Ann The Gran Community

I have read through some of the postings......there are really very frustrated and dissapointed embroiders out there.

I want to thank the support group who responded to my questions via email.

However, I must agree that the new site is confusing, slow (like many others also pointed out) and much more thinking will have to go into the planning and "rectifying" to make AnnTheGran's website a popular one again and userfriendly.

It is very disspointing to learn that the Freebies "are no longer Free" - and for as long as those - the 500 free designs to non-members -  that are " truly Free" is posted here  and there between the 6000 Free ones to "members" - it will put off any one to visit your site.   It will take hours (also "at cost" of the "searcher" of a certain design) to eventaully find a "true Free design" - many posters have pointed this out already.  We are not all living in America and most foreign payments makes it impossible to 'meet up with the US Dollar" - result -? not worthwhile joining.

I am sorry for those "contributors" on the Freebie side  who will also lose out on the "exposure" of their work.

It is since 2003 that I have been visiting your website and in all the time, I did not download every pattern.  I was selective and I want to thank those digitisers who's work I downloaded very much for all the pleasure they have given me to help me to enjoy my hobby and creativity.  

I sincerely hope that AnnTheGran's support group can rectify the points pointed out by myself and many others.   If the website costs forces AnnTheGran to ask membership payment - well that is most unfortunate.  If only you were "more clear" about the situation - in your "Home Page".   That would have been -  in the first place , be more clear to many site visitors and minimized many frustrated embroiders who frequently visit the site.

Regards,

N.

What is a group leader?  Can I join?

Thanks to all of your who have kept your criticism constructive. We are listening and we are committed to helping those of you with technical issues and reasonable feature requests.

I think the points made about communication clarity on the Free Designs page are very well made, and we are going to be revising that page within the next week or so to incorporate some of your suggestions.

AnnTheGran.com has over 300,000 regular users, so it's important to keep in mind that the collective voice of the 50-or-so posts on this forum expressing displeasure at this recent change, though important, hardly represents a majority of our userbase, even if every voice represented ten or even a hundred others who didn't like the new system. It's very easy to speak of the dedicated team of very nice people who run Ann's site as a bunch of greedy, money-grubbing people as long as you don't have to walk a mile in our shoes. I suspect that, if the roles were reversed, those of you who have voiced such opinions might be rather embarassed to know how far that is from the truth.

The cost of a one-year membership to Ann's Club is US$5 per month. This not only gives you unlimited access to all the designs at fast speeds, but also gets you the cheapest high-quality stabilizer on the market, discounts of up to 50% on all kinds of items, and a bunch of free stuff every month. If $5 per month is not in your budget, we don't ban access to everything, as some sites do to those who do not join their clubs, we allow you to enjoy freely, at considerable cost to ourselves, not only the 500 available designs but also the wealth of knowledge, ideas and inspiration in our Community.

If this makes us money-grubbing Scrooges, I'd hate to hear what you'd have to say about the real bad guys.

BB

Do not like changes. Used to think this was the best site ever but not any more. Much to hard to find designs.

Can I just ask the question, how can you charge for people to use the free designs when they have been donated freely by the designer?  Do you pass any money on to the designers?  Fair enough to charge a membership for the rest of the site but to charge for free designs - what's 'free' about it?

Well said BB!

When there is change, some people find discomfort in change itself.  Since we have been accustomed to a certain method of downloading the 'freebies' we do have to adjust from time to time.

I also think a site (any site) is much more than just its 'give aways' because a well rounded site has more than a single facet to bring you there.  ATG has so much to offer, and IMHO, it is well organized.  I could mention two well known sites that I have gone to for years and still have trouble finding my way around.  Both of them say they have 'tips and instructions' which I have a difficult time finding. 

I don't stop going there, I just stopped spending too much time trying to find certain items.  My time is valuable to me, very valuable.

Pat, The Avid Embroiderer

You must have been downloading these designs for years, or abusing the sight for you to ask what we have been doing with the designs that we have been loading for years.  Speak for yourself, not the rest of us.  I have downloaded very few designs from this website.  Everytime I have went in here, the free designs never changed...but I did not download designs unless I planned to try it.  It was nice knowing it was there.  Just because you have more than likely downloaded all free designs from this website and had no more to get, don't speak for the rest of us.

