Why Offer Rebills At All?

[European Lee]

Would it not make sense to offer surfers a longer length membership for a higher price and not have to worry about rebills etc?

For example, trial option @ 5 bucks plus a rebill 2 or 3 days later at 30 bucks..

Thats a max of 35 bucks before the surfer decides your members area is shit potentially that is, if they dont figure it out after the first hour.

Using this method you are guaranteed to lose money whichever way you look at it however...

Lets say there is no trial option but a membership length of 12 months for $100

You make $100 instantly and payuot 50% of that to your affiliate making you an additional income of 15 bucks on the trial / monthly option.

Why do so many affiliate programs rely on rebills when they can satisfy both their bank account and the account of their affiliate by offering a higher longer membership price point?

$50 payouts could become the norm in the not so distant future for all paysite owners

Best of all, if a surfer couldnt find any trial options on any paysite they would have to pull out the CC and spend that $100 to jerk off.

Regards,

Lee

[newbreed]

$100.00 is an un-chartered price point I think.

edit - Some sponsors, including us, do offer a 2 month option which is a little better.

[European Lee]

Originally posted by newbreed
$100.00 is an un-chartered price point I think.

Its not to far off what affiliate programs were charging 5 or 6 years ago for a 3-6 month access.

Regards,

Lee

[newbreed]

Originally posted by European Lee
Its not to far off what affiliate programs were charging 5 or 6 years ago for a 3-6 month access.

Regards,

Lee

I'm not disagreeing with the thought, just with the cheap or free content out there now it's tougher to sell the higher price in most cases.

[Living For Today]

What do you think the ratios are going to be like with a $100 join fee?

[European Lee]

Originally posted by Living For Today
What do you think the ratios are going to be like with a $100 join fee?

If everyone changed to that billing method exactly the same as they are now because surfers wouldnt have any other options

Regards,

Lee

[bringer]

Originally posted by Living For Today
What do you think the ratios are going to be like with a $100 join fee?

worse then asian hitbot traffic

[PatrickKing]

Check out the join up page on my sites.
Look at the drop bar for price options

[cherrylula]

Because people lack the common sense to innovate, and just do what they have seen other people do. That and greed hoping the rebills roll in due to members forgetting to cancel.

Fact of life, men don't like too much commitment. Offer them a higher priced membership non recurring and bling bling.

Unless of course you have a really kickass site priced right, good content and worthy of staying a member. Then again you can still offer multiple options.

How many guys would actually pay a monthly membership fee to go to a strip club?

[European Lee]

$100 / 6 months = $16.66 membership cost a month.

Thats cheaper than 99% of monthly paysite membership costs now.

Regards,

Lee

[Kard63]

Originally posted by European Lee
If everyone changed to that billing method exactly the same as they are now because surfers wouldnt have any other options

Regards,

Lee

Price fixing conspiracy is illegal in the USA.

[bringer]

Originally posted by European Lee
$100 / 6 months = $16.66 membership cost a month.

Thats cheaper than 99% of monthly paysite membership costs now.

Regards,

Lee

or they can pay for a 3day trial and archive the whole site
how many sales rebill more then 2-3times? 1/4 at best

[European Lee]

Originally posted by bringer
or they can pay for a 3day trial and archive the whole site
how many sales rebill more then 2-3times? 1/4 at best

Thats exactly my point

You wouldnt have to worry about who did and who didnt rebill if you offered higher price points because that consideration would become moot. You make all your $$$ in one go at the first billing.

Regards,

Lee

[Tom_PMs]

Nah check it out. Just pay affiliates $20 or $25 per join as per usual.

Then if a surfer stays for 5 days, send them an email offer to buy a 90 day or 6 month or 1 yr. membership at a discount from the normal monthly rate. (pro-rated as well of course)

[bringer]

Originally posted by European Lee
Thats exactly my point

You wouldnt have to worry about who did and who didnt rebill if you offered higher price points because that consideration would become moot. You make all your $$$ in one go at the first billing.

