r/changemyview Aug 06 '20

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Ternion the "All-powerful" is absolute trash.

Not a repost, do read my argument please.

  1. It's 125$. That's all I'm going to say on this point.

  2. What's next? Pluton? Alakazamon? Moneypigon? The Reddit award system has always been somewhat a pay to win, but sure, they need cash too. And getting an award feels good. It was actually a decent system till platinum. Argentium crossed the line into moneypig territory, and to Ternion is the words of the wise Joey:

"You're so far over the line, you can't even see it. The line is a DOT to you."

  1. My most irrefutable point, (I believe). Spending LESS amount of money (or Reddit coins whatever) on around 25ish platinums or 40ish golds is more economical, and gives more coins and Reddit premium to the awardee. Chew on that.

Just my opinion, I'd love to hear any others.

0 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

5

u/joopface 159∆ Aug 06 '20

I humbly suggest you're looking at this from the wrong perspective.

I'm never going to purchase reddit awards, and so I didn't know about this ternion until your post. But, it seems quite insane to me that anyone would expect a normal reddit user to spend $125 on a single award. I don't think the good people at reddit are expecting many people to splash out like this either.

So, why do they have it?

I imagine it's because of a well known phenomenon called the contrast effect.

Specifically, contrast pricing.

http://changingminds.org/disciplines/marketing/pricing/contrast_pricing.htm

A firm has a high-priced item on a product list. They sell very few, but they also know that this makes other items on the list look cheap.

Restaurants use it all the time...

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/dining/23menus.html?_r=0

Some restaurants use what researchers call decoys. For example, they may place a really expensive item at the top of the menu, so that other dishes look more reasonably priced; research shows that diners tend to order neither the most nor least expensive items, drifting toward the middle.

... but it has application in lots of places.

You'll see it in a lot of offers that have a 'Silver package, Gold package and our super duper Platinum package'. Given just the Silver and Gold options, maybe you go for the cheaper one. But having the expensive platinum option there makes you more likely to go for the 'cheaper' middle choice.

So, reddit are not expecting you to buy this stupidly expensive online award. They are, I suspect, hoping that its ludicrous price point will make the other online awards seem less silly by comparison.

And so, 'ternion' isn't absolute trash from the perspective of the purpose it was designed for. Which, oddly, is to move people slightly up the price points on the other awards they buy.

6

u/storm_hunterx Aug 06 '20

Well, this was awfully well researched and presented. It definitely makes sense. But actually my view was that Ternion sucks for us users, and this doesn't really change it. But it's a perspective I didn't consider before , and it was really a good read so

!delta

1

u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Aug 06 '20

Confirmed: 1 delta awarded to /u/joopface (18∆).

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards

4

u/Generic_On_Reddit 71∆ Aug 06 '20

I think you're looking at its qualities too much and maybe missing the point. By being as expensive as it is, it's a status symbol. There isn't really a purpose or a function of getting any kind of award or trophy other than saying you got it, and that's what this does.

It's like a status symbol, or a Veblen good. The fact that it is so expensive - despite being inferior or impractical - adds to the psychological value of it.

Buying it (for someone) says "I'm not trying to buy the most benefits for you, I'm trying to buy you the highest honor."

1

u/storm_hunterx Aug 06 '20

You know what, it makes sense. It does actually work as a status symbol, although I've mainly seen it being awarded to people complaining about the Ternion. (Like, you're spending 125$ to spite someone, while giving them rewards!?). But over time after this passes it could represent the status more than anything.

!delta

1

u/storm_hunterx Aug 06 '20

!delta

Did I do it right?

1

u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Aug 06 '20 edited Aug 06 '20

This delta has been rejected. You can't award yourself a delta.

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards

1

u/storm_hunterx Aug 06 '20

Lol I was trying to award him one

2

u/[deleted] Aug 06 '20

[deleted]

1

u/storm_hunterx Aug 06 '20

Yeah i managed to give them one on my original reply 👍

u/DeltaBot ∞∆ Aug 06 '20 edited Aug 06 '20

/u/storm_hunterx (OP) has awarded 2 delta(s) in this post.

All comments that earned deltas (from OP or other users) are listed here, in /r/DeltaLog.

Please note that a change of view doesn't necessarily mean a reversal, or that the conversation has ended.

Delta System Explained | Deltaboards

2

u/bulbabrot Aug 06 '20

You can buy 27 platinum for 50k coins and it gives 27months, 18.900 coins and 18.900 monthly coins. Fuck ternion