Hang in ther BB and gang!  I remain a great fan and appreciate all you do for me and the other MEers out there.

The info on the site is great and I have learned a lot!

Looking forward to the end of March!  See you in Orlando

Marsha

No I haven't been downloading for years or abusing the sight. When I couldn't find something I wanted to use I did find it from Ann.  I like using her because her designs sew out so well. I didn't download all the designs just the ones I wanted to use and I am not speaking for anyone but MYSELF!

I have to agree with many posts.  The new site is frustrating.  Simply because searching for "free designs" does not yield "free designs".

While I understand the need to limit those that have been taking advantage of and/or abusing the free design downloads, if the site is going to offer free designs, they need to be easy to find and easy to download.  When they are not, it makes me wonder how easy it would be if and when I became a member.  Even members are having a frustrating time - that is not good business.

I would understand wanting to add tempting non-free designs on the same page, and I would also understand adding advertising on the free download page, but what I do not understand is searching for "free designs" and not finding them.  I am very tech savvy, but this new site is clearly having problems.

If you don't want to offer free designs, I can understand that as well, but to offer them and then have someone (many, actually) have a very frustrating experience trying to get them, is counter-productive to a smart business model.  I realize some people are always going to have problems with changes, but I am a computer technie - and this has really frustrated me.

i can't tell you how many people I used to recommend this site to - and not just for the free designs.  However, unless this site is seriously fixed, I will no longer be recommending it.  I love the designs and the designers, but for now, it's been a big waste of time.

In addition, I wrote this post 5 minutes ago, and when I hit "post" it came up with an error message.  I had to retype this message again.  I will try posting again right now - but this should also not happen.  Thanks for listening/reading!

Actually, now it's a fourth try - I was using a mac, now I'm using parallels to log in using windows expolorer to see if it will now take my post - I get a message that the server is off-line - which again, should NOT be happening, especially with an internet business....

The error message reads:

***

Sorry, there was a problem with your last request!

Either the site is offline or an unhandled error occurred. We apologize and have logged the error. Please try your request again or if you know who your site administrator is let them know too.

***

RAW

Post once - report any error messages to support (see Contact at the bottom of the screen).  Duplications have to be deleted.  Moderators & support are not available 24/7.

Click on FREE DESIGNS at the top of the main screen.

Click on I Agree.

At the bottom of the next screen, scroll down to SEARCH FREE DESIGNS/VIEW CATEGORY/VIEW CONTRIBUTOR.

Click the down arrow at SELECT A CATAGORY.

Scroll down the categories to NEW DESIGNS.

Click on NEW DESIGNS.  This will now appear in the box instead of "select a category".

Click GO.

Next screen - scroll down to access the NEW DESIGNS.

If you are not interested in the NEW DESIGNS, go back and select another category.

I keep being sent back saying i wasnt a member but I'm signed in .. what is up??

Well, I've read through every message in this thread today.  Like many of you, I was very surprised to find that the Free Designs now require a subscription fee to download.  Perhaps unlike many of you, I am a contributor.  Granted it's only a couple of designs, and I did contribute them many years ago.  But in doing a search of the site, there they are and they are not available for free download as of today.  I am not a professional digitizer, as I believe many of the early contributors were not.  I enjoy digitizing and was happy to share the success I had with some of my designs.  However, my intention was to share them for free.  I did not ask for payment, nor do I today.  I'm not sure if any of the contributors were contacted regarding the change to the site to a subscription base, I was not contacted.  My preference for my designs would be to make them permanently available for free download.  In the event that this cannot be accopmlished, I need to give serious consideration to asking for them to be removed from the site.

I do understand the need to try to financially support the cost of the increased bandwidth ( I believe this was the reason years ago that Ann partnered with a commercial enterprise as she couldn't afford to keep up with it on her own).  However, in my mind this change in policy comes perilously close to those we villified years ago who downloaded the free designs and then charged others for CDs of the designs.  I'd be curious to know how other contributors feel about this change.

