Dear BurdaStylers,
Happy New Year! We hope all of you had a beautiful holiday season. We at BurdaStyle are excited for another great year and want to let you all know what we have planned for 2009.
In just a couple of weeks, BurdaStyle turns two years old! In that time, BurdaStyle has done a lot of growing: we are over 150,000 members strong, and we have over 160 open-source, copyright-free patterns in our database. Not to mention the rest of knowledge and inspiration available on BurdaStyle in the form of how tos, forums, and creations. Now, with our robust and wonderful community and a deep database in place, BurdaStyle enters a new phase, which includes becoming a self-sustainable business and launching a new and improved website.
As part of our plan to grow BurdaStyle and to better serve our members we will need to start charging for some of our patterns. BurdaStyle patterns developed from contest winners will still be free, as will some popular basics and smaller projects. Patterns uploaded by members will still be free, as will all the other areas of our website. Of course, everything will still be open-source, which means copyright-free, and therefore available for alteration and replication, and open for you to base a business on.
Currently, we are working on a major site redesign, which will launch late Spring. The new site offers much increased functionality, including a step-by-step project interface, which will allow you to see who is working on what, and what problems and hints other members have. The new site will also offer members the opportunity to sell their own patterns.
Thank you, in advance, for all of your continued support and understanding. We are committed to bringing you the best and only open-source sewing website around, and we want BurdaStyle to keep getting stronger and better. We look forward to an exciting New Year, with all it’s challenges and victories!
Sincerely,
The BurdaStyle Team
Jan 14, 2009, 07.56 AMby coffeina
burdastyle is no longer an open source project. and i am sad about this.
you wanted us to upload pictures of our creations, from patterns that were for free. now you use our pictures for selling your patterns. this ist not so kind.
but one question: what about the copyright? are the patterns still copyright-free? so can i offer the patterns i downloaded to other people?
Jan 13, 2009, 05.06 PMby Syrena B
I am very disappointed at the new charges for previously free patterns.
I think a better way to handle the need for money would be to keep the burdastyle patterns free online as they were and have a separate section for “higher fashion” clothing that you charge a fee.
I am curious to see what the future holds for your site and all the changes you plan on making. Thank goodness I downloaded a ton of patterns & instructions to disc…it was the only way I could arrange for printing them out!
Jan 11, 2009, 11.57 PMby yolandac8
I understand as most of the people who has commented on this topic, that you have to start charging for the patterns. You are a bussines and you have to make money, and anybody would be able to understand that. It was so good to be true up to now. What I don’t still understand is why you are starting to charge for patterns that were for free up to now??? This is a questions that a lot of us is having! I have been a member for a year, and although I just have started sewing few months ago and my activity is poor, it is just because I haven’t got the skills to do it, but I check this website every day and I thought that what was going on here was amazing, patterns shared, people modifying them, and doing so many creative things… This was the soul of burdastyle and I am afraid this soul is going to change. As I said before, I understand for the upcoming patterns, but what scapes my understanding is the change on the already existing patterns. It doesn’t make sense, and if you want to keep the bussines growing I don’t think this is a very good tactic, because as you can see by the comments we have left, it’s not something very satisfaying for your clients. Sorry for the critic, but I think you have to revise your bussines strategy. Thanks anyway for trying to explain everything and good luck for 2009.
Jan 10, 2009, 08.15 AMby trolldoll
Jan 9, 2009, 09.08 AMby textilet
Aha – I realise what a fool I’ve been !!! I somehow thought this site was set up by a few people who used Burda and liked the patterns – and got together to share outcomes etc. and had somehow managed a way around sharing patterns etc. I know this will make me out to be completely thick – but I have actually searched and found out the site is actually set up by Burda themselves - I thank them for it but somehow I feel slightly conned! No wonder they want to charge for the patterns – I suppose it is their right to do so – hence no argument! Good job I actually feel that seeing what other people do with the patterns – and being interested in their own design too – make it worth the site. I wont stop clicking on – but will probably just revert to buying the mag if i want a pattern(Alright i know they wont have exactly the one i want – ever)- but Oh dear – another illusion shattered and its only Jan 9th.
