CBS raised their price! (1 Viewer)

[Rounders]

Our league has been a loyal CBS subscriber for 7 seasons now. My leaguemates prefer them to MFL because of the look and feel of the website and also for the familiarity of it (dumb if you ask me). Whatever, as the commish I just go ahead with what the league wants, even though everyone knows that I despise it.

So today I got this email from CBS:

Renew today to save $30 off the regular season price of $179.99,

plus get a free draft kit!*

Dear Commissioner,

Your league, Primetime Fantasy Football League has been updated for the 2009 Fantasy Football season and is now available for renewal. Renew your league now to lock in your savings:

* Save $30 off the regular price of $179.99 (you pay: $149.99)

* Get a draft kit for FREE (retail value: $24.99)

* A total value of $55!

Plus, while you're at it, check out some of the NEW 2009 enhancements:

* Online auction draft room: Coming in June 2009 - Whether you use salary cap, keepers, or anything else that might be needed in an auction-style draft, our draft room will handle it

* Enhanced league history: Season "snap-shots" so league members can easily see how each season played out and who won the championship, plus much more

* Add video to your site news: Now each owner can add video within the news stories that they post on your league's site

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

 

[Ice Cream Man]

Our league has been a loyal CBS subscriber for 7 seasons now. My leaguemates prefer them to MFL because of the look and feel of the website and also for the familiarity of it (dumb if you ask me). Whatever, as the commish I just go ahead with what the league wants, even though everyone knows that I despise it.

So today I got this email from CBS:

Renew today to save $30 off the regular season price of $179.99,

plus get a free draft kit!*

Dear Commissioner,

Your league, Primetime Fantasy Football League has been updated for the 2009 Fantasy Football season and is now available for renewal. Renew your league now to lock in your savings:

* Save $30 off the regular price of $179.99 (you pay: $149.99)

* Get a draft kit for FREE (retail value: $24.99)

* A total value of $55!

Plus, while you're at it, check out some of the NEW 2009 enhancements:

* Online auction draft room: Coming in June 2009 - Whether you use salary cap, keepers, or anything else that might be needed in an auction-style draft, our draft room will handle it

* Enhanced league history: Season "snap-shots" so league members can easily see how each season played out and who won the championship, plus much more

* Add video to your site news: Now each owner can add video within the news stories that they post on your league's site

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

Well fantasy football is probably at it's peak in popularity so it makes sense. Furthermore, the recent interest in auctions has probably driven up their costs some. Basic supply and demand. Also, it's not as if there are many high quality competitors they have to worry about. Also, with the historical spending going on, there will be serious inflation in the years ahead. I guess a better question is why wouldn't they raise their prices?

 

[Zoomanji]

$180?

That's only $120 more than MFL.

What exactly do you get for that $120? Dancing girls during your draft?

 

[Rounders]

$180?That's only $120 more than MFL.What exactly do you get for that $120? Dancing girls during your draft?

I wish!

 

[simey]

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

I'm not shocked they raised their fees. It's $150 if you pay early. When you divide that amount among your league owners it's not a lot.

 

[mggoilers]

In this economy CBS is looking out for themselves. I lowered my fees in my league, just out of respect for some of my owners.

Not that I would buy it, but I hope everyone would boycott their magazines and products if you have a choice.

As the previous commish stated, my league voted to stay at CBS even with the increase.

 

[Ace Matherton]

I think what is more amazing is your league willingly paid $150 last year for the crap CBS puts out. I dont care what you think of MFL (I've used it for years and HATE IT) but for the $ MFL charges i'd learn to deal with it rather than pay up to 3x the money so people can be comfortable.

 

[Rounders]

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

I'm not shocked they raised their fees. It's $150 if you pay early. When you divide that amount among your league owners it's not a lot.

True, but it's still $25 more than what we paid last year.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

It's idiotic to raise the price of a luxury service in this economy, especially when the competition is charging less than half your original price. CBS is going to lose a lot of leagues. I hope MFL is buying extra servers.

 

[Couch Potato]

$180?That's only $120 more than MFL.What exactly do you get for that $120? Dancing girls during your draft?

No, you get that cheesy draft kit I toss in the trash every year ($24.99 value!!).I wish I could get my league mates to switch to MFL in the CBS league I commish, but for most of these guys it's their only league, it's been in existence for 28 years, and we've been with CBS since putting the league online in about 2000. They like the familiarity and won't change. I guess I can live with 1 of 13 on CBS and the other 12 on MFL.

 

[Kit Fisto]

Fanball.com/commissioner. $70 a year, great site.

