Comments on: The Death of Force Continuity? http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/ Irreverence Rebellion and interweb marketing. Sometimes with video thingies. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cheap Mommyhttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-3503 Cheap Mommy Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:08:04 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-3503 Never tried the forced continuity way of doing business, but it looks like I missed getting on the Titanic. Never tried the forced continuity way of doing business, but it looks like I missed getting on the Titanic.

]]> By: Phil Powdrillhttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2522 Phil Powdrill Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:51:43 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2522 Thanks for pointing us towards Ryan's excellent post. Personally I agree that this is good news. It encourages transparency and it's all part of the evolution of our industry.Always felt that forced continuity was a bit of a shady practice. Phil Thanks for pointing us towards Ryan’s excellent post.

Personally I agree that this is good news. It encourages transparency and it’s all part of the evolution of our industry.Always felt that forced continuity was a bit of a shady practice.

Phil

]]> By: John Jaworskihttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2516 John Jaworski Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:56:13 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2516 Stompernet has always marketed their products as a membership with a monthly fee. Andy may not mention it, but I remember Andy insisting that it be easy for people to refund. That the process be very clear and represented up front. And as you may find surprising, Andy was very, very passionate about it! :-) When Stompernet had problems in the past it was because the technology that was supposed to insure that sales, refunds, shipping etc were executed as planned, broke down under pressure. If you know me, you'll know that I believe 100% in the truth , and while Stompernet gets kicked in the nuts a lot, I know that any of the problems I saw happen, happened because programmers screwed up and Stompernet launched heavier than the technology could withstand. Never Malicious. Always with profit in mind. Always with the greater good of the Customer in mind. As someone with some altitude IMHO.... It was more a problem of getting too big too fast than anything else. Stompernet has always marketed their products as a membership with a monthly fee. Andy may not mention it, but I remember Andy insisting that it be easy for people to refund. That the process be very clear and represented up front. And as you may find surprising, Andy was very, very passionate about it! :-)

When Stompernet had problems in the past it was because the technology that was supposed to insure that sales, refunds, shipping etc were executed as planned, broke down under pressure.

If you know me, you’ll know that I believe 100% in the truth , and while Stompernet gets kicked in the nuts a lot, I know that any of the problems I saw happen, happened because programmers screwed up and Stompernet launched heavier than the technology could withstand. Never Malicious. Always with profit in mind. Always with the greater good of the Customer in mind.

As someone with some altitude IMHO…. It was more a problem of getting too big too fast than anything else.

]]> By: Michael Lockehttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2414 Michael Locke Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:55:17 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2414 Great article - If the consumer wins, we all win. Great article – If the consumer wins, we all win.

]]> By: Andy Jenkinshttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2413 Andy Jenkins Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:55:24 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2413 You might be Scott - Couple things - I'm no longer with StomperNet. In fact, I'm not marketing anything at the moment. Second, while I think that there's nothing wrong with Free Trials, the issue is about transparency. Most people don't have any issue with auto-billing for a trial AS LONG AS THE COMPANY IS CLEAR ABOUT IT. And that's the real issue. As long as the transparent folks remain transparent, they should be able to do whatever works. But until that happens, we're going to have to deal with the good and the bad. You might be Scott – Couple things – I’m no longer with StomperNet. In fact, I’m not marketing anything at the moment.

Second, while I think that there’s nothing wrong with Free Trials, the issue is about transparency. Most people don’t have any issue with auto-billing for a trial AS LONG AS THE COMPANY IS CLEAR ABOUT IT. And that’s the real issue. As long as the transparent folks remain transparent, they should be able to do whatever works. But until that happens, we’re going to have to deal with the good and the bad.

]]> By: Scotthttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2412 Scott Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:35:34 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2412 Am I the only one who is a little confused? Is this not how Stomper has been marketing their products for the past year? Don't get me wrong, they are very clear about what you are getting however the issue is the same, no?? Scott Am I the only one who is a little confused? Is this not how Stomper has been marketing their products for the past year? Don’t get me wrong, they are very clear about what you are getting however the issue is the same, no??

Scott

]]> By: John Kanehttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2410 John Kane Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:44:50 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2410 What caught my interest the most was in the letter below the video, where it read... "cannot accept merchant applications for products and/or services employing “Negative Option” enrollment,IN ADDITION to the following practices: >>>> “Cross-Selling” and “Up-selling” business practices." YIKES! No up-selling? "Do you want fries with that"? isn't THAT upselling defined? Obvious some changes need to be implemented but, that one is a doozie. What caught my interest the most was in the letter below the video, where it read…

“cannot accept merchant applications for products and/or services employing “Negative Option” enrollment,IN ADDITION to the following practices:
>>>> “Cross-Selling” and “Up-selling” business practices.”

YIKES!
No up-selling?
“Do you want fries with that”? isn’t THAT upselling defined?

Obvious some changes need to be implemented but, that one is a doozie.

]]> By: sharynhttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2409 sharyn Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:22:27 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2409 I'm a WOOOOOHOOOOO too on this. But isn't it fun to see Mastercard folks taking a strong stand against using long explanatory pieces that might confuse the customer!?! I’m a WOOOOOHOOOOO too on this. But isn’t it fun to see Mastercard folks taking a strong stand against using long explanatory pieces that might confuse the customer!?!

]]> By: Alanhttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2408 Alan Fri, 15 Jan 2010 11:16:15 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2408 Thanks for the update. This is long overdue. I am both a customer and vendor, and am disgusted at the behaviour of most internet vendors, as most hide their forced continuity sign-ups in small print and bill a few days early and other self-interest tricks. In the outside world, like in leasing and mortgage and other recurring-charge situations, we have found it best to have full transparency, showing full respect for the customer and vendor both, with none of this trickery. Today I discontinued a respected $97 Forced-Continuity program and was told after some hassle that "Cancellations take about 72 work hours". This translates to 9 work-days, which with 5 days in a work-week means 2 weeks!! Meantime the next $97 hit on my Visa card will happen in 6 days. I understand the need for recurring services with recurring payments, and they should be presented clearly, openly and honestly. Thanks for the update. This is long overdue. I am both a customer and vendor, and am disgusted at the behaviour of most internet vendors, as most hide their forced continuity sign-ups in small print and bill a few days early and other self-interest tricks. In the outside world, like in leasing and mortgage and other recurring-charge situations, we have found it best to have full transparency, showing full respect for the customer and vendor both, with none of this trickery. Today I discontinued a respected $97 Forced-Continuity program and was told after some hassle that “Cancellations take about 72 work hours”. This translates to 9 work-days, which with 5 days in a work-week means 2 weeks!! Meantime the next $97 hit on my Visa card will happen in 6 days. I understand the need for recurring services with recurring payments, and they should be presented clearly, openly and honestly.

]]> By: Tweets that mention The Death of Force Continuity? -- Topsy.comhttp://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/2010/01/14/the-death-of-force-continuity/#comment-2407 Tweets that mention The Death of Force Continuity? -- Topsy.com Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:42:53 +0000 http://www.andyjenkinsblog.com/?p=573#comment-2407 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Hartmann and Mike Stenger, Erik Krämer. Erik Krämer said: MC and VISA join forces with FTC: The Death of Force Continuity? http://bit.ly/5kIHjk [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Hartmann and Mike Stenger, Erik Krämer. Erik Krämer said: MC and VISA join forces with FTC: The Death of Force Continuity? http://bit.ly/5kIHjk [...]

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