4 ms·
The whole business was premised on this concept called negative option. Which just sounds so creepy and draconian and weird, but the idea that if you don’
by wsc981 11y ago
The whole business was premised on this concept called negative option.
Which just sounds so creepy and draconian and weird, but the idea that if
you don’t say no, we’re going to send you shit. It’s going to fill your
mailbox, and we’re going to keep sending it unless you panic and beat
us back. That was how the money was getting generated.
Interesting article, but a bit too long. I think in The Netherlands (and perhaps Belgium) there was this 'book club' that shared the same 'negative option' business model.
- malz 11y agoIn the US it is Book of the Month Club (surprisingly still in business). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Month_Club https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Month_Club
- selimthegrim 11y agoSounds like Blue Apron took notes.
- cafard 11y agoIndeed, I joined Book of the Month Club to get the introductory offer of the two volume OED cheaply, and ended up leaving after paying $50 for stuff that I just didn't want. I still have the OED, but I couldn't tell you what the other books were. I do, however, remain the pain of writing the $50 check, which was a good deal of money for me then.
- hakutsuru 11y agoYes, and the wiki is relevant... Columbia House, BMG and Bookspan were mashed together years ago. While Columbia House could a Dilbertesque nightmare, the Machiavellianism I watched unfold in Garden City was remarkable.
- techdragon 11y agoFor extra examples, see the non advertising components of the revenue models behind the majority of adult entertainment companies charging subscriptions on the Internet.
- sandebert 11y agoThere are a bunch of book clubs in Sweden still doing this to this day. I actually assumed it was common all over the world, but perhaps that isn't the case?
- gozo 11y agoIt's called a "dark pattern" these days. JustFab is a prominent example and has been discussed on HN.