Cargo is breaking the law.
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Alec Miller
I think this software might actually be a scam and possibly illegal.
First off I want to say I'm not trying to be a dick, running a business is hard and I love paying for quality assets, but this is getting a bit ridiculous and I have to speak up.
Kitbash Cargo has some of the most unethical pricing systems mixed with completely broken support.
Nowhere did I see mention that credits expire each month, if I knew this to be the case I would have never signed up for Cargo as I find the practice abhorrent. It states clearly my software is supported when it is in fact not, this causes a massive issue:
Having credits expire, while having the app be the only way to download models, while ALSO not being able to use said app means I've been unable to use my credits and lost money for 3 months.
The solution to this is Kitbash needs to either reimburse all Cargo users or add 10 extra credits to all accounts for each month without support (and continue until the app is fixed) AND let us download said models from the site without the need for a broken app, that is just to avoid actively stealing from users. To not be in violation of Washington state law they also need to remove the expiration of credits.
Audible was sued and lost (settled) over this:
That is pretty much it. Users are not asking for much, just to be able to use the product they paid for. Whoever is making these price structure choices needs to be told to cool it, the short term profits are not worth destroying customer good faith.
If we do not get an actual response and change to the credit system I recommend all users request a refund and taking their business to Big Medium Small and Pixel lab who respect users.
(And no, downloading a 3rd software as a work around is not an acceptable solution, it does not address the illegal expiration of credits, lack of support for listed software, or help when that software also updates.)
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paul birmingham
I have experienced this same problem with Adobe stock and action VFX and many others were you paying for credits and you take a break for a month or 2 and they steal all your credits of you and when you complain they fob you with policy and excuses. I have paid so much money to these industries and I have nothing to show for it. If I have paid for something I rightfully own those credits, why are they allowed to take them off you. It's a complete disgrace and robbery and they need to stop. Or and yes kitbash 3d was also another provider that robbed me.
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Andre Sam
Yes Alec. I agree. This is getting ridiculous. I am unable to use Cargo with C4D 2024 at all. Crashes every time. Tried all of the uninstalls and reinstalls, advance software set up, etc. Not working at all. And we are paying for this subscription. Please get us some updates Kitbash3D. Thank you
John Pollard
I'll be cancelling by subscription when the renewal comes up this year.
Cargo continues to be the worst part of my process due to the slow and buggy asset downloads. KB are also too slow to update Cargo to new software versions; Unreal 5.5 has been available since October.
Maybe KB are still a small team but I want to keep up with the latest version of Unreal so I guess we're not compatible.
I'm a pro subscriber so I'm not affected by the credits issue but I have seen this sort of behaviour before (ActionVFX for example) and I wouldn't give them my money either.
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Gallant Lau
$239 per year, 10 downloads per month
120 downloads per year.
$239/12 = $19.9
you are paying $20 per month for 10 downloads per month
$2 per 3D model (some poorly made 3D model on CGtrader, Artstation, Gumroad cost more)
Where each kit cost $200 if you arent subbed to cargo plan.
$20 per month for 10 downloads is already a bargain imo. for one they are 3D models, it significantly harder to make. Second, their model are high quality, where can you find a 3D asset service for $20 per month to download 10 high quality assets per month?
Credit expire monthly is a normal practice for a lot of service, but sure there should be improvement to let the user know when are the credit going to expire. So user can have enough time to use those credit before they expire.
If you are complaining about paying $239 per month for 120 downloads, which is slightly more than a single kit purchase for $200. You might as well not sub to any subscription service and make your own
I'm not trying to defend Kitbash3D, I had my problem with them before, like how cargo clashes with Blender autosave and they didnt intent to fix it(but they did fixed it now). And the broken app that sometimes preventing you to download, Kitbash3D should look into it asap. But cargo is one of the better subscription service ive seen in terms of price and how many you can get out of it.
Unlike A certain vfx subscription service which then increased the price to $59 per month for 5 downloads of mp4 per month.
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Alec Miller
Gallant Lau I like Kitbash, I will probably still buy full kits.
However the base offering of cargo is criminal in some regions regardless of value.
Audible was also a great value, as is Adobe, that doesn't change the moral issues with expiring credit systems.
Charging for credits that expire when they cannot be used as stated on the website is unethical, full stop.
If you ask the chat bot on the Cargo site it will state that C4D 2025 is supported and Unreal etc. My lack of finding a work around is not the problem. " Your emergency break doesn't work? Just use a cinderblock dummy! Why complain?" It's not the consumer's job to fix a broken program especially when stating multiple places that it works.
If there was a big red * by the purchase button saying "BTW doesn't support Unreal or C4D for 3+ months." I would still have an issue with the credit system.
