Now that we're a month or two into it, I'm really curious how the new specials system is going for Totem (not that I expect them to say :). In my experience, I'm spending less money than I used to, and am curious if they're seeing dips across the board.

In the old system, if I logged on once every week or two, I could preview and buy at a discount several models, giving me the chance to see them on my desktop and find models that I might not have noticed because their rankings were too low or their card pictures weren't as attractive as their dances. Specials seemed to draw from the complete line of cards, so ones that were buried deep in the rankings would have a tendency to appear and be worth the gamble. I'd pay full price for newer or higher-ranked girls, typically out of impatience for them to become specials. I'd gamble on the lower ranked girls because of the sale prices.

(continued)

In the new system if I log on only once a week, I'm only going to see one special. The rankings of the specials have typically been higher than the average in the old system, so I've been able to pick up a number of cards ranked 8-9 that I hadn't gotten around to getting before. But I'm also seeing a whole lot more duplicates because the cards ranked in that 8-9 range are ones I was more likely to have already owned. So overall I find I'm buying cards far less often. I occasionally spring for a full-price card, but not as often because if it's a high-ranked card it seems more likely it'll become a special and if it's a low-ranked card, it seems like too much of a gamble.

Ditto for the trailers: they still serve the purpose of turning me on to lower-ranked cards I might not have noticed, but because of the gamble factor, I'm less likely to pay full price for them.

Anyway, not griping, just pointing out how the new system has affected Totem's $$ from me as feedback.

• Scabbar

I think that someone mentioned that this was Totem's way of raising the prices. But, anyone I talk to says that they've stopped buying models, more tickets or even subscriptions because of either the new specials or the down-turn in the economy.
Well, poo-poo to you, Totem! >:P

Perhaps, but given how fast their number of new subscribers goes up on their front page combined with the fact that old cards don't really devalue over time (a good old card is always good and worth paying for), it's hard for me to believe they need to raise their prices to be successful. Moreover, I would think that if you were trying to raise prices, you'd keep focusing the specials on the lower-rated cards -- the ones that are less likely to sell on their own merits -- under the argument that higher-rated cards are more likely to be browsed, noticed, and bought on their own recommendation.

But what do I know about business... I also don't understand why there needs to be a Starbucks on every corner.

• Scabbard

You do have a point... but, businesses aren't going to keep trying to sell items that don't sell. But, some stores do have those "sale" racks where they put the stuff that they just can not even give away. You'd think that I'd bee seeing Silver and Carol G for sale, instead of Miss Popular Chems and Jana H. :|

But, I also know little about business except the basics (slept through that class, I did... >:) ), but most companies are just all about making money, not keeping customers happy. Persay... :|

I dont wnat to create a new topic but Im curious as to why the Special is the same for both sites(Hustler and Virtua) I have been AFK for a while and I just noticed it.

My guess it that Totem felt that the dual site system was "taken advantaged of"... so they synchronized the cards on sale... I see no other valid explanation.

HustlerGirl is a giant waste of time in my opinion. It's the exact same site, but just by a different name. Like identical twins or something. The only reason why I have the application is so that I can get double the free trailers. :\

From Jununger-
My guess it that Totem felt that the dual site system was "taken advantaged of"... so they synchronized the cards on sale... I see no other valid explanation.

I agree.
Totem likes members feeling a sense of urgency to rush out and get the cards on special. 800 instead of 400 diluted the "mad rush". Friday means members camping out waiting for new cards to pop us so they can get them for 1 ticket instead of 2.

problem with the new system is it leaves many more people feeling let down than the 400 each card that feel they "won". No one likes feeling like they missed out day after day so they give up. This isn't food, housing, or utilities so it isn't necessity. They can find adult entertainment somewhere else. Plus they can enjoy the 100, 200, or 400 cards they already have. You don't need new girls to enjoy vghd. New system is generating revenue quickly and keeps a friday buzz going. It is not member friendly

I can join hustlergirls and virtuagirls with monthly memberships and get 60 girls a month for $29.90

Without different girls offered on special it lost it's own identity.
Now it is just a source to get additional girls per month.

