Seeing Rich's very funny post in a current thread has prompted me to finally ask something I've always been curious about. What percentage of top umd posters are top video purchasers?

I'd suspected, even before Rich's post, that many of those who we hear from the most aren't in fact those who actually buy many videos. And while it's good to keep threads active, there is also the concern that some might offer commentary that may be interpreted as their opinion having seen a video, as opposed to just plain old commentary. How do producers - and other members - feel about this? Is it much ado about nothing?

So far this year, I've spent $339 on 39 clips. About 2/3 of that was with Project 20M (12 clips) and GirlsGetGunged (15 clips), with the rest going to a variety of other producers.

I've subscribed to several sites this year, most recently Messygirl and Allwam/Tainster. I've bought quite a few other individual videos as well. I don't buy Rich's videos because they don't press my particular buttons, which is fine.

I bought a clip once ... I think?

99% of people who make comments on my posts don't purchase my videos. I think there are about 3 people who have purchased videos from me and have commented on the previews I post.

Opps, I meant to post this from my "Leila" account. I don't look at who buys the quicksand videos to be honest.

I actually don't know (despite my funny post)... Because your user name rarely matches your ACTUAL name.

I know Regis well enough to make a joke at his expense.
And I know a couple regular posters who buy a lot of my stuff.
Beyond that, many of my best customers don't post on here at all.

The correlation between posting a lot and buying a lot isn't strong, that's all.

I buy A LOT of scenes. Dunno if I am considered a frequent poster though.

I buy a lot fewer clips than I used to (going back a few years - at least one or two scenes from Vidown a week) but I still purchase from time to time from UMD if I like something a lot. I certainly don't pretend I have bought something I haven't.

As for my own store's output: there are definitely more purchases from the silent majority than the frequent posters on the board as a whole - but there is a crossover - and for a small, 'specialist' like me, there comes very loyal support from the same few.

I do think it's perhaps a little harsh - and indiscreet - to offer judgement on those who might well post prodigiously but who never appear to buy clips. It is possible to buy them anonymously - and there may be lots of reasons why someone doesn't - or simply delays doing so. In any case, even someone who posts a lot can actually help you because they bump your post - bringing attention to your material again. People will visit your profile and previous posts, liking them, and a few might well visit the store and buy something - even if it is someone else's clip they buy.

Here's the thing!

WAM isn't just about pies, yet this forum does seem heavily populated by very vocal pie fans, more so than all the other WAM subjects.

In my experience there are a fair few purchasers who hardly ever post to this forum or anywhere else, but they are not just pie fans. Perhaps they are well catered to and do not feel the need to request anything or give praise or feedback in return for more of the same, because they get all they want/need anyway.

It's a strange thing, but good feedback doesn't mean good sales.
There are exceptions, YCDTOTI, had loads of great feedback and a fantastic amount of sales. The first few episodes of TopGunge, the same.

Some things get hardly any feedback at all and do really, really well, GTG.
Others have great feedback but very average sales.

Basically, I really don't think you can gauge the popularity of any update based on the amount of feedback it gets in this forum, unless it obviously stands out.

Just wanted to point out that for a very long time, about a third of Vidown sales have come from the UMD, a third from search engines, and a third from our own portals at TheWamstore.com and vid-mart.com

What's also interesting is that TheWamStore is typically in the top 3 sources for return hits to the UMD, mostly from the UMD banners there. You can see that stat in on the "Sites" page linked in the menu bar above.

I agree with Leon that pie-in-the-face fans definitely dominate the female messy forum, frequently to the seeming exclusion of anything else, and threads about the weakest pieing often seem to generate dozens of responses while threads about total gungings where the model got covered from head to toe in gunge, front and back, struggle to get three replies. I will admit the popularity of pie scenes completely baffles me, I often look at those threads and think "but there's none on her clothes, she hasn't sat in anything, she isn't soaking wet - that's not wam!" - which just goes to show how diverse the wam scene actually is.

As to purchasers vs active posters, while I've occasionally sold scenes to names I recognised, the vast majority of sales (that aren't marked private) are to usernames that don't appear in the forums - though of course someone could well have two accounts, a recognisable one they post here as and a more mundane one with a generic name like "bsk35299" that they use for purchases.

Also agree with Trouso, even those who never buy but who reply to threads with comments or questions are a fantastic help because they keep the thread visible and help with promotion - I'd certainly not judge anyone for doing that, long may it continue. And if any of my commenters are reading this - many thanks!

For the record, Leon, ironically I was a vocal poster who actually did buy just about all the original JustPied videos when they came out (and continue to now - they're exceptionally good!)

I'm gonna slip a suggestion into this thread that I've wanted for a long time.
Forum ranks!
Lots of forum groups use ranks to designate veteran posters and admins. I think that would be cool.