 

[RC94]

I am not a big fan of MFL and have had a number of issues with them over the years, but $180 is ridiculous and not even remotely worth it. As much as I don't like MFL, and may switch some leagues to another site, I won't be switching any of them to CBS.

 

[Pickle Rody]

I am another commish of a league that uses CBS. Personally, I can't stand it. But, like others here have said, my league is comfortable with it and refuses to try to adjust to another site. Each year I try to get them to switch but to no avail. I have no use for the glitz and glamour of CBS and would sacrifice all of it just to have the ability to upload documents and spreadsheets I prepare for the league to download.......but these options are not available with CBS. Everyone in my league knows I despise the site, but I guess their comfort level is worth their extra money spent compared to cheaper league site hosts.

CBS is not offering much "new" to justify the price increase either, as far as I am concerned.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

CBS = SCAM

Check out RTSports, I was with them a few years back,

it has more of a CBS feel to it than MFL. Solid site.

.

 

[fsufan]

use CBS for 10 years to run 2 dynasty leagues. decided about 2 months ago to switch to MFL. kicking my self for not changing years ago.

 

[Tau837]

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

I'm not shocked they raised their fees. It's $150 if you pay early. When you divide that amount among your league owners it's not a lot.

IIRC last year it was $150 full fee, $120 if you paid early. A 20% bump in one year, especially given the current economic conditions, seems a bit extreme IMO. I know fantasy football is rising in popularity, but this is also a time when, generally speaking, people are looking to cut out unnecessary expenses more than they had been in the previous several years. Seems like an odd time for a 20% bump for what amounts to a discretionary expense for their customers.

 

[Franknbeans]

:hacksite:

 

[Bri]

150 or 180 is beautiful. I'd never pay it but GB the people that do. Accusports charges like 200 or 250 for membership to their site and that wows me everytime too. Who would pay that much? But....if people do, more power to em'.

Once that line's crossed where a site says I'm not competing with everyone else, I'm just chargin a bunch and seeing what happens-I'd like to see them charge a grand. If "only" 100 joined they'd still probably be pleased. I'd be so curious how many people paid

 

[3nOut]

How much was the FBG subscription price last year?

 

[belljr]

Outrageous..... We've been on there since it was free. A lot of guys in my league are comfortable with it and don't want to change so they all throw in the extra $$ to pay for it.

I think it's ridiculous. I put it up for a vote every year and they always vote to stay.

 

[simey]

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

I'm not shocked they raised their fees. It's $150 if you pay early. When you divide that amount among your league owners it's not a lot.

IIRC last year it was $150 full fee, $120 if you paid early. A 20% bump in one year, especially given the current economic conditions, seems a bit extreme IMO. I know fantasy football is rising in popularity, but this is also a time when, generally speaking, people are looking to cut out unnecessary expenses more than they had been in the previous several years. Seems like an odd time for a 20% bump for what amounts to a discretionary expense for their customers.

I agree that they shouldn't be bumping up the price 20% especially given the economic conditions, but I'm not shocked that they have. They have never been shy about increasing their software fee. My main league, which is a money league, has always used CBS, and I've always liked it as far as the easy use of the software. I know some have had problems with it in the past, but we never have except for a minor glitch now and then that was fixed fairly quickly. It also has a history record of our league over the years. My brother is the commish and he likes the familiarty of setting up the software, and it will just cost each of us an extra 3 dollars this year, and I don't mind that. I'm just glad fantasy football exist because it's fun.

 

[cstu]

Are you kidding me? $180 a year! $30 more than last season! Now we normally re-new early to take advantage of the early bird special, but still! Wow, I was amazed. Just thought that I would share, anyone else shocked that CBS would raise their fees?

I'm not shocked they raised their fees. It's $150 if you pay early. When you divide that amount among your league owners it's not a lot.

IIRC last year it was $150 full fee, $120 if you paid early. A 20% bump in one year, especially given the current economic conditions, seems a bit extreme IMO. I know fantasy football is rising in popularity, but this is also a time when, generally speaking, people are looking to cut out unnecessary expenses more than they had been in the previous several years. Seems like an odd time for a 20% bump for what amounts to a discretionary expense for their customers.

I agree that they shouldn't be bumping up the price 20% especially given the economic conditions, but I'm not shocked that they have. They have never been shy about increasing their software fee. My main league, which is a money league, has always used CBS, and I've always liked it as far as the easy use of the software. I know some have had problems with it in the past, but we never have except for a minor glitch now and then that was fixed fairly quickly. It also has a history record of our league over the years. My brother is the commish and he likes the familiarty of setting up the software, and it will just cost each of us an extra 3 dollars this year, and I don't mind that. I'm just glad fantasy football exist because it's fun.

