Business One time EXTRA 'signup fee' to join adult site? WTF?

[CurrentlySober]

Never seen this before. See, contrary to poopular belief, I DO actually join sites from time to time, sometimes for biz reasons (ie to see inside without the owners knowing) and sometimes for more 'personal' reasons... I am infact an occasional paying customer too...

Yeah, 'Porn Is Free' etc... But I like to feel I'm also supporting sites (big or small) from time to time... That said though, even I see this appearing as 'scammy' - Inside info from being in the biz or not - It just turned me right off... But is this just me? Is this a 'thing' these days, and I've just not noticed it?

Anyhoo, here's the way it's presented. Site is 24.99 per month, but to 'sign up' you need to pay a 'Sign Up' fee of 15 - Making it 39.99 for the first month, then 24.99 for subsequent months. That in and of itself (The Cost) doesn't bother me - It's how its presented...

Obviously they must feel that they are not gonna get a re-bill and want to stack the first payment - Fair enough, but it's the presentation that turns me off... WTF is a 'Sign Up' fee?

Some extra charge for the admin of taking your hard earned money and harvesting all of your data & details so they can continue to market to you for the rest of your life?

This isn't some 'Mom & Pop' site either - Its one of the bigger players... So is that normal presentation of a join page in 2023 now?

Just curious really and I'm not 'complaining' - But had it just said 'First month 39.99 - Additional months ONLY 24.99 - Save X % - They would have had a purchase. But like i said, it was the wording that turned me off... 'Sign Up' Fee ! You should be so lucky lol

Bottom Line? You would have happily had 39.99 off of me (& all my data) but you now have exactly Zero from me, & NO data... That was just me... I wonder how many others feel the same way? After all, it's all in the presentation at the end of the day...

[gar]

If the site is good I don't even read a thing. Take my money

It's like joining a club etc you have a sign up fee, elite credit card also?

[The Porn Nerd]

What's the site so we can see this signup fee join page?

[redwhiteandblue]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

What's the site so we can see this signup fee join page?

Are you sure you want to see the kind of websites CS pays to join?

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by The Porn Nerd

What's the site so we can see this signup fee join page?

I'll give the site link later - I wanna get more thoughts on the method first - There is however no images / Photos etc, on the join page itself...

Like I said, I've not seen it before, but it gives me the wrong 'feelings' as I'm about to pay...

[CurrentlySober]

Originally Posted by redwhiteandblue

Are you sure you want to see the kind of websites CS pays to join?

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

I'll give the site link later - I wanna get more thoughts on the method first - There is however no images / Photos etc, on the join page itself...

Like I said, I've not seen it before, but it gives me the wrong 'feelings' as I'm about to pay...

Reading that, makes me think they have set up a trial payment, followed by recurring.

I suspect they are being sly, and hope people will not notice.

Many payment systems let you have a trial option and call it what you want.

In this case, I suspect they have ONLY the trial option, and renamed the trial option to signup fee.

Part of me is thinking what they have done is rather smart.

[redwhiteandblue]

It's obviously not a trial you dimwit.


It seems pretty odd to me and I can't believe it is working for them. This kind of thing is usually done by charging more for the non-recurring option than for the recurring option. Maybe they are just testing this? Although, forcing you to tick to say you accept the terms and conditions and also accept mailings at the same time is pretty shady, I'm sure that's not allowed in some territories?

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by redwhiteandblue

It's obviously not a trial you dimwit.


It seems pretty odd to me and I can't believe it is working for them. This kind of thing is usually done by charging more for the non-recurring option than for the recurring option. Maybe they are just testing this? Although, forcing you to tick to say you accept the terms and conditions and also accept mailings at the same time is pretty shady, I'm sure that's not allowed in some territories?

You have already called me names in this thread:

https://gfy.com/fucking-around-and-b...m-car-poo.html

Yet, I provided too reasons why I was correct plus a vid from a legal person.

I proved too things (1) touching a mobile could be seen as a crime regardless if it was held or not. (2) A mobile in the location of the screen would be a crime.

