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Charge Upfront vs. Keeping The Same (Patreon)

Published:
2018-07-04 10:14:41
Edited:
2019-10-20 01:32:23
Imported:
2021-06

Content

One of the biggest hits to my morale on a monthly basis is the problem of people subscribing to my Patreon page and backing out right before the bill comes due. For a long time, it's just been this constant frustration that I've had to live with.  

I have the option to Charge upfront now. If I were to turn it on, the change is permanent so I would like to discuss with you guys the ups and downs to this decision and come to the correct resolution via a Poll.

For the past few months, I've had a lot of pledges that have joined to see all the content and then when it comes to paying for the pledge, they back out. Getting the content for free in what I refer to as like sneaking into a movie theater to watch a movie. (It's a broken promise, not a broken contract but it is on a personal level).

Patrons are charged on the 1st of every month. The feature of Charge Upfront will mean that if someone was to join on the 3rd of July  - they would be charged that day. However, If you joined on the 28th, you'll be charged that day and then 3 days later as well. Could be problematic for said person.

Positives:

The benefit is obvious - I won't see inflated, untrue revenue numbers anymore and I won't have to decide whether to starve my dingo or cut down on Pepsi because I didn't make as much as anticipated.  

Negatives:

On the other hand, it has been pointed out to me that because Patreon doesn't prorate, people would be forced to pay a full month for just a week or less, and that they might choose to wait and then forget about me in the interim, which means I'd lose subscribers. Potential subscribers would also not get any kind of trial period to look around and see the value, like they do on Netflix or Hulu. People wouldn't want to be charged $7 on the 25th and then again on the 1st.

I really don't know what to do and I'd like to know what you all think would be best for me. Should I start charging up front and risk losing a few subscribers, or leave things the way they are and keep having this disappointing feeling every month? 

This change wouldn't effect Patrons that have been pledged over a month.  It would only effect new users.

You only have one vote, please read everything carefully so you make the right decision.

Comments

MyDanishThoughts

I say turn it on. I'm not going anywhere. However it you do turn it on, you may see some patrons leaving, but then again were the really patrons to begin with?

chris bullers

I waited to sign up for a different Patreon until it was past 1st of the month so I wouldnt get double billed. I would say anyone who has come to like someones content like yours enough to pay for it, is probably either fine with waiting, or fine with paying part way into a month. You might loose out on some 'impulse' signups later in the month, but are they really your potential long term customers anyway? I say its worth a try.

WB

I think you might lose out on some subs, but it would annoy me to have it change at the end of the month when people bail to avoid paying. Personally, I would rather take the hit than deal with the inaccuracies.

Anonymous

Its the start of the month so id say torn it on fast. if people leave they would propably left you at end of month anyway.

chris bullers
>>13578356

If there are a significant number of people who have joined since 1/7 then maybe its worth turning it on only at the very end of the month so there is a 'clean start'?

William Nicolas

Yeah, like for many others I waited for the first day of the month to sign up. I was surprised to not be billed until the next month, essentially getting one month free. Charging up front seems logical to me, and though I can see an argument for essentially a trial period, mostly to see whether the subscription is worth it, if people are abusing the system, you should just charge up front. And I think you'll gain more than you lose.

Second_Strike

100% for charge upfront. I know you have said Patreon for you is just as much about building a community as it is the money, so the way I see it is - Do you really want people who are going to constantly screw you out of promised money each month to be a part of your community?

Shashank

If you make a few full reactions available through youtube or links as you seem to be planning….that is already a good sneak peak at the content so charging upfront is fair, just make sure it's clear when people will be charged so they can avoid being double charge by signing up on an appropriate day. I don't think you'd loose anybody already paying, and a lot of other patreon creators seem to do that as well.

Jon Dub

Yeah the way I see it, there a lot of Youtubers who are successful on Patreon, like I have said, Blindwave for instance, they are pulling in nearly 40k a month! And most of these people use charge upfront. If you make a big enough name for yourself, and your content is consistent and of high quality, which it is, then you will attract patrons.....good luck!

Christopher simeon

My only problem with this is I joined Patreon to watch you agents of shield reactions but you just started posting again. I dont want to pay for something and have it not be there for the month then when it does appear It’s not consistent at least a little bit(by that I mean your big breaks in between not when you were sick) I understand you like to record the whole season first but when people are paying for content you can’t just stick to multiple of one or two shows a week.(don’t get me wrong I love Buffy and angel as well but I don’t need 4 episodes of that when I could of had at least one aos or but you adding cloak and dagger. But in the end it’s your decision. I just don’t want you to decide to stop reacting in the middle of the month.

Ekko

I say turn it on, there's no point in letting people continue to rip you off. Potential new subs can get enough of a preview of your content from the yt channel to decide whether they want to pledge or not imo. As long as you make it clear that you're charging upfront I don't see why anybody would have a problem with it unless they're a freeloader.

