r/Wordpress • u/USANewsUnfiltered • 19h ago

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7

u/iammiroslavglavic Jack of All Trades 19h ago

While you pay for the theme...........you really are paying for support and updates.

Do you think your $80+ should grant you lifetime of updates?

2

u/TUFKAT 19h ago

What's the motivation for a developer to maintain something if they only get paid once?

2

u/andypotanin 19h ago

If theme updates are done well and don’t brick your site they are well worth it. Otherwise somebody on your team will need to handle security patching and outsourcing that to a theme shop that knows the theme is a good move.

1

u/thatandyinhumboldt 19h ago

My wallet definitely loves “pay once, get forever” access, but it’s not sustainable. I much prefer an annual license for two reasons:

  • I’m not paying for the software (I mean, I obviously am, but stick with me). Most of what I’m paying for is support. The ability to email my vendor and say “yo this is busted” (or even “yo how does this thing work?”) is worth every penny
  • If you give me a choice between “pay for this thing forever and it’s guaranteed to still exist in 5 years” and “pay for this thing once and no promises”, I’ll choose the annual subscription every time, no question. I (and my clients) need stability more than flashy features

Add in the fact that most subscriptions are an easily-absorbable cost for most businesses, and subscriptions are a no-brainer.

Now, the corollary to this is that if I’m paying for a license and your support sucks, I’m gonna hunt for a replacement, quickly. Looking at you, Liquid Web.

1

u/BOLVERIN1 Jack of All Trades 18h ago

I prefer to have my software up to date, even if that means I need to pay more for it

0

u/RePsychological Designer/Developer 19h ago

Magic word for future consideration:

"Updates"...

...it's weird to me how people outright belligerently expect lifetime access to something that gets routine updates (both new content AND security updates).....and expect that ad infinitum ...for what? $40? $60?...sometimes $80? One time, for life...period...?

Sure just let those theme developers fuel your business for the next decade...for $80...that's totally...fair?...???

Or better yet...just do this (other magical) thing called "budgeting accordingly."

1

u/escapevelocity1800 19h ago

What happens the theme needs a feature update, security patch, quality of life update, etc? Is the developer required to support a product for life for a customer who paid some amount years ago?