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Post by busy on Apr 28, 2024 15:46:41 GMT
I got an email this week that the cost of a couple subscription products that I've used for years will be going up. I started my subscription sometime in early 2022 and they have not increased the prices that entire time. The products are great and I will continue my subscription but honestly, I think they've been foolish to wait this long for a price increase and do a HUGE one. I'm betting they are going to lose more customers than they would have if they'd done a few smaller increases over the last two years and ended up at the same price they're at now.
My subscription was $72 every other month and now will be $130.
Would you prefer one huge jump like that or multiple smaller ones?
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 28, 2024 15:50:26 GMT
Yikes! That's a huge jump. Personally I'd rather have smaller increases along the way. It's less painful.
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hannahruth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,719 
Location: Adelaide, Australia
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Post by hannahruth on Apr 28, 2024 15:51:40 GMT
Would certainly prefer smaller increases but if I really wanted the product I would pay anyway.
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,309
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Post by pantsonfire on Apr 28, 2024 15:53:32 GMT
So in 2 years they would have had to increase by about 30 dollars each time. To me it doesn't really matter. If the end goal is $130, it will get there faster or slower. And $30 is still a good jump in cost.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Apr 28, 2024 15:56:06 GMT
Smaller increases occasionally would be my preference, because it's easier to adjust to budget wise.
A big price increase, like you are experiencing......would result in me discontinuing the subscription and looking for an alternative less expensive option.
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Post by busy on Apr 28, 2024 16:05:10 GMT
So in 2 years they would have had to increase by about 30 dollars each time. To me it doesn't really matter. If the end goal is $130, it will get there faster or slower. And $30 is still a good jump in cost. I think it's psychologically quite different to most consumers, though. Prices on almost everything have been creeping up, but basically nothing jumps almost 100% in one increase. IMO a few smaller increases over two years would feel more like "ugh, this is getting more expensive, like everything else." A single doubling of the price feels like gouging - even if they're really just catching up to the market. I love these products, recommend them often, can afford the new prices, and STILL my first reaction was I was going to cancel because I think that's a pretty outrageous increase. |
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,130
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Apr 28, 2024 16:09:08 GMT
I prefer smaller increases. One big jump in price and I start reconsidering if I really want/need it and the answer is often no I do not.
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Post by mom on Apr 28, 2024 16:10:22 GMT
I think smaller increases would be more likable, but almost doubling the cost in just a two year period is nuts, IMHO.
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Post by freecharlie on Apr 28, 2024 16:48:04 GMT
Smaller is easier for the consumer as they adjust over time
The only thing I'd pay for with a jump is Prime because we use it so much it is worth it
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Post by cmpeter on Apr 28, 2024 16:56:10 GMT
Multiple smaller ones for sure. Doubling all at once without improving the service is either a sign of poor business practices or greed-flation.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,891
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Apr 28, 2024 17:04:19 GMT
Multiple smaller ones because it’s not such a shock.
However, I’d be canceling for that price no matter how much I loved it.
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Post by littlemama on Apr 28, 2024 17:31:14 GMT
I wouldnt pay that price and would cancel the subscription no matter how they got there.
Dh and I were getting 90 minute hot stone massages and after the second price increase in 2 or so years, the price was more than we wanted to spend. We had already cut back the frequency and now we have cut back the duration.
So I dont think it is about the type of increase, it is about when the price reaches a level higher than one wants to spend.
McDonalds keeps raising prices by a dime- not all at once though. Today they might raise the drinks by a dime, in a month, it's the hash browns and fries. They have incresed their prices by a LOT over the last year or two by doing it this way. They are about at my threshhold- even orderinf from the buy one get one for a dollar menu (i typically get breakfast once or twice a week)
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Post by Lexica on Apr 28, 2024 17:51:09 GMT
Finding the price was going to double would probably make me cancel. That just feels like gouging to me. And there is no change to the product itself, say jar size (I am assuming this is a cosmetic of some sort)or does it remain the same? I can see the increase if they now delivered a container an extra 1/2 size more in volume, but if it is the same size with a sudden doubling in price with no explanation that says an ingredient is suddenly very hard to get, I would probably be irritated enough to stop my subscription. Unless I really felt the product was exceptional and I couldn’t find another brand that I liked as much.
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Post by worrywart on Apr 28, 2024 17:58:09 GMT
Smaller is better but nothing small would get you do that much of a huge increase in two years! That is almost doubling the cost which all at once (to me) feels disrespectful of the consumers. Therefore, I would cancel (not that you asked my opinion lol).
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Apr 28, 2024 18:06:47 GMT
Well, think of it this way. You've saved money by them waiting to do the increase.