Regards,

Lee

my point is if people were required to pay $100 for porn they'd buy a couple dvds they could own forever or go with stealing it via kazaa
make it affordable to most people and you'll make more sales

[cherrylula]

Originally posted by bringer
or they can pay for a 3day trial and archive the whole site
how many sales rebill more then 2-3times? 1/4 at best

Exact reason why trials are a bad idea. Especially for porn. But I would do the same exact thing. Why pay a bunch of money when you can get it for free or practically nothing?

I can't wait til all the crappy overpriced paysites that suck go out of business.

[bringer]

Originally posted by Tom_PM
Nah check it out. Just pay affiliates $20 or $25 per join as per usual.

Then if a surfer stays for 5 days, send them an email offer to buy a 90 day or 6 month or 1 yr. membership at a discount from the normal monthly rate. (pro-rated as well of course)

you dont think they already do this?

[Dirty Dane]

I think there should be different options, because surfers (people) and websites are different.

Some people have the money, and do not care how much it cost. Some people have less, and wants trial before they decide.
Some people have no money, signup for trial, grab it all, and decide not to be member after trial (not just a question of the websites quality).
Some people get tired of the website, and want to try another sites instead.

[bringer]

Originally posted by cherrylula
Exact reason why trials are a bad idea. Especially for porn. But I would do the same exact thing. Why pay a bunch of money when you can get it for free or practically nothing?

I can't wait til all the crappy overpriced paysites that suck go out of business.

most are crappy or overpriced or both
you have to offer people more then picture sets updated everyweek and a new video once a month

[European Lee]

Originally posted by Dirty Dane
Some people have the money, and do not care how much it cost. Some people have less, and wants trial before they decide.
Some people have no money, signup for trial, grab it all, and decide not to be member after trial (not just a question of the websites quality).
Some people get tired of the website, and want to try another sites instead.

Now read what you wrote again and explain why having a single price point for all 4 of the reasons you posted would be a VERY good thing.

Regards,

Lee

[Tom_PMs]

Originally posted by bringer
you dont think they already do this?

I never said that I thought nobody already does this sort of thing

Quite the opposite I'd say.

I'd love to have some links in some "Please dont leave!" type cancel emails, lol.

[FTVGirls]

Many members feel that $30.00 is more than expensive to join a site; though we have an optional $99.00 for 5 months.

Depends on your content, true, if you have a shit members area, then it doesn't really matter as much; but as least in our case, our rebills are higher than our daily sales. Also do not forget that at least 5-10% of signups they forget to cancel or are too lazy to, or simply forget.

[NiteRain]

Originally posted by European Lee
If everyone changed to that billing method exactly the same as they are now because surfers wouldnt have any other options

Regards,

Lee

Actually, I know of a site that charges like 100 to 200 dollars to get in, they have some stuff you would never think you would ever see. But the question was about why not more people. One if you upped your price right now to 100 dollars, you would see people laughing, some would be curious why it was 100 dollars, after they buy the membership, and then compare it to other sites they are members to, they would just charge it back, or ask for a refund, and I believe paycom considers refunds of mastercard transactions the same as chargebacks so basically you are shooting yourself in the foot. Two, the industry would never agree to it, they are in competition with one another, one to maximize signups, and to maximize payouts to webmasters, so in maintaining this balance they are moving to more of a PlatinumRevenue model where webmasters get paid on signups, and recurring, so one customer that retains they make 20 dollars on the initial and then 50%, 60% 70% on the recurring depending on how much consistent traffic they send.

[PatrickKing]

We offer 29.99 30days reoccuring
64.95 90days one time
99.99 180days one time

no trials, we mostly sell the 29.99 option
we sell a good amount of the 64.95 option
and few of the 99.99 option

[SteveLightspeed]

What happens when you pay the affiliate his $50 during the first month, only to watch the chargebacks roll in 2 months later?

This pricing model is ripe for friendly fraud, isn't it?

[Tom_PMs]

Originally posted by Lightspeed
What happens when you pay the affiliate his $50 during the first month, only to watch the chargebacks roll in 2 months later?

This pricing model is ripe for friendly fraud, isn't it?

