Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Here's how I deal with users who steal

pud.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 225 posts

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#31

Post by Kliment »

prawn wrote: post #23
ars wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if someone can afford it, but isn't willing to? To me that means the price is too high, so maybe also let them set their own price?

It's $20 for a chance to greatly simplify selling your music. If someone doesn't see value in that, leave them to submit everything manually IMO. Can't get dragged down by tightarses.

I would suggest a free trial might as a way to demonstrate value. Obviously you can see the "great simplification" only after using it. What is the easier sell - $20 for a possibility (you called it chance) to simplify a pain point you have, or $20 for something you have already observed to simplify said pain point, and have spent time entering data into and possibly making money off of?

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#32

Post by mVChr »

One purpose of getting users to sign up 5 friends for a free account is to get more people using the service. One purpose of allowing the scammers to get away with it is to be able to write a blog post about their novel approach that will in turn get more people using the service. I'm not saying that's the prime motive, but it seems like the goal is met either way.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#33

Post by thepicard »

hristov wrote: post #28

Since I am a little lazy, can someone explain to me why this service is necessary. Does apple not allow musicians to upload their music to itunes?

They do, it's just a complex and involved process. I don't recall exactly but I believe it might also need an upfront investment as a music publisher or something? I too am lazy.

Distrokid also does multiple services in one go.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#34

Post by uladzislau »

As an alternative solution, why not provide a free account only after all those 5 referred users paid for their first year? It will make no sense to fake referrals and that's why a lot of referral programs work this way. If you're interested in real paid referrals that's how you do it.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#35

Post by hnnnnng »

mooreds wrote: post #27
ars wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if someone can afford it, but isn't willing to? To me that means the price is too high, so maybe also let them set their own price?

If someone can afford a product, but isn't willing to, then they should look elsewhere for the value provided by the product, or live without it. That's embedded in the definition of a market--sellers get to choose the price, buyers get to choose whether or not to buy.

only in a "free-"market. Also there is a concept of "fair price" for a reason. You can't charge insane prices everywhere, especially for essential items.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#36

Post by _dark_matter_ »

mVChr wrote: post #32

One purpose of getting users to sign up 5 friends for a free account is to get more people using the service. One purpose of allowing the scammers to get away with it is to be able to write a blog post about their novel approach that will in turn get more people using the service. I'm not saying that's the prime motive, but it seems like the goal is met either way.

It doesn't seem right to demonize them for coming up with a novel solution for their problem and then telling the community about it. As long as the solution IS novel, and is sufficiently interesting, it doesn't matter what the motive was for creating the solution so long as we want to hear about it.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#37

Post by brainfed »

hristov wrote: post #28

Since I am a little lazy, can someone explain to me why this service is necessary. Does apple not allow musicians to upload their music to itunes?

No you have to go through a "publisher" of some sort who has an agreement with Apple. Previously sites like CD Baby or Reverbnation offered this service to musicians but they charge annual fees to keep your stuff up on the store. When Distrokid launched he said on Reddit that there was no need for people to pay these annual fees and he wanted to create a cheaper option.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#38

Post by astolarz »

Kliment wrote: post #31
prawn wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's $20 for a chance to greatly simplify selling your music. If someone doesn't see value in that, leave them to submit everything manually IMO. Can't get dragged down by tightarses.

I would suggest a free trial might as a way to demonstrate value. Obviously you can see the "great simplification" only after using it. What is the easier sell - $20 for a possibility (you called it chance) to simplify a pain point you have, or $20 for something you have already observed to simplify said pain point, and have spent time entering data into and possibly making money off of?

The first song upload is free.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#39

Post by benihana »

Love this idea. At a low cost, you humanize your product to your users, you provide people a chance to "do the right thing", you absolve people of their subterfuge, and you increase the chance of conversion. Even if only a small percentage of users do this, that's still a small percentage who weren't paying you before. Brilliant - I hope it works out for you.

Re: Here's how I deal with users who steal

#40

Post by mooreds »

hnnnnng wrote: post #35
mooreds wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If someone can afford a product, but isn't willing to, then they should look elsewhere for the value provided by the product, or live without it. That's embedded in the definition of a market--sellers get to choose the price, buyers get to choose whether or not to buy.

only in a "free-"market. Also there is a concept of "fair price" for a reason. You can't charge insane prices everywhere, especially for essential items.

Sure, I agree. Not all markets meet the concept of 'free'. But distrokid is competing in a market that is pretty close (helping musicians distribute music to services).
Post reply on HN