You are right! My costs are negligible and I just shipped the parity pricing feature hoping to do more sales as currently the count is less from these regions.
Thanks for the heads up on the code reselling risk. That was my biggest worry with generic coupon codes too.
To solve this, I decided against just using a 'coupon' on the main checkout. Instead, I set up a completely separate payment flow (Topmate) specifically for India that requires local UPI payment methods.
My theory is that the requirement to use a local Indian payment method acts as a 'natural geoblock' against arbitrage. Interesting to hear that India didn't convert well for you even with PPP—I'll keep my expectations in check.
This is going to be very personal opinion but I’ve bought many digital products when I’m either not thinking too much about the price or find that it has a much cheaper Indian version. Many times, have I done it just so I could help out another founder.
The most recent one I remember was some tool (Show HN) that searches the Mac with a local AI. I’m yet to start using it. I like the idea, and I might use it someday. It was beta-discounted
Appreciate the honest perspective! As a founder from India myself, I’ve definitely bought tools just to support the maker. I’ve set the PPP price to ₹999 to make it a 'no-brainer' for folks here. Glad to know I'm on the right track.
Optionally perpetual or subscription, niche software, B2B, more expensive than mass market / commodity software. Nonstop lying / scamming behavior.
You get funny things that happen like when a rep from a company will call you and warn you not to do a deal with another rep from the same company, then 2 hours later we get a call from the other rep.
I’m eventually going to go subscription only, people from Asia tend to really hate that and refuse to pay for subscriptions but we make so little money from them that it’s not worth catering to them, we’re better off dropping that entire region.
Which one you tried?
The level is easy for most of it except for one Product Management scenario.
Even otherwise based on your experience and skills, you can find the optimal path on first play. Nothing wrong about it. All good!
Glad you were able to crack it!
Thanks for sharing about the Executive Suite DOS game - wasn't aware of this. Truly amazing considering it was conceived and well executed back then in 1980's!
I am genuinely blown away by the feedback and the debate in this thread. To the community—thank you.
Status Update: The HN Traffic came at a tricky time—my payment provider is stuck in "Verification Pending" due to the spike, so the checkout is currently failing.
I’ve switched the button to a Priority Waitlist for now.
If you want to lock in the early-bird pricing ($19 One-Time / Lifetime Access), drop your email there. I’ll send everyone on that list a 20% off code as an apology once I wake up and fix the checkout.
But there are other players who likes to trade it for Money!
Thanks for sharing the Kobayashi Maru scenario though! Can use it as a fun simulation if someone fails all scenarios to make it light hearted yet meaningful.