Jan 8, 2009, 10.18 PMby wasklywabbit
I’ve been sitting here with my cup of tea and what an entertaining read! From what I’ve read most members feel kinda like they’ve been thrown in an ice pool after the sauna… Eek! A little notice would have saved Burdastyle a lot of disappointed members. Personally, I have all the patterns I’d ever need for a million years but I feel for those who have been loyal and active within this site and it’s been lobbed on them to pay for what used to be free. I understand the costs of running a business and that charging for patterns will give Burdastyle the opportunity to provide an improved service to the sewing community. With the extra finances behind you, I look forward to the Burdastyle team taking this opportunity to show us their creative side and providing us with patterns that have ‘wow’ factor and make us want to pay for them because we ‘have to have them’, not just plain old shirts and skirts and jackets and pants with a little variation. (For the record, I don’t buy BWOF any more because I feel like it’s a bit of same old same old as well). Although I’m not as active as some members, I enjoy this site and drawinspiration from creations of others. I would like to thank you for introducing me to a wonderful community. I look forward to seeing pattern designs that will encourage us to continue to support Burdastyle.
Jan 7, 2009, 03.16 PMby polychromatin
Wow, now many of the old patterns aren’t free anymore. Lucky me I downloaded them all before … Can you explain why exactly this happened? I mean Burdastyle is getting bigger and bigger everyday, now the first pattern for 5$ is online, which isn’t that cheap anymore. Really sad. I once again want to say that a possibility to donate for this site may be an option, it works for wikipedia.
Jan 7, 2009, 01.03 PMby karencilla
I’ve been following since yesterday the controversy about the ex-free patterns thing.
Burdastyle team: i don’t want to be rude, but let’s cut the crap here. We all know that your work is valuable and that you had influenced in a good way our sewing and we are really thankful for that. We all know that the economy isn’t in its best and that you need money $$$ to survive, it’s COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE, but as many said the main issue is that you took an action without warning us: the community, one of the main supports of this site. The members feel betrayed, we (clients) trusted you (company) and you can’t even warn me about something you are going to do? It’s not about the pricing and paying for patterns or even paying a membership; that as you meant before, we should be “thankful” that you decided to charge for patterns instead of a membership… You just lost many members’ trust, not their money and that’s even worse.
I love this site, but like many others we were willing to collaborate ($) with this site, it can still be a great site without free patterns but now it’s like many of us won’t trust or believe you anymore.
Jan 7, 2009, 12.14 PMby meseide
As everybody else I want to express my opinion and I’m rather surprised than disappointed. All the time I was wondering why there were so many great free patterns available at Burdastyle since you obiviously are involved with burdafashion and therefore you propably are held accountable for your actions and profits. Almost everybody expressed that they totally understand the need to make profit and that they would’t mind less patterns for free and more patterns to purchase in the future.
So: Why don’t leave it at that? Why did you decide to charge for formerly free patterns? “we will need to start charging for some of our patterns” I think this is a little misleading since there are far more than 40 patterns which used to be free and just 16 free left. What were you thinking how the Burdastyle-Community would react to that? Of course people are upset, because nobody wants to pay for something which he could have got for free the day before. I guess that there will be very few members who are willing to pay for these patterns just because they know that they were used to be free. Especially if they are – like jd98 pointed already out – for free download available at the german website of burda. (The Marie skirt is there as well…) Do you think that the money you’re going to make with these patterns is worth to upset so many of your members? Don’t you think that the bad publicity this causes is worse? Since I used to be a salesperson I’m really surprised about this decision, especially because (besides the free patterns) the community here is the very special thing about Burdastyle and I don’t know if it’s wise to upset the members… I hope that they get over their disappointment because it’s a really nice place here and I hope that it’ll stay like that instead of decreasing member-activity. I’m really happy that there will be more free patterns in the future! Not due to the money, because I would be totally willing to pay for a pattern I like (even if I have to print it myself and glue it together afterwards). But I would never pay for a pattern with English instructions, especially if I can’t read them beforehand and don’t know if I would understand them properly. That’s because English isn’t my mothertongue and I guess there are a few members on my side. So maybe you should consider to provide the instructions in different languages?
