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Since NewsBlur's pricing model seems to built on annual recurring payments, It would seem that the interesting part of that graph is hidden just off to the righ

Since NewsBlur's pricing model seems to built on annual recurring payments, It would seem that the interesting part of that graph is hidden just off to the right. How many of those panicked conversions are going to stick with the service, now that all the excitement has died down and they've had a whole year to really make up their mind as to whether a newsreader is something they need to be paying for. Here's hoping the answer is yes. Looking forward to a followup in a few months time!

mercer 13y ago
I hope so too. I'll probably stick with NewsBlur because I'm happy enough with it, and because I can't be bothered to find something better.
d23 13y ago
Speaking only for myself, I know they lost me as a customer primarily because the system was buggy at the time they launched and promoted themselves on HN. I know there wasn't much time to respond to Reader's shutdown, but it just reminded me that when you get that first burst of traffic, you better be sure you can retain the folks you get.
- conesus 13y ago
  No kidding it was buggy. But a year of work has moved NewsBlur far ahead. It's quite stable now. And it's the fastest reader on the market. That's why I graph average load times on the dashboard. The re-design also didn't launch until May, so your first impression last year will be quite different than this year.
  - batmansbelt 13y ago
    Is it better than feedspot?
- acdha 13y ago
  Give it another try: it's at least as good as Google Reader ever was now.
  - troutwine 13y ago
    Seconded. I've been a long term Newsblur customer--even got a handwritten postcard!--and it's only improved over time. I _adore_ Newsblur.
    - robinhood 13y ago
      Seconded + 1. Yes, the first year was buggy, but the reader is extremely stable and reliable now. It's a real pleasure to use. I've been a paying subscriber for two years now and I really enjoy it - and I was a hardcore GReader fan.
smackfu 13y ago
It's a good question. I know I signed up for one of the competitors for a year for $20, but I don't use the service any more and won't resubscribe. Someone with access to the back-end should be able to identify those people pretty easily though, which would let you forecast renewals better.
allwein 13y ago
Sadly, I'm one of those panicked conversions. I tried the site out initially and paid for a full year. It ended up being too damn buggy so I switched to something else. I completely forgot all about it until yesterday, when I got a recurring charge automatically and without notice on my Paypal account. It's kind of shitty they didn't send out renewal reminders to give people a chance to cancel.
- colmvp 13y ago
  Shitty, but I don't think it was done maliciously.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
- cjensen 13y ago
  GAH. I foolishly didn't remember there was an auto-renew. Just cancelled mine which was due to re-up in June. Newsblur should definitely remind folks lest they get a storm of complaints -- or worse get chargebacks.

mercer 13y ago

I hope so too. I'll probably stick with NewsBlur because I'm happy enough with it, and because I can't be bothered to find something better.

d23 13y ago

Speaking only for myself, I know they lost me as a customer primarily because the system was buggy at the time they launched and promoted themselves on HN. I know there wasn't much time to respond to Reader's shutdown, but it just reminded me that when you get that first burst of traffic, you better be sure you can retain the folks you get.

conesus 13y ago
No kidding it was buggy. But a year of work has moved NewsBlur far ahead. It's quite stable now. And it's the fastest reader on the market. That's why I graph average load times on the dashboard. The re-design also didn't launch until May, so your first impression last year will be quite different than this year.
- batmansbelt 13y ago
  Is it better than feedspot?
acdha 13y ago
Give it another try: it's at least as good as Google Reader ever was now.
- troutwine 13y ago
  Seconded. I've been a long term Newsblur customer--even got a handwritten postcard!--and it's only improved over time. I _adore_ Newsblur.
  - robinhood 13y ago
    Seconded + 1. Yes, the first year was buggy, but the reader is extremely stable and reliable now. It's a real pleasure to use. I've been a paying subscriber for two years now and I really enjoy it - and I was a hardcore GReader fan.

smackfu 13y ago

It's a good question. I know I signed up for one of the competitors for a year for $20, but I don't use the service any more and won't resubscribe. Someone with access to the back-end should be able to identify those people pretty easily though, which would let you forecast renewals better.

allwein 13y ago

Sadly, I'm one of those panicked conversions. I tried the site out initially and paid for a full year. It ended up being too damn buggy so I switched to something else. I completely forgot all about it until yesterday, when I got a recurring charge automatically and without notice on my Paypal account. It's kind of shitty they didn't send out renewal reminders to give people a chance to cancel.

colmvp 13y ago
Shitty, but I don't think it was done maliciously.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]
cjensen 13y ago
GAH. I foolishly didn't remember there was an auto-renew. Just cancelled mine which was due to re-up in June. Newsblur should definitely remind folks lest they get a storm of complaints -- or worse get chargebacks.