About that email from Patreon ... (Patreon)

Patreon recently sent out emails to patrons and creators that outlined changes to the way you will be charged. In the email they sent me, they pitched it like this:

"A new service fee of 2.9% + $0.35 will be paid by patrons for each individual pledge starting on December 18th."

The reason for this is because creators have, until now, regularly had that amount deducted from what we earn from your pledges. But now, Patreon want to shift that charge onto patrons to the benefit of creators (so we will be a little bit better off, but you will be a little bit worse off). No one asked me about this; it wasn’t something I could opt in or out of; it was simply introduced with the promise that it would be a good thing for all. However, had I had a choice I would have said NO. And NO is what I have told Patreon in an email today. I have asked, as have many creators, that they reverse this decision, because I believe it will lead to an exodus in patrons that will benefit absolutely no one.

Therefore...

If by December 18th they have not reversed this policy, I will be setting up a new series of pledges that are lower than those I currently have, that you can sign up to if you wish to make sure you are paying no more than you are currently. I can’t adjust the existing pledge levels (since they are fixed to prevent unscrupulous creators from raising them on their patrons), but I can set up new ones that correspond exactly to the ones that currently exist, but will be “2.9%+$0.35” less. So when Patreon add that 2.9%+$0.35 to your bill, you will be paying exactly the same amount as you are now. You can, of course, stay at your existing pledge levels, and if you do, I will indeed be a little better off, but if you feel unhappy about the new arrangement, then switching to the new tiers means you can continue to support me without being charged extra.

So, if by Dec 18th, Patreon haven’t changed course, the new pledge tiers will be thus:

If you currently pay $3 a month, you will have the option of a new $2.56 a month tier

If you currently pay $5 a month, you will have the option of a new $4.50 a month tier

If you currently pay $10 a month, you will have the option of a new $9.36 a month tier

And as I say, all the new tiers will have the same rewards as are currently in place, and at the start of January, the amount deducted from your account will be the same as it is now. 

Now, you will have noticed the absence of the $1 a month tier in the list above. I tried to set up a new $0.62 tier, but the website rejected it and told me to enter a valid figure - and the lowest valid figure is $1. So I’m afraid I’m unable to drop it any lower. This means that if you pay $1 a month, you’re going to be charged $1.38. I wish I could change it, but I can’t. All I can say is, please stay with me until the end of the month. The backlash from creators online is huge and I’m fully expecting this stupid decision to be reversed, but if it isn’t, then I’ll let you know at the end of the month how I’m going to try to make it make it worth your while staying with me :-)

Thank you all for your support. One way or another, I’ll make this work for all of you.

No huzzah, but much respect,

Mike