And remember-
Membership numbers reflect every person that downloads the software and tries it not members that have bought cards.
Number of new people buying is most likely the same. Regular and casual card buyers are being lost as customers and even some die hards.

@Sexyfire1790
Actually, Hustlergirl is only a huge Affiliate of Totem with their own domain. Other than that it's the exact same software. Only difference is that Flynt get a peace if your money when you enter VGHD via their site...

Personally I see no need for VGHD members to also add Hustlergirls to their software and my guess is that Totem feel the same. The idea was to have either or... not both!

I guess this is also why they have synchronized the girls on both sites...

Just a thought and I very well my be worng...I thought awhile back I heard talk of more expliced shows. Once I realized that there was (Hustler Girl)site for VGHD, I almost expected that's were the more expliced shows would be offered....After all, it is Hustler.lol
Are there by chance plans for that??
Justa Thought from Justa Dog >:o): Woooof
Much Love,
Da Pup
>:o):

Rumors has circulated about the name for the new explicit software and one of them is "?????????". Not in anyway confirmed but a term used by some of the purple star members ;) ...Totem also own that domain...

Hustlergirls is probably just a second entrance to VGHD and will probably remain that also in the future.



EDIT:
I realized that the name had only been used in the casting forum. So until someone post the name in the open forum I wont tell ;)

hello, in my experience of computer, is never good to have 2 sources for one list, that give always problem, particulary if the source is for the same product, one moment is ***** to have the same show, then that can give a bug.

then is can be logique for remove lot of problem if Totem syncronise the 2 sites for all user.

ho before i forget made attention if you uninstall Hustlergirs or VGHD that erase all your collection and you must again download all show :(
then not forget to made a security copy of all your show's and all folder's in the folder Data, where are store the picture card, before take this decision of uninstall.

Interesting thread. Do VIP members buy more cards again now they get all the trailers for one ticket?

I actually stopped buying cards altogether for a while after the new system came in, but I started again after finding out about the vip membership. Now I'm buying more than ever.

Hello all, well Rex; for the vip-answer not now... i can give you later ~ but if you look at my collection how fast it did grow in the past and how slow it grow now you might be overthink the 'special offers' as it work right now.
It's simple true that i did buy more fullshows with the 'old' calendar-system.

Have a good day ;-)

Not intending to imply it is either right or wrong, or valid or invalid. My understanding was that one of the reasons for the change to the 'specials' system was to stop those thousands, millions of users listed on the front page from download too many free previews.

There must have been tens of thousands PCs downloading the demo every day and never playing it. There must have been tens of thousands more that would power on infrequently and download the latest 7 or 8 trailers, again never to be watched.
Bandwidth has real costs and that part of the change was to reduce the number of trailer downloads and reduce the 'advertising'/'marketting' costs.

I am not sure how the new trailer system works, but I am thinking that you do not get a free trailer every day.

This then raised the issue of what to do with specials. Without the free daily trailers what do you put on special.

Probably only one way to know if it works. They will keep it. Fails... change it.

Totem did give away 14 free trailers in the past ~ for a 'normal' pc-user that was enough show on desctop and there was no need for buy fullshows.
By the way, there are still people who are satisfied with free trailers only.
The most free trailers have 3 clips, 14 x 3 = 42; so that's a lot of show for free!
Now it's increased to 5 free trailers what is 5 x 3 = 15; maybe now a 'normal' pc-user will buy fullshows earlier as with the 'old'system ~ i agree.

In the past there was at any day 14 'special offers' present from Totem to my pc.
I did see the free clips; deceided than to buy a model or not ~ and often i did buy a second and/or third card from her collection at the same day for 2 Tix.

Now i only see 1 special offer at a time ~ most of them are in my collection allready and if there finally is an offer interresting me than there is the next question: Do 123TicketService work or not?

However Totem deceide, having more as 1 free trailer is better ;-)

P.S: with 'normal' pc user i did think about people who are usually not using the computer for create Artwork etc. ;-)

@TotemRex24 Well, depends. If you have a subscription, you don't benefit at all of the VIP special offer cause, as you know, there're no free trailers for subscribers. So, it will come handy to open that option. Otherwise, you might be a VIP, but you have no oportunities to buy more cards. You no longer give free tickets, so there won't be the "working the system" issue.