Jan 7, 2009, 11.30 AMby x3hckx
I understand making money however the Burdastyle team needs to realize that the main reason why you have over 150,000 members is the free patterns. Case in point is if you read over all the featured member blog entries, a majority of them state that the reason that they found this site was because of the free patterns. i know thats why i joined the site. I don’t mean to sound mean but i highly believe that you will have a decrees in members that join because of this. I really did love this site before and i will still be here to see the other members creations but i will not pay for the patterns.
Jan 7, 2009, 11.21 AMby cat
jd98,I was just about to point that out…the free patterns on the German site (which is translated in many languages: unlike this one!!!) If you want to pay for a pattern, there is a section just for that…otherwise you go trough the free section (I still don’t get why there are more patterns in certain languages!)…& I still don’t get why there are 2 Burda sites??? There is a spot on that site too to put your creations, leave comments & all…
Jan 7, 2009, 10.36 AMby jd98
what an interesting read! thanks Benedikta for taking time to reply, unfortunately, I have to agree with many other members: the main issue still hasn’t been addressed and I’m not sure an “explaination” will be enough for your members. Also, how can you charge for patterns that are available to download for free on the Burdamode website (German version) like Talea, Franzi, Danielle etc? Surely there’s a problem here…
Jan 7, 2009, 10.33 AMby tonierenee
I am glad the site will be evolving. I, as some have expressed before me, hope the cost of the patterns are low. Since I am learning to sewing, I need lots of patterns to choose from to develop my skills. ;-) It’s understandable that running a site cost, so, money needs to be made to cover the costs. Although it may slow me down, it will not stop me from visiting the site regularly. I love having references to follow and inspiration from others out there. Good luck with all the changes.
Jan 7, 2009, 09.41 AMby sweet-saboo
I agree with what the other members have posted. The basic operating premise of this site is no longer truly open source sewing, but has changed to a retail source. While there’s nothing wrong with being a retail source, there are lots of retail sources for intact patterns which do not require the additional expenditure of dozens of sheets of paper, or the necessity of replacing a printer cartridge with every other use. Also, a commercially produced Burda pattern can be purchased for approximately the same (or less if there’s a sale at the fabric store), than your current price point, without the customer having to print out and physically construct the pattern. And waiting until the 11th hour to communicate your new pricing policy, which does pertain to patterns which used to be free, comes off as an underhanded kind of sneaky way to handle such a profound change in the basic operating premise of this site. The way this was handled, and the new policy itself, reflects a change in the way the BS team perceives the members…we used to be a community (which is at-will relationship between equals), now we have been informed our role has been reassigned to that of merely being your customer base, which is a different thing altogether. “Profits Before People”…don’t you realize that your members can get treated that way anywhere? The fact that it used to be different here, is what made it really special. Wish it was still that way.
