DoorMonster
patreon
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
Jennisen Hatton
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....
Durian the Sleepy
I have no preference. I'd pay on my credit card due date every month either way.
Thegreywarden92
I very much prefer it at the beginning of the Month.
SAMURIADI
i dont care either way, i budget based on per month so it doesnt change on my end
Bernard Field
While the 1st is nice for making my budget numbers line up neatly, it is not a material concern to me.
NA
I 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!
Finding Player
Personally 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
Silentstrike46
Generally 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.
Mersharr
It 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.
Jason Swanson
No preference here, but thanks for the update on the change!
Technae
no preference, defer to others needs
xorox
I 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.
Quaris
No preference
Kari
I prefer the 1st of the month.
Kathryn Snead
I'm good either way! Do what's best for you.
Melinda Ambrose
I do not have a preference. However, I think this could be the basis of a skit. Do cell phone apps exist in the Kyleverse?
Wandering Whigmaleerie
Makes no difference to me
AsterInDis
For my personal budgeting I have no opinion, but you may want those juicy iphone bucks?
Demos Mirak
No difference to me either
Carson Elmore
No difference to me.
almog
No real prefrence.
Elias Gannage
I prefer first of the month personally for budgeting reasons.
Devin Baird
No real preference on my part.
Scott Featherston
While 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.
Nox
Doesn't matter to me
Erland
I would like it to be on the signup date
Cakey
i 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
Steven Richardson
It's all the same to me.
Mefek
I'm good either way
Bitsandbolts
It doesn’t effect me immensely, I’d say just implement the change as you’ll have to do it eventually anyway
Foxworth
I 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.
xorox
I get paid on the 2nd. Every 1st i get notifications of failed payments.
CarlOS rendering
I 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.
Jonathan Stott
I 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
Talion Baratheon
The "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.
DerrEtCetera
First 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
Brandon Wiley
First of the month works just fine for me brother, but change is change and you can't stop the flow of time
