Kamidu
patreon
⚠️Important Information: Billing will Change⚠️
🕑 Added 2024-08-12 15:54:52 +0000 UTCSo, I was presented with the following when I logged into the website:
I was also emailed the following:
I posted as such in my journal in late December, viewable here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/another-update-95156889 Namely...
In my naïveté, I understood this to mean stuff bought via Patreon's shop, like invidivual episodes to a podcast, or associated merchandise, ala so: https://www.patreon.com/merch
But turns out, nah, this means subscribing to any Patreon Content Creator. So yeah... because 🍏 everyone has to do a charged-when-the-Patron-signs-up thing instead of on the 1st month, which is gonna wreak havoc with those, like myself, who are on time sensitive rewards and like to do everything in one go.
Granted, this won't be retroactively applied. Therefore, any Patron already pledging to a Content Creator will still be charged the first week of the month as always.
Official public statement about this here: https://news.patreon.com/articles/understanding-apple-requirements-for-patreon
Patreon founder Jack Conte's video message about this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-LoTH3PzgM
How Patreon will support all Content Creators' migration to subscription billing here: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-gb/articles/27992241435533-How-Patreon-will-support-your-migration-to-subscription-billing
FAQ here: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-gb/articles/28801582599181-Migrating-to-subscription-billing-FAQ
Admittedly, I only knew about this because a friend spotted a post someone made on formerly-known-as-Twitter, initially this one, and then another where a different poster was quite unhappy with the side-effect of using 🍏 iOS purchasing system and found the following...
So.... yeah...
What am I going to do? Well, I suppose that means the end of my time here, just as I was about to reach my 10-year anniversary in 2025. The new billing method is incompatible with how I operate and now this sharp divide between the 🍏-havers and the have-nots is beyond the pale. I'm very sorry. I don't want to do this. But I guess I'll start fully migrating over to the other place, which I started a few months ago. I always imagined I'd have to eventually leave, but I never imagined it would be due to a third party's financial arrangements beyond mine or this platform's control.
Am I doing the right thing? Should I just hike my prices and absorb the increased fees to stay here? What have you heard from other people about this?
In any event, spread the word, though I imagine you'll be hearing about this from other content creators too, irrespective of their speciality.
I'll be in touch again, soon.
Yours Sincerely,
'Kamiduzaurus
P.S. All inset images are saved as attachments, or you can use the links above.
Comments
Rusty Otter
I'm not sure why you think this means you need to bail on this platform? I would use the option to charge extra (so you get the same), but add a note on the tier descriptions along the lines of "please note: if you are subscribing via the app on an Apple device, this will cost 30% more; to avoid Apple's taxation, you can set up a subscription via a web browser where it will cost less per month, but still be able to access the content via the app should you wish to do so".
John
I don't use an iOS on phone and I use computer to access this site. Plus as someone said how many of your subscribers use iOS and those that don't. The only thing I wonder is do you use iOS to get the money or other things with Patreon. As someone said is wait and see goes on, before doing anything drastic.
SilverZeo
I... STILL don't get it... somehow just acessing pay-programs on certain phone/devices means you have to pay for additional service charges, even though it can be done by LITTERALLY anyone else for the SAME result (for FREE too)... and THESE guys think that their's is worth 30%!?!?
Kamiduzaurus
Will do when they're ready
Allan Meyer
Middlemen, always reliably taking their cut, like lampreys. Please remind us where your alternate platforms are.
Primalex
I sadly have an iOS as my phone but I have never used the AppStore's purchase system for anything. For now, just wait and see how things pan out before making any drastic decisions.
Kindle Foxfire
I have seen one other creator mention this so far and they are just warning iOS users that their price will increase. I suppose it depends on how many of your followers actually use Apple versus Android as to how many people are impacted. I myself refuse to use any Apple devices for exactly these sorts of shenanigans.
