On the Patreon Changes
Added 2017-12-07 23:19:36 +0000 UTCHey All,
You should have gotten an email from Patreon about how they have adjusted the way they charge for your pledges. Basically Patreon is charging 35 cents per pledge in a supposed effort to get more of the actual pledged money to the creators. While this does technically accomplish this goal, it's not clear that it's the best way to go about it.
I am evaluating this change and reading up on the evaluations of others as well. They haven't given us an option to just continue to pay the extra charges as we did before, so we are going with the new method and are going to see how it pans out in the real world.
My goal for the Patreon has always been to be as clear as possible on exactly how it works and why you're doing it. I'm going to let the dust settle on this change and see if there are any adjustments to it and how it works going forward before making any changes on our end.
On your end, however, we totally understand any actions you need to make.
We always want this to be a place that feels good and productive, never anything else. So if you need to change your pledge or opt out, we will fully understand.
We also wanted to reiterate our thanks to each and every one of you who support the show in this way. It means the world to both Luis and me that you take the time and resources for us, and we are grateful that you help facilitate what we do for a living.
Thank you!
- Marshall (and Luis)
Comments
Seems like the backlash has gotten Patreon to halt their rollout of the fees change: <a href="https://blog.patreon.com/not-rolling-out-fees-change/">https://blog.patreon.com/not-rolling-out-fees-change/</a>
David Zee
2017-12-13 21:56:26 +0000 UTCYes, and I encourage anyone to game it in any way that makes it acceptable for them. I am *seriously* annoyed that you have to do so, as it should be a fun and easy experience to support the creators you love. You shouldn't have to game anything to do it. The good news is that our supporters are all gamers and will find a way that makes them happy.
Limited Resources
2017-12-09 19:10:43 +0000 UTCThank you for the transparency by addressing this change with your Patrons. As some people have suggested, it’s pretty easy to game the system to ensure you get the same peldge amount as before. And since Pareon batches payments at the end of the month, the per-transaction fee seems spurious. I don’t know what prompted this change, but Magic players will always find the way to achieve maximum value.
Ira Humphrey
2017-12-09 14:51:41 +0000 UTCNot changing my $2.41 pledge.
Jeff Good
2017-12-08 22:10:42 +0000 UTCHow about changing to a monthly pledge format? Maybe take a poll, but I think most people would be fine with this for LR since you have proven for years you will put out consistent content. Some creators need "per episode" because they have irregular release schedules.
Chris Farrell
2017-12-08 21:07:30 +0000 UTCI feel like I'm being forced into this position, but modifying my pledge amount to once a month feels a bit scammy as I'm qualified for most of the rewards now event though I'm only donating once a month.
James Gardiner
2017-12-08 20:10:54 +0000 UTCThat's actually clever. I'll try it too.
Pier-Luc Tremblay
2017-12-08 14:51:31 +0000 UTCThanks so much for the post. I can only hope that Patreon realizes that this is going to hit their bottom line, and hard, because it makes microtransactions so burdensome. (Not a good thing for something that was supposed to increase their profits!) It feels a bit cheaty to boost my support per episode and then cap it, but I love the show so much that I can't even bear to think of stopping.
John de Jong
2017-12-08 12:55:48 +0000 UTCYes, I don't understand why the need to charge the fees per post when the credit card only gets run once per month. Essentially, they are passing the CC fees directly onto the consumer. I get that the banks want their cut but it does run against the grain of businesses typically being responsible for these. It makes the "$1 an episode" a tougher sell. "$1.40" just doesn't have quite the same ring and 40% increase at $1 is somewhat galling.
Jason
2017-12-08 12:29:10 +0000 UTCSo if I want to pay the fee only one time, i should change my structure to 8$ per episode, but max 8$ per month. This way, i only pay the fee once ? instead of 4 times if I keep it at 2$ per show ? [Edit] That's what I just did. Let see if it works out.
Guillaume P.
2017-12-08 04:05:21 +0000 UTCThanks guys. I appreciate you two being proactive about this.
Danny Simard
2017-12-08 03:46:09 +0000 UTCI'll continue to support, but I hope the fee is only once per month, not per podcast. It's not really clear from their email
Kari Malsom
2017-12-08 02:10:13 +0000 UTCThank you very much!
Limited Resources
2017-12-08 01:49:43 +0000 UTCThank you, much appreciated
Limited Resources
2017-12-08 01:49:34 +0000 UTCThanks for the transparency! Seems like the Patreon's move was pretty ham-handed, but I certainly don't blame you guys.
Alex Middeleer
2017-12-08 01:23:58 +0000 UTCWhile I wish Patreon's fees were simpler to understand, it's not going to impact my support for LR. Keep on producing and I'll keep on listening :-)
Jean-Luc Brouillet
2017-12-08 00:55:11 +0000 UTCThe way I read it is that they are putting the fee on per pledge, so yes your math is right. It should obviously only be charged once per month (the number of times you are actually charged!)
Limited Resources
2017-12-08 00:47:07 +0000 UTCYeah, I'm really not pleased that people have to try to game the patreon just to get it how it should be in the first place. I appreciate you taking the effort which you shouldn't have to do.
Limited Resources
2017-12-08 00:46:17 +0000 UTCI'll give it a month and keep an eye out to see if you guys come up with a suggested alternate model before making a change on my own. I definitely appreciate the quick response from your end directly so quickly situated with the official word from Patreon.
LeemHerndon
2017-12-08 00:12:03 +0000 UTCCan you change the structure so we can give a flat amount per month instead of per episode? If I understand the changes that would mean only one charge per month instead of 4...or am I misunderstanding the policy? Edit: ah, did it myself by setting it to one max donation per month and quadrupling amount.
John Baranski
2017-12-07 23:52:31 +0000 UTCI support 8 different creators on patreon and it all equals out to an extra $35 a month which is hard on me. I'm still going to support everyone I just might have to lower my pledge amounts to make up the difference so I don't break my budget
Andy Shadow Patron of the Arts and Lover of all things depressing Bentley
2017-12-07 23:49:42 +0000 UTCDoes this mean that a pledge of $1.00 per episode is now actually $1.40 ish per episode? Or is it that they charge the fee once at the end of the month for all pledges combined for each creator?
Michael Perkins
2017-12-07 23:47:33 +0000 UTCSeems like the right approach, I'm doing the same for each per-post creator I support.
John Roepke
2017-12-07 23:46:35 +0000 UTCWe will 100% understand if it comes to that. We know your hard earned dollar is precious and you have to be smart about how you spend it.
Limited Resources
2017-12-07 23:39:08 +0000 UTCYou guys are awesome! Unfortunately I do not know if I am going to be continuing to use Patreon at this point, because I can only support a number of people at small amounts of $1-$3. I am sitting on the fence right now, but I hope you understand that if I do drop this month it is *solely* because of the pricing structure changes...
MoreDinosaurs
2017-12-07 23:36:11 +0000 UTCI appreciate it. I *really* don't like the idea that you feel that you have to game their system, and I hope they adjust it accordingly so you don't have to anymore. But I appreciate that you are willing to jump through the hoops for us!
Limited Resources
2017-12-07 23:29:58 +0000 UTCThankfully I’m in a position where these changes don’t heavily impact me
David Lorenz Valdez
2017-12-07 23:23:57 +0000 UTCJust changed from 1 per episode to 5 but once per month. Should result in a similar input with more for you guys. Thanks for everything you do!
Tyler Spiering
2017-12-07 23:22:51 +0000 UTC
