Comments on: Common sense marketing http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/2007/06/17/common-sense-marketing/ Internet marketing Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:54:40 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Dan Kubb http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/2007/06/17/common-sense-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-5794 Dan Kubb Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:53:46 +0000 http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/?p=102#comment-5794 Ahh Ken, I understand what you mean now, and I agree with you completely. Tricking someone into paying on a recurring schedule is no better than not making shipping fees or taxes crystal clear -- something that I think is probably even more common. Also the point Katie brings up is very valid too. A large majority of people selling things online that use recurring billing aren't doing so responsibly. They use systems that aren't reliable, don't follow-up on declined/expired credit cards (and make it worse by trying to "catch-up" on the missed charge by doubling up the next month) or they don't immediately cancel recurring charges when notified. Anytime you don't deliver exactly as promised you risk damaging the customer's trust in you. Ahh Ken, I understand what you mean now, and I agree with you completely.

Tricking someone into paying on a recurring schedule is no better than not making shipping fees or taxes crystal clear — something that I think is probably even more common.

Also the point Katie brings up is very valid too. A large majority of people selling things online that use recurring billing aren’t doing so responsibly. They use systems that aren’t reliable, don’t follow-up on declined/expired credit cards (and make it worse by trying to “catch-up” on the missed charge by doubling up the next month) or they don’t immediately cancel recurring charges when notified.

Anytime you don’t deliver exactly as promised you risk damaging the customer’s trust in you.

]]> By: Katie Cummings http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/2007/06/17/common-sense-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-5758 Katie Cummings Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:21:43 +0000 http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/?p=102#comment-5758 I hate the recurring thing. You end up getting crap and even after you call and cancel, you get charged two months later. I think this sends a bad message to your customers. It seems to say you don't trust them. If you don't trust them, they won't trust you because trust is a two way street, right? I hate the recurring thing. You end up getting crap and even after you call and cancel, you get charged two months later. I think this sends a bad message to your customers. It seems to say you don’t trust them. If you don’t trust them, they won’t trust you because trust is a two way street, right?

]]> By: Ken McCarthy http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/2007/06/17/common-sense-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-5676 Ken McCarthy Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:14:25 +0000 http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/?p=102#comment-5676 That's simple Dan. Here's the problem: When consumers are scammed into signing up for these programs and either aren't aware of what their action is obligating them to or don't understand the terms of the deal because it's been presented in a confusing matter. That's what I object to. Yes, you can make a ton of money doing the above. You can also make a ton of money seling crack. I recommend people find an honest line of work. Continuity programs are not the problem. Even forced continuity is not the problem. Playing games with a customer's trust is a VERY BIG problem. I don't think you have to look to hard to find violations of the Golden Rule on this one. That’s simple Dan.

Here’s the problem:

When consumers are scammed into signing up for these programs and either aren’t aware of what their action is obligating them to or don’t understand the terms of the deal because it’s been presented in a confusing matter.

That’s what I object to.

Yes, you can make a ton of money doing the above. You can also make a ton of money seling crack. I recommend people find an honest line of work.

Continuity programs are not the problem. Even forced continuity is not the problem.

Playing games with a customer’s trust is a VERY BIG problem. I don’t think you have to look to hard to find violations of the Golden Rule on this one.

]]> By: Dan Kubb http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/2007/06/17/common-sense-marketing/comment-page-1/#comment-5435 Dan Kubb Mon, 18 Jun 2007 03:54:44 +0000 http://kenmccarthy.com/blog/?p=102#comment-5435 Ken, would you care to elaborate on the problems you see with forced continuity? (recurring charges until the client tells you to stop) For ongoing services where the seller can't provide lifetime memberships (like where there are ongoing costs for support and maintenance for the seller) is there a reasonable alternative? For example when I join a membership site with a monthly fee, I expect that fee to be charged automatically, on whatever schedule I agreed to. I would not want to have to take action to maintain membership: charge my card until I tell you to stop. I find recurring billing to be more of a convenience for myself, since it frees me from having to take action to continue receiving the service. Its also more convenient for the seller too since they don't have to deal with collections, except when payment is declined, which is usually the exception not the rule. All around its better for everyone. Ken, would you care to elaborate on the problems you see with forced continuity? (recurring charges until the client tells you to stop)

For ongoing services where the seller can’t provide lifetime memberships (like where there are ongoing costs for support and maintenance for the seller) is there a reasonable alternative?

For example when I join a membership site with a monthly fee, I expect that fee to be charged automatically, on whatever schedule I agreed to. I would not want to have to take action to maintain membership: charge my card until I tell you to stop.

I find recurring billing to be more of a convenience for myself, since it frees me from having to take action to continue receiving the service. Its also more convenient for the seller too since they don’t have to deal with collections, except when payment is declined, which is usually the exception not the rule. All around its better for everyone.

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