Regarding Changes to Patreon's Fees
Added 2017-12-08 23:17:07 +0000 UTCBy now many of you have heard about Patreon's plans for revising their payment structure next month. If not, here's the gist of it: Patreon currently deducts transaction fees from the income creators receive. That's money taken from me, not you. Which I accept. Price of doing business, right?
But starting next month they may be changing that, applying a surcharge of 2.9% plus $0.35 to patrons' total pledge amounts. Which means you'll be receiving a fee on top of the amount you've pledged.
This seems rather backwards to me. Other creators, like Jim Whaley and Dan Shive, have aired grievances to Patreon. Both have made posts addressing this situation and their reactions, which I recommend you investigate because they're smarter about this stuff than I am.
As it stands, I'm willing to hope that negative reaction to the plan will dissuade the folks in charge of Patreon from actually doing this. Feel free to make your feelings known to the ones in charge (though always in a calm and respectful fashion). But if they actually follow through with it then I intend to follow Dan's example and change the price tiers, lowering them to accommodate the fee (though I'm terrible at math and the 1.00 pledge is rock bottom, so I can't shave that one back at all). I'll also look into setting up a PayPal tip jar like I did in olden days. I'm loathe to abandon Patreon completely, but I know that some people intend to do just that. I certainly can't blame them, or you, if you feel the same way.
But what are your thoughts? Suggestions? I'm in a bit of an odd place since Zebra Girl is coming to a close. But the most important thing is to do right by you.
