Patreon Are Idiots

Hello

By now you should all have received an email regarding the changes to Patreon. I glanced over the email and didn't fully understand it, but I found a couple of places where other Patreon creators explain it. I shall explain it to you here and I understand if your reaction will be to cancel your pledge.

Currently Patreon make their money by taking a cut of the pledges you provide. I don't know the exact figure, but they take about 7-15% each month. This means that if you pledge $10, they take from $0.70 to $1.50. That's why if someone pledges $10 the pledge count on my page doesn't always increase by the full $10.

The pledge count on my page represents an estimate of the money I actually get each month, minus any declined pledges. In an effort to make life 'simpler and more predictable' for creators, they are changing this method so that YOU, the patrons, pay the ADDITIONAL fees instead.

From the 18th December onwards, I will receive a flat 95% of all processed pledges. You guys, however, shall pay a 'service fee' of 2.9% + $0.35 PER PLEDGE. This is a really stupid change. This new system brutally punishes those who give small pledges as they pay a considerable markup on their pledge.

$1 pledges in particular are now $1.38 for the patron while the creator only receives $0.95. That is a pretty bad conversation rate. The rate gets nicer the larger your pledge, but given that Patreon is supported by mostly small pledges, they're idiots for screwing them.

I don't know why they've decided to make this change (out of genuine idiotic support for the creator or if they just want to spike up their intake from each pledge), but I really bloody hope they see the shocking reaction and reverse the decision.

What with YouTube bending over for big companies copyright, not to mention unmonetising anything where you say a single word in case it offends any advertisers in the world, 2017 has been the worst year so far to be a creator on the internet. The support both in comments and on here has been overwhelming in the face on my ongoing copyright battle, but now Patreon is taking a swing at the stability of this job.

I have to hope and believe that Patreon will see this backlash and change their minds. I've not seen that done many times before, but for such a creator-loving platform, maybe they will. If they don't, I understand if you want to cancel your pledge. Personally I won't be cancelling my two pledges I make to other creators (a $1 and a $2 pledge respectively), but I won't blame if you if you do.

If you do or not, may I request that you check out my merch store? If you want to support (or just want to buy someone a comfy t-shirt with a cool design because hey, it's almost Christmas), buy a piece of merch. Hopefully this'll all blow over and Patreon can go back to the proper crowd-funding platform it could be.

Here's a link to the page 'explaining' the changes, but be aware that it's essentially propaganda by Patreon: https://patreon.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005631963

And here's a link to my merch store, but be aware that it's essentially propaganda by me, but I make you laugh and stuff: https://www.redbubble.com/people/Gar1onriva/shop

Edit: They've realised how silly this change would be and have agreed not to enact it. We're good for now.