Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#1

Post by Panos » Sat, May 14, 2011, 12:42 AM UTC

Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All
behind-the-enemy-lines.blogspot.com

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#2

Post by iandanforth » Sat, May 14, 2011, 1:02 AM UTC

I'm surprised this doesn't mention blood donation as pay-for-blood schemes have been shown to reduce donations. This is the primary reason I'm aware of this effect.

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#3

Post by vishaldpatel » Sat, May 14, 2011, 1:25 AM UTC

Something to keep in mind: Not paying works best when everyone thinks that everyone else is a volunteer.

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#4

Post by corin_ » Sat, May 14, 2011, 1:32 AM UTC

Another side to think about is how people want others to see them. I happily donate blood (in the UK, where there aren't options to get paid for doing this), but if they started paying a small amount, I would feel that, by going in, people would see me and think "he's so desperate for money that he's donating blood to earn some".

Same thing, say, volunteering in a charity shop (which I haven't done for a few years, not for reasons related to this). If I were to be offered pay, it would be too little for me to care about getting, and again I would, sadly, care that people would see me as the person whose job is in a charity shop, rather than the person who is volunteering his time for a good cause.

It's a pretty petty way to think, and I don't always let the "but people will think..." win my internal argument. but it's usually there, and fairly often does sway my decision. (For the record, I don't care that people see me in a positive light, I'd be just as happy donating blood in such a way that no-one ever noticed me doing it, the bit I care about is when I feel I might be seen in a way that I don't like. Still pretty egotistical, but not quite as bad as wanting to show off, I think/hope.)

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#5

Post by gyom » Sat, May 14, 2011, 1:37 AM UTC

I learned that lesson at Halloween a long time ago. My mother helped my friend and I sew our costumes (she basically did all the work).

When my friend offered to give her some money for her help, she just replied that he wouldn't have enough money to pay her.

At that moment, I achieved enlightenment.

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#6

Post by Yxven » Sat, May 14, 2011, 2:16 AM UTC

I have been working on a subscription based website that would pay 70% of its revenue to its contributors. I'm sure the payout will be insignificant for minor contributions. Is being subscription based savable? (I don't think banner ads will pay enough to be worthwhile)

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#7

Post by jbri » Sat, May 14, 2011, 3:52 AM UTC

Yxven wrote: post #6

I have been working on a subscription based website that would pay 70% of its revenue to its contributors. I'm sure the payout will be insignificant for minor contributions. Is being subscription based savable? (I don't think banner ads will pay enough to be worthwhile)

Suggestion: Allow contributors to automatically donate their earnings to a charity. Much easier for minor contributors than collecting their individual payout and donating it themselves, probably more efficient for the charity as well (since you can pool it from everyone into a single donation), and brings back some of the "doing it for a good cause instead of for money" thing.

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#8

Post by smallblacksun » Sat, May 14, 2011, 3:57 AM UTC

corin_ wrote: post #4

Another side to think about is how people want others to see them. I happily donate blood (in the UK, where there aren't options to get paid for doing this), but if they started paying a small amount, I would feel that, by going in, people would see me and think "he's so desperate for money that he's donating blood to earn some". Same thing, say, volunteering in a charity shop (which I haven't done for a few years, n…

Lawyers are the same way. They either charge normal rates or work pro-bono. They almost never work for a reduced rate.

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#9

Post by Yxven » Sat, May 14, 2011, 4:16 AM UTC

jbri wrote: post #7

Yxven wrote: post #6

I have been working on a subscription based website that would pay 70% of its revenue to its contributors. I'm sure the payout will be insignificant for minor contributions. Is being subscription based savable? (I don't think banner ads will pay enough to be worthwhile)

Suggestion: Allow contributors to automatically donate their earnings to a charity. Much easier for minor contributors than collecting their individual payout and donating it themselves, probably more efficient for the charity as well (since you can pool it from everyone into a single donation), and brings back some of the "doing it for a good cause instead of for money" thing.

I think that's a good idea. Thank you.

Re: Pay Enough or Don't Pay at All

#10

Post by code_duck » Sat, May 14, 2011, 5:26 AM UTC

smallblacksun wrote: post #8

corin_ wrote: post #4

Another side to think about is how people want others to see them. I happily donate blood (in the UK, where there aren't options to get paid for doing this), but if they started paying a small amount, I would feel that, by going in, people would see me and think "he's so desperate for money that he's donating blood to earn some". Same thing, say, volunteering in a charity shop (which I haven't done for a few years, n…

Lawyers are the same way. They either charge normal rates or work pro-bono. They almost never work for a reduced rate.

Making any product available for a reduced rate reduces it's perceived value in the market... particularly something personally branded like law services or art.