Can all of you please take a look at this?

Here are my thoughts:

1. I think auto-renew should be an "opt-in" choice. No obligation beyond the initial donation is good business - if you lock someone in and they later feel that they aren't deriving the benefit they thought they would (they discover they aren't buying as much gear as they thought they would, or can't get to games as often as they'd like), you've driven that customer away. But if they can donate when possible - particularly if they are going through a tough economic time - they'll donate again when their finances allow.

2. Related to number 1, there needs to be an auto-notification feature. Something that tells them a month or two in advance that their previous donation "period" is about to expire - thank them for helping to keep the Board free, asking them if they have suggestions to improve the program, and a donation button or link they can click to donate again.

3. My feeling on the suspension or ban issue is - tough luck. The donation is for more than keeping the Board free - they get benefits that remain after the ban or suspension with the discounts. Having said that, we might want a small disclaimer on the donation page that donations are non-refundable. VERY small. And stuck in somewhere so it's easy to overlook. Not that I'd EVER do that in a contract I draw up, ya understand...

 
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So are you saying font-size: 1px small, or display:none small?
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I think suspensions or bans shouldn't affect status in a member program. Whether or not their conduct permits them to post on the board, they are equivalent on the money side in a service that ultimately is supposed to benefit us. A gentle way is probably to not allow them to renew if they are banned (although the 3- or 7-day suspension shouldn't be a big deal). It would make the program look bad if people paid for something and didn't receive the full benefits because of what ultimately is often a judgment call of one person or a small group of people.

I like Frank's ideas, but do you guys have a backend that is equipped to automate this process? I suppose during the pilot phase, it isn't a big deal - volume isn't great. Actually, in general, volume will probably not be too great. But sending all those emails manually on time will be a pain if it isn't automated.

 
That's a good point, zoogies, but on the flip side of that, I don't want some member thinking they can pay a few dollars and suddenly they have carte blanche to behave any way they see fit. Publicizing something like that could backfire.

 
Oh yeah, but they wouldn't have that. I was suggesting that they'd be banned, but they would get what the discounts, etc for the duration for which they signed up & paid. Their status on the board would be considered independently and no different from any other member.

 
I think we treat them the same as any other member on the board or we obviously are sending the wrong message. I think we all know that if someone screws up then that's on them. Whether they're a donor or not doesn't matter and doesn't allow them to lose their minds.

 
AR Husker Fan said:
Here are my thoughts:
2. Related to number 1, there needs to be an auto-notification feature. Something that tells them a month or two in advance that their previous donation "period" is about to expire - thank them for helping to keep the Board free, asking them if they have suggestions to improve the program, and a donation button or link they can click to donate again.
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This is what I had in mind. Either the option to set up recurring billing or a reminder that the 1 year membership donor program was about to expire.

I think we are all essentially on the same page in terms of treatment. No special treatment to those that do join the program. My concern would be that if we have to boot a "paying customer" with a no refund policy would be the potential to take a chargeback on the chin. I imagine those that do join will typically be of our highest caliber of member, and this should most likely never be an issue. I apologize for the potential over-analysis, merchant risk analysis is what I do for a living. :)

 
Good conversation guys, I appreciate the thoughts. Yes it will be a manual process initially, since volumes will likely be low, it will be manageable.

And to Dave's question -- we had minimal investment to launch the program, so very little risk on our part.

What did we decide on the Donor icons? I can have someone create them if you can let me know what size would be best. We had another member purchase a scarlet package, so we should make the icons available soon.

 
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Got this from a member today:

Hey Knap, do you know where I get the coupon code etc from being a donor? It's prob right in front of me, but I don't see it...

Thanks, Matt
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As I think about this, I didn't receive an email after donating, either.

 
Hi Lance,

Thank you for your generous contribution to the Huskerboard Donors team - and thanks for your patience as we've worked out the final kinks.

You purchased a Bronze & we upgraded you to a Silver package, which entitles you to the benefits below. Please find the coupon codes listed below.

'Silver Donor' logo for your HuskerBoard profile

Thanks again for all of your help with the board, Lance.

Chad & Eric

HuskerBoard.com
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I hate to quibble, but I have a bronze logo here. Any chance of a silver? It would go with the rest of my bling.

 
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knapplc said:
Got this from a member today:

Hey Knap, do you know where I get the coupon code etc from being a donor? It's prob right in front of me, but I don't see it...

Thanks, Matt
Click to expand...
As I think about this, I didn't receive an email after donating, either.
Click to expand...

Lance and everyone else, do yourselves a favor and push all questions from members abot this donor program to Chad and I like you have been doing. It's easier for us to keep track of and lessens the chance of misinformation.

Thanks....this is starting to pick up steam

 
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