If they had increased incrementally, you'd have paid more through those years for the smaller increases and the price would have still ended up at $130. Now it's $130 anyway and you didn't spend more to get to this point. Your only decision now is whether at the new price point the product is still desirable to you.
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,277
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Apr 28, 2024 21:55:05 GMT
Well, think of it this way. You've saved money by them waiting to do the increase. If they had increased incrementally, you'd have paid more through those years for the smaller increases and the price would have still ended up at $130. Now it's $130 anyway and you didn't spend more to get to this point. Your only decision now is whether at the new price point the product is still desirable to you. This is true. But it’s possible the company will lose more business with this one big jump than with small incremental ones - although since this is such a huge increase, even smaller ones would have been pretty high percentage-wise. That much of a jump all at once would make me inclined to cancel mostly on principle, if the product is exactly the same with no improvements or additional benefits. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Apr 28, 2024 22:48:07 GMT
Woah, that’s almost double! I would have to reeeeeeally love the product to accept an increase in price that almost doubles what I was paying.
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Post by MichyM on Apr 29, 2024 0:03:17 GMT
I'm glad you love the subscription cuz that is a huge jump in price over a short period of time (as others have mentioned) IMHO. Anyhow, if it was me I would have preferred the big jump because it would cause me to really evaluate the service's value to me.
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Post by katieanna on Apr 29, 2024 12:31:38 GMT
Multiple smaller ones for sure. Doubling all at once without improving the service is either a sign of poor business practices or greed-flation. Yes, I agree. In this economy, there isn't a thing that hasn't been incrementally increasing in price, and/or decreasing in size/content. But when something nearly doubles in price all at once, is something I can either do without or find another product. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 29, 2024 13:23:04 GMT
A jump of that much would really have me questioning how much I needed that subscription. However I will say that I hate shrinkflation much more than a company raising prices. I would much rather have a company keep the product the same and raise the price if they have to than to decrease the size or quantity, throwing off what I as a consumer am used to.
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Post by katiekaty on Apr 29, 2024 13:51:20 GMT
At close to double the price, I would cancel and find an alternative source for the same or similar product.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,846
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Apr 29, 2024 15:22:16 GMT
Honestly, either way would bother me. An 80% increase is over the top.
My main responsibility in my job is to create my org's budget every year. I plan between 5-10% increases YOY. Any more than that and I would consider looking at other options.
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Post by melanell on Apr 29, 2024 15:59:42 GMT
Multiple smaller for sure.
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Post by busy on Apr 29, 2024 16:42:49 GMT
I'm wondering if I still had grandfathered promo pricing and that's why my increase is so huge. It's Agency skincare that's having the price increase, and I was a Curology subscriber since 2019, until they spun off Agency in 2022. The price for my custom tretinoin never changed - $40/bottle. I have a vague recollection that there was some special deal for the Curology transfers. The new price at Agency is $80/bottle but I'm almost positive even before this, the price was considerably more than $40. When they launched their hyperpigmentation product, I subscribed at launch and there was a large multi-product discount ($40/shipment for subscribing to both) that I still had.
Anyway, I suspect that my pricing may have been much less than most subscribers because I'd subscribed at the very beginning for both products and never paused or quit. Not sure, because I never paid attention to new subscriber pricing since it didn't apply to me.
The new pricing is comparable to their competitors like Musely - I couldn't leave and get similar products for significantly less than the new prices. Plus, like I said, the products are great and worth it to me; I'm not leaving.
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Post by papersilly on Apr 29, 2024 21:31:44 GMT
i like to get eased into price increases but neither are good.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Apr 30, 2024 0:18:22 GMT
I would be seriously reconsidering it since it has doubled but since it is something you really like and use and can't get it cheaper then I don't see a reason to quit as long as they have good service. I am so over price increases these days.
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Gem Girl
Pearl Clutcher
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Posts: 2,686
Jun 29, 2014 19:29:52 GMT
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Post by Gem Girl on Apr 30, 2024 22:38:43 GMT
The consensus seems to be clearly for several smaller increases, but I also know how the postage increases have people complaining, "Again?!?" Since it's a necessary expense to its users, they grumble, but continue to be patrons.
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Post by crazy4scraps on May 1, 2024 13:25:55 GMT
The consensus seems to be clearly for several smaller increases, but I also know how the postage increases have people complaining, "Again?!?" Since it's a necessary expense to its users, they grumble, but continue to be patrons. I think the thing that’s annoying with postage increases is that it’s such a small amount every time, but the USPS is mandated to not make a profit. So they’re stuck with raising prices .02 or .05 or whatever at a time which is irritating. At least now they have the Forever stamps so you can still send your mail today with the stamp you bought last year and not have to buy a bunch of oddball .01 or .03 cent stamps to supplement. I have a whole container full of leftover weird denomination set price stamps. |
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