Patreon Pledge Updates

*Lights torch, raises pitchfork* Right, which way is the castle that needs storming?

AdamBombTV

Well put! I hope they listen to everyone's complaints

Megan McKay

If they really want to remove the uncertainty of varying processing fees for creators, they could just say "we'll take 15% now, but we use it to cover the fees, so creators always get 85% and we keep whatever is left after the processing fees". If the 80-88% in the first graphic is correct, this wouldn't change much for creators, wouldn't change anything for patrons, and Patreon could still try to maximize what they get by negotiating the fees with payment providers.

Cowgirl Zombie

That's something I didn't even know about until this whole thing started. I wasn't aware of VAT charges for some patrons. You guys are truly saints. I hate that Patreon wants to pass more fees your way :(

Megan McKay

Couldn't agree more. I feel like these changes wouldn't make sense for a company to make unless they needed to somehow rearrange funds. Heck, I'm not mad about them upping the fees, because if they need them to keep afloat, that's fine. I just don't agree that patrons should foot the bill.

Megan McKay

Right? Their "simple graph" was actually the part that confuses the whole thing for me.

Megan McKay

When, in the UK at least, they add 20% on top for VAT I'm wondering where it's going to end up this month compared to the last

Well, I changed my opinion on the "no bad intentions". Someone pointed out that the new (fixed) fee that is paid by the patrons is higher than the actual payment fees, and that the difference will probably just go to Patreon. (It's actually logical - if the payment processing fees are varying, which they say is the reason for the change, and they want to replace them by a fixed fee, then the fixed fee has to be high enough to cover all the "varying" fees. So they'll simply make it equal to the highest processing fees, and there will be some money remaining after paying the actual fees. Why didn't I think of this before...) Now suddenly this looks like it's not just a bad idea that someone thought was good, but a plan to get more money for Patreon while making it look like the creators get more money and Patreon does not.

Cowgirl Zombie

I'm not planning to make changes to my pledges, but that before/after graphic above is a little bit questionable even if the facts are accurate. If I understand correctly, Patreon will take 5% before and after the change, but first they call it "Patreon's 5%", and after the change they call it "Fees". And the part they call "Fees" before the change is called "Patrons" afterwards. Why not call the same things the same names (and also keep the same colors) in both graphics? The change itself doesn't seem to be bad, at least I can't imagine bad intentions behind it, but this way of presenting it is... weird at best.

Cowgirl Zombie

I want to believe that Patreon was trying to do right by creators, but I hate that it comes at the expense of patrons. Thanks for hearing me out, Zeke

Megan McKay

I'm just glad more of my actual pledge will be going to you, I have to pay a bit extra then so be it. I understand that there are probably many others who do not have the fortune of sharing my same level of income and financial stability so I can see how this will seems like bad news for many. I think i may be in a minority who welcomes these changes but if the graphics they showed were accurate then I am unashamedly glad that you are getting more of the money I pledge to you, I may even increase my pledge in the new year if I see that this change makes some patrons have to reconsider thier support for obvious and understandable reasons.

Zeke(Rcurtin9)

Absolutely. Thanks for reading, John!

Megan McKay

I'll see what my next total is for next mouth Megan before I make my decision. Thank you

Johnnyblu84