Jan 7, 2009, 09.05 AMby oonaballoona
howdy everyone, i’ve read through the 81… wait, now 85… comments and there are many i agree with, although the tone-age of some could have been, umm, turned down… i don’t want to beat a dead horse, but when reading i was especially interested to see what long time members thought of this change, so here’s my long-time two cents: i would not be sewing today if not for this site. and i would certainly not be sewing at the level i am (though i guess what level i’m at is up to the eye of the beholder. i think i’m pretty cool). i completely understand burdastyle’s decision to charge for patterns, and even expected it someday, but it was a shock to see previously free patterns with a price tag. i have bought several patterns from the site, and downloaded oodles for free. i don’t mind assembly, it gives me time to think about what fabric i will use and think about the instructions. but, the instructions themselves are a problem. the “cate” pattern, for example, is, well, a mess— pieces were mislabeled and steps were out of order or left out altogether. i had to read it over several times to wrap my brain around it and come up with corrections. for this reason i would be hesitant to buy any of the more advanced patterns, because i know i am going to need clear instructions. perhaps someone can dedicate time to going through these patterns and making any necessary improvements? does anyone check through the pattern after the finished product comes back to the studio? if members knew patterns have been corrected or improved (if need be) it might take the sting out of paying for a previously free pattern. and imagine this: december 31st, burdastyle gives us some lead time before they start to charge for patterns. january 1st, the site crashes from 200,000 members racing to beat the clock. i’m not saying this was the right way to do it, but i haven’t really heard a good suggestion of how it could have otherwise been done. would a “sorry, but…” have helped? maybe. but after all, this is a business— and, this is the same business that had a give-away for its members every day of december, just because. like many others i am really excited to see the changes on the site. i can’t say i will pay for previously posted patterns until i know i am getting concise instructions, but i look forward to the new patterns and changing community. thanks for keeping me clothed, oonaballoona
Jan 7, 2009, 08.13 AMby benedikta
Hi Indiwriter, Thank you so much for your detailed response. We think you are right, we should give you a better picture of what is behind this, what the changes entail and what is in for you for the long run. Instead of doing this here we will try to address all issues in a new blog post. I hope that will resolve some issues, be on the lookout for it later today! Best Wishes, Benedikta
Jan 7, 2009, 08.05 AMby indywriter
Benedikta- Thanks for responding. But I think you are missing the main issue. People are feeling betrayed and hurt (and embarrassed if they had recommended you on their blog). You’re right, I wouldn’t walk into a store and expect things for free… UNLESS when I had visited that store in the past most things had always been free. I never previously had the impression that this was a beta site, and this kind of change was coming. Had there been warning, then you would have had grumbling, but not such extreme reactions. And your statement about it not mattering if a pattern were free or pay if someone didn’t like the design is incredibly naive. I might download a free pattern that I’m not crazy about or that people have said is hard to follow to see if I can make it my own. But I expect something I pay for to be something I like, especially in this format. I can physically manipulate the patterns at local stores. I can take out the instructions and maybe even the pattern sheets. But I can’t do that online until I have paid. If nothing else, I would hope that you make the instructions free for downloading.
I know that you aren’t happy about the response, and I thank you for being a cool head in this discussion, but maybe if you really address all the concerns mentioned (why no notice, problems with instructions, sizing issues, etc…) some of this will die down. Tell us more specifically how and when these things will change. Help us see the vision. Try to make us understand why the price changed before the enhancements are tangible? Why should new members take your word for the goodies that are to come (I don’t mean this to be insulting, but businesses close everyday and websites die too)?
I think a lot of us posting here feel like you aren’t really hearing the real issues. It’s not so much that we don’t want to pay, we just feel shocked at the change and the lack of notice.
Jan 7, 2009, 08.04 AMby mamato7
I’m going to echo what I’ve read. I think it’s silly to pay for what was free in the past. If you think folks will suddenly want to pay for patterns online that they have to pay to print themselves, BS will be mistaken. The only reason to download a free pattern that you have to print yourself is because it’s FREE. The cost of printing the women hooded pattern offered in October was 3.00. I justified the expense because the pattern came free. I can’t do that in the future :( I’m rather bummed that no notice was given and with the holidays, of course no one paid attention to downloading before the first of January. I’m sure BS intended NOT to notify anyone so that this would be the case. I won’t be buying any of the patterns unless it’s an absolutely must have pattern that I can’t find elsewhere for less (say the BIG 3 for $1.00).
Jan 7, 2009, 07.35 AMby jenniferf
Sorry Beneditka but your answer doesn’t answer the mail. You did have a choice – both the choice to charge for previously free patterns and the choice on how to announce/implement such a change. The choices you made have annoyed many of your future customer base. Many of them are offering you suggestions to remedy the feeling your choices created. I hope you take one of those suggestions. Everyone understands the need to charge for products (so your chewing gum analogy is rather patronizing). By the way, it is also not that apt – when one buys chewing gum, one doesn’t have to then go home and add 1-2 hour of work and cost (printing and taping) in order to enjoy it. Obviously, reading these posts, many do not believe your product is that “high value.” To simply state it is and ignore those comments in your own post tells me you are not “getting” what many have posted about. I also think it is disingenuous of you to say the free product was to get us familiar with your product. That is certainly not what I remember when I’ve been on the site. I don’t remember seeing “Try out our cool patterns for free because later we’ll be charging for them.” Instead, your site promoted the whole concept of “free” with no caveats. I think your last post supports the “bait and switch” feeling of many members.
