Christi's New Batch

FoolofaTook

FoolofaTook

Cathlete
So does anyone else think the way Christi Taylor is putting out her new batch of workouts is completely asinine?! They're only available straight off the computer (not downloadable, you have to watch it from the monitor unless you hook your computer up to your tele) and you pay by subscription, not per workout! Maybe she thinks it 'cutting-edge' or something clever like that but I just can't imagine buying or doing workouts that way!
 
I agree! I quit doing her workouts a long time ago - for some reason she got on my nerves. But I think the new format is not user-friendly. I think they are just trying to save money on the production costs of making and shipping DVDs. It will be interesting to see if she generates an audience for this. I can't imagine it will be a success.
 
This was Christi's response to my e-mail regarding the new workouts:

Hi Marcy,

Thank you for writing. I'm very sorry that you are disappointed, but I understand your situation completely. Unfortunately, we won't ever be able to release these particular workouts on DVD because of music licensing issues (BTW, the music is my HOTTEST EVER!) This choice is not ours to make. The Publishers have the upperhand; and I really want to take the "high road" and not abuse the system. But hopefully I will be able to release more DVDs too, I just don't know when yet.

Technology is moving ahead so fast and we are having to make hard decisions about the future of Taylor'd Fitness. Our statistics show that online workouts are the wave of the future, and this is already being recognized by the decrease in DVD sales nationwide. This has been surprising to me, to say the least. Believe me, we've done our homework......

Now speaking of technology (and how great it is!), did you know that it is very easy to hook your computer up to your "workout space" tv? When we release these online workouts we will also offer information on how to make this convenient for you "home-exercisers." I understand this completely and we are working on this information so that you can hook it up and still workout in your same comfortable environment. More on this later....

Thank you for enjoying my DVDs. It's nice to know that folks are still having fun with them. Also, please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or any other concerns. I appreciate that even though you are disappointed, you took to time to inform me. I like to hear what people are thinking.

Warm regards,

Christi
 
I think that they are doing the streaming video thing so that the videos cannot be illegally duplicated, and I can understand that. I believe that Christi does quite a bit of sales overseas, where duplication could lead to a severe loss of income (although I know she says that it's not about the money, but about reaching more instructors). It seems she is quite popular in Japan - enough that she's been asked there to train other instructors in the past.

I am very disappointed, though. I love Christi's workouts and would really love to be able to participate in the new venture, but it simply isn't feasible for me. I'd have to have cords running about 50-60 feet throughout the house. Also, I would prefer to simply purchase a DVD and be done with it - not pay for the same thing over and over again, which is basically what the subscription does. $20 a month is a bit much for a workout you don't own . . .

Although her workouts are not on the same difficulty level as Cathe's, they are still a decent workout, especially on those days when I just don't have the energy or time for a Cathe workout, but still want to get my heart pumping. Her music is always motivating, too. It makes my feet want to move!
 
I totally agree with everyone. I really like Christi but I would not purchase the subscription.

Joanne
 
Sorry, I can't subscribe to this trend. I want a DVD in my hands to do what I want with, don't tie my hands with a subscription.

Personally, I think Christi has lost sight of the majority of her existing consumers. If she wants to entice a new batch of computer savvy devotees, more power to her, but don't mess with the core of your business.

JMO
 
I haven't done one of her workouts ever, but commenting on your thread:

I justify my dvd purchases and my equipment purchases (which are several, LOL!) by thinking of otherwise spending the money at a gym... where I am paying for time... which will pass whether I work out or am sick or busy or whatever. When I purchase a dvd, I have spent x amount of money but can continue to use that workout equipment until, heaven forbid, it breaks.

I'm not into the streaming stuff either, for this precise reason.
 
I have a lot of her workouts..and the music is very good. I recently rented Mission possible and I thought is was horrible...

I am not interested in downloading workouts...esp if they are anything like Mission Possible... HOT MESS!!! LOL
 
I just thought I would chime in because I disagree with everyone's opinion here. I'm an american that lives overseas and this sort of format really is a godsend because shipping dvds to me can be a real nightmare. Finally, I can pay the prices that everyone else does and get the same type of workout. Collage does deliver over here - but they charge $25 to ship them, it takes a 4-6 weeks,I have to pay an additional duty charge of 40% on top of the video+shipping charges, and lastly drive 80 miles roundtrip to pick them up (when I pay about $8/gallon for gas). So, anything that takes my credit card in a flash and I can purchase the latest at the same price as everyone else is really worth it in my opinion - otherwise when I buy Cathe for example, at $25 a dvd it comes out to approximately $120 for 2 dvds once all the costs figure in.
:-(
 
Star Dust,

I acknowledge that there is a "nitch" that will utilize this service, especially for individuals like yourself,but what happens if you don't like the workouts? You can't sell or trade these products away. You are paying for them, but you don't own them.

