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Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

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Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#101

Post by drchiu »

nathcd wrote: post #23

Is there any downside (other than a little more work for the implementer) to just using their main payment processing API, and to implement subscription billing with a cronjob? This is what sr.ht does [1], at least as of a year ago. If doing it manually now means saving a bunch of money, seems like a no-brainer. [1] https://cmpwn.com/@sir/103074952842876982

We did that for a couple of SAAS. In fact, we even extracted this out to an internal library with a web UI. If anyone is interested, let me know and I’d be happy to open source it. It’ll have to be run in its own server and process.

But for full disclosure, my latest project just bit the bullet and accepted the extra 0.5%. Wanted to see how it goes. Could always switch if I found the need.

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#102

Post by Alupis »

onepointsixC wrote: post #96
Alupis wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe - they seemed really not interested in negotiating much at all and I got the impression they feel that their customers should be lucky enough to be allowed to use Stripe as a processor. My company went through negotiations with Stripe earlier this year. We were more than 1.5% + $0.10 away from our current processor, and they wouldn't budge to even match our existing rates. They kept saying they are a better val…

Did you end up staying with your current processor or swiping to Stripe?

We stayed put actually. At the end of the day, you need a processor that charges low fees, provides easy tools to handle chargebacks and refunds, provides tools to automate sweeping balances nightly, and doesn't go down often.

People don't switch processors often, so building out an integration once every 10 years isn't a big deal if you design your integration correctly.

That, and I assure you, your customers don't give a darn about which processor you use.

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#103

Post by radihuq »

pc wrote: post #93

(Stripe cofounder.) Hi folks -- as Edwin points out elsewhere in the thread, the article title isn't accurate. (I'll update or delete my comment if it's fixed.) [Update: it was changed. It used to read "Stripe is now charging 0.5% more for recurring charges."] You can happily make recurring charges yourself and no additional fees are incurred. Lots of Stripe customers do this and we don't charge anything extra for it…

Thanks pc! OT: You're very active, and usually one of the first to get involved, in Stripe-related discussions on HN. I'm curious how you manage this. Do you lurk HN all day like me and spot the new Stripe-related threads, or do others at Stripe let you know when they see a Stripe-related thread?

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#104

Post by legitster »

This is funny timing for us - we are currently looking at implementing a subscription service and were already looking at this price. Even so, 0.5% fee is miles away the cheapest option. (Most others want a fixed fee per month plus .8%).

Is there reason for us to be scoffing at the new price? This is still a fraction even of processing the credit card.

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#106

Post by larrik »

Alupis wrote: post #40
klinskyc wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're doing significant volume, which I assume Streak does, you can negotiate significant volume discounts. You have been leaving a ton of money on the table if you have not done that.

Maybe - they seemed really not interested in negotiating much at all and I got the impression they feel that their customers should be lucky enough to be allowed to use Stripe as a processor. My company went through negotiations with Stripe earlier this year. We were more than 1.5% + $0.10 away from our current processor, and they wouldn't budge to even match our existing rates. They kept saying they are a better val…

> Stripe Checkout with Fraud detection - which requires you to use their hosted checkout page

Does it? In my experience you can just use their Hosted Fields which are actually really great.

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#107

Post by jb775 »

edwinwee wrote: post #29

Edwin from Stripe here. It’s worth distinguishing between charging money on Stripe (for which you incur payments pricing) and using Stripe Billing (which is a separately-paid product). Stripe Billing has had this pricing for a few years. For some longtime users of Subscriptions, we originally didn’t change their pricing but are doing so now. We think charging a separate fee for our Billing product is fair, given comp…

However you sugarcoat this, it's essentially shifting long term wealth away from your customers and into your pocket. People aren't stupid.

Hopefully this triggers more competition.

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#108

Post by dawnerd »

TAForObvReasons wrote: post #86
Gaelan wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IIRC, Stripe used to have a "subscriptions" API at no extra cost. A few years ago, when they launched Billing (with the 0.5% fee), they moved everyone over to that but grandfathered in the old pricing. Now they're making everyone pay for it.

They've been chipping away at the grandfathered accounts this year. What bothered me the most was earlier this year when they stopped refunding fees when issuing refunds. They rolled out a feature during the early days of the pandemic, and in the same week they started charging older accounts for refunds https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22371330

Is there anyone left that refunds fees? Paypal stopped last year and AFAIK all of the other processors also keep the fee.

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#109

Post by jdreaver »

radihuq wrote: post #103
pc wrote: post #93

(Stripe cofounder.) Hi folks -- as Edwin points out elsewhere in the thread, the article title isn't accurate. (I'll update or delete my comment if it's fixed.) [Update: it was changed. It used to read "Stripe is now charging 0.5% more for recurring charges."] You can happily make recurring charges yourself and no additional fees are incurred. Lots of Stripe customers do this and we don't charge anything extra for it…

Thanks pc! OT: You're very active, and usually one of the first to get involved, in Stripe-related discussions on HN. I'm curious how you manage this. Do you lurk HN all day like me and spot the new Stripe-related threads, or do others at Stripe let you know when they see a Stripe-related thread?

I've always wondered if there is a business opportunity here: a company that monitors social media for all mentions of your business and pings you about it. Maybe this already exists?

Re: Stripe migrates Stripe Subscriptions users to more expensive Stripe Billing

#110

Post by reilly3000 »

Recurring billing is hard stuff. If you haven't touched it and don't know what Dunning means, or how to handle upcoming card expirations, or proation, or mixing one-time and recurring purchases, then you probably won't appreciate what kind of value is provided by a 3rd party service. Its a wonderful thing to outsource for many SaaS companies. If you have a totally novel business model with unique billing requirements it may make sense to build, otherwise its almost universally cheaper and more maintainable to buy.
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