Jan 7, 2009, 07.32 AMby catmagalhaes
I would like to say that I’m also very sad and disappointed with Burda Style. I have found this site and I was so happy because I was able to make my own clothes without going the stores and not finding nothing for my size. And now I see that most of the less pretty garments are the ones for free. Real clothing are charged. And if you say that the simple patterns are for free, why are Lydia and Sadie not for free? Even Daisy and Sophia are being charged. A bib is being charged???? There isn’t one single coat which is free. At least you could put one for free. Is it too much to ask? I think you could put one or two patterns from each category (basic, blouses, shirts, pants, coats, skirts) for free. I feel that something has been stolen. I’m really sad. I have no possibilities to buy any of the patterns. Fortunately, I saved some patterns in my computer.
Jan 7, 2009, 07.27 AMby sunnyb64
I don’t think the issue is so much that the patterns are going to cost a little money now as that there was no warning that the free ones were no longer going to be free. When I posted yesterday, I wasn’t aware that several of the older patterns had a charge applied now— I got the impression from the initial post that this was a change that would be made from here on out. It seems, from reading the comments, that many other people thought that too. I can understand why you added the charge, but I do agree that it would have been good to have some warning, if only a week or two’s notice.
On a constructive criticism note, I do agree that some of the patterns could use a bit of tweaking if they’re now going to have a cost applied, particularly in the instructions. So I’m hoping that the interface includes something like members being able to contribute to improving those to make them clear and easy to understand. (Or even adding some illustrations— I’m also a very visually-oriented learner, and as an example, I had a tough time with figuring out some parts of my picture-less Eva jacket even though I’ve been sewing for years and this wasn’t my first jacket! The how-tos were quite helpful for that, but illustrations in the instructions for some of these older patterns would be a huge improvement.)
That being said, I do still plan on using this site, and am looking forward to seeing the new features.
Jan 7, 2009, 06.54 AMby benedikta
Hi Everybody, Thanks so much for your supporting and more critical comments. As you know, there are still patterns for free and there will still be free patterns coming. If you are not happy with the design it won’t make a difference if they are for charge or for free.It would be great though to give positive feedback in which ways you want to see them changed. Furthermore we are including more and more designs from the users in order to ensure that the community is designing for the community, not the BurdaStyle Team. We do read all your comments and take your concerns very seriously. If we would have a choice we certainly would have done differently. Think about this: If you go buy some chewing gum, candy or such, which I am sure many of you do once in a while, it costs you something in between 1 – 2 Dollars. Of course you don’t think for a moment about the fact that you have to pay for the item, since how would the business survive differently? Our patterns are not much different. It is a high value product that we offer on our site. The fact that it was for free was a part on our site to allow you to get familiar with our product. Again, we are very concerned about your ideas as well as about making this business work. We hope that you are willing to give us a chance and see what the future will hold! Best, Benedikta
Jan 7, 2009, 06.27 AMby elfies
I think nobody is listening anyway…. after reading so many sad, worried, dissapointed and angry comments, reply from the owners of the website reminds me an automatic answering machine….“thank you for understanding guys….”…. are we really understanding a situation? Not me anyway.
Would it make a change to express my feeling? To say that with even my deep understanding of need to charge for the NEW patterns you not making your buisness face better by charing suddenly without any previous notice for the OLD FREE ones? Would it make any change to say that it is incredibly unprofessional? (cant agreee more with “sewer-sewist” and her comment on it)
Sad………Happy New Year everybody and hopefully no more “great” surprises like this in a future.