Thats why you dont alter the payout to an affiliate. You just get the upsell in house so you can breath a little.

[European Lee]

Originally posted by Lightspeed
What happens when you pay the affiliate his $50 during the first month, only to watch the chargebacks roll in 2 months later?

This pricing model is ripe for friendly fraud, isn't it?

So affiliate programs start to chase surfers who issue 'friendly' chargebacks just as a regular bricks and mortar store would.

Friendly or not, theft is still theft, they got what they paid for.

Regards,

Lee

[PatrickKing]

We have been doing very good with it. Of corse we get a cb every now and then , but for the most part they are few and far between. ( now that I said that they will probably roll in- lol)

[Dirty Dane]

Originally posted by European Lee
Now read what you wrote again and explain why having a single price point for all 4 of the reasons you posted would be a VERY good thing.

Regards,

Lee

OK, here is the smartest way to get as much porn as possible:

Sign up for 3 day trial, let say 5 dollars. If 6 months membership cost 50 dollars, why should I pay 50 dollars? I could sign up again for trial after 6 months and grab all the updates from last time...for 10 dollars.
If I act like this, I could change between several sites and their trials, signing up months later to get their updates

However, I do not tell my surfers this trick

As I said, people have more or less money. One site I promote, I get 4-5 signups per month, at 150 dollars for one year membership. Cool enough, but not all people have 150 dollars to spend on porn in one buy. And somehow, rebills "sounds" cheaper, because you do not pay one big amount of money. It's like everything else, just look at the companies selling TVs etc on credits. You pay smaller amount at the time, but in total it will be more expensive, that's right.

Everyone should have access to porn!

[quiet]

Originally posted by NiteRain
Actually, I know of a site that charges like 100 to 200 dollars to get in, they have some stuff you would never think you would ever see.

would you mind posting the site?

[quiet]

Originally posted by European Lee
So affiliate programs start to chase surfers who issue 'friendly' chargebacks just as a regular bricks and mortar store would.

Friendly or not, theft is still theft, they got what they paid for.

Regards,

Lee

uh, lol

[European Lee]

Originally posted by Dirty Dane
OK, here is the smartest way to get as much porn as possible:

Sign up for 3 day trial, let say 5 dollars. If 6 months membership cost 50 dollars, why should I pay 50 dollars? I could sign up again for trial after 6 months and grab all the updates from last time...for 10 dollars.
If I act like this, I could change between several sites and their trials, signing up months later to get their updates

However, I do not tell my surfers this trick

As I said, people have more or less money. One site I promote, I get 4-5 signups per month, at 150 dollars for one year membership. Cool enough, but not all people have 150 dollars to spend on porn in one buy. And somehow, rebills "sounds" cheaper, because you do not pay one big amount of money. It's like everything else, just look at the companies selling TVs etc on credits. You pay smaller amount at the time, but in total it will be more expensive, that's right.

Everyone should have access to porn!

You dont have to tell surfers this it is already being done by them

Many surfers will join on a trial and download all the porn they can get then cancel.

By having a higher monthly no trial option only this will cut such practises down.

Also, once their rebill period has expired why not add them to a temporary blacklist for the individual site so that after say, another 6 months has passed, they can rejoin the site if they want to.

In the mean time if they want to find more porn they have to join yet another site at full cost whereby they will begin to realize that cancelling their membership originally probably wasnt the best thing to

Regards,

Lee

[bringer]

Originally posted by Dirty Dane
OK, here is the smartest way to get as much porn as possible:

Sign up for 3 day trial, let say 5 dollars. If 6 months membership cost 50 dollars, why should I pay 50 dollars? I could sign up again for trial after 6 months and grab all the updates from last time...for 10 dollars.
If I act like this, I could change between several sites and their trials, signing up months later to get their updates

However, I do not tell my surfers this trick

As I said, people have more or less money. One site I promote, I get 4-5 signups per month, at 150 dollars for one year membership. Cool enough, but not all people have 150 dollars to spend on porn in one buy. And somehow, rebills "sounds" cheaper, because you do not pay one big amount of money. It's like everything else, just look at the companies selling TVs etc on credits. You pay smaller amount at the time, but in total it will be more expensive, that's right.