It is a shame your not big enough to admit you were wrong, and I was correct.

I guess you have low self esteem, and feel big by calling me names.

So in this case, I will again state why this appears to be a trial option renamed.

Often such as ccbill and so on, you can set your costs, BUT you can change the label.

I suspect this person has changed the label from trial to signup fee. Now I could be wrong on this, but it is what I suspect.

I would of course need to see the site and see if we can work out if it is a custom sign up form or if it is a standard one altered.

Where it may not be a trial is that they want the fee in full.

One needs to see the link.

[redwhiteandblue]

Aw jeez, not this shit again.

If it was a trial option the trial price would be separate from the rebill price but it's quite plainly not if you will open your eyes before opening your mouth. What part of "Today 39.99 €" suggests to you that it's a trial?

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by redwhiteandblue

Aw jeez, not this shit again.

If it was a trial option the trial price would be separate from the rebill price but it's quite plainly not if you will open your eyes before opening your mouth. What part of "Today 39.99 €" suggests to you that it's a trial?

Have you problems understanding English.

I stated it looks like they have altered a trial option option.

I have not stated it was a trial option.

I have stated it looks like they have changed the trail option to call it signup fee, and it looks like your charged it at the time.

As have said I would like to see the site so we can see what system they are using.

I am looking forward to see if your big enough to admit if I was correct in the other thread as I notice your avoiding that.

Don't worry, I do not expect you top say I was correct and you were wrong, as I do not think your big enough to do that.

[DVTimes]

By the way, I am big enough to re read post, and the way I worded it, does suggest that I was saying it was a trial.

What I meant as it looks like a trial option changed and included in the cost.

Again I am interested in the site link.

[Colmike9]

Lots of mainstream companies are doing this now, too, mostly restaurants. They add on a fee to make more money but to make the menu items seem cheaper. To me it seems illegal, though..

But in this case, especially if it's a bigger company, maybe someone had the idea of making a signup fee to try to make more money on people who cancel and re-subscribe a lot to keep them rebilling, or maybe multiple fees if there is a trial somewhere. But, it's hard enough as it is these days for converting paysite signups that it seems like it will hurt their sales..

[NatalieK]

I believe the site has added this "sign up" fee to their payment page to cover inflation...


this way, keeping the same membership fees, as they have had over the past as many of us have over the years

[Colmike9]

Originally Posted by NatalieK

I believe the site has added this "sign up" fee to their payment page to cover inflation...


this way, keeping the same membership fees, as they have had over the past as many of us have over the years

Why not just charge more like everyone else does?

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by Colmike9

Lots of mainstream companies are doing this now, too, mostly restaurants. They add on a fee to make more money but to make the menu items seem cheaper. To me it seems illegal, though..

But in this case, especially if it's a bigger company, maybe someone had the idea of making a signup fee to try to make more money on people who cancel and re-subscribe a lot to keep them rebilling, or maybe multiple fees if there is a trial somewhere. But, it's hard enough as it is these days for converting paysite signups that it seems like it will hurt their sales..

The service charge thing, seems to be something they have started to do in the UK. I say started as I do not go to restaurants and I am gathering this is new from youtube vids.

I suspect it is legal, as all they have done is broken the bill down.

No different to having a hospital bill and it listing different costs in the bill.

Or even a gas or electric bill where they will give you a bill but sometimes break it down, one part cost of gas or electric and the other the monthly charge.

In some ways I see the logic, as many join and cancel for the month so they do not have to pay the rebill fee. It is I suspect even with Netflix people join then cancel, and download as much as they can in the month, then join again and repeat months later.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by Colmike9

Why not just charge more like everyone else does?

They have, but they probably with think it sounds less by breaking it down this way.

Perhaps it is not a bad idea, to break the bill down for people.

For example, when you go pay for a month, and told it is say $20, that you say for example $2 goes to the credit card firm.
$5 covers model costs.
$5 covers hosting.
$7 expenses.
$1 is profit.

This way people may think they are not joining a site where all profit goes to the owner and in fact the profit they make is not great.

In other words it could work for good marketing.

