Your numbers work better, as they are not hypothetical. However, that is a somewhat different situation as it is being used in that case as a launch-pad to a better card of the same gen, while I was trying to give an example of moving to a different generation but same level (should be about the same price), which is I believe where the true value of the step-up comes in.There is variation in this, but I see your point. However, there is still the garuntee of the step-up, where as the ebay offers uncertainty sometimes. And the step-up seems simpler (although not by much).

Palit_GuySo this whole discussion has reminded me what a monumental pain in the ass trying to run a trade up program would be. Just trying to keep track of when people purchased their card is enough to make me throw up.

I'm wondering if there is some way we could offer some kind of Palit loyalty program that would just offer a flat discount of some sort for buying another Palit card when you upgrade.

Something simple like register at our consumer site (under development) and register your card. When you buy a new one we could issue some kind of coupon code or something that would get you a $10 discount on a new card.

@farlex, how would that compare in your mind to a trade up program?

That sounds like a good idea. It would certainly keep customers coming back to you guys and give the customers another good reason to do so. It differs in a key point from the trade-in, in that the trade-in offers the full value of the card you bought as a down payment towards the next. I realize this can be tricky though, but in my mind that is where they differ.

However, which one is more advantageous depends. If I am a slick seller on e-bay, and/or if I know I will not need/want to upgrade in the next 3 months, your plan would of course offer the better value, and would be the one that would be most alluring. If, however, I don't often sell on ebay, and I know that within 3 months there is the very real possibility of another card hitting the market that outdoes the one I just bought considerably, then the trade-in has the upper hand.

I edited the post above, but I'm posting again b/c this just occured to me. Your example shows a step-up involving two different levels of the same generation (high-end and enthusist). With this situation, it will I think often be the case that the advantages of the step-up will be lost, because you are essientially just paying for the second card, which was more expensive to begin with if it all works out.

However, when one uses it for say another generation but the same level (like 9800gtx to 9900gtx), thats when the value occurs. Because with that, the initial card you bought has decreased in market value, and the new card should be roughly the cost of the original. This makes trading in the card at original market value a big plus. I believe this is where the discrepancy between our points of view may lie.

I chose the GX2 example because it was closest to the prices you were citing using real cards. I would prefer to use the same example that you did but doing so would expose what the actual cost of the 9900GTX will be which wouldn't be a smart move on my part.

I kind of have to say SOMETHING about it now because what you are saying is correct. Forgive me if I'm being too vague but the 9900GTX price will likely be a little higher than where you put it. The card above it will also cost more than you think.

We kind of got a reprieve from a really high price because the GX2 is just a couple of 8800s stitched together and those definitely don't cost $250 each. The next gen cards are actually whole new cores and we should expect a higher entry price then we have grown accustomed to over the last year.

So my example is a little different then what you had in mind but if the prices are the same it wouldn't matter. You also have the issue of there being more than three months between the time the 9800GTX launched and the time the 9900GTX will launch. So if you use the second half of my example where you bought the card now at $320 and the replacement card comes in at $450 (more realistic) you would find the trade up method saves you $20 which would make you right.

I have to say that for me, a trade up program would be the bomb.

Reason, when I buy hardware it's to post a few scores then I move on. Most people know me here as the guy that doesn't want to mess with things in resale. I sell my stuff cheap after I'm done with something.

For example
FX-62 with 2900XT 1GB for 200USD
Just sold a hd3850 for 50USD
motherboards for 100USD or less than new
The list goes on.

I know other people like this as well. People that buy hardware for scores, then move on to the next thing and lose our ass on the cost of the whole issue. I mean when you buy a product on day one, like a lot of us here. Your going to lose your ass on the price, but as we all know that was going to happen anyways. Want to play with the big guys your going to pay in the old pocket book.

Now after saying that a trade up program would be the bomb at least for me and others like me. You already know that your going to buy the next best thing when it comes out.


BUT if this cuts into the fun stuff then whats the point? I love giving away free stuff, or should I say it better PALiT giving away free stuff. You kind of have to be there to really know what it's like to see someone get a GX2 or 9600GT for free to really know. I mean I know that its all of word of mouth marketing, but for the people that win the stuff it's very much worth it to me. It shows people that the company is ready to give back to it's customers, kind of like palitlan.com. Where they help people setup small lan party's for all kinds of small groups of people.