CaptainNice

as already said; youtube acts as a 'free trial' for your Patreon. You'll mostly lose the people who were going to bail before the 1st... Clearly the current setup is causing you too much stress. Change it so can focus on stressing over fans who can't figure out what counts as a spoiler. :) Little sis &/or winter is coming... :(

chris bullers

If you think the 'free demo' effect is what draws people in, could you consider making the pilot/first episode of every show open to all , so people could try out the 'full episode experience' before they commit to pay? Then people really wouldn't have an excuse. Ive seen that done elsewhere.

Hans Olav

Ill stay whatever you do with this, so doesn't matter for me.

Chris Peacock

Turn it on, but make sure it's labeled clearly on your overview page in big letters at the top. Just to make sure that new people know they may want to hold off if it's the end of the month.

KiwiJello

Unless someone is trying to scam you, there is no reason NOT to pay upfront. Turn it on.

Michele

I don't see that you have a choice if you want to stop the Dine and dash. It's not a perfect solution, but it's the only one patreon gives you. Patreon has other things they could improve on, but doesn't seem like it will happen anytime soon. The more users ask/complain about something the more chance there is that it will get fixed. If like a better interface for one thing. Anyway. I think with pay up front you may see less subscribers for a while, but the ones here you can at least count on.

Chris Peacock

What Patreon really needs is to set it so that if somebody joins on the 23rd of the month than they get renewed on the 23rd of the month each month. It works that way for many other services. That's on Patreon though. Not on you.

Teddy S

Ah just do it. People will tune in and the freeloaders disappear, easy.

Chris (darkwater)

It literally changes nothing for existing patreons.. except those who want to bail on you anyway. And new people won't have the option of stiffing you so if they are the type to do that you'd likely not loose anything anyway.

Richard Lucas

I didn’t even know it was an option! Your problems are solved! Charge upfront, I expected it when I joined. Any honest or decent person will be fine with it. I don’t mean that as an insult to anyone, but when you go into a store to buy a loaf of bread, you pay for it then, not a month later. Trust me that this will truly help you. As someone else said, everyone who enjoys your reactions and cares about you earning income for your family will stay, and the few bad apples will leave the barrel.

Nancy Nicolai

I say do it bc I thought it was a little weird that I wasn't charged up front and if ppl are concerned about being charged twice all they need to do is wait until the 1st of the month right so no worries it's not your fault if they can't figure something that simple out and it would weed out the ppl who have been quitting you so yeah go for it!!👍💯

Katherine Thoreson

I say charge up front. It’s not fair to you that people are basically scamming you for free content. It’s not fair to those of us that do actually pay either. You can put a note on your patreon page to let people know that it’s charge up front and pledging toward the end of a month would have them charged two times basically. Personally, I feel if people really want to subscribe to you they’ll remember to come back. Also, if people are only subscribed to you for a certain show, once that content is over with they are free to unsubscribe their pledge at that time and just go back to YouTube. If people are concerned about a preview of your content, I know you are able to post certain videos that are available to everyone even if they aren’t pledged....unless I am unaware of a rule change that wouldn’t allow that with a charge up front implementation. At the end of the day, it’s your decision. I just think, based on other posts you’ve made, the charge up front would relieve a lot of stress in your life. Just my two cents.

Inseriousity

I would agree with the others that say to start this new system on the 1st July so that's it's a fresh start. The bailers that were going to bail and potentially sign back up again are going to do it anyway so at least if they leave this time, they're going to have to pay to sign back up. I think the only subscribers you're going to lose are the ones that don't want to pay to which we all sing "so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, don't let the door kick you on the way out"

Anonymous

Charge upfront makes the most sense, go for it!

Hector R Ayala

Turn it on. But have some sort of pinned video that is open to the public so potential new subscribers can see what they would be subscribing too. This is shallow, but it's true, you are very pretty and have a great personality, let people see that...because not everyone would have found you through youtube.

Chaotic Cam

Edit: I'll figure it out I guess.

Timotey Kuhn

Absolutely charge it upfront. It's the only way that is fair to you. Just make it crystal clear how it works to those that are new so that if they need to hold off for a couple of days before they join up, they are in the know, But absolutely charge it up front. It will clear out the filthy deadwood that keeps scamming you.

UTU49
>>13583005

Either that or prorate it -- so you can pay for a partial month. If you sign up and donate on the 20th, you contribute for about a third of a month. Either way seems fair and easy to use. I really want Patreon to close this loophole or give content creators another option or 2.

Tammy L. Faulkner

LOL! I wonder what the winning votes gonna be... 92% in favor😂 thoes dine and dashers got no chance in this community. I agree with that Hector guy though... Having one free video as bait is a great idea... Cuz once you get hooked you want more and more.

Timotey Kuhn

*Sees update at final result of poll*. Yayy! Glad to see that you're going the charge upfront route. And that is exceedingly generous of you to give anyone who joins in the last 10 days of the month an out upon request. Hope this puts an end to the nonsense of people scamming you once and for all.