Cricut drops a subscription bomb on its users

[tjkopena]

I just bought a Cricut two weeks ago and would not have if this announcement had been out before then.

Unless I'm mistaken, offline use is a bit subtle. While offline you can cut shapes that you have previously uploaded from your computer or selected from the design catalog. You can also rearrange those shapes already existing in your library in new projects. What you can't do is prepare new shapes, including from your computer. It's not obvious, but my understanding is that the cloud storage isn't the big thing here. You can store locally as well as in the cloud. But, again unless I'm mistaken, the tool planning is done in the cloud, not the local software. Cricut's latest Design Space is basically their web app, wrapped with Electron or something to easily work offline on your desktop like a traditional app. It doesn't have any functionality to plot cuts and other actions, that's done in the cloud. It had struck me as weird that the software labels importing a file "Uploading" even if you're opting to store it just locally, but now it makes a ton of sense.

By the same mechanism, as I understand it, it's not that you're limited to 20 cuts, it's that you're limited to 20 new shapes per month, which includes variations as you iterate on designs. I agree with the assessment that the vast majority of people won't hit this free-tier limit, but it's still a kick in the teeth to have a bait-and-switch like that. I don't know what the formal legal terms of service were, but the manuals and sales copy were previously explicit that you could "upload" as much as you want. It never occurred to me at all that the critical function of tool planning was not included in the software and would not be available offline, it's all presented as if the cloud service is just an optional way to store your projects.

 

[dr wogz]

Adobe seems to be a the forefront of subscription software. And for that I refuse to use them. Why do I want to "rent" software? and why do I want my software to continually update itself for features I never / rarely use. And, these updates eventually force me to upgrade my machine (thanks Windows 10!) Office 365 is another 'rentable' software suite.. (And we're keeping our older slower machine running solely for the purpose of a 'bought' version of Word & Excel)

but this is the trend.. We tend to "rent" a lot of things.. cars, phones, water heaters, cable / PVR devices, routers,

 

[Zeus-cat]

When I got my latest laptop I downloaded LibreOffice instead of MS Office. The interface is subtlety different, but it does everything I need it to do.

Joe Hermann is in my club and he flew the Planet Express over the weekend. She still looks great. Joe loves his Cricut. If he shows up for our club's weekly Zoom meeting tonight I'll ask him about this subscription stuff.

 

[mtnmanak]

Unfortunately, anyone over the age of NN (insert your age here if you remember not having the internet, packaged software, owning the things you buy, etc) is NOT the target audience for modern commercial products. My kids are just going into high school and they never knew a world without IoT subscription models and cloud based software. They do not question it all. They accept it as normal reality. Companies realize that anyone old enough to understand what we have lost will no longer tip the capitalism scales back towards product ownership. That tipping point was crossed about 5 years ago.

In theory, capitalism could right the ship - some companies out there could make, market and sell products on an ownership basis and be up front about the benefits. All of us on this thread would rejoice. My kids, however, would look at it like "huh?". I told my son that you used to have to go to the store and buy a disc when you wanted an video game. He thought that was very quaint. "Oh you old people. Did they even have electricity and indoor plumbing when you were a kid?"

This is the point where I would normally dive off a tangential cliff and rant about how this has contributed to the prevalence of socialist attitudes in our young people, but I will keep this civil

The odds of any company going back to the ownership model, though, are about as likely as you trading in your smart phone for a flip phone.

 

[manixFan]

I'll offer the opposite perspective. As a small business owner, I have subscriptions to both MS 360 and the Adobe Suite. I actually spend less money now on software than when they were stand alone purchases and more importantly, I can budget for the entire year what my software costs are gong to be. And I always have the latest versions and can use them on either Mac or Windows, which I do all the time. And importantly, there are many good alternatives that are pay once use forever I can choose if I don't like the subscription model. (And Macs come with their own included versions of a word processor, presentation program, and spreadsheet that are quite capable and don't cost anything to keep up to date. Add in the incredibly capable Preview app and that covers a lot of what folks need to do.)

But, that's not the same as buying a piece of hardware and then after the fact having a monthly subscription price imposed on you to keep it working. I can see them adding a subscription that offers a lot of benefits over the not having a subscription, like lots of templates, clip art, etc., so folks are happy to pay the fee. But to impose it after the fact, even if it only effects a minority of the users. just seems like a very bad business plan. Imagine if a car manufacturer added a monthly subscription cost if you wanted to drive over a certain number of miles every month. That would not sit well.

