1. Yes 2. No. I would never pay unless I knew I could make hundreds on the return and there’s no way to know that. 3. No. I would if I make something cool not worth anything. 4. I would expect the lions share of profits if my model brings in money from ads/number of downloads, and I’d give the website a percentage, otherwise they would only get uploads of failed prototypes for example.
1. Yes I do
2. I have not paid money for designs (yet). I think $5-$15 dollars for models is reasonable
3. Yes
4. Both. I only have one paid model up, the rest are free
5. Hmm… I’d say $3 per download
Cheers!
Hi 3DPrintedArt, thanks very much for your response it is very helpful particularly as you specified dollar values.
Cheers
Andrew
Hi @Sam_19, thanks very much for your feedback, very helpful.
Cheers
Andrew
Hi @nino, thanks very much for your feedback, just a quick question regarding the ownership of the design problem you raised. Would you be more comfortable uploading your design if customers could only stream the design not download it or would you prefer just to sell the physical product only?
Cheers
Andrew
I would rather sell them for a fixed price every time someone downloads them. Making more money on a design in the long run is more important to me than getting a big up front payment.
Understood, ok thanks for your great feedback pkatsourakis.
Cheers
Andrew
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Hi @domenus, thanks so much for sharing your site. Nice work on 3 tier subscription model.
I think the idea is great & probably a route I’d have opted for, but you started me thinking and I’ve seen some pro’s of a ‘unlocking’ route that may not exist with the subs model, but I might be wrong so do correct me.
The contribute X to ‘unlock’ or ‘community commission’ model means both customers paying for designs and designers creating the designs are incentivized to market and promote the service.
EG: I’m a designer & propose that I design a super cool planter. I upload a sketch or the design with an unlock fee of $100. It is now in my best interest to promote my design, & get supporters.
For the 2 customers who see the design and think ‘I must have it now’, it is in their best interest to share the design and convince other like minded people to invest too.
Apart from the marketing and promotion - can’t help thinking there are some great options here - the two groups are doing, the designers are also getting a fair rate (or at the very least a rate they believe to be fair for a particular design).
Either model could work and I think the questions to answer are whether it is quantity (unlimited downloads) or access to more affordable high quality designs?
Quantity I’d go for subs. Quality I’d go for distributing cost with a guarantee that the designer receives their desired base rate.
What do you think?
Thanks I’m enjoying the model provoking thread you’ve got going!
Hi @toymaker2, no worries I am enjoying it too! I don’t think there really is a correct model and I completely agree with the ‘unlock’ model in that the designer and customers are both incentivized to market and promote the design/service. I suppose one concern I would have with the ‘unlock’ model is if the designer had to focus much of their time and effort on the marketing of their potential designs rather than them doing what they are best at which is making awesome designs! And if they were only getting a few of their designs to the unlocked stage then their would be lots of wasted promotional time which might negate the ‘unlock’ fees they are receiving for their successful designs. But in saying that I think it sounds like an interesting model and who knows maybe that is the way forward? Or maybe some sort of hybrid system?
It seems like a really tough balance to ensure good reward for designers and still affordable designs for customers. I suppose with the model I am using now I am trying to distribute the rewards to the best designs so that they keep uploading their work for everyone else to use at a subsidised cost basically. Hmm very tricky…
Hi Andrew3dhubs44,
Here are my answers:
1. Yes, but I design my owns too.
2. I will pay for good ones or what I ordered. The design is unique, original and I want it.
3. Yes, I’ve already done so, but like you, no spams here 
4. If I can “make money” from this that will be great, because do what I want to do and make my life better is always my target.
5. For this “earning thing”, I’m quite agreed with others, I mean get paid at a certain price.
Your questions make me want to share one more thing, that is now in China, the intellectual property is being protected much better than before, I’m sure there will be more and more oriental designers join into the community
Good luck, now I’m going to browse your web site 
Ciaooo,
Cui
Hi Andrew3dhubs44,
Here are my answers:
1. Yes, but I design my owns too.
2. I will pay for good ones or what I ordered. The design is unique, original and I want it.
3. Yes, I’ve already done so, but like you, no spams here
4. If I can “make money” from this that will be great, because do what I want to do and make my life better is always my target.
5. For this “earning thing”, I’m quite agreed with others, I mean get paid at a certain price.
Your questions make me want to share one more thing, that is now in China, the intellectual property is being protected much better than before, I’m sure there will be more and more oriental designers join into the community
Good luck, now I’m going to browse your web site
Ciaooo,
Cui
Hi Cui @Elric_Zufan, thanks very much for your feedback its great to hear form someone in China. I used to work with a few Chinese companies in my old job and we started to notice the change in intellectual property rights there. Is there much of a maker community already in China? I see there are a few listed as hubs but not too many.
Cheers
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Yes there are already some communities here in China, they have cool web sites, good UI experience, the 3D designs are usually from internet and are free to download. The jewellery models mostly are the ones which are getting paid, and the commissioned ones will be paid too. I think they are all focus on domestic market, usually there is no english version of web site.
You can’t see many chinese makers on the hubs, one reason I think is the language, 3DHUBS is in english, most people will not use it since it is not in our language (do not take alibaba as an example, it is a chinese company and being used to make international business, that’s a different story); the other reason I think, is the cultural background, “DIY and makers of things” are still new words for us (not like cooking, DIY of cooking is popular all around the world), this limits the market of individuals being very small, so the idea of 3DHUBS, “print in local”, will need more time to be accepted by chinese individuals, and this also depends on where you live, take Hongkong and Guangdong for example, in that area, the idea is much more popular than “China Inland"…I will stop blablabla, since there are still many things to say (like industrial market, 3Dprinting for foreigners who live in China, etc), it’s better to make a real report about this, like what 3DHubs is doing, maybe the report would prove what I’m thinking is right or wrong.
Anyway, I’d like to see more chinese makers on the hubs too ;-D
Good luck,
Cui
BTW, I’m already registered on your site 
Thanks Cui, very interesting points you make. Yes I certainly noticed the cultural difference throughout my work and I agree it will take some time. Thanks for your feedback and point of view and for registering on my site
Cheers
Andrew
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1. Not much, most of the designs are designed myself
2. Yes, but I never bought something more than 5 dollar
3. Yes (mostly on Cults or CG trader)
4. I expect a little fee for this
5. Depends on the usage of the product.
Hi StudioK, thanks very much for your feedback, just a quick question, would you consider paying more than $5 for a model if you really liked it or do you think that would be about your maximum?
Cheers
Andrew
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It totaly depends on the model and how quick i will need it.
When a model cost more than ± 5 dollars i try to find another model or design it myself.
Good luck with your project.
Ok cheers for the feedback StudioK.
Thanks
Andrew
