Quote from Roberto on August 3, 2023, 11:51 pm

Hello

I just realized today that PU has an expiration date. I have now read through everything before I give my opinion here. My first thought was not very pleasant, because I think I lose something and get nothing in return.

...The truth is, however, after some consideration, that I got much more from you and your team than I personally gave. So the balance was not in equilibrium. For me, PU has a value to which I can't put a concrete number. This site has advanced/changed me like no other in my life. I know that this decision was not easy for you but I understand the reasons behind it.
I find it very unfortunate that for whatever reason, PU has declining visitor numbers. The step is absolutely logical to demand something more from the people who understand the value of the site. Even with the extra money you pay now, you still get much more than you give.

This site has, in my opinion, changed the lives of so many people and the people who interact with them for the better. It surprises me every time.

I would like to end this text with the following words:

Lucio you have my utmost respect for your mission, work, blood, sweat and tears that have gone into what you have created. I am certain your path has not always been easy. I take my hat off to you in awe.

Quote from Ambrose661 on August 4, 2023, 5:02 am

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on August 3, 2023, 8:08 pm

As for download, I don't think it's a piracy issue, but one issue for me is psychological: I don't the idea that people would be going through an older and less useful version, maybe with still typos in it and videos that have been moved or deleted in the meanwhile, while I know there is a new and better version.

It would still be better than losing everything I paid for. IDK, I am a slow learner, I read a lesson, write down some ideas, think about them and continue after a few days. And I like to have the original material at hand in order to go back to it and parse through it again at a later date, to remember and maybe understand more.

 

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on August 4, 2023, 10:24 am

Thank you, thank you so much both for the kind words, and for looking at it from both sides, Roberto.

I personally think that's the grown-up and high-quality way of doing it -looking at it at both ways means also considering own's own side, of course-.
And even the high power way, actually.

The person who focuses only on his own loss and refuses to consider the other side can easily come across as needy -similar to how the man who tells his wife "but you promised to stay together" does when she says she wants a divorce-.

And refusing to look at it from both sides may also lose negotiation leverage because the other party sees it as negotiating in bad and overly selfish fashion (so he triggers the "competitive, f*ck you mode").

@ambrose661

I see your point, and I partially agree.

The option is not completely off the table, BUT...

There is no easy way right now to offer a download option.

And for the current priorities TPM is tackling, that's a show-stopper.
So, that's a discussion around hypotheticals.

If and when such an option would become viable / easier to offer, then the topic will be relevant again.

Quote from Emily on August 9, 2023, 8:49 pm

I was a bit shocked when I was ready to come back and study more PU material, but then I asked for the extension - reminder that I have to be a bit more consistent in my studying.

I understand how much it is to operate the content and this site, Lucio, and also your dedicated personal presence here, for which I really appreciate. I just hope if there's any change in the future that might affect user experience, we can probably brainstorm and discuss a bit rather than get an abrupt notice that some change has already been made. This is not to criticize - but I felt that I could have done more if there has been operational challenges and contribute in the ways I can, rather than being in the lazy taker mode (by no means I think I'm the customer hence the god). Anyway, hope things are going well. I personally would be happy to chip in here or there if the changes could be gradual but I have no idea about the technical issues that might cause, so I'm happy that this could be an open conversation.

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on August 9, 2023, 9:50 pm

Thank you so much for the note, Emily!

I certainly agree the change could have been better managed :)

Quote from Maverick on September 23, 2023, 3:38 am

Hello Lucio,

I was away from the forum for a while and missed the latest developments, there are certain things I would like to share,

1. As  a customer, the lifetime access was a significant factor in my decision to buy this course and if I remember correctly, it was one of your Unique Selling points for this course.
2. Taking  this away is not cool, I also understand it is not sustainable to you, and I would be a fool to say I don't want access to  PU because it indeed is filled with amazing and useful content.
3.  As an alternative going  you can provide a "password protected  x times downloadable file option", this I think might have saved you more money than having to maintain life time access, while also protecting your work from being pirated. If you have any other solution that works I'm open to working with that as well.

Mav

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on September 23, 2023, 8:07 am

Hello Maverick,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.

