WinCustomize Subscriptions Now Your Portal To Free Stardock Design Skins!

Skins Skins Skins!

https://www.wincustomize.com/store/
from WinCustomize Forums

For years now, a WinCustomize subscription primarily allowed you to browse the site completely ad-free, gave you fully access to the Skin Browser, and every now and then a free skin from Stardock.  In recent months, we've been talking about how to change the site subscription model to make it a better value to users, with the goal obviously to encourage more people to subscribe and support the site. 

So today I'm happy to announce a transformation in the WinCustomize Subscription plan.  With Object Desktop, you get a year of software updates to some great skinning applications, but what about content?  To answer that, from today forward, a WinCustomize subscription will give you access to twelve free Stardock Design skins a year!*

Our first free skin to subscribers comes from one of the most respected and talented skinners in the community: adni18.  Stardust is a killer WindowBlinds skin that gives your desktop a modern & flashy look without being distracting or annoying.  Glassy edges, cool colors and attention to detail make this a skin every WindowBlinds user needs to run.

Subscribers can grab the skin from the Subscriber Resources page (must be logged in).

Pricing

Because we are now offering $60 in free skins a year, the pricing of the WinCustomize Subscription is changing.  Effective immediately, a WinCustomize subscription costs $29.95 per year and you'll renew on a year-to-year basis (i.e. no more 2 year renewals).  You will receive all the old benefits of a WC Subscription, only now for $10 extra you're getting $60 in skins.

Bundles

Don't have a subscription yet period?  Well, we're working on some bundle packs for new users. 

WindowBlinds Extreme

Currently, if you buy WindowBlinds Extreme, you can get WindowBlinds plus a WinCustomize Subscription for $39.95 (a $10 discount on the first year of a WC subscription).

We are working on a similar bundle for Object Desktop.  Expect more info on that when it's ready.

Q&A

Now, I'm sure everyone has questions about what this change means for them.  Let me quickly cover the high points...

  1. I already have an existing subscription, do I get these skins too?
    Yes, you'll have access to all skins released while your subscription is active.
  2. How often will skins be released?
    We'll release 12 over a calendar year(Jan - Dec).  Sometimes it'll be one a month, sometimes more, and sometimes we may miss a month altogether.
  3. It won't be one per month?
    We're not guaranteeing one per month.  Sometimes schedules get hectic and projects get in the way.
  4. What if I don't like the skins, can I get a substitute?
    Nope.  Think of this as a book of the month club or something similar.  Sometimes you get a great skin you love, sometimes it's something you wouldn't be caught dead running.  We'll be trying to release skins that appeal to a wide audience, so some months you'll love it, some you won't.
  5. No more 2 year renewals?  What if we've recently purchased renewals?
    The change does not affect users who have purchased renewals prior to the change-over.  From this point forward you will not be able to purchase additional 2 year renewal.
  6. Why get rid of the 2-year renewal?
    Well, now you're getting essentially $60 in free skins every year for your $30 subscription.  That should be sufficient value and not require a discount for future years.
  7. What if I subscribe two years from now, will I get the last two years of subscriber skins?
    No.  Subscriber Skins will become Master Skins a year after they're posted.  At which point you can purchase them at a 20% discount.
  8. What is the release schedule for the skins?
    We're going to release skins when they're finished and through QA testing.  I'll post teasers for upcoming skins as they near completion.  But there is no set release schedule
  9. So some of these skins will be from MyColors Themes huh?  Will I get a discount on buying the full theme if I already have the skin?
    Yes.  We'll be offering MyColors Theme discounts similar to how we offer discounts to Object Desktop users.  Full details on the discount will be posted when the first MyColors Theme using a WC Skin goes up.

If there are any other questions about the new subscription plan, let me know either in a comment or via PM.

