Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info?

#11

Post by joez » Tue, Sep 22, 2009, 5:15 AM UTC

Just a quick thought: If the product can be given as a gift, maybe you should leave a "give as gift" option. When you ask for credit card later, you eliminate the chance for your best customer. If a parent, spouse or friend gives a subscription as a gift, I feel like they are putting it on set it and forget it mode (especially if what you are asking for is a small amount every month).

For sure this only applies to certain products, maybe educational or entertainment ones.

Re: Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info?

#12

Post by gte910h » Tue, Sep 22, 2009, 5:42 AM UTC

Oh god please take my credit card info up front....then remind the hell out of me that the account will auto renew at 7, 3 and 1 day left.

I've dealt with a couple services that won't take the account info up front, and I canceled because paying was such a hassle on the day that they actually wanted to be paid.

Re: Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info?

#13

Post by gte910h » Tue, Sep 22, 2009, 5:42 AM UTC

Additionally, you can make taking it up front optional as well...

Re: Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info?

#14

Post by ApolloRising » Tue, Sep 22, 2009, 9:24 AM UTC

They can do this because they have achieved enough user mass and are now a relatively known site.

They did not have this when they launched.

I suggest you let your users try everything and then downgrade when their time is up. They don't know what they are missing unless you show them.

Re: Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info?

#15

Post by FahnRobier » Tue, Sep 22, 2009, 1:46 PM UTC

Give them the option of filling in the CC info and provide a "Do it later" button?

It would be interesting to see how the conversation rate differed between the group that filled in the information immediately and those that opted for later.

Re: Ask HN: When to get customers' billing info?

#16

Post by donw » Tue, Sep 22, 2009, 6:20 PM UTC

tptacek wrote: post #4

Today I finally gave up Trac for Lighthouse (I need to let customers file bugs). Lighthouse won't take my credit card information up front; I had to get a free account and then upgrade it. I actually found it annoying. On the other hand I'm sure patio11 will tell you that nothing bounces prospects faster than a credit card signup.

It bounces me. I don't want to have to hand in payment information to even take a look at a product before I can use it.