For my needs, this is not a trend I want to subscribe to, no pun intended.;)
 
if you don't like her new workouts, you can cancel the membership...it only charges on a monthly basis. believe me, i like having workouts in a dvd format too - but this seems so convenient to me as well.
 
>Unfortunately, we won't ever be able to release these
>particular workouts on DVD because of music licensing issues
>(BTW, the music is my HOTTEST EVER!) This choice is not ours
>to make.

Sorry, Christi, but it IS your choice: you could have picked music that doesn't have this issue.

>> Our
>statistics show that online workouts are the wave of the
>future, and this is already being recognized by the decrease
>in DVD sales nationwide.

How can there be statistics on something that is 'the wave of the FUTURE" and hasn't happened yet?
 
I could understand Star Dust's point of view and offering this to overseas customers is probably a good idea, but heck, I live in America where DVD's aren't that expensive and the competition for advanced workouts is getting better. I like Christi, but I'm computer illiterate and there's no way, even if I had a laptap (which I don't) that I'm going to run a line from my office computer into my workout room just to do one of these workouts. I don't want to be bothered or inconvienced, and I'm sure there are lots of vidiots who feel the same way.

I don't think this latest endeavour of hers is going to fly. I understand her husband has taken over the management of her business and is pushing this deal, for one thing, it's probably cheaper. I think it's going to backfire, but what do I know?
 
I am not going to bash Christi, this is a wait and see thing.

There are a decrease in sales via DVD's around the country. For the movie industry this was a cash cow, now ppl are downloading movies straight off the internet and it does affect their bottomline. And you can go to any bit torrent site to download these discs. Everything ranging from movies, handheld, software applications, games, cd's and yes, fitness DVD's can be downloaded, I have seen plenty out there, including Cathe. BTW, XMEN 3 is online to download right now on a bit torrent site, DVD quality rip and it is not in the stores yet. You can watch it on your computer, but you have to have a DIVX based DVD to watch it on your television. Phillips carries one for around sixty bucks. The technology is there.

This argument is just like when the first CD came to America. I was in Japan and they already had this technology way before the US, and I wanted to bring a disc player back but could not because of trade issues and that quite frankly, U.S. was still on the compact tape then. The music industry was scared of what could happend, etc. Well, 20 years later and you can't even get a new car with a tape player in it. And the VCR, well I predict that will cease within five yrs total.

I think this is the wave of the future. More and more HD/LCD TV's are coming down rapidly in pricing, and this will be more interactive with the new TV's out there. Will you like it? Probably not, but your kids surely will and that is what will make this sell. JMHO
 
Star dust, I hear you. I'm also an American living overseas, and buying DVDs and paying the massive fees to get them to me is a major bummer. (I won't even tell you how much I paid for my Step :eek: x( .) I took a trip to the States this summer and ordered HEAPS of Cathe, Christi and other Collage workouts and lugged them back with me in my suitcases, paying an extra fee because they were so heavy LOL.

I've recently become a huge Christi fan. I really hated doing cardio until I found her, and now my entire attitude towards cardio and dance have changed, so I really have to thank her. She's awesome.

As some of you mentioned, I'd guess that there are other issues (aside from music publishers) with her not putting forth these particular workouts on DVDs. Be it lack of funds or sponsorship, who knows, but it sounds to me as if she's trying to make a not so great situation into a positive one. Certainly if it were that easy, I can't imagine why she (and more so the company behind her) wouldn't be more than happy to have both options available. Oh, who knows. I'm not so keen on paying a monthly membership fee,...but I do absolutely LOVE her workouts and intend on getting whatever I can!
 
I think it's interesting that a successful instructor would take her new releases 100% this route. I mean, I can see where there would be a market for it, but she is going to lose much of her domestic base. I also agree with Kathyrn that she should have picked music that didn't have this issue, but I guess she is one of those people who base the workout on the music. Who knows? I just know there is little temptation for me to do this even though I have a PC right next to my TV area. It just seems silly to me to pay for subscription; I might as well just go to the gym!

Marie
 
I also agree with you. I enjoy Christi's step, although some of it is a bit too complex, but I would never not have the DVD in my hand.
 
I totally agree! I have all of Christi's DVD's/videos and I do enjoy her workouts - but I will not subscribe to them. I enjoy working out from my TV/VCR/DVD player - in my exercise room. Our office/computer room is on another floor!

The only time I would use a computer to workout would be on vacation - and I would use my lap top for my DVD's. I really cannot see this as a success for Christi at all.

Cheryl
 
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