scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,193 
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Post by scrapnnana on Nov 28, 2014 14:12:42 GMT
My Silhouette subscription is about to run out, and I am having trouble deciding whether or not to renew it. The subs are discounted only twice a year: for Black Friday and Mother's Day. If I am going to resubscribe, I'm not paying full price, so it is do it now or wait six months.
A year ago I got the $150 sub for $16/month, and it has definitely been a decent deal. I thought I would run out of designs to download at some point, even with new designs offered each week. I have been able to use it up each month, but it has been getting harder. I am finally at the end of the month, still have credits unused, and no designs that I really need or want. They are on sale for half price, so to use up my credits, I would need to find 120+ designs to download.
For $16/month, as long as I download all $150, I am getting designs for about 11 cents each, and I can get any and all that appeal to me. I don't need to be picky. With no sub, I could end up spending that much per month and only get 16 designs.
I am perfectly capable of designing my own cutting files. It just takes time, and I don't always want to spend the time. I've gotten lazy. However, with over 2,000 files in my Cameo library, I honestly wonder if I really need more?
We no longer have any LSS, so I have to rely on my stash and what I can make. I do love and use my machine a lot. $16 is less than I used to spend at the LSS each month. It wouldn't hurt us financially unless DH lost his job.
If you own a Silhouette, do you have a subscription to their design store? If you do, how long have you been subscribing, and which plan do you get? If you don't subscribe, why not? Did you once? Do you just have a big enough library that you no longer need it?
Even if you don't have a machine, feel free to tell me what you think you would do in my situation. I appreciate any and all input.
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Post by miaow on Nov 28, 2014 14:23:15 GMT
I subscribed for the firs time last year with the medium subscription. I have had trouble spending that much each month and have even had money expire at the end of two months. My own fault. I am tempted to go with the lowest subscription this year. I like getting the shapes, but at some point, you will have a pretty big library and would only add a few every month. If you really don't think you will buy many, you could use a download card and save a lot of money by only buying the few you would use. How many did you use this year? Use being the most important word...would you do just as well to buy the individual shapes? Good luck with your decision!
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Post by cmpeter on Nov 28, 2014 17:46:00 GMT
I bought the one that gives you a $50 credit each month a year ago. I haven't had trouble spending it, so I renewed last night. I don't think I could find and/use enough shapes to justify the larger subscription though.
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Post by threegirls on Nov 28, 2014 18:01:57 GMT
I had the lowest level subscription for two years in a row. It ran out a few months ago. The last two months of my subscription I had trouble using the credits and I was choosing designs that were very similar to what I already owned. So, I decided to take a break. If I need anything, I'll just buy the credits online. I figure I'd rather pay 99 cents for one design that I would actually use as opposed to almost $10.00 a month for a bunch of designs that I probably won't use.
When the next sale roles around I might consider another subscription but for now everything is good. I have enough to keep me busy.
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Post by marie on Nov 28, 2014 18:43:32 GMT
My sub ends tomorrow. I had the one that gives you a $50 credit each month. I have a ton of shapes, etc now and have had trouble finding things that weren't similar to what I already have. Just don't like a lot of new stuff lately. I have decided not to renew. I will buy as I go or wait for a sale.
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scrappinwithoutpeas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,940
Location: Northern Virginia
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Nov 28, 2014 23:29:28 GMT
I've been buying as I go, usually sticking to clearance sale items of the week, but sometimes adding full-price items when I need a particular design for a project. I've never subscribed, but this year I'm considering it in order to build up my library more. I would only get the lowest level, I think.
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Post by evnimom on Nov 28, 2014 23:57:29 GMT
I am trying to decide too. I had $6 in credit before the sale and used it all up and some. I still have a few things on my wish list that I've been building since August. I have 1600 shapes in my library and some freebies that I just have on my hard drive. I will never use them all. It's nice just to have the choice though.
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Post by alittleintrepid on Nov 29, 2014 5:00:46 GMT
I'm trying to decide too. My sub isn't up until Boxing Day though..... And I did get a discounted sub on that day so maybe you could delay your decision until then with the hope that they offer a Boxing Day deal?
In my case, I've had the sub for a little under two years. Mi had the minimum sub the first time...I think it have me $25 in credits a month and I found that wasn't enough. I upgraded at a sale and got the $100 ( in credits!) which I find is a little too much. I do like that I don't have to be too choosy....I can buy shapes I like and not fret if they don't turn out to be exactly what I was looking for. I could design my own shapes too but, frankly, would rather spend my crafting time in other ways. I'm debating getting a sub that would give me between $50 and $75 a month in downloads.
Let us know what you decide!
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Post by corinne11 on Nov 29, 2014 8:45:10 GMT
My subscription ran out yesterday and I've been wondering whether to renew again also. I am on the lowest level - $8.00 per month I got it for and I have been having trouble using up all my credits. The comment about Black Friday sales makes me think I'll go and check it out. If it is still cheap I probably will, overall it will cost me almost the price one Cricut cart used to cost me!
Like others, I am finding the designs too cutesy and while I love the more elaborate designs, I find that many of them are nearly impossible to cut out cleanly. I started subscribing before my Cameo even arrived at Christmas time 2010. I am not creative, clever or motivated enough to learn how to cut my own files and I have never worked out to use files I downloaded from 2Peas so I guess the Silhouette store is really the way to go for me.
Corinne |
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gloryjoy
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
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Post by gloryjoy on Nov 29, 2014 14:31:34 GMT
I have the plan that gives you $50 as month as well. I am always a month behind, pretty much always at $100. I'll get it down to $50, then a day or two later it's back up.
I had thought of going to the lower subscription but when I renewed in the summer, I got a discount on my subscription so I just kept it as is. And I will probably always keep that one as it isn't really a lot of money. I am always telling my friends I can cut whatever they want just pick out some files and don't worry about the price, I have credits to use up!
I could never spend $150 am month, that is a lot of money!!!
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Post by mrssch on Nov 29, 2014 16:02:26 GMT
I have the $150 sub at $16/mo and I'm renewing. I paid for the entire year in advance and saved an extra %5. I never regret it but I think I would if I didn't. I don't design my own cut files and probably wouldn't if I knew how -- too time consuming.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,193
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Post by scrapnnana on Nov 29, 2014 20:37:31 GMT
The reason I have had the $16 sub for $150 in credits is because it is the best deal IMO. The difference in cost is not that much, but you get so much more in credits. Do I need that much now? Probably not, but the lower priced subs don't really save that much money, and you get far fewer credits to play with. I can't quite get past that.
DH told me to just renew at the same level. As gloryjoy suggested, I can always cut stuff for friends and family. Even if I don't use all my credits each month, having the sub would probably be cheaper in the long run than buying individual files I want with no subscription.
Thanks to all for your input. I guess I will renew after all.
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Post by streetscrapper on Nov 30, 2014 13:56:48 GMT
I had the $150 for $16 subscription for two years and I never had any trouble at all using up the credits. Last year I changed it - I think I get $25 a month and I still don't have any trouble using up my credits. I agree that the largest subscription is the best value but I don't know if I would still be able to find that many shapes to buy each month.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,193
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Post by scrapnnana on Dec 1, 2014 11:09:04 GMT
I agree that the largest subscription is the best value but I don't know if I would still be able to find that many shapes to buy each month. They have changed their subscriptions. They have a wider selection of subscriptions from which to choose. I think the largest sub you used to be able to buy was $300/month credits. Customers can now buy as much as $1,500 in credits each month (for $100). HOW could anyone seriously download that many cutting files PER MONTH?
Just organizing that many downloads would be a nightmare. |
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