tamberlane
patreon
[POLL] Subscription Billing?
🕑 Added 2024-02-23 19:14:58 +0000 UTCHey y'all! REAL fast poll this time~
As we near the end of figuring out the Patreon's future, we've got one more question for you: do you have any strong objections to us changing to a subscription billing model?
Right now, when you pledge to the Patreon, no matter when you sign up, even if it's on the last day of the month, you'll be charged again on the 1st.
This would change it so that any new patrons who joined would be charged each month the same day they signed up, just like any other subscription service.
Note: for existing patrons, like you guys, the charge date will remain the 1st. Essentially, it will consider you to have signed up on the 1st. Nothing should change for you.
I hadn't turned it on because the current model of the Patreon involves monthly deliverables that are hard to consistently offer if everyone's charged at different times. However, the new version no longer has anything like that (more news on that soon), so this is now an option.
The Pros:
- Folks will stop getting double-charged when they sign up at the end of the month!
- It acts like normal subscriptions instead of being a confusing mess!
- This will allow me to enable 7-day free trials for the $2 and $5 tiers!
The Cons:
- This is a permanent change, so I can never switch it back!
- The money comes in throughout the month instead of in one big chunk! (I don't mind this though)
- Any monthly deliverables in the future must be delivered the following month to ensure everyone is charged!
...That's pretty much it! So, any strong opinions either way?
Should we enable subscription billing?
Comments
Carl G Knoblock
Most of my list is on the first of the month, but that doesn't mean it's neat and easy that way. Some accounts do "detail billing" which means I have to add up all the pieces to see what I'm paying. I have 2 accounts on separate days, and it's just a minor bit of extra work to keep track of them. Since your charges are on the first with the majority, and tuning on subscriptions doesn't change that, I voted that I don't care.
Jason Harvey
I prefer all my Patreon billing being at the top of the month just for tidy billing. If I run across some subscription option, I will take the option to wait until the 1st before subscribing so I don't have to track multiple billing times. As the provider though, I would think getting the lump would make budgeting easier, but I'm not a creator, so I'm not sure that would be a big deal either. Having some more throughout the month may come in handy for wonky times but waiting for the trickle may also be an issue at times. *2cents*
