OP:

I've been a devoted Stardock fan for several years, pumping probably a couple hundred hours and a couple hundred dollars into it.  (Probably one of the top three production houses I support).  I've always been and continue to be impressed with the products and the customer and technical support.  Impulse has been a great addition to an expanding family.  Unfortunately, though, I might have a hard time supporting Stardock from now on.

I don't know when it happened, but it was sometime in the last three months and I suspect with the introduction of impulse, but Stardock has raised its prices 5% to 15% on its products, regardless of whether they are catalogue, past released or new release.  This has made my sad because Stardock/Impulse has outpriced itself and is no longer competetive with other distributors of its own product (amazon.com, BestBuy, etc., etc.).  I preferred the convenience of downloading directly form Stardock and skipping the middle-man's cut (i.e. retail mark-up).  Additionally, the new pricing puts Stardock's software into the upper echelon of price brackets.  In other words, Stardock is not only outpricing its own distributors, but its starting to hit the highest price bracket market-wide.  My last beef with the increase in ticket price is that Stardock has no reason to justify such a price jump: little/no overhead, little manufacturing/packaging, no retail location, etc., etc.  Stardock was already making a significant profit (over retailers), charging the same as its distributors, because it has first rights, digital distribution and no overhead online.  Additionally, it kept its online prices high longer than the retailers, but it was still competetive so I didn't mind.   Now, the profit is just obscene.  It's like buying gas.

Unfortunately, developers and production companies seal their fate when they think that their customer base is dispensable.  Whether it's a public beta retail release, being undependable with promises and release dates, or overpricing their products, there is a trail of the skeletal remains of production houses, distribution companies, developers etc., etc., spanning the gaming era.  Unknowns and giants alike.  And where one closes, another opens.  While Stardock is an exceptional company - especially in regards to appealing specifically to PC customers - you have to ask yourself if you are going to loose a larger percentage of your customers puraches (and customers in general) than you will gain in your new profit margin.  Personally, my purchases will definitely decrease and by more than the percentage of the  price increase.  In fact, it was browsing for a game that I wanted to buy that I saw had increased in price that prompted me to write this long, windy commentary.  I'm not buying that game now.  Additionally, your new profit margin will not replace the valuable word of mouth that your customers give (I've referred three people myself).

I don't think this post will actually do anything, but I felt compelled to say something.

That's my beef.  Sorry it is so long.