It reminds me of the DirectTV commercial where says "we can't improve our service, so let's raise the price!" and the next guy says "people have disposable income so let's help them dispose of it."As long as people continue being suckers and justifying paying a higher amount because "it's only $3 more" then companies will continue trying to grab all the cash they can.

 

[jbz]

It's $150 if you renew by 6/24. I think it's been $150 for a while right? The other year was discounted due to them offering that since the service sucked so bad the other year.

 

[kylechoffman]

ESPN - free. Couple things bug me but overall great experience (after using fanball for one league for 5 years, MFL for three others for 6 years)

 

[taylormeetstheismann]

My favorite memory of CBS is when I needed support prior to kickoff one Sunday morning I got a form letter reply via e-mail that stated they would address the issue on Monday during their normal business hours. Are you kidding me? The prime time for this service is Sunday and they are out of the office. Nice.

Our leagues have used MFL every since and been quite happy. Oh by the way, I have had several support issues addressed promptly during the AM on Sunday with MFL.

No contest at any price.

 

[Buckeyedawgs]

CBS has sucked since day 1 of when the internet was born! Filling these spring leagues makes me realize just how lucky MFL -FBG Sharks are. We became so spoiled over the years. Fantasy sports has became a huge market and we are just the small % that experiances the finer parts of it. A lot of folks out there have no idea what MFL is and means or even FBG. They so stuck in there own world thinking they have it made!

I learned fast to hate CBS when the internet was born! They even lost our entire $ league records a few times. Thank god for MFL that came along and crushed the competion. And theres a lot of competioin out there!

 

[roadkill1292]

Does anyone have any experience with Sportsline's live auction component? How exactly does that work?

This is getting to be a little pricey. Even for big leagues, that's a big chunk of the pot.

 

[Tanner9919]

$180?That's only $120 more than MFL.What exactly do you get for that $120? Dancing girls during your draft?

espn is free.its not great, but its free..that $180 I'd rather give to the winner of my league..

 

[simey]

As long as people continue being suckers and justifying paying a higher amount because "it's only $3 more" then companies will continue trying to grab all the cash they can.

Calling me a sucker is pretty lame, cstu, but I'll just consider the source. We choose to stay with CBS because we like it. $3 extra is not an earth shattering amount for each of the owners in my league to pay for, and we like the software. Last year we got a $50 discount on our software from some malfunction that happened the year before that didn't even have an effect on us. That was nice. As I've stated before this is a money league I'm in, and paying an 3 extra dollars each is nothing compared to what some of the owners will owe by the end of the season, and CBS does a good job in keeping track of what everyone owes, and all that money that is in the pot goes to the 1st (60% of the winnings), 2nd (30% of the winnings), and 3rd (10% of the winnings) place winners. This is a hobby, and with a lot of hobbies prices can go up a bit, and we don't mind paying 3 extra dollars each to play on a site that we have liked for the last 10 years.

 

[Rounders]

As long as people continue being suckers and justifying paying a higher amount because "it's only $3 more" then companies will continue trying to grab all the cash they can.

Calling me a sucker is pretty lame, cstu, but I'll just consider the source. We choose to stay with CBS because we like it. $3 extra is not an earth shattering amount for each of the owners in my league to pay for, and we like the software. Last year we got a $50 discount on our software from some malfunction that happened the year before that didn't even have an effect on us. That was nice. As I've stated before this is a money league I'm in, and paying an 3 extra dollars each is nothing compared to what some of the owners will owe by the end of the season, and CBS does a good job in keeping track of what everyone owes, and all that money that is in the pot goes to the 1st (60% of the winnings), 2nd (30% of the winnings), and 3rd (10% of the winnings) place winners. This is a hobby, and with a lot of hobbies prices can go up a bit, and we don't mind paying 3 extra dollars each to play on a site that we have liked for the last 10 years.

But it begs the question, why pay more money when you can get the same service for cheaper? I mean the numbers all come from the same place, right?After I created this thread, I sent the letter to my leaguemates asking if they thought CBS was worth $180 (or $150 if we renew early), so far 4-0 in favor of changing....just need two more votes!!!!

 

[scrumptrulescent]

How much was the FBG subscription price last year?

Very good point. This thread cracks me up. Everybody's trying to one up eachother. Mocking CBS users for paying so much because their site is so much better and cheaper. Meanwhile, they're shelling out more money every year and paying this site for it's private content.

