Hacker Monthly Shuts Down • Hacker News Board

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#21

Post by pjc50 » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 1:22 PM UTC

eecks wrote: post #6

jacquesm wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I’m in the process of refunding all the subscribers who paid for the subscription period after 2015. It will take some time as I’m doing this by hand. If you need a refund urgently (for any reasons), drop me an email and I’ll have it processed immediately." Which is about as nice as it gets. On top of that, you got what you paid for no? This is not some kind of crucial service that holds your data or that you need f…

When a free service us shut down the mantra is normally "you should have paid for it"

Money is a necessary but not sufficient condition for keeping a business running.

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#22

Post by kqr » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 1:34 PM UTC

xylon wrote: post #11

never knew it existed until today

It had way too weak marketing. It was a top quality publication, always interesting and with great design, and it deserved way more readers.

I myself only heard of it when one of my articles got featured in it. They were nice enough to give me a free year of the digital subscription and it was one of the highlights every month.

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#23

Post by biot » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 1:38 PM UTC

Have you considered an "Ask HN" where you solicit someone who is passionate about it to take over running it?

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#24

Post by zenlot » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 1:56 PM UTC

Are there any similar quality publications around?

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#25

Post by mooreds » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 2:10 PM UTC

I wod love to hear from the OP if he had explores transitioning, aka selling, this to someone. I think there is a market for the attention of people with money to spend, even in print magazines (especially in niche print magazines).

But maybe he explored it and didn't find any takers, or maybe he doesn't want to deal with the hassle of such a transition.

Would be nice to know.

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#26

Post by TeMPOraL » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 2:18 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #8

eecks wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When a free service us shut down the mantra is normally "you should have paid for it"

Yes, but you see, this is not an online service, it is a publication. You have a bit of an entitlement issue.

The tone is off but I think there is something to the point eecks makes.

Remember that famous 'idlewords article[0]? I recall it making some circles around HN and the widely held conclusion was that free successful services are likely to disappear at a moment's notice, while paid successful services are unlikely to do so. Of course it is not true - the reason why is obvious when you've lived in the same apartment for more than few years and noticed how often shops - small and big - open up, and then close down. No service is forever. Rare are those who last more than few years.

But even if it's wrong, this argument about paid stuff having significantly longer lifespan was widely repeated, and was believed by many.

[0] - https://blog.pinboard.in/2011/12/don_t_be_a_free_user/

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#27

Post by blisterpeanuts » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 2:22 PM UTC

mooreds wrote: post #25

I wod love to hear from the OP if he had explores transitioning, aka selling, this to someone. I think there is a market for the attention of people with money to spend, even in print magazines (especially in niche print magazines). But maybe he explored it and didn't find any takers, or maybe he doesn't want to deal with the hassle of such a transition. Would be nice to know.

The blog mentioned that he had received several solicitations to buy the business, but he wasn't comfortable sharing the subscription list.

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#28

Post by r0fl » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 2:26 PM UTC

Why? You might ask. The main reason is I’m not motivated anymore. To be more precise, I ran out of creative juices.

Such a terrible excuse! Society today has this idea that they should only work on things that are their calling or truly make them happy! Outsource some of the boring work, grind out a few hours a week and collect your easy paycheque. Millions of people would do anything to make such easy money instead of slaving away at a real "boring" job for minimum wage.

What a shame on so many different levels.

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#29

Post by Udo » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 2:28 PM UTC

I'm sorry to hear that it's closing down, hearing this for the first time. I get why you're moving on.

Overall, I think there is still an opportunity for a "best of HN" publication, and I would probably subscribe if it wasn't too expensive. I just think it would have to be an entirely online-based format, maybe with an optional PDF, but certainly not something that needs a dead tree version.

Re: Hacker Monthly Shuts Down

#30

Post by jacquesm » Sat, Jan 09, 2016, 2:32 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #26

jacquesm wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but you see, this is not an online service, it is a publication. You have a bit of an entitlement issue.

The tone is off but I think there is something to the point eecks makes. Remember that famous 'idlewords article[0]? I recall it making some circles around HN and the widely held conclusion was that free successful services are likely to disappear at a moment's notice, while paid successful services are unlikely to do so. Of course it is not true - the reason why is obvious when you've lived in the same apartment for…

Who says that it being paid did not cause it to have a significantly longer lifespan? I can't even imagine a magazine like this being put out for free.