Everyone should have access to porn!

there are ways to get around this that i havent see anyone do yet...

[http]

Non-recurring is very popular among experienced surfers = majority of surfers in 2004.

Out of those who joined a paysite once in the past 5 years, I bet 50% had a lot of hassles when trying to cancel their membership

[wyldblyss]

Well, I don't think too many people will shell out $100 for a website he may or may not like.

I also forsee people charging back a great deal...when they get inside and decide that they don't think they are getting their moneys worth. People pay 5 bucks and don't like it...it is "oh well" and they don't renew...(some assholes even charge back). Pay $100 bucks and it would be charge-back city.

Then you have the people that WOULD pay the $100 but simply can't afford to lay out that much money at once...like the guy who make 7 bucks an hour...he may retain at a $20 or $25 buck website but to come up with that much cash at once...no way.

[Arty]

Originally posted by European Lee
Would it not make sense to offer surfers a longer length membership for a higher price and not have to worry about rebills etc?

For example, trial option @ 5 bucks plus a rebill 2 or 3 days later at 30 bucks..

Thats a max of 35 bucks before the surfer decides your members area is shit potentially that is, if they dont figure it out after the first hour.

Using this method you are guaranteed to lose money whichever way you look at it however...

Lets say there is no trial option but a membership length of 12 months for $100

You make $100 instantly and payuot 50% of that to your affiliate making you an additional income of 15 bucks on the trial / monthly option.

Why do so many affiliate programs rely on rebills when they can satisfy both their bank account and the account of their affiliate by offering a higher longer membership price point?

$50 payouts could become the norm in the not so distant future for all paysite owners

Best of all, if a surfer couldnt find any trial options on any paysite they would have to pull out the CC and spend that $100 to jerk off.

Regards,

Lee

"Most" of them wouldn't care to chargeback for smaller amounts, but for $100 they would definitely request refund or cargeback...

[European Lee]

Originally posted by Arty
"Most" of them wouldn't care to chargeback for smaller amounts, but for $100 they would definitely request refund or cargeback...

Thats why affiliate programs should start acting like a 'real' business.

If you went to a DVD store, purchased a DVD, watched it and decided you didnt like the movie and charged back, what do you think would happen to you?

Its illegal, they call it fraud. Why is buying a paysite membership any different?

Regards,

Lee

[SteveLightspeed]

Originally posted by European Lee
So affiliate programs start to chase surfers who issue 'friendly' chargebacks just as a regular bricks and mortar store would.

Friendly or not, theft is still theft, they got what they paid for.

Regards,

Lee

By "friendly fraud" -- I'm referring to affiliates who bang signups to you with fraudulent cards, to get the big payouts.

[bringer]

Originally posted by European Lee
Thats why affiliate programs should start acting like a 'real' business.

If you went to a DVD store, purchased a DVD, watched it and decided you didnt like the movie and charged back, what do you think would happen to you?

Its illegal, they call it fraud. Why is buying a paysite membership any different?

Regards,

Lee

if you're POOR and want a dvd player you make small payments you can afford. thats why poor people in trailers have big screen tvs and soundsystems. they cant afford cash upfront but they can make the monthly payments

[Dirty Dane]

Originally posted by European Lee
You dont have to tell surfers this it is already being done by them

Many surfers will join on a trial and download all the porn they can get then cancel.

By having a higher monthly no trial option only this will cut such practises down.

Also, once their rebill period has expired why not add them to a temporary blacklist for the individual site so that after say, another 6 months has passed, they can rejoin the site if they want to.

In the mean time if they want to find more porn they have to join yet another site at full cost whereby they will begin to realize that cancelling their membership originally probably wasnt the best thing to

Regards,

Lee

Yes, it will work for some targeted markets, but not all. Think of it: many of those doing such trial-cancel practise may not have the money, so why not let them do it? One trial is better than nothing at all.
And: The higher prices/denying people access, could lead to more hacking, sharing of passes/content. That's another side of it.

