Comments on: Eliminating the Pricing Levels

By: Dan Cooperstock

Dan Cooperstock — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:14:43 +0000

Thanks, Tom. I don’t at this time have any plans to add further modules to make it more like MembershipPlus in features, though I guess one never knows about the future. I think what attracts a lot of previous MembershipPlus users to DONATION is the simplicity, and not doing a bunch of things they don’t need. If I have optional modules that do more of those things, it’s harder to be clear about the simplicity.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:15:12 +0000

Only God knows how many demos of church programs (american and canadian)I tested since 1998 and I found that your program stands out clearly from all competitors by its simplicity, speed and power (lacking in Donarius). Your price changes make sense, but for the potential people needing a church management program (like Membership Plus) and not only donation program, you could perhaps charge for an added module.

By: David Robertson

David Robertson — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:30:36 +0000

Fair enough.. I didn’t say prices change every few months.. I said “things”.. probably still an exaggeration..

Still a great product.. and BTW.. I looked at Donarius a few months back just out of curiosity.. not even in the same league with DONATION. DONATION is light years ahead in terms of ease of use and flexibility and features.

David

By: Dan Cooperstock

Dan Cooperstock — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:44:16 +0000

Good points David. But I think I can answer them.

First of all, I am making a reasonable living, and Cooperstock Software is in no way a “sinking ship”. I’m just trying to improve and simplify things.

Although I have explained the current average payment levels to you advisors who read the blog, and that this is thus an increase for the average user, in the announcement to ALL users, this will be posed primarily as a simplification, which decreases the price for many users, while increasing it only for those who have under 200 donors. That’s all entirely truthful (which is important to me!) and I don’t feel it’s necessary to point out that my expectation is that this may bring in a bit more revenue on average. But it may not, given that the option to go back to the new free Lite version will appear at the same time.

Finally, there has not been a price change since May 2008. So this is not “every few months”.

Does that make things seem better? Thanks.

By: David Robertson

David Robertson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:43:19 +0000

I am normally pretty negative about price increases and am also negative about vendors that change things around every few months.

Having said that, I certainly believe the product and Dan’s excellent support are worth he increase proposed.

So.. I am definitely in for $80 (a bargain) but I would really like to see things settle down. The downside of constant change is that I keep wondering if the product will continue to be a viable, affordable product for the long term… i.e is Dan making enough money to continue the effort or are the changes a way to try to save a sinking ship? So.. perhaps a single fee will cause some stability.

By: Dan Cooperstock

Dan Cooperstock — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:35:08 +0000

Frank, is $10 added to the renewal price (up from $30 to $40) really going to make or break your decision as to whether to renew?

Or is it more the “optics” of doing it now?

By: David Parris

David Parris — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:21:33 +0000

I agree that the proposed pricing still represents a very good value for the cost of the program/renewal. But I must agree with Frank that small churches (like ours) are really feeling the pinch of the economic/unemployment situation right now. Seems to me the prudent thing would be to postpone the increase by maybe a year.

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:11:33 +0000

Given the economic downturn with its accompanying high unemployment rate and corresponding downturn in charitable giving, our church is in the middle of a very serious budget crisis this year. I would hate to see the price of this software go up by 33%.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:50:41 +0000

Good evening Dan.

Sounds good to us. Our church would have no problem with the price increase, especially with all the support we receive. You have helped me out a number of times and I appreciate that very much.

This is your business as well, so don’t sell yourself short. You do a lot of work to earn your money.

Thanks a million.

Peter

By: Robert Vanderhill

Robert Vanderhill — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:01:30 +0000

DONATION is excellent value for the money. Your proposed pricing structure should be no problem.