As for "capitalism could right the ship" - HAH! It is capitalism that started the whole monthly subscription model in the first place. Software companies wanted to generate a more consistent revenue stream rather than the feast or famine cycles created by physically purchased software. It also greatly cuts down on tech support issues when the vast majority of your user base is running the most recent version of software. Capitalism is hard at work here, not the other way around.


Tony

 

[NateB]

I think Adobe also moved to the subscription model to combat piracy. It also lowers the cost of entry from when you had to buy $1000 software suite.

 

[manixFan]

I think Adobe also moved to the subscription model to combat piracy. It also lowers the cost of entry from when you had to buy $1000 software suite.

You got off easy! I was buying the Master Collection which was $2,500! And I had to buy one each for Mac and for Windows!! Now one subscription lets me run it on both at the same time for about $600/year. I realize I'm not the typical case but you can see how from my perspective the subscription model is a huge improvement.

Same with MS Office 360. I have the family plan and can use it on my Macs and Windows computers, and can share it with my wife and son. Plus the iOS apps. We're all always up to date and constantly get new features. And I'm not some young socialist, I've owned my company and have been buying software for it since 1994.


Tony

 

[dr wogz]

.. how this has contributed to the prevalence of socialist attitudes in ..

i really want to have a conversation about this, to understand the thought process behind it. (but how to have it without it getting heated & political..)

I'm in Canada, so it's always been a part of life. Same with most of Europe. But many 'Americans' seem to think its equal to communism or some other authoritarian regime..

I do, genuinely, want to know!

 

[mtnmanak]

I'll offer the opposite perspective. As a small business owner, I have subscriptions to both MS 360 and the Adobe Suite. I actually spend less money now on software than when they were stand alone purchases and more importantly, I can budget for the entire year what my software costs are gong to be. And I always have the latest versions and can use them on either Mac or Windows, which I do all the time. And importantly, there are many good alternatives that are pay once use forever I can choose if I don't like the subscription model. (And Macs come with their own included versions of a word processor, presentation program, and spreadsheet that are quite capable and don't cost anything to keep up to date. Add in the incredibly capable Preview app and that covers a lot of what folks need to do.)

But, that's not the same as buying a piece of hardware and then after the fact having a monthly subscription price imposed on you to keep it working. I can see them adding a subscription that offers a lot of benefits over the not having a subscription, like lots of templates, clip art, etc., so folks are happy to pay the fee. But to impose it after the fact, even if it only effects a minority of the users. just seems like a very bad business plan. Imagine if a car manufacturer added a monthly subscription cost if you wanted to drive over a certain number of miles every month. That would not sit well.

As for "capitalism could right the ship" - HAH! It is capitalism that started the whole monthly subscription model in the first place. Software companies wanted to generate a more consistent revenue stream rather than the feast or famine cycles created by physically purchased software. It also greatly cuts down on tech support issues when the vast majority of your user base is running the most recent version of software. Capitalism is hard at work here, not the other way around.


Tony

Quite agree on the capitalism perspective of how we got here. Wasn't saying otherwise. The comment was more about the consumers bending over and taking it rather than making rational purchasing decisions. I work in tech and a lot of the money I make is because of the sheeple that consume this stuff and don't ask questions or vote with their wallet. Now, "voting with your wallet" seems to have disappeared from consumer sentiment. I did an informal discussion with some of the 20'somethings that work for me and asked them about how much they pay for certain products, apps, service, etc per month. Most of them had no idea. They literally had signed up for things that cost $10, $20, $30 a month and weren't paying attention to it anymore. I had one 25 year old that sat down and looked at all the subscriptions he had and realized he was paying well over $150 a month for apps and services he hadn't used in over a year. Ironically, these young people had fallen prey to the exact revenue producing schemes they are being paid to produce. Incredibly, even after realizing the money he was spending, he didn't cancel all those unused subscriptions for two reasons (this is what he actually told me) - 1) what if I want to use it in the future? I don't want to have to sign up again and 2) it is just a pain to go through the process of cancelling/unsubscribing. When I asked them how many streaming services they subscribed to, I was shocked. Almost all of them had signed up for streaming services that they weren't watching any shows on for months.