[European Lee]

Originally posted by Lightspeed
By "friendly fraud" -- I'm referring to affiliates who bang signups to you with fraudulent cards, to get the big payouts.

Well the processors should be to blame for this not the paysite owners.

Afterall its the processors who let these fraudulent transactions get past thier scrubbing methods

I realize this isnt how it works now but it should do and nothing will be done about it until the entire industry starts to persue fraudulent chargebacks that have been made by surfers who actually do visit the sites as well as by those individuals who have had their CC's used by dishonest affiliate programs.

Why dont we hear more about affiliate programs reporting fraudulent webmasters to the authorities? Most likely because they are scared at what will happen to them in the process.

Unfortunately it is a vicious circle that isnt going to end until something starts to be done about the problems.

Prosecute the fuckers, i dont think there is a country in the word where credit card fraud isnt a crime.

Regards,

Lee

[Tom_PMs]

Originally posted by European Lee
Thats why affiliate programs should start acting like a 'real' business.

If you went to a DVD store, purchased a DVD, watched it and decided you didnt like the movie and charged back, what do you think would happen to you?

Its illegal, they call it fraud. Why is buying a paysite membership any different?

Regards,

Lee

Completely agree with this, who doesnt? The CC companies calling it friendly fraud on their end, giving the money back to the card holder, then fining YOU is a horrible thing. It would never fly where you have a physical signature, and it shouldnt fly in the all digital world either.

[Arty]

Originally posted by European Lee
Thats why affiliate programs should start acting like a 'real' business.

If you went to a DVD store, purchased a DVD, watched it and decided you didnt like the movie and charged back, what do you think would happen to you?

Its illegal, they call it fraud. Why is buying a paysite membership any different?

Regards,

Lee

I think there are some other factors.

In your sample DVD is a tangible item but paysite offers just a "service". Also, as pointed out billers always taking a side on card holders when it comes to paysites. So they can easily claim "x paysite didn't fullfill their promises" or "I didn't like the site" and get a refund.

I even had a customer who get's a refund through processor after staying as member for two months and downloading GB's of stuff. Just because his account suspended by protection script for one day(account shared).

[NiteRain]

Originally posted by European Lee
So affiliate programs start to chase surfers who issue 'friendly' chargebacks just as a regular bricks and mortar store would.

Friendly or not, theft is still theft, they got what they paid for.

Regards,

Lee

Stores have the customers signature for the creditcard transactions. That is the difference between them. That is also the difference between a mail order merchant account. That is why when someone charges back on a mail order account, the company is notified and they can show proof of the person signature.

[NiteRain]

Originally posted by Arty
I think there are some other factors.

In your sample DVD is a tangible item but paysite offers just a "service". Also, as pointed out billers always taking a side on card holders when it comes to paysites. So they can easily claim "x paysite didn't fullfill their promises" or "I didn't like the site" and get a refund.

I even had a customer who get's a refund through processor after staying as member for two months and downloading GB's of stuff. Just because his account suspended by protection script for one day(account shared).

How about the people who signup for the account use it for like 3 months and then email you complaining that their kid got their creditcard and purchased all this porn.

[NiteRain]

Originally posted by Tom_PM
Completely agree with this, who doesnt? The CC companies calling it friendly fraud on their end, giving the money back to the card holder, then fining YOU is a horrible thing. It would never fly where you have a physical signature, and it shouldnt fly in the all digital world either.

Well there is no proof of the transaction, and the adult community messed itself up when a few people had the great idea to bang peoples creditcards several times, and run for the borders with all their money.

[Dirty D]

We have a $99.95 option for 6 months.

It is a discount from the normal $19.95/month

We get about a dozen $99 signups a day.
Our affiliates love them!

Affiliates get paid half - $49.97

http://www.HowIgotRich.com

$1,000 webmaster bonuses for 2004

[The Heron]

Nobody wants to pay $100 up front for a porn membership, especially if they have never seen the members area yet... only idiots would want that option.

[EscortBiz]

35% of my signups are the 3 month 69.95 signups non recurr

[fr8]

I would just offere the surfer serveral options. or move to the mircopayment system.