I understand that most of the step up program is more marketing than anything. It has to be because the card that they got back is used. I don't think they resale them back in a new box after it's been QCed, but I could be wrong about that.

Palit_GuySo this whole discussion has reminded me what a monumental pain in the ass trying to run a trade up program would be. Just trying to keep track of when people purchased their card is enough to make me throw up.

I'm wondering if there is some way we could offer some kind of Palit loyalty program that would just offer a flat discount of some sort for buying another Palit card when you upgrade.

Something simple like register at our consumer site (under development) and register your card. When you buy a new one we could issue some kind of coupon code or something that would get you a $10 discount on a new card.

@farlex, how would that compare in your mind to a trade up program?

just my thought here . . . but I love that idea - had users send in their UPC or something similar (as hard proof that they did purchase the card), and offer customers some percentage off the cost of new hardware as a "loyalty bonus"

I think a percentage would work best, as $10 isn't too much to scream over (especially considering the costs of mid-range and higher cards nowadays), but with a fixed percentage, users purchasing higher-end cards would be saving more - and more than likely without cutting manufacturers profit too much, either.

Even make the loyalty bonus useable with other offers as well - if there's a manufacturer's rebate, or retailer's rebate running; the offers can be combined.

I think for most users, though, especially us enthusiasts, we like to see that the manufacturer is willing to do "acts of good will" towards the consumers like this - good warranty programs, trade-up programs, loyalty programs . . . it says to use that the manufacturer views the consumer as more than just black or red numbers on white paper - and it doesn't have to be anything big or extravagant to be effective, either. Even just taking general users and consumers feedback, as you've been doing here on TPU, goes a long way for earning a manufacturer respect and new customers.

A manufacturer can't continue to survive on just great hardware alone and leave the consumer in the pasture - just look at how Creative Labs has been doing for the last 3 years . . . :twitch:

Palit_GuyI chose the GX2 example because it was closest to the prices you were citing using real cards. I would prefer to use the same example that you did but doing so would expose what the actual cost of the 9900GTX will be which wouldn't be a smart move on my part.

I kind of have to say SOMETHING about it now because what you are saying is correct. Forgive me if I'm being too vague but the 9900GTX price will likely be a little higher than where you put it. The card above it will also cost more than you think.

We kind of got a reprieve from a really high price because the GX2 is just a couple of 8800s stitched together and those definitely don't cost $250 each. The next gen cards are actually whole new cores and we should expect a higher entry price then we have grown accustomed to over the last year.

So my example is a little different then what you had in mind but if the prices are the same it wouldn't matter. You also have the issue of there being more than three months between the time the 9800GTX launched and the time the 9900GTX will launch. So if you use the second half of my example where you bought the card now at $320 and the replacement card comes in at $450 (more realistic) you would find the trade up method saves you $20 which would make you right.

Ah you got the inside juicy details, or at least some of em. Well, I'm not surprised its a bit different, thats why I was saying it was kind of hypothetical, and I was using it as an example. Of course, again, every situation can be different when dealing with ebay. In the second half of the example before your situation called for the 9800gtx being sold for $250. With that would make the difference in favor of the trade-in at $70. But I'm assuming you put a higher price for evga right? Which is often $50 or so more than newegg or like places.

So, basically, the step-up in this situation is advantageous b/c the loss of value from the original card purchased is usually greater or at least equal to the price difference between mfg price and the online store price. So in essence, it seems like we are both right depending on how the user uses the step-up program. If they use it simply to move up to a better card in the same generation (same market degradation), then the consumer usually loses out on a bad choice. If used, however, to move up to the next generation that comes very close to when they initially bought the card, then it allows for an easier and cheaper way for them to do so. A form of insurance, if you will.

Ive used EVGA Step-up Program to "step-up" my 780i motherboard, now i wasnt too happy because i bought in January and then a few weeks later the 790i was released which happend to be A BRAND NEW and better chipset! then just a rehash! but thanks to EVGA Step-up which extends to new motherboards i bought, the 300 Dollars i paid for the 780i Acutally turned into a benefit! i ended up Steping up the board to a 790i Ultra for 23 bucks SHIPPED AND TAX! i just turned around and sold the 790i Ultra(as i didnt have money to buy DDR3 RAM) and my E8400 for 500 bucks! now im sitting pretty with a Blacky and 630a i bought for only 130~ :)