*a year is a calendar year, January 1st to December 31st.  Because this plan is launching in May of 2008, the 2008 skin set may fall short of the 12 target by December

292,730 views 155 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
most deffinatley second that motion........ :) 
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
:HOT: :CONGRAT:
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Awesome skin, Adni.  :CONGRAT: 

Thanks to SD/WinCustomize for these free subscriber skins, too!

Good move, going this route... :)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Forgot that getting it from the subscriber resources page we wouldn't be able to comment on the skin. So... Nice job Adni :CONGRAT:
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Indeed, a very nice and clean WindowBlind by adni18.  :CONGRAT: 
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Excellent theme Nikos Congrats my friend :CONGRAT: 
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice glow on the min/max/close   :CONGRAT:

Thanks for the new subscription format!
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zoomba said: So, I'll be the cheap bugger to ask this question: if you are an ODNT subscriber and a WC subscriber, do you get multiple discounts on the MyColors themes that have Subscriber Skins as a component?
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So, I'll be the cheap bugger to ask this question: if you are an ODNT subscriber and a WC subscriber, do you get multiple discounts on the MyColors themes that have Subscriber Skins as a component?


warreni the only way a question gets a chance to be answered is if it's asked. ;) 

You do know that you just made someone hit their forehead with the palm of the hand!  :SURPRISED: 
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There will be no double-discounts.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow...makes me happy to be subscribed till 11/2010. I wish I had extended it even longer now.
/me in his best Homer Simpson voice
Hmmmm...free stuff
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
CarGuy1 in his best Homer Simpson voice
Hmmmm...free stuff
That was a terrible Homer Simpson... :LOL: 
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't use MyColors, because I have so much stuff to use with ODNT that I haven't used even half of it yet, so this doesn't affect me. But maybe a better way to ask that question would be.

There is already a discount for ODNT subscribers buying a full MyColors theme, will the Wincustomize subcriber discount be the same amount on these new themes that are built around a Subscriber resources skin or will it be a larger discount since people already have the Windowblind skin and are buying the remainder of the theme?

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The pricing for the Subscriber discount isn't final yet, but I'd bet it would be very close to, if not the same as the ODNT discount since people could be purchasing these that only own WindowBlinds and not the rest of ODNT.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wish I had extended it even longer now.
So do I, but I bet if this had leaked out there would have been rush on renewals that would have jammed the servers for days. :SURPRISED:  Really great blind adni. Thank you. :CONGRAT: 
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Some decisions really pay off and my subscription is one that has :HOT:


That was a terrible Homer Simpson...


yeah......reminded me more of Capt. Binghamton from McHale's Navy..... ;P
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Like I said in the podcast yesterday, some folks were already subscribed out to 2017.  A handful of you made out like bandits on this change  :)
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
yeah......reminded me more of Capt. Binghamton from McHale's Navy


Thanks...thanks alot. :LOL: I didn't say my impressions were good. It's for sure I'm no Frank Caliendo. ;) 
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
 :CONGRAT:  :CONGRAT:  :CONGRAT:  :CONGRAT:  :CONGRAT: 
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm sorry, but I just don't like the fact of getting a rate hike because "we are now offering $60 in free skins a year". I mean what if I don't want the subscriber skins. Or, what if I only like 2 or 3 of them which is probable. I am not saying I won't resubscribe, but it definitely puts me on the fence now. I don't mean to be negative, that is just how I feel.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For 8 cents a day, that gets you unlimited downloading of all the free stuff posted on Wincustomize and a bonus of what essentially equals 12 Master skins(usually 4.95-9.95 each) a year, I'd say it is still a really good deal even if you only like a few of those 12 skins. ;)
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm sorry, but I just don't like the fact of getting a rate hike because "we are now offering $60 in free skins a year". I mean what if I don't want the subscriber skins. Or, what if I only like 2 or 3 of them which is probable. I am not saying I won't resubscribe, but it definitely puts me on the fence now. I don't mean to be negative, that is just how I feel.

That's what the subscription is now.  Sorry, but we won't be separating the subscription into multiple tiers, that would just be too confusing.