By the way, my collection is not near complete yet, but your only special offer in the site don't give too much options to buy either. I wish you give at least better facilities for the VIPs to get the new releases. Oh, and now that i'm wishing, i hope you consider to increase the number of released cards each week. It might be a little hard, but you will be making more money out of VIPs and platinums. The pool of cards is getting thinner for me and i guess that the fully stocked members would like to get more shows than just 3 every friday. :)

I have stopped buying cards, unless I see 2 or 3 I really want
then I'll just buy some tickets to get those, otherwise
I just let most of the cards I don't have pile up. Before
the new system was put in place I would buy a lot of cards
and have a subscription, just too fill up my collection,
now the way the economy is...not so much anymore.

Subscriptions are, of course, the cheapest way to obtain cards. I don't subscribe because I hope to buy cards for one ticket (one dollar). Now, one can buy cards through subscription at the rate of three per dollar. BUT...I want only about 20% of the older cards I don't have. I find that I usually want only one of the three new cards on offer each week.

So, for now, this works for me. I generally don't want ALL the cards from most models, and shun the cards with opaque stockings or tall boots as I feel these do not show full nudity.

I've bought a few cards with the new trailer system, but most of my purchases are from the new cards offered each week, or the daily special. That just reflects the fact that the 20% or so of older cards that I want haven't shown up as trailers.

The new specials system is too limited. I've got around 200 cards, so I would expect 50-60% of the special offers to be cards I dont have. In reality, its more like 20% at best. Add in to the equation other criteria, like personal taste, time constrictions (need to work/sleep/get *****) & urgency:do I really want it now? (I'll get it on subscription eventually). Now the odds are reduced down to around 1/20.
The upshot of all this is I buy 1 or 2 new cards on Friday, & maybe 1 other special offer per week.
The Hustlergirls site doubled the chances of catching a special, but now that option has been taken from us, I'm prepared to bide my time!

Since the new system came in I've enjoyed doing the new card camp out & getting many new cards.I've also gotten a few through free trailers & really appreciate the VIP 1 tix rate on these!
Getting new cards as trailers now and then almost balances out getting all Elya cards as previews 2 & 3 times each.(Huh?)
Totem's deleting of "explicit content" & going softer has had the effect of me going to other sites for sexier content.(Such is the effect of Porn addiction, sigh.) A factor that is ending now due to economic belt tightening on my part.
Still VGHD is my site of choice and I stay with it. Just have to figure out how to switch to an ex. drive.I tried once before & mucked it up badly, barely got my babes back!
I appreciate the new extra sexy vids that come with new shows keep 'em coming BUT PLEASE MAKE THEM LONGER & A BIT MORE SPICY WITH MORE DIRECT TO US, SPREADING & PUMPING!
Thanks for the forum-it was brilliant including that in original set up! Makes staying fun!
Seduce me!

Hi Rex! Personally I buy all new card..with my ticket...but I would like using ticket for more goodiees...In new site, is there something?
^^

how we actuelly buy Tix ;-)

merçi @tnt440 pour image

Hi Rex,
I have used up my remaining tix, and will be waiting for enough shows to be released to fill up a subscription. Being VIP did help in using up the remainders. I still would like it if the subscription terms would be changed to be number of show based rather than number of days based. If that was the cased I would buy a 180 show subscription ( the equivalent of a 6 month) today.

The "frustation factor" has caused many paying members to stop buying cards and just enjoy what they have.

Frustrated that they missed getting the new card they wanted because it was limited to 400, no clue as to when it was on special friday, and it sold out within 30 minutes.

If buying cards is a competition then you have winners and losers. people who lose out constantly will be unhappy. Unhappy customers stop spending money on your product.

Monthly memberships only save you money if you want all the cards. If you only keep or like 10 of the cards you paid $1.50 each. If you keep half you paid $1 each. That is the same as buying cards on special and handpicking what you want.