I do understand your perspective as a small business owner and agree with you. Further, for a business, those subscription costs are a tax write off, so it more than justifies the subscription. The tech products my firm sells are 100% subscription model and that is good for small business, but horrible for consumers. I am happy to take their money and happy they are willing to give it up so freely. I don't understand why they do, but am not complaining that so many people are willing to plug in their credit card numbers and allow us to just keep charging them in perpetuity.

From a consumer perspective, I can't agree with the subscription model for most products. I have standalone copies of Adobe CS6 and Office 2013 that still serve me perfectly well. They may not serve the business community or professionals that need the latest and greatest, but the idea of paying a subscription for those products for my personal use seems absurd to me. At home, I can't even imagine a time I have utilized the cutting edge features of MS Office. At work, sure, I have the latest and greatest and my firm pays Microsoft to ensure I always have the latest updates, but at home I am not writing novels or doing complex spreadsheet models. If you do need these capabilities at home, you are probably running a business and that changes the requirement away from consumer needs.

Capitalism is a two way street and my point is that there may be a market for people who want products that do not have to be connected to the internet to work or a subscription they have to pay forever. That would not come from existing companies. They do not want to disrupt their current revenue stream. The disruption would have to come from a startup willing to buck the trend. However, on the two-way street of capitalism, any startup is going to have to be ready to get crushed by the big companies or find out that the market they hoped existed just isn't there anymore.

As I noted, my kids and their generation is already gone. If Adobe does their job right and acts like good capitalists, they will hook my kids on their products while they are in school and rope them into a yearly subscription for the rest of their lives. Sounds like market forces at play.

 

[mtnmanak]

Maybe more to the point of this thread, if you read all this and go out and buy a Cricut tomorrow and then they tighten the noose around you for the subscription 6 months down the road, do you blame Cricut for that or yourself? Current customers have a legit right to be pissed off, especially if their previous user agreement specifically stated "unlimited uploads" (don't know, I do not own a Cricut machine), but anyone that buys their equipment from here on out is doing so with the knowledge that the company has clear intent to monetize your ability to use the product in the future. Capitalist? Absolutely. Will consumers still buy them? Definitely. They will complain about it for 5 minutes, then enter their credit card number.

 

[Zeus-cat]

How do you know before you buy it that you have to get a subscription? Is there a label on the box? Or do you only find out after you open the box and do the set up?

 

[dr wogz]

How do you know before you buy it that you have to get a subscription? Is there a label on the box? Or do you only find out after you open the box and do the set up?

• You re supposed to do your research..
• You are supposed to be told by the "all knowledgeable" sales person
• You are also supposed to read the instructions & EULA before setting it up, and if you do not agree, box it all back up & send it back. (Of course, that's the instructions for the device, and the EULA for the software, and the...)

Look at the EULA for this site, and many many others..

Remember, South park had an episode of Apple's EULA.. and

 

[MikeyDSlagle]

I have used a CriCut for a few years, but it has been a year or so since I've used it. Last time I used it there was no option to save locally, that I was aware of, and I had to connect to the internet to use it. I will try to dig out my EULA if one was included. The link provided in my email takes me to one updated in 2020, I've had mine since 2016 so things have surely changed but I'm sure I agreed to those changes beforehand.

To continue using Design Space it will require the update, no way around it. Using text and simple shapes doesn't require any uploading so users can still do rocket names, simple shirts, things like that without worrying about the 20 upload limit.

CriCut has a large library available of Clipart and designs, but each one costs money, or you can (could) buy a cartridge loaded with Clipart items.

I have easily burned through the 20 item upload limit in less than a week...on just two projects. That's not normal but it happens. If the design doesn't work or is too difficult to "weed", users need to try something different, which likely involves more uploading. And it doesn't take long to get up to 20.

When it gets to the point where I have to subscribe to use it, I'll move on to something else. They are probably thinking that most folks will pay the sub rather than shelling out more money for a new machine, then having to learn that machine.

 

[neil_w]

More coverage: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...adds-subscription-fee-to-millions-of-devices/

 

[mjennings]

My sister just got this email
"
Dear Cricut Members,

One of our core values is community – we're listening, and we took your feedback to heart. The foundation of our Cricut community is one of integrity, respect, and trust. It is clear that, in this instance, we did not understand the full impact of our recent decision on our current members and their machines. We apologize.