 

[Rounders]

How much was the FBG subscription price last year?

Very good point. This thread cracks me up. Everybody's trying to one up eachother. Mocking CBS users for paying so much because their site is so much better and cheaper. Meanwhile, they're shelling out more money every year and paying this site for it's private content.

Paying for expert content and paying for FF commish service are two very different ideas.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

How much was the FBG subscription price last year?

Very good point. This thread cracks me up. Everybody's trying to one up eachother. Mocking CBS users for paying so much because their site is so much better and cheaper. Meanwhile, they're shelling out more money every year and paying this site for it's private content.

Paying for expert content and paying for FF commish service are two very different ideas.

Agreed. Paying for a commish service makes sense. Paying for "expert content"........

 

[Synthesizer]

We've been using CBS for 10 years now. No matter what the price, or if I missed the early bird special, I call them up every year and say "We've been with you for x years and have paid $120 every year. We're paying that much again this year or we're walking away." Every year they've accepted our $120 offer.

* But last year they told us that would be the last time they accept $120. I'm not paying a dime more so we'll see.

 

[Liquid Tension]

I am shocked people pay this much. RTSports is great (as good or better than every site) and they add more and more every year. They also are $72 if you are an ongoing member!

I have been on every site and I am very pleased with RTSports.

 

[zadok]

How much was the FBG subscription price last year?

Very good point. This thread cracks me up. Everybody's trying to one up eachother. Mocking CBS users for paying so much because their site is so much better and cheaper. Meanwhile, they're shelling out more money every year and paying this site for it's private content.

Or like me mocking CBS and not subscribing here...

 

[Varmint]

This is capitalism at its best.

You can protest any rate increase by taking your business elsewhere and until you look around, you'll never know what you're missing.

Since 1999 our league was faithful to STATSWORLD...even before they had a web site.

I loved it and argued with many here...the benefits of STATSWORLD over MFL.

I felt that the scoring options that a web service offered was paramount to anything else it could offer.

I still feel that way.

I don't want to feel compelled to adjust my scoring to only what the site offers.

STATSWORLD offered so many twists to the scoring options that I didn't even really look anywhere else.

Well...in 2007 STATSWORLD sold out to MFL and all of our previous leagues were transferred to MFL...

Man...was I ever PISSED!!

All of a sudden I was faced with a delima....go with MFL or find antoher site.

STATSWORLD selling out to MFL was the best thing that could have happened.

I am very happy with everything that MFL offers..

It offers more scoring options that anyplace I've seen...PLUS...it is so very flexible in the ways you can set up its appearance.

Two years later....take a look at our website!!

MY FANTASY LEAUGE

What you see is only the half of it!

Take the time and tour my site.

Click on "STANDINGS" then click on each Team Banner to check out the Team Pages...

This kind of stuff is not possible on any other sites..

Moving to MFL was great!!

At $70....Give them a shot!

 

[puckalicious]

If hosting a FFL service is so cheap and easy to do, why doesn't FBG host one? I'm 100% positive that for the price of CBS (or less) they could absolutely blow it away in terms of content and value. They could even integrate the current subscriber content... and contests...

 

[Mene]

Fanball.com/commissioner. $70 a year, great site.

Fanball is absolutely awful. I had 3 leagues with them last year, all 3 will be with new sites this year, because of their instability. I'm sure most of us remember the numerous shark pool threads last year during the first few weeks of the season because scores people couldn't access the site on Sundays, around 11 til after 1. As a commish, the first 3 or 4 weeks I was dealing with phone calls from angry owners who couldn't change/verify lineups sunday morning before games. Add to that the slooooow live scoring... Fanball is just terrible. It's a shame, I was one who used to sing the praises of Fanball, because the league software itself is easy to use and looked nice. You cannot however have the kind of instability they had for that many weeks.

 

[Mjolnirs]

I will have to check out some of these sites when I'm outside of my work firewall.

 

[Varmint]

"In this economy CBS is looking out for themselves. I lowered my fees in my league, just out of respect for some of my owners.

Not that I would buy it, but I hope everyone would boycott their magazines and products if you have a choice.

As the previous commish stated, my league voted to stay at CBS even with the increase."

"No, you get that cheesy draft kit I toss in the trash every year ($24.99 value!!).

