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Users who were upset with the change need to reckon with the fact that Patreon isn't profitable and that it's likely that it's impossible for them to ever becom

Users who were upset with the change need to reckon with the fact that Patreon isn't profitable and that it's likely that it's impossible for them to ever become profitable with their 5% business model (Patreon is based in San Francisco and has over 100 employees, do the math).

padillla 9y ago
Maybe they should move somewhere less elitist. SF is overrated and overpriced.
Analemma_ 9y ago
They can just take a larger share of creators’ aggregate earnings if they need more money. Obviously the creators won’t be happy, but it wouldn’t destroy the “many individual $1-2 donations” segment, as this change would’ve done.
- ilamont 9y ago
  This is what Upwork did. Freelancers weren't happy, but the anger died down and the company is still in business. Background: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11626864 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11626864
icebraining 9y ago
Patreon is based in San Francisco and has over 100 employees Neither of which are immutable laws of physics. I feel for those employees, but between giving money to them or to the creators - I'm giving to the creators.
djsumdog 9y ago
Hmm. I wonder if they could be profitable if they didn't live in SF. It's tough because a lot of the best engineers, minds and talents are on the west coast, either in the Bay Area or Seattle. Having moved to the other side of the country, I've noticed the difference in where companies are at architecturally. It's a tough trade-off for sure.
- mrguyorama 9y ago
  Patreon is a cool product, but do you REALLY need the absolute "best" minds to work on it? That's vastly devaluing the entire rest of the industry and makes me sick. I'm a decent software engineer, and I had fewer job opportunities because I don't want to drop 85% of my income on rent. Why am I not good enough to write an average Joe's app, or a simple payment processor/solution? I don't like this mindset
nicky0 9y ago
Perhaps then they should find a business model that doesnt rip off their customers.
egypturnash 9y ago
I have to wonder what the hell those employees are all doing. Kickstarter's in equally-pricey NYC and just has around 50. I keep getting this vision of Jack Conte just being a really nice guy who's giving sinecure positions to his friends...

padillla 9y ago

Maybe they should move somewhere less elitist. SF is overrated and overpriced.

Analemma_ 9y ago

They can just take a larger share of creators’ aggregate earnings if they need more money. Obviously the creators won’t be happy, but it wouldn’t destroy the “many individual $1-2 donations” segment, as this change would’ve done.

ilamont 9y ago
This is what Upwork did. Freelancers weren't happy, but the anger died down and the company is still in business. Background: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11626864 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11626864

icebraining 9y ago

Patreon is based in San Francisco and has over 100 employees Neither of which are immutable laws of physics. I feel for those employees, but between giving money to them or to the creators - I'm giving to the creators.

djsumdog 9y ago

Hmm. I wonder if they could be profitable if they didn't live in SF. It's tough because a lot of the best engineers, minds and talents are on the west coast, either in the Bay Area or Seattle. Having moved to the other side of the country, I've noticed the difference in where companies are at architecturally. It's a tough trade-off for sure.

mrguyorama 9y ago
Patreon is a cool product, but do you REALLY need the absolute "best" minds to work on it? That's vastly devaluing the entire rest of the industry and makes me sick. I'm a decent software engineer, and I had fewer job opportunities because I don't want to drop 85% of my income on rent. Why am I not good enough to write an average Joe's app, or a simple payment processor/solution? I don't like this mindset

nicky0 9y ago

Perhaps then they should find a business model that doesnt rip off their customers.

egypturnash 9y ago

I have to wonder what the hell those employees are all doing. Kickstarter's in equally-pricey NYC and just has around 50. I keep getting this vision of Jack Conte just being a really nice guy who's giving sinecure positions to his friends...