Here's how we'll move forward.

We will continue to allow an unlimited number of personal image and pattern uploads for members with a Cricut account registered and activated with a cutting machine before December 31, 2021. This benefit will continue for the lifetime of your use of these machines.

Machine Resales or Transfers

We welcome new members to the Cricut community whether they purchase a new or pre-owned machine. If a machine is resold or transferred to a new user, the new user must set up their own Cricut account. As long as the new user creates their account and connects the machine to their account before December 31, 2021, we will grant the benefit of an unlimited number of uploads to the new user for the lifetime of their use of the machine."

 

[mtnmanak]

The only thing I see on the box is that you get a "free trial" to the software and a high speed internet connection is required.

My sister just got this email
"
Dear Cricut Members,

One of our core values is community – we're listening, and we took your feedback to heart. The foundation of our Cricut community is one of integrity, respect, and trust. It is clear that, in this instance, we did not understand the full impact of our recent decision on our current members and their machines. We apologize.

Here's how we'll move forward.

We will continue to allow an unlimited number of personal image and pattern uploads for members with a Cricut account registered and activated with a cutting machine before December 31, 2021. This benefit will continue for the lifetime of your use of these machines.

Machine Resales or Transfers

We welcome new members to the Cricut community whether they purchase a new or pre-owned machine. If a machine is resold or transferred to a new user, the new user must set up their own Cricut account. As long as the new user creates their account and connects the machine to their account before December 31, 2021, we will grant the benefit of an unlimited number of uploads to the new user for the lifetime of their use of the machine."

That is a well chosen time frame on their part. All existing users stop talking about it, no one between now and the end of the year gets pinched and then, when new users start to sign up and have to pay their subscription, they will find deafening silence from the existing user community who will not want to mess up their ability to have unlimited uploads. In addition, it will clearly drive up sales for the rest of the year right before an IPO.

Plus you get a massive amount of free press right now. Many people never heard of a Cricut before this week, but will rush out to buy one before the subscription timer runs out.

Makes you wonder if this was the plan all along....

 

[jbr]

Dear Cricut Members,

One of our core values is community — we’re listening, and we took your feedback to heart. The foundation of our Cricut community is one of integrity, respect, and trust. It is clear that, in this instance, we did not understand the full impact of our recent decision on our current members and their machines. We apologize.

Here’s how we'll move forward.

We will continue to allow an unlimited number of personal image and pattern uploads for members with a Cricut account registered and activated with a cutting machine before December 31, 2021. This benefit will continue for the lifetime of your use of these machines.

Machine Resales or Transfers

We welcome new members to the Cricut community whether they purchase a new or pre-owned machine. If a machine is resold or transferred to a new user, the new user must set up their own Cricut account. As long as the new user creates their account and connects the machine to their account before December 31, 2021, we will grant the benefit of an unlimited number of uploads to the new user for the lifetime of their use of the machine.

Schools and Education Maker Spaces

We understand that teachers, schools, and other education maker spaces have different needs for ongoing user account creation. While we don’t have anything to share right now — and nothing will change before December 31, 2021 — we are looking at ways to address these ongoing needs and their relation to image uploads.

Future

We will continue to explore affordable ways for our future users who register machines after December 31, 2021 to allow an unlimited number of personal image and pattern uploads.

Of course, paid Cricut Access subscribers will continue to enjoy an unlimited number of uploads along with the other subscriber benefits. We will also continue to invest in our content, software, and value for all our members.

ashish arora (Cricut ceo)

Full statement on our blog:
https://inspiration.cricut.com/a-letter-to-the-cricut-community-from-ashish-arora-cricut-ceo/

 

[KenECoyote]

I just saw this thread after ordering a Cricut *yesterday* and was like .
Good thing I read it through and got the latest update!
Of note is that it was significantly discounted on Amazon yesterday ($169 for Explore Air 2 in blue or mint)...maybe the bad press had something to do with that?
Like some others, I got it after reading about it in Sport Rocketry...also happen to want to build an upscale of the Quest Tomahawk SLCM and vinyls for that would be pricey.

 

[cerving]

If the Redditors had gotten wind of this, Cricut stock would be worthless now...

 

[Greg Furtman]

Grumpy old man here, and I don't have a clue on this Cricut, but I have noticed a trend. That there are less and less products that an consumer can own. Many products you have to lease/pay for on a annual basis. IE: PhotoShop, MS Word. I fear as an ordinary people we are losing property rights.

