The Master Skins are a privilege for people who have contributed and have been promoted to Master status. You are by no means obligated to purchase those skins, it's just a bonus for the people who have helped out the site and skinning community to earn a little incentive for putting out great skins for the rest of us. There are almost 6000 *free* skins in the Windowblinds category, only 3 of those are Master skins available for purchase. There's still plenty of free content out there to download and use.

There are literally thousands of skins of all styles/kinds available for free download here, and currently just a small handfull of 'Master skins' requiring a modest fee.

If you do not wish to purchase them then simply choose from the thousands of free ones....

I paid for a subscription and was told that I would have 1 year of free downloads

I was never told I would get a year's free of skin downloads.

I believe you are referring to the year's free of upgrades to the software you purchased...not to the skins it uses.

Stardock doesn't create the majority of skins...skinners do and then upload them for public download.

I'm not even going to comment on the "tell me what's going on" part because Jafo and Bebi have covered it.

Dear Lord...I cant believe how many cheap people there are out there...Loosen the purse strings a little....

As of now, there are only 3 or 4 Master skins up.
Wait until there are 100. The world will end as we know it.

As of now, there are only 3 or 4 Master skins up. Wait until there are 100. The world will end as we know it.

Oh noes! It's the day after tomorrow!

Do you think its possible to get all you ' mad ' people that can't understand that the world just isn't always a freebee all the time, on one thread so the rest of us aren't subjected to wading through all your jaw dropping " I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MASTER SKIN " comments everywhere?

buy it - don't buy it - simple as that...

You get a years free downloads from the libraries and if you click on subscribers resources those are free also.  Master suites/skins cost.

You know what, CPBama....I'm pretty pissed off about the master skins and pricing as well...

I'm pissed because there's a few toe-rags out there complaining about having to pay for something others invested a lot of time, effort and money in to create. I'm pissed because our skinners are being sent negative messages....not just via the less than helpful/complimentary "this is crap" comments, but also by these "how dare skinners charge us freeloaders for stuff that SHOULD be free" comments

I'm also pissed because this arse end of the community argued it's implementation much sooner than this to help our skinners cover their costs....reimburse them for their time and effort. Had there been greater community support and fewer self centered attitudes, perhaps some of those skinners who decided to give up the ghost would have chosen to remain here and share their amazing talents.....

But not to worry, CPBama, the rule book clearly states that nobody from WC will come to your place and twist your arm out of its socket to purchase anything you don't want to pay for....and I think that's reasonable, considering there were some who are advocating Chinese torture and bamboo shoots under the finger nails to loosen vice-like grips some cheapskates have on their wallets....

Damn, how I'm regretting having voted against it now!

WC Subscriptions give you a number of things such as no ads when browsing, a handful of premium suites (such as the fantastic WC Select), and the skins browser.

Nowhere does it say "all content on WinCustomize is free for download"

Master skins are skins, suites, dx themes etc that veteran community members who have contributed tons of free content already have decided to sell through the WinCustomize store.  This isn't content created by Stardock, all we are is the storefront.  This is a way we're giving back to those who have already given us so much.  If they choose to sell their work, that's 100% their choice.

For $20 you already receive 4 premium suites.  Which, assuming they were sold separately for $8 each, would be a $24 value straight out of the gate. 

And as others have said, no one is twisting your arm to pay for these new skins, and there is still a vast amount of free content still on the site, and being added every day. 

I think for my $20, I get PLENTY of content to download....too much to wade through, mostly...& Zoomba is of course correct - nowhere does it say that ALL content on WC is free...sheeeesh.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding lately. Hate will get us nowhere. Some of these post should clear things up some. Others will just cause more hate.
It is my opinion that ALLartist should be praised. It is up to them whether it be for words of praise or money. I'm happy to see WinCustomize giving them the choice.

OD is free upgrades to the software for 1 year,free content dl's forever...but everything at Wincustomize isnt free,never has been.

I have never regretted becoming a part of this community and it has cost me very little.(other than hours and hours of my "precious"time creating FREE skins...and the occasional hissy fit when I tried to get Skinstudio to do something it wasnt meant to   )

O.K. I have been here since 2001 and have only recently started to upload a few wallpapers that by the way were awful due to the fact that I have no talent for this. I am trying to learn here how to upload different sizes and zip them. I would like to learn to do other things like windowblinds and themes but I understand this is hard. Master Skinners can make all the money they want, I really don't care. The impression given was purchase and you shall receive. Then suddenly Master Skinners are getting paid to do the work they have done for years, doing it for the creds, stats, etc. I like the idea fine but will I buy, no. I live on disability and can't afford it, sorry but I am lucky to have a computer and be online and have a membership I have to pay for every year. When all the stuff I use on the internet adds up, forget eating or buying any new medications my doctor has decided I need forget buying Master Skinners stuff. Go right on and make your money, branch out to another site and create that site with the money you made here. I am so happy for you really. I never said everything was free here and know it costs time and money to create the stuff we pay for yearly. The site is still great and there is plenty to get without paying anything more. I bought what I use and am happy with that. mschleisner

CPBama, do you know what a copy of Photoshop costs us artists? How about ObjectDesktop? I'm sure you can research them and get a price range. We front this money to create skins for the community. We front this money for people like you who want to customize your desktop. We front this money because we like what we do. Master's put out TONS of free content before being considered/promoted for the title Master. For their time, money and effort that they put into the Master pieces they create, it's only fair they should be allowed to charge for a theme once in awhile. You've been here since 10/6/06 and downloaded 3816mb of FREE stuff and haven't uploaded a thing. Nobody likes a whiner.