The pro version seems fine enough to me. (It is ironic to push for a monthly subscription then off 50% off for yearly. So you do want a lump sum and not a monthly sub?) But I still don't like the idea that you are "renting a license" and don't actually own any of the models you lease.
All in all this year I'm putting my foot down and trying to mostly own what I buy and not take this stuff lying down anymore.
Like I said I'll buy kits that I know I won't lose access to and that are priced fairly, as most of the current kits are. I'm just done with every service going through these horrid monetization structures.
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David Angelini
So, let's step back a bit. The best part of Kitbash3D is the models. The second-best part is getting the Kits for 50% off when they are first released. Buying them on spec during that half-price launch sale is for me the only way to go. And by "spec" I mean that you are not sure if you will use the model but are pretty certain that those models and textures will come in handy "someday".
And here is why that is best way to go for the hobbyist:
Cargo is $239 per year and that plan gets you 10 downloads per month or 120 downloads per year. The average kit (and I have done the math) has around 126 models. So, if you had the Cargo plan....and your app was working every single month...you would not even be able to download a full kit's worth of content over the course of the year...and you paid $39 more than the cost of the average kit. So essentially, you are paying a premium for the ability to choose a model when you need it as opposed to speculating that it will be needed when the kit is released. This premium increases every month that the Cargo app is not working so I certainly feel A. Miller's frustration.
Honestly, Cargo should only be used to access the models in the kits you have purchased. A. Miller does provide some interesting legal insights that Kitbash3D needs to heed. The fact is that Cargo development is too slow to keep up with the changes DCC's are making to their software, so the app is always down. As such, it is understandable that people will get mad.
But if Kitbash3D is to stick with Cargo as a revenue generating service, then unused download credits should accumulate, and Cargo downloads should remain active until those credits are used up should you cancel your subscription early. This will take the sting away from Cargo not working because your $239 bought you 200 downloads and as long as they are not taken away, people remain whole.
Just my 2 cents
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Gallant Lau
David Angelini within a kit, the single objects are duplicate of the big collection of objects. which you can just use a credit to download the collection instead of the single object. And kitbash3D themselve can also implement a function where if you used the credit to get the collection, the single object that was present within that collection will be automatically unlock. thats a suggestion for kitbash3D
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David Angelini
Gallant Lau -- As I only use Cargo to access the models I have purchased, I did not realize that when you download a major object in the collection, all the component parts used in its creation are unlocked as well. That does make sense after all. Nevertheless, the 50% discount is still very hard to resist for those losing confidence in Cargo's uptime. I use C4D which is constantly releasing new versions of either Cinema 4D or Redshift, and it appears that once C4D rolls their release numbers one single digit (e.g. R2025.1.0 to R2025.1.1), Cargo no longer recognizes it. There may be a good reason for Cargo no longer being able to work with the software, but they need to get ahead of it. Are they a VIP member and/or tester on Maxon's beta teams? Not sure, but they can't start to fix Cargo only after the SDK for that new version is released.
As I use Cargo for easier access to the models I have purchased, I have personally dealt with the extended Cargo downtime when a new version is released so I can understand people's frustration.
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Gallant Lau
David Angelini I dont know if the component gets unlocked, but some of the component are included in the collection, Kitbash3D can maybe implement it, since im using professional liscense, I dont need to worry about 10 downloads per month
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Matthias Wenigwieser
"First off I want to say I'm not trying to be a dick"
And I don't want to be a corporate shill, but if you're not trying to be a dick, you're not doing a very good job of it. Calling Cargo a "scam" is clearly overkill. I agree that the expiration of credits should be adressed (have you been in contact with Kitbash3d yet? In my experience, they are quite helpful and try to do what they can to make their customers whole, though I wouldn't be surprised if they choose not to do this in this case because your tone is clearly very confrontational and accusatory).
In general, I find you'll have a much bigger chance of success if you try to engage others politely and in good faith. When then doesn't work, go ahead and be a dick about it (or sue them).
Maybe you did and this was simply the last straw for you, I don't know. But I'm not clear on how any adult can post something like this and expect a positive result.
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Benji Teurman
I'd find it hard to be civil too if I was paying for a service I could not access due to their technical issues and no support to fix them.
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Matthias Wenigwieser
Benji Teurman Like I said, that depends on how much he has communicated his problem to Kitbash3d and what they responded. It doesn't sound like he did much talking to them, but I could be mistaken.
The credits thing is one issue, but that wouldn't prohibit him from downloading assets. Whatever his technical issues are, I doubt that it's as black and white as he claims. Does Cargo claim to support a 3d package that they actually do not support? I don't think so.
