When do you prefer to pay for subscriptions?
Added 2024-10-09 15:48:24 +0000 UTCHi everyone! Patreon keeps informing me that they're implementing this small change, and I wanted to run it by some people here before I make a decision:
Basically, due to some dumb nonsense with iPhones, Patreon wants to switch over to "Subscription Billing," which just means that instead of being charged around the beginning of each new month, people will be charged on the day of the month that they personally signed up. I haven't been able to determine if this affects people who are already signed up or not, but it might?
I have the option to delay this change another year, but I don't think it will affect me one way or the other, so I wanted to ask - do you prefer the idea of being charged around the first of the month, or on the day you sign up, like the way it works for other subscription services? If I keep it the traditional first-of-the-month way, it will prevent new people from subscribing via the iPhone app, but like... who's doing that? You? Anyone?
I'm still pondering, so let me know your thoughts!
Comments
It's only a charge at sign-up and then it seems to go back to the first of the month. Something-something-People-signing-up-and-canceling-before-charge-something-something....
Jennisen Hatton
2024-10-23 00:58:56 +0000 UTCI have no preference. I'd pay on my credit card due date every month either way.
Durian the Sleepy
2024-10-22 02:13:32 +0000 UTCI very much prefer it at the beginning of the Month.
Thegreywarden92
2024-10-16 17:46:33 +0000 UTCi dont care either way, i budget based on per month so it doesnt change on my end
SAMURIADI
2024-10-12 18:16:07 +0000 UTCWhile the 1st is nice for making my budget numbers line up neatly, it is not a material concern to me.
Bernard Field
2024-10-11 03:26:36 +0000 UTCI would rather support you through Ko-fi.com as it has a flat rate of ~$5 per month as a flat fee, rather than patron taking 8% (~$320) per month. Meaning more of my donation goes to the great content you all make!
NA
2024-10-10 19:57:42 +0000 UTCPersonally I prefer the 1st of the month billing, but I have forgotten to subscribe to a creator before because I decided to wait for the new month. Given the choices available, I would say to go with the "billing starts when you sign up" model, it will likely make subscription the most accessible
Finding Player
2024-10-10 16:26:41 +0000 UTCGenerally I prefer the 1st of the month as all my other expenses come off around then, however, for stuff like Patreon, I'm not really phased at all. To be honest, if you changed it to sign-up day and I still wanted to pay on the first, all I'd need to do is cancel my patreon for a month and sign up again on the first and it would be the same. But knowing me, I'm probably going to be too lazy to even do that, so no preference I guess :D If there's any chance people would be subscribing from the iphone app, then by all means, change it! Mersharr also makes some very good points.
Silentstrike46
2024-10-10 07:25:48 +0000 UTCIt makes no difference to me, but I can see the position Patreon is in. It's the problem of what to do when someone signs up late in the month. Do you charge them the full amount for only a week, delay their access, or give them free access until the next charge? Even if they only charged a fraction of the monthly donation based on how much of the month is left, I see a huge potential for abuse (sign up for high tier, get the rewards, cancel or change to low tier). Charging on sign-up day is probably the fairest in that regard, but is more complicated for the creators, who don't know when they get their money.
Mersharr
2024-10-10 05:21:08 +0000 UTCNo preference here, but thanks for the update on the change!
Jason Swanson
2024-10-10 04:00:37 +0000 UTCno preference, defer to others needs
Technae
2024-10-10 02:11:00 +0000 UTCI should specify that is because I put patreon and other entertainment spending on a seperate card from my actual finances, not because I run out of money every month and still use patreon.
xorox
2024-10-10 00:18:57 +0000 UTCNo preference
Quaris
2024-10-09 23:39:24 +0000 UTCI prefer the 1st of the month.
Kari
2024-10-09 22:26:05 +0000 UTCI'm good either way! Do what's best for you.
Kathryn Snead
2024-10-09 20:23:41 +0000 UTCI do not have a preference. However, I think this could be the basis of a skit. Do cell phone apps exist in the Kyleverse?
Melinda Ambrose
2024-10-09 20:19:29 +0000 UTCMakes no difference to me
Wandering Whigmaleerie
2024-10-09 19:39:14 +0000 UTCFor my personal budgeting I have no opinion, but you may want those juicy iphone bucks?
AsterInDis
2024-10-09 19:12:23 +0000 UTCNo difference to me either
Demos Mirak
2024-10-09 17:45:31 +0000 UTCNo difference to me.
Carson Elmore
2024-10-09 16:43:33 +0000 UTCNo real prefrence.
almog
2024-10-09 16:16:02 +0000 UTCI prefer first of the month personally for budgeting reasons.
Elias Gannage
2024-10-09 16:04:32 +0000 UTCNo real preference on my part.
Devin Baird
2024-10-09 16:01:56 +0000 UTCWhile the start of the month would be nice, I think just doing it the day you sign up makes it easiest, and reduces friction for iPhone users to sign up if they use the app for some reason.
Scott Featherston
2024-10-09 15:59:04 +0000 UTCDoesn't matter to me
Nox
2024-10-09 15:58:48 +0000 UTCI would like it to be on the signup date
Erland
2024-10-09 15:58:41 +0000 UTCi really prefer to have all my payments come through at the start since that's when i get paid and i've put in some work to make it so
Cakey
2024-10-09 15:57:22 +0000 UTCIt's all the same to me.
Steven Richardson
2024-10-09 15:54:34 +0000 UTCI'm good either way
Mefek
2024-10-09 15:54:05 +0000 UTCIt doesn’t effect me immensely, I’d say just implement the change as you’ll have to do it eventually anyway
Bitsandbolts
2024-10-09 15:53:39 +0000 UTCI don't mind either way, most of the newer patreons are on the day of the month you subscribe on that when I started supporting on Patreon again I genuinely forgot that it would charge on the first of the month. The only reason moving from first of the month to date of subscription would be for new patrons joining late in the month, being charged for a full month and then being charged on the 1st of the month again, so can be shocking for newer patrons to the platform.
Foxworth
2024-10-09 15:52:51 +0000 UTCI get paid on the 2nd. Every 1st i get notifications of failed payments.
xorox
2024-10-09 15:52:51 +0000 UTCI dont own an iphone, does this change affect android users too? I suppose it doesnt matter in my case, ill pay on any day of the month. I hope most people that watch your content arent iphone users.
CarlOS rendering
2024-10-09 15:52:12 +0000 UTCI don't think this would really affect anyone who's already a patron. I first started on the 25th of a month so I ended up paying twice in a week. From what I can tell, I think avoiding that would really be the only substantial change
Jonathan Stott
2024-10-09 15:51:51 +0000 UTCThe "bill on the day you signed up" annoys me so much. I had to unsubscribe from a bunch of Patreons, wait until the first of the month, then re-sub because I want one bill, not several.
Talion Baratheon
2024-10-09 15:51:18 +0000 UTCFirst of the month is just far more manageable for me considering I don't what to get billed at random points in the month for other creators I follow
DerrEtCetera
2024-10-09 15:50:31 +0000 UTCFirst of the month works just fine for me brother, but change is change and you can't stop the flow of time
Brandon Wiley
2024-10-09 15:49:41 +0000 UTC
