something is better than 50% of nothing..  

vStyler,

I agree, but since tapeman2 is only a citizen this is not an option open to them.

Well it was sorta directed at changing your opinion but I respect your take on it also. Just my 3 cent.

Bud... im simply stating that there is a way to sell your skins, etc when your not a "master" here on WC. There are a lot of people who sell things here and on their own sites. But if you cant sell here, then its not a option.

Up until about 8-9 mo ago i sold my gadgets on DG.com, and i still have them for sale there. My issues with that site have been sent to the "powers that be" and they may or may not be fixed in the future. Those issues were more of a reason than the 50/50 split issue, but that was the icing on the cake. I think i have been very clear that if you are a master skinner, and want to sell things WC is a great place for that, and i also have stated that i since i have only been a master for a few months (or shorter) that i have not had time to make things that i would like to sell here. My site was created mainly for me and someone else who wanted a way to sell our gadgets, it really had nothing to do with WC, but DG.

I think this has been driven into the ground. Lets put it this way..

Wincustomize is THE place to sell your skins if you are a master, if you are not then bmt micro is a great alternative, and that was what my first post was all about.
I know there are lots of alternatives as well, i just pointed out one i have experience with. 'nuff said.

RomanDA's opinion is perfectly valid.

If you're not a Master, then the method outlined by RomanDA seems like a pretty good path. If you are a Master, than it's a matter of whether the exposure and convenience of WinCustomize is worth the 50/50 split.

Sorry I rubbed you the wrong way RomanDA. I was simply expressing my thoughts. Hopefully no harm done.   

Night Train,

The problem i have is with being called out as promoting my site, or spamming the site for simply posting a link to a site that shows an alternative to WC. If you look at this site there are HUNDREDS of posts where people are touting other skinning s/w, other sites, etc. So, calling me out for what i posted was really not called for.

Done now..

Sry frogot about this thread thank you for helpin out a noob to all that actually help me. I havnt used stardock/wc (e.g.) very much im just trying to figure it out so when I can I know how to.