Jan 7, 2009, 06.18 AMby carottesauvage
Oh yeah, Nehmah was right what used to be free is no longer I checked today, that’s really sad :( bu huuuuhu Still I am looking forward to Burdastyle future set up… I am glad I downloaded as many paterns as I could when they were free!
Jan 7, 2009, 06.05 AMby evaholmes
Dear Team
Could you improve the layout of the forums so that the latest posting is on top for everybody to see and to respond if they like. Otherwise the posting just gets buried under one of the too long index and it never gets seen by anybody.
Jan 7, 2009, 06.04 AMby kimmysue
I probably can’t add much more than has already been stated. It sounds like there is a sense of feeling used and deceived by many members. People came here, created, promoted, and helped you build this site and now it feels as though you have turned your back on the members here without warning.
I don’t think you’d have gotten the backlash you’ve received if you’d kept more of the original patterns free. Nobody is looking for a free ride, just some common respect. The common theme seems to be that everyone understands you need to keep afloat and charge for patterns but to abruptly change and now charge $3.50 for something as simple as the Anda pattern…shame.
The irony is that many of these patterns are also available for minimal more money in a pattern envelope…Anda, Hikaru, Janina. What’s the point then? I’ll go now and spend the extra dollar or two to not have to print it out and try to figure out misleading instructions. I realize you are all the “same” company so to speak but still.
If I were a member here who’d contributed free patterns in the name of community, I’d be asking to have my pattern withdrawn from this site and put it on a private blog for free.
There are so many other more knowledgable resources for sewing then BS, now for me, that mostly all the patterns are in my opinion, outrageously priced for the work to tape, and lack of good instructions, I’ll not be visiting here. I’m guessing, you will lose a lot of membership.
Jan 7, 2009, 05.18 AMby norah
Jan 7, 2009, 04.54 AMby marlorcor
I have to agree with the majority here. I’m really disappointed that once free patterns are now charged for. To me that is bad advertising and just kind of unfair. I could justify buying some of the nicer patterns you have on the site, but as a student, I don’t have any regular sources of income to draw from, and your free patterns where great to me. And since they where free, it felt justified that I had to do the extra work of taping and cutting. But $3-4 for almost ALL of your patterns is not a deal.
Joann’s has patterns sales for all the major companies almost monthly when each pattern is only $2, and you don’t have the work involved for burdastyle patterns, and the information on fabrics and yardage, etc is much clearer. All this means your patterns are no longer the great deals they used to be. I understand charging for some, but I think you have gone too far in taking away what was previously free.
Jan 7, 2009, 04.07 AMby lanciffer
Here here Ally gally. Totally love your pricing scheme. I’d pay for that. Also, it is us, the members who have gotten this site to where they are today. without us they may not even be here now (no offense BS). Why the whinging, support those that support you,and the whole world will prosper. America are not the only ones hurting with financial worries. How many of the members got more than just a free pattern from this website. A leg-up in business or or just heaps of cool clothes? For all those people who say they’ll go elsewhere. Paying $1 or $2 for a pattern on special is only going to get you something that everyone else already has. At least here, despite the huge membership, you know there are many people who do not even know about the site or those who do but are looking at other bits.
Jan 7, 2009, 03.51 AMby lanciffer
I am a new memeber to BS and although I haven’t downloaded many patterns I find the information and sew-pedia sites very helpful to a novice sewer. I have a bag pattern that I am now selling – quite well indeed – with my own basic variations. I have made some for family members and friends which is good advertising for me as I plan to continue this for some time to come. Paying for patterns makes perfect sense, even though I found the site looking for free patterns (as a starting point). A business has to make money some how, Given it takes up to 8 people to do each pattern you shouldn’t be complaining about the price (think $/hr x 8) and think about what they could be charging. Tthese things take time and skill to produce., although I agree that previously free patterns should have stayed that way. I wouldn’t be visiting if a subscription was needed, as it is easier to log in (knowing it’s reasonably secure) and then the ‘site is your oyster’ so to speak. Good luck and I will still be visiting.