Ganz ruins the Webkinz Curio Shop
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An interesting move has been made by Ganz, the creators of the popular online web-game Webkinz, and by ‘interesting’ I mean bad for the users. The company has recently revamped the game’s Curio Shop, a place where rare and discounted items can be found. Before, there was a way for fan sites to determine which rare items would be available each day, and players could then be on at that time and buy as many as they wished. Now Ganz has altered the structure so fan sites can no longer determine what will be there. It gets worse - a limit has been placed on how many rare items can be bought when they are available.
This has caused quite an outcry in the Webkinz community. The site owner of Elubin.com, a popular site which offers a wide selection of guides and tips for the game, has sent an email to Ganz representatives and posted a selection of angry emails online for company workers to read. Another popular site, Webkinz Insider, has taken to putting together a petition in its forum to have the new Curio Shop quirks abolished - so far over 200 members have signed. A post on Kinzblog.com reporting on and denouncing the changes has received 2,675 comments on the issue.
Webkinz has been a great site for casual gamers and kids alike to play on, and this latest move signals a shift on the company’s part. Rather than concerning itself with what their customers want, the company is trying to force undesired changes. Perhaps this new move could bring about the downfall of this particular fad.
Read [Elubin.com] Also Read [Webkinz Insider] Also Read [Kinzblog.com] Site [Webkinz]
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The Curio rares were somehow leaked to only privledged few websites. The new rules make it fair for everyone--web site or not--to participate. It’s supposed to be fun--not a strategic way to get rare items! Now anyone can find out what time the rare item will be available!
on March 3, 2008 at 06:32 PM - LINKActually Steve, it wasn’t only leaked to a few websites. The websites who would post the lists had workers who were able to hack the Curio Shop code to discover the item lists.
Also not everyone can find out what time - You must be on a certain level of friendship with the ‘owner’ of the Curio Shop to know exactly when an item will be in. This can only be done by giving him daily kinzcash tips.
Plus this actually makes it less fair for young children. Many parents restrict computer time for kids. Previously parents would arrange it so the kids could get on at a time when a rare item would be on, so the kids could get something special. Now they can no longer do that.
In addition to that, occasionally the Curio Shop would feature not only a rare item a day, but also a Curio Shop exclusive item - something not as rare but still only occasionally available in the Curio Shop. This change means that people who want these little exclusives must log on every hour to see if a special item is in.
Also fairness isn’t an issue for the whole matter - before you could buy as many of an item as you wanted if you arrived there. If you buy an item, you aren’t depriving someone else. This actually makes it less fair. Now only people with the kinzcash to spare on tips will know when the rare item will be available. New users, children with little kinzcash and people who don’t want to waste money on tips are left in the dark.
on March 3, 2008 at 06:38 PM - LINKI AM SO MAD ABOUT THE CURIO SHOP. WHY DOES GANZ CARE IF WE KNOW WHAT WILL BE FOR SALE?
on March 3, 2008 at 10:35 PM - LINKI know what you mean M, it does seem unfair. It is especially so for younger children who have limited internet time.
on March 3, 2008 at 11:29 PM - LINKI cannot emphasize enough that webkinz is completely lacking in all areas of concern for the users or parents of the users, they do not listen nor care about problems or complaints, they should be able to handle the web trafic but cannot, a child could care less about technical explanations as to why they keep getting kicked of, losing the stuff they have, and they certainly do not want to hear that after 2 months of trying you finally talked to ganz and they will not replace the items, and can do nothing. Sp for all parents thinking of buying, don’t I have 6 kids, 6 accounts and its a nightmare. I personally have started buying Kookeys. As a consujmer I will not have the company dicwhat I will accept, I will go elsewhere. The effectiveness of allowing users to know ahead of time is really simple in my home, as parents we allowed the kids to split that hour on the computer to get the rare item. It allowed us as parents to effectively manage the time and schedule for the kids. Some children are only allowed a certain amount of time, and to refuse the children whos parents set time limits is insane, and an afront to the parents who provide the dollars that allow our children to have webkinz. After all the site is for the kids.
on March 4, 2008 at 12:28 PM - LINKa webkinz mom you make some really phenomenal points, and I think your arguments and the issues you brought up are what Ganz should be reading and hearing. The company doesn’t realize how it is hurting the kids.
on March 4, 2008 at 04:08 PM - LINKOMG.....iknow webkinz does not care about tecnical dificalts they just care about getting money and being rich and famous..........i hope webkinz make the BIG mistake fixed :( !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on March 24, 2008 at 03:13 PM - LINKIn Ganz’s defense, they did react quickly to the garden glitch which popped up a day or so ago. It already has been fixed and all garden plots are back to normal.
It is sad to think that they would place more emphasis on money than on their loyal customers and fans.
on March 24, 2008 at 03:23 PM - LINKYes Jenni webkinz did react vary fast to the graden but that is only cuz ever one on webkinz that has a garden was afected by it! I have had a issu with the W-shop where I have put stuff in and then removed it and then sold a defrant thing and the thing i removed was gone!
on May 29, 2008 at 05:33 PM - LINKI e-mailed Ganz and they said that they where not respsobel for any lost or stolen stuff and they sugjested I chang my pass I have not changed it and I have not lost any more stuff!!
Hey, my aunt and unce are part of the owners of webkinz and ganz. They don’t give out free codes, but they do give me item and kc cheats. If you want all of the rare items and 1000000 kc then email me your username and pasword. this isn’t a scam, if it was my aunt would kill me! here’s my email -
on August 18, 2008 at 02:24 PM - LINKCome on!
on September 24, 2008 at 04:10 PM - LINK