He might have a version that is not supported, and I am confident that he could sort this out if he contacted support. Kitbash3d once jumped on a technical support call with me including remote support for a Blender issue (granted, this was when Cargo was new, so it was in their best interest to get their app working as well).
But his demand that he wants to download assets directly from the site is not going to happen. He knew this going in.
Mainly, my point is that there is no reason NOT to be civil. Everyone's a person here. Just to get the best outcome, being uncivil doesn't make any sense. How does he imagine that will benefit him?
Christopher W
I won’t be renewing, that’s for sure.
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Frank Seager
I cancelled my sub for similar reasons.
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Millie Sutton
Frank Seager
I have this beef with Cargo that has been steering me away. It is this: if you get a cargo subscription (which i cancelled and took my money elsewhere because of the reason I’m now explaining) is your essentially renting assets for $99/mo. I don’t have any issues with subscription based services as they’re seemingly everywhere but there’s other downloadable content providers that let you keep whatever you downloaded and keep it working and active in your projects. See Cosmos by leartes. With kitbash3d and Cargo you cancel your subscription and “your” assets (I put your in quotes because they CLEARLY NOT AND NEVER WERE yours) are no longer functioning and available in the projects you put them in unless you DONT cancel your subscription essentially trapping you into keeping your subscription which means if your an single person artist or a just started indie developer you’re pressured into pulling out your wallet every month/year in fear your project will be screwed and you’re scrambling for a different option or scrapping the project entirely if you don’t unless you pony up the money which can and does add up and get very expensive very quickly. Honestly it seems kinda manipulative and therefore a bit…sleazy. An i alone on this sentiment?
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Millie Sutton
And no paying $200 per kit or waiting to see when and if they have a FAB sale (which to my dismay they had none on Black Friday which is when i think they would the most what a load of crock that was. I just bought from Big Medium Small instead and personally i like then a little better as they look more realistic and even have better lighting in the for of blueprints not emissives you can barely see in night scenes in unreal but I digress) that just makes you’re pressured even more to get the subscription because it looks cheaper and a better deal—-until you realize you’re actually renting the assets thus leaving you with two choices pay full price to buy each kit (again $200 a pop unless there’s a sale which usually doesn’t knock offs enough to make it worthwhile) or buy elsewhere. I choose option B and occasionally buy a kitbash3d kit on FAB every so often to treat myself whenever say my birthday or Christmas rolls around and even then I don’t always go for Kitbash 3d kits anymore. Their prices and business practice of having you rent assets for a cheaper price or paying a lot more to buy them outright just seems…..wrong :(
I wonder if anyone feels the same. Let me know if so here please so that it can be brought to their attention.
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Alec Miller
Millie Sutton Yes I shouldn't lose the rights to use the models I've downloaded by letting a sub expire.
We have to stop this "own nothing and be happy" market before it's too late the only leverage we have is our wallet.
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Millie Sutton
Alec Miller as far as kitbash3d I don’t think they give a hoot because they know (or at least they want to think) they have the best assets. There are plenty of good assets you just might have to change the style or vibe of your project. Which I think is worth it if their profits are affected. But it’s hard to leave them BECAUSE of the unique themes and styles of their assets that are hard (if not impossible) to find elsewhere. I’m having to (and successfully doing) leaving kitbash for other (and sometimes more expensive) assets because the asset renting business model of kitbash3d does infuriate me and tbh some of the other assets from other places are better optimized and frequently look better and even in some cases more photorealistic which is my favorite part of big medium small and leartes’s assets. Kitbash 3d has people hooked on them because of the uniqueness of their assets. That’s why it was so hard (and still is) hard for me to not buy their assets. I only buy them when there’s a sale or I get money on special occasions specifically for them like my birthday or Christmas or whatever and only because (as an artist and former business owner myself) I don’t want to be the (or one of the) reason they go out of business. That’s simply because I’m too nice I guess
That and because yes they do have pretty cool looking assets. If the “you own nothing unless you don’t pay your mortgage sell them your soul and don’t feed your kids until they are in college—yes I’m being exaggerated but you get my point” business model just seems like a—yes I’m gonna use the four letter word—scam
If they change the whole you rent it not own it to you can get a subscription but when you cancel your sub you don’t lose usability and access to the assets you rent (maybe in turn charging something reasonably higher say $149 or $150/mo for the sub (not more than that though) I’d definitely come back to them. But their current model is pushing me elsewhere. Heck I spend $140-$150/mo on leartes and big medium small assets. I bought a ton on Black Friday. How many kitbash3d assets did I buy that day or the few months before that: answer: none at all and have I or will I the way they’re doing things renew my subscription: no! Which is a real shame as they have TONS of assets that are EXACTLY what I’m looking for and need! But they won’t change. They don’t care. At all. What do you think Alec? Am i wrong to feel this way?