I wish I could get my league mates to switch to MFL in the CBS league I commish, but for most of these guys it's their only league, it's been in existence for 28 years, and we've been with CBS since putting the league online in about 2000. They like the familiarity and won't change. I guess I can live with 1 of 13 on CBS and the other 12 on MFL. "

"I am another commish of a league that uses CBS. Personally, I can't stand it. But, like others here have said, my league is comfortable with it and refuses to try to adjust to another site. Each year I try to get them to switch but to no avail. I have no use for the glitz and glamour of CBS and would sacrifice all of it just to have the ability to upload documents and spreadsheets I prepare for the league to download.......but these options are not available with CBS. Everyone in my league knows I despise the site, but I guess their comfort level is worth their extra money spent compared to cheaper league site hosts.

CBS is not offering much "new" to justify the price increase either, as far as I am concerned. "

"Outrageous..... We've been on there since it was free. A lot of guys in my league are comfortable with it and don't want to change so they all throw in the extra $$ to pay for it.

I think it's ridiculous. I put it up for a vote every year and they always vote to stay. "

I've brought this point up in the past and was lambasted for it but I'll bring it up again.

When a change is needed the absolutely WORSE place to go for input are the franchise owners.

Given a choice, they will just about always, vote to keep it the way it is!

People do not like change and if they have a choice in the matter...they won't.

I've made many decisions for my league without putting it to a vote.

If I had relied on a vote amongst the owners we would have never moved to the auction format and we would have never implemented the "Practice Squad"....just to name a few.

When it comes to a change...owners look no futher than their own franchise and how a change would affect THEM....not the league as a whole.

They never look at the big picture and they rarely even look at what goes on behind the scenes during the off-season.

You are the Commissioner....not a puppet.

You are not the voice of the league.

If you see something that needs to be changed...change it.

Just make damn sure that you are right.

 

[trader jake]

MFL is the way to go.

Good luck getting your league switched over.

 

[Sheriff66]

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Sportsline.

In the words of Popeye: "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more".

 

[Ron_Mexico]

As long as people continue being suckers and justifying paying a higher amount because "it's only $3 more" then companies will continue trying to grab all the cash they can.

Calling me a sucker is pretty lame, cstu, but I'll just consider the source. We choose to stay with CBS because we like it. $3 extra is not an earth shattering amount for each of the owners in my league to pay for, and we like the software. Last year we got a $50 discount on our software from some malfunction that happened the year before that didn't even have an effect on us. That was nice. As I've stated before this is a money league I'm in, and paying an 3 extra dollars each is nothing compared to what some of the owners will owe by the end of the season, and CBS does a good job in keeping track of what everyone owes, and all that money that is in the pot goes to the 1st (60% of the winnings), 2nd (30% of the winnings), and 3rd (10% of the winnings) place winners. This is a hobby, and with a lot of hobbies prices can go up a bit, and we don't mind paying 3 extra dollars each to play on a site that we have liked for the last 10 years.

But it begs the question, why pay more money when you can get the same service for cheaper? I mean the numbers all come from the same place, right?After I created this thread, I sent the letter to my leaguemates asking if they thought CBS was worth $180 (or $150 if we renew early), so far 4-0 in favor of changing....just need two more votes!!!!

CBS jacks up their price during slow economic times ? .... eff that.I won't give them a dime based on principle alone.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

As long as people continue being suckers and justifying paying a higher amount because "it's only $3 more" then companies will continue trying to grab all the cash they can.

Calling me a sucker is pretty lame, cstu, but I'll just consider the source.

Don't be railing on my boy, cstu.He supplied me with a brilliant sig.

 

[pollardsvision]

ESPN - free. Couple things bug me but overall great experience (after using fanball for one league for 5 years, MFL for three others for 6 years)

I've always used ESPN (and some Yahoo) and I'm curious what pay sites, like MFL and CBS, offer that ESPN does not.Now that ESPN does auctions for free too, I have a hard time imagining that pay sites offer a much better service.Maybe I don't know what I'm missing out on, what do the pay sites provide that ESPN does not?

 

[Pittsburgh United]

I'm coming from the other angle: I've been paying for CBS for 9 years or so. Last year, I was in a work league that used ESPN's free site. I spoke with the guy who did the commishing and verified that it was as customizable as my CBS league. It also has real-time scoring, which used to be pretty much exclusive to CBS, but seems to be more widespread now.

So could someone please tell me: what does ESPN lack that I'm used to having on CBS?

 

[DoubleG]

Many people have been on CBS for a while - and that's exactly why they keep bumping up they're prices. If you leave, you lose your league history. CBS maintains the stats, scores, standings, articles - everything. So once they have you for a few years, they figure you won't leave and lose all your history. Bastards.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

I sent CBS a complaint on the price hike. I'll let you know if they say anything at all. I use MFL in my other league, I dislike the format compared to CBS, but the price gap is too much now.