Re:Dear startups: I hate subscription services (2021)
by jnovek on Saturday July 30, 2022 @09:47AM
(#32286788)
Of course software needs iteration, but what was wrong with paying for occasional upgrades rather than the continuous trickle of a subscription?
I loved this model, it clearly linked revenue earned by new versions to the value provided by the upgrade.
IMO, subscriptions are intended to shoehorn users who would only upgrade every few years into the equivalent of the “yearly” upgrade cycle. They’re a way of avoiding the accountability that comes with paid upgrades.
Personally, I have two subscriptions that I will dump the instant a quality pay-once alternative appears. Locked-in customers are the worst kinds of customers.
I loved this model, it clearly linked revenue earned by new versions to the value provided by the upgrade.
IMO, subscriptions are intended to shoehorn users who would only upgrade every few years into the equivalent of the “yearly” upgrade cycle. They’re a way of avoiding the accountability that comes with paid upgrades.
Personally, I have two subscriptions that I will dump the instant a quality pay-once alternative appears. Locked-in customers are the worst kinds of customers.