The question is, would charging extra work, or put people off.

In these days, where people are in a cost of living, putting up charges my not be great idea.

Then again, you may get more affiliates if you charge more.

The interesting thing would be, would the affiliate get a cut of this extra charge, as it could be a way to reduce what you pay affiliates.

[Colmike9]

Originally Posted by DVTimes

The service charge thing, seems to be something they have started to do in the UK. I say started as I do not go to restaurants and I am gathering this is new from youtube vids.

I suspect it is legal, as all they have done is broken the bill down.

No different to having a hospital bill and it listing different costs in the bill.

Or even a gas or electric bill where they will give you a bill but sometimes break it down, one part cost of gas or electric and the other the monthly charge.

In some ways I see the logic, as many join and cancel for the month so they do not have to pay the rebill fee. It is I suspect even with Netflix people join then cancel, and download as much as they can in the month, then join again and repeat months later.

But what about people going in to a restaurant, ordering off the menu thinking that prices are lower, then later not realizing that there is an extra 10-20% added on the bill as a vague "service fee", and isn't a gratuity, after receiving the bill? Seems like bait and switch to me a little bit.

[Colmike9]

Originally Posted by DVTimes

The interesting thing would be, would the affiliate get a cut of this extra charge, as it could be a way to reduce what you pay affiliates.

lol, affiliates probably won't get any part of it..

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by Colmike9

But what about people going in to a restaurant, ordering off the menu thinking that prices are lower, then later not realizing that there is an extra 10-20% added on the bill as a vague "service fee", and isn't a gratuity, after receiving the bill? Seems like bait and switch to me a little bit.

My understanding is in the UK you can say you do not wish to pay it.

But I agree, and I would suspect that a % of customers would find it annoying and not go back and tell others not to go.

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by Colmike9

lol, affiliates probably won't get any part of it..

It would in deed be sneaky.

Perhaps they have added this extra charge to avoid paying affiliates the full amount.

[NatalieK]

Originally Posted by Colmike9

But what about people going in to a restaurant, ordering off the menu thinking that prices are lower, then later not realizing that there is an extra 10-20% added on the bill as a vague "service fee", and isn't a gratuity, after receiving the bill? Seems like bait and switch to me a little bit.

this is so wrong, especially if not stated anywhere on the menu or on entry to a restaurant

Originally Posted by Colmike9

Why not just charge more like everyone else does?

not many sites have increased subscription fees for years. yes, some have, but not many. I think it´s ok, it´s there when signing up, not after you´ve eaten lol

[Colmike9]

Originally Posted by NatalieK

not many sites have increased subscription fees for years. yes, some have, but not many. I think it´s ok, it´s there when signing up, not after you´ve eaten lol

True, but to be fair, a lot of the sites that haven't changed their prices also haven't made anything new in a decade.

[NatalieK]

Originally Posted by Colmike9

True, but to be fair, a lot of the sites that haven't changed their prices also haven't made anything new in a decade.

maybe time for me to update my subscription fees, i update daily with new content

[CurrentlySober]

OK, well its SinDrive that are doing it...

https://www.sindrive.com/join

Tainster (another iteration of the same people) are also doing it too... But its even more expensive for the same content...

https://www.tainster.com/join

[DVTimes]

Originally Posted by CurrentlySober

OK, well its SinDrive that are doing it...

https://www.sindrive.com/join

Tainster (another iteration of the same people) are also doing it too... But its even more expensive for the same content...

https://www.tainster.com/join

Well it is not hidden, I mean it does not say one price and offer another.

The interesting thing is they offer only one price option.

[DVTimes]

They use vxsbill.com so not sure they charge $15 as a signup fee (I suspect they do not).

https://www.sinxcash.com/#payouts

As for affiliates it looks like they only do pay per sale.

So for affiliates with low sales you get approx 50% of the sale, then that's it.

By the looks of it they have lots of content so people probably will pay it.

[NatalieK]

they´re part of a huge network, not that this gives a right to charge extra. But, if this site has the fee, maybe it´s this that´s shared between the network?