Over the past 14 years that I've done machine embroidery, I've purchased many more designs than I've ever downloaded for free.  And I truly appreciate the effort that goes into a well digitized design.  I'll happily pay for a design that has been tested, that has properly aligned outlines, has few jump stitches and runs smoothly.  I'll look elsewhere for free designs.  Granted $5/month is a small price (if you pay for the year subscription) - but for me a fairly high price as I may look here for free designs only 1 or 2 times per year.  Good luck with your new format.  I'll be contacting support regarding my designs.

This is from the first post outlining the changes, "Also, we will be adding 10 new designs per week to the New Designs category."  I checked the "New Designs" category and they look like the same ones as last week.  Can you point me to the new designs in this section?

I don't know bandwidth from a band aid, but it appears you are getting free advertisement of your designs. 

There are 20 new designs in the new design category.

Click on FREE DESIGNS at the top of the main screen.

Click on I Agree.

At the bottom of the next screen, scroll down to SEARCH FREE DESIGNS/VIEW CATEGORY/VIEW CONTRIBUTOR.

Click the down arrow at SELECT A CATAGORY.

Scroll down the categories to NEW DESIGNS.

Click on NEW DESIGNS.  This will now appear in the box instead of "select a category".

Click GO.

Next screen - scroll down to access the NEW DESIGNS.

If you are not interested in the NEW DESIGNS, go back and select another category.

I am very disappointed in the set-up. I am visually disabled and while it was difficult for me, I was still able to access designs and such with the help of my magnification equipment. This new set-up makes it darn near impossible for me and there are not as many free designs available. I probably will not be spending lots of time here as it is NOT user friendly for visually disabled persons.

I am a club member and cannot down load free designs.  What do I need to do.

Thank you LorettaF

i seem to be unable to download free designs..although i have signed in..i was looking at the birds section..please can you advise..thankyou linsilou

kdrake1007:

Well, I've read through every message in this thread today.  Like many of you, I was very surprised to find that the Free Designs now require a subscription fee to download.  Perhaps unlike many of you, I am a contributor.  Granted it's only a couple of designs, and I did contribute them many years ago.  But in doing a search of the site, there they are and they are not available for free download as of today.  I am not a professional digitizer, as I believe many of the early contributors were not.  I enjoy digitizing and was happy to share the success I had with some of my designs.  However, my intention was to share them for free.  I did not ask for payment, nor do I today.  I'm not sure if any of the contributors were contacted regarding the change to the site to a subscription base, I was not contacted.  My preference for my designs would be to make them permanently available for free download.  In the event that this cannot be accopmlished, I need to give serious consideration to asking for them to be removed from the site.

I do understand the need to try to financially support the cost of the increased bandwidth ( I believe this was the reason years ago that Ann partnered with a commercial enterprise as she couldn't afford to keep up with it on her own).  However, in my mind this change in policy comes perilously close to those we villified years ago who downloaded the free designs and then charged others for CDs of the designs.  I'd be curious to know how other contributors feel about this change.

Over the past 14 years that I've done machine embroidery, I've purchased many more designs than I've ever downloaded for free.  And I truly appreciate the effort that goes into a well digitized design.  I'll happily pay for a design that has been tested, that has properly aligned outlines, has few jump stitches and runs smoothly.  I'll look elsewhere for free designs.  Granted $5/month is a small price (if you pay for the year subscription) - but for me a fairly high price as I may look here for free designs only 1 or 2 times per year.  Good luck with your new format.  I'll be contacting support regarding my designs.

I so agree with everything you have written here, in fact I already have a message on this site stating all you have said. Free means free to all regardless, and I also have only ever downloaded a couple of designs in 4 years and so am not prepared to pay what would amount to a high subscription rate  to download 'free' designs. Some have said that we can buy items at reduced prices eg (stabilisers, threads etc.) That is up to Ann if she doesn't charge full price, but low priced items should not be offset by paying for free items.

In the UK where I am I think the new system might possibly contravene the Trades Description Act.