If the trend continues we will never be able to own a car but have to have a continuous lease.

 

[Blast it Tom!]

If the trend continues we will never be able to own a car but have to have a continuous lease.

Don't think for a minute that the automakers wouldn't love that! Dave Ramsey calls car leases "Fleases" for most consumers. Businesses are a different issue...

And the EULA's... C'mon, we all read them religiously, right?
I've tried different times, but face it, I could have signed over my house 50 times and not known it...

 

[manixFan]

If the Redditors had gotten wind of this, Cricut stock would be worthless now...

Actually there is a very active SubReddit on the Circut products. And Circut is not a public company, they are going for an IPO. I know you are probably joking but the SubReddit did put a lot of pressure on the company. The fact that Circut changed their position and will now allow anyone who buys a device between now and the end of the year to keep things as they are shows that they were swayed by public pressure. So I suspect there could now be a rush to buy a machine to get grandfathered in.

Anyone remember new Coke?


Tony

 

[Cape Byron]

Anyone remember new Coke?

Yep. I remember Pepsi Blue, too.

 

[dr wogz]

And Zuma?

 

[neil_w]

And Zuma?

You mean Zima.

It was... OK, not great but not awful. New Coke, on the other hand, sucked hard.

I somehow must have slept through Pepsi Blue, and I somehow am not sorry about it. Blech.

I do however remember...

 

[mtnmanak]

I miss the old "Coke Zero" vs the new "Coke Zero Sugar". I know I am in the minority here, the new version is too sweet. People seem to like that. I liked the old, crisper taste.

 

[Marc_G]

While we're on soda duty... I miss my Pepsi One:

Flavored with Splenda, and lots of caffeine, 48 mg/can if I recall.

Since it went away, I've been subsisting on Diet Coke with Splenda:

It originally had only 36 mg caffeine per can, but at some point they upped it to 46. Much better. However, it has been hard to find in pandemic times. It disappeared from shelves near me last April, then returned in the fall. It went out of stock again a few months later. Still waiting for the return.
Apparently the calculus between Splenda and aluminum can cost/availability is a very dynamic one since the pandemic started, so they only manufacture it once in a while, focusing on manufacturing higher profitability drinks.

 

[mtnmanak]

While we're on soda duty... I miss my Pepsi One:

Flavored with Splenda, and lots of caffeine, 48 mg/can if I recall.

Since it went away, I've been subsisting on Diet Coke with Splenda:

It originally had only 36 mg caffeine per can, but at some point they upped it to 46. Much better. However, it has been hard to find in pandemic times. It disappeared from shelves near me last April, then returned in the fall. It went out of stock again a few months later. Still waiting for the return.
Apparently the calculus between Splenda and aluminum can cost/availability is a very dynamic one since the pandemic started, so they only manufacture it once in a while, focusing on manufacturing higher profitability drinks.

Over the past year, Coke has had a lot of shortages of their diet sodas. They say the impact comes from an overall decrease in the amount of work they can do in their factories in order to accommodate COVID restrictions/social distancing (affecting all supply)and, specifically to diet sodas, apparently they source all their artificial sweeteners out of China and those distribution channels have been disrupted by the pandemic.

Although Pepsi has also been impacted, they have not had the same supply shortages at the stores as Coke. Pepsi may have found a way to get around the shortages better than Coke did, but I have a feeling it is more due to the fact that Coke soft drink products have been dominating the market in the US and now they control almost double the market share over Pepsi. Having to produce twice as much product to meet demand during a shortage will be more apparent on the shelves.

But if you are Jonesing for caffeine and need a blast from the past (1985!) - Jolt has been back in Dollar General stores for a couple years and packs a walloping 160mg of caffeine per serving! Those of us with heart conditions need not apply.

 

[Marc_G]

For me, caffeine = good, sugar = bad, so no jolt for me.

I've been drinking Coke Zero Sugar as I hate the taste of canned diet coke. It's not as good as Diet Coke with Splenda but will do. However it is light on caffeine at 36mg/can.

 

[mtnmanak]

For me, caffeine = good, sugar = bad, so no jolt for me.

Agreed! But, seeing Jolt makes me want to break out an Atari 2600 or Intellivision and waste away the afternoon in front of a Sony Trinitron!