4 ms·

Stripe forcing merchants to add “contribute to Stripe Climate" option.

19 points by daolf 5y ago

jimhi 5y ago
They have the option to not include it, it’s called the API. I, for one, am happy such an influential company understands the urgency of this issue and is taking a “default on” stand. If the US government ever gets rational again, they will likely legislate all companies pay for their own emissions anyway. Hopefully Stripe will push for that.
- abernard1 5y ago
  > I, for one, am happy such an influential company understands the urgency of this issue and is taking a “default on” stand. The default stand is for their customers. This isn't even "hey we're going to take a political position" and alienate our customers and employees. (Which, of course, won't alienate anyone at Stripe or anyone working in the Bay Area because they're all basically just the same person and everyone agrees with everything.) This is a payments company suggesting how their merchants use their product for entirely ancillary purposes. It's arrogance, and a uniquely tech-focused arrogance at that. Meat packers, furniture stores, restaurants, manufacturing companies etc. do not "nudge" their customers into taking political positions that have nothing to do with the product. I'm a Stripe customer and I'll be putting in a cancellation order if this isn't addressed. (To anyone at Stripe reading this: whatever benefits you receive from ESG points on this will not compare to long-term political blowback and failure when trying to reach new customers who don't already agree with you.)
  - jimhi 5y ago
    It was addressed by Stripe immediately both in Twitter and this very comment page.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
edwinwee 5y ago
Edwin from Stripe here—sorry for the confusion. The emails were a mistake (and were also sent to the wrong group). This was meant to be a small test for a relative handful of businesses. The contribution box would've been optional for both the customer and the business. The box would be unchecked by default, and businesses can turn it off entirely. We will not be turning this feature on without the business opting-in.

19 points by daolf 5y ago

They have the option to not include it, it’s called the API. I, for one, am happy such an influential company understands the urgency of this issue and is taking a “default on” stand. If the US government ever gets rational again, they will likely legislate all companies pay for their own emissions anyway. Hopefully Stripe will push for that.

abernard1 5y ago
> I, for one, am happy such an influential company understands the urgency of this issue and is taking a “default on” stand. The default stand is for their customers. This isn't even "hey we're going to take a political position" and alienate our customers and employees. (Which, of course, won't alienate anyone at Stripe or anyone working in the Bay Area because they're all basically just the same person and everyone agrees with everything.) This is a payments company suggesting how their merchants use their product for entirely ancillary purposes. It's arrogance, and a uniquely tech-focused arrogance at that. Meat packers, furniture stores, restaurants, manufacturing companies etc. do not "nudge" their customers into taking political positions that have nothing to do with the product. I'm a Stripe customer and I'll be putting in a cancellation order if this isn't addressed. (To anyone at Stripe reading this: whatever benefits you receive from ESG points on this will not compare to long-term political blowback and failure when trying to reach new customers who don't already agree with you.)
- jimhi 5y ago
  It was addressed by Stripe immediately both in Twitter and this very comment page.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]

edwinwee 5y ago

Edwin from Stripe here—sorry for the confusion. The emails were a mistake (and were also sent to the wrong group). This was meant to be a small test for a relative handful of businesses. The contribution box would've been optional for both the customer and the business. The box would be unchecked by default, and businesses can turn it off entirely. We will not be turning this feature on without the business opting-in.