Free DVD or whatever with membership?

[FriskyMatt]

Does anyone currently or in the past offered a DVD or some other premium with the purchase of a membership to a paysite? How did that go for you?

[A_DeAngelo]

we've considered but.... we would/will only do so after 3 (or 6) months of continuous / non interrupted membership - otherwise, we run the risk of shipping our dvd titles to people who cancel immediately after receiving the free $49.95 dvd !

I'm not the marketing wiz at this but Cam has some angle on this - I'll see if I can stir him up....

[FriskyMatt]

we've considered but.... we would/will only do so after 3 (or 6) months of continuous / non interrupted membership - otherwise, we run the risk of shipping our dvd titles to people who cancel immediately after receiving the free $49.95 dvd !

I wouldn't offer it on a trial or a 30 day membership. You're right, folks would get the video and then cancel.

[gaybucks_chip]

CCBill doesn't (or didn't used to) allow a free physical product premium with a membership site because they couldn't guarantee that the physical product had been delivered and they felt it increased chargebacks.

I believe that Epoch will allow such deals under some sort of arrangement.


When we have offered the deals, we've done them only with 6 month subscriptions, and they have been a pretty good incentive.

[CamCruise]

I wouldn't offer it on a trial or a 30 day membership. You're right, folks would get the video and then cancel.

But the main reason that a DVD give away would not do well is that DVD buyers and Membership buyers are most times not the same people.

Why would a member of our site care if you give them a DVD to sign up or stay a member, if they can get the same content on the site that is on the DVD.
They already have it as a member of the site.
You would have to give them something that they dont already have.

[Squirt]

Does anyone currently or in the past offered a DVD or some other premium with the purchase of a membership to a paysite? How did that go for you?

I think you're on the right track

Hard good perks to make the virtual world and brick & mortor connection could build a sense of loyalty amongst members, not to mention added value.

Have you surveyed your customers to get their input?

[Jasun]

I think half of our members would run screaming for the door if they thought that joining our site meant gay porn arriving on DVD at their houses.

I often have to promise customers that we won't "put me on your list" (when we dont' do mailings of any kind and never have.