My replies:

1. I understand it weighed on your decision, and at the same time, lifetime access never was a USP. My true thoughts on USPs is that there is nothing like PU, and it's one of the best courses one can ever take. Also, most creators offer lifetime access so it couldn't be a USP just because of that. As for the significant factor on purchase:
2. I agree it's not cool. But I also strongly believe it's a lot cooler than the alternatives (as per previous messages)
3. Downloading is a potential option in theory, but not technically feasible. We talked about downloading options. I'm not a fan of downloading because I don't see an effective way of downloading a multimedia course (text, videos that may have to be replaced, quizzes, audio, etc. etc.). So you'd lose quite a bit with the downloaded file.
   At a personal level, I also dislike the idea people may download 80% of the value. And then on top of that, go through older versions when I know there is a better version. I see TPM's responsibility as offering the best possible available, and if we allow older versions to float around, we're not doing that.
   Still, since so many mentioned that, I'd definitely be open to it. But there is no simple way to do it, so it's technically too difficult. Simply not a feasible option as of now.

Quote from Maverick on September 23, 2023, 9:32 am

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on September 23, 2023, 8:07 am

Hello Maverick,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this.

My replies:

1. I understand it weighed on your decision, and at the same time, lifetime access never was a USP. My true thoughts on USPs is that there is nothing like PU, and it's one of the best courses one can ever take. Also, most creators offer lifetime access so it couldn't be a USP just because of that. As for the significant factor on purchase:

Hi Lucio,

I agree with you that there is nothing like PU, it is a gem of (a) course ( Puntasic huh!) that is the reason why it matters to me when I'm unable to access it, It used to comfort me knowing I could consult and look up PU to get clarity.

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on September 23, 2023, 8:07 am

1. I agree it's not cool. But I also strongly believe it's a lot cooler than the alternatives (as per previous messages)
2. Downloading is a potential option in theory, but not technically feasible. We talked about downloading options. I'm not a fan of downloading because I don't see an effective way of downloading a multimedia course (text, videos that may have to be replaced, quizzes, audio, etc. etc.). So you'd lose quite a bit with the downloaded file.
   At a personal level, I also dislike the idea people may download 80% of the value. And then on top of that, go through older versions when I know there is a better version. I see TPM's responsibility as offering the best possible available, and if we allow older versions to float around, we're not doing that.
   Still, since so many mentioned that, I'd definitely be open to it. But there is no simple way to do it, so it's technically too difficult. Simply not a feasible option as of now.

Yes I understand the form might change, I'm no expert , perhaps the videos and audios can be replaced with transcripts and screenshots or links (if it is a linkable one) or can be separately uploaded, Quizzes can have the form of questions and answers,   At a personal level I again agree with you that getting 80% of the value when I could be getting 100%  is something I dislike too,  the option here now seems to be either that 80% or maybe not even so much, this would not be the case if  the lifetime access was continued, but since it can't be continued,  I don't see any other choice but the 80%, if other arrangements aren't made,  we will be left holding the shorter end of the stick.

The magic or allure of PU according to me is two fold, it lies in the forum and the course itself, limiting access to either one is a letdown, unless there is viable alternative.

I'm open to the 80%  solution or if anyone has a better solution open to hearing that as well.

Mav

Quote from Lucio Buffalmano on September 23, 2023, 10:45 am

Quote from Maverick on September 23, 2023, 9:32 am

I'm no expert , perhaps the videos and audios can be replaced with transcripts and screenshots or links (if it is a linkable one) or can be separately uploaded, Quizzes can have the form of questions and answers

(...)

Yeah, perhaps... :)

We're in the realm of possibilities and "wouldn't it be cool" now.

And in those terms, I agree with you: sounds great.

Though I'm not a big fan of admiring beautiful castles in the sky that cannot be built on earth.

And if we wanna talk about realistic solutions and actually doing things, it's different.

Ie.:

Who's going to explore those "perhaps" and turn them from idea into reality?

Because... I can't.

And neither the small team here can.

The main reason we went down this road is exactly because the resources are already stretched.

This is a "simplify, survive & grow move".
It wasn't an "add another complex project to tackle" move.

So it's simply not realistic to explore the download option from TPM side right now.

But I don't see how that should stop any resourceful user who wants to find a way.

For example:

• Find a way to download it. Which I think is technically simpler from a users' end than from TPM's end
• Go through the originall, then purchase the downloaded pirated version (and hope it's not poorly done and/or an old version)

Or what I would do (and how I approach courses):

• Take your own personal and tailored notes - Why re-reading the whole thing when you can go straight to what was most useful to you? I agree that exceptions apply though (for example: something maybe too advanced and one may miss them on first study, but understand them on second or third or successive sessions)

And of course:

• Become that new power-aware and empowered person in 1 year and move on. This should always be the ultimate goal. And this new approach may actually encourage this approach

And then in the future:

• Re-enter PU in its original and latest version at alumni's special conditions. The way I see it, if one cannot afford the much-discounted re-entry option, then PU failed for that person because power awareness should also translate into higher income (albeit even here, I agree that exceptions always apply of course)