Flikr Price Increase
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2020 11:23 pm
Remember how last month Don MacAskill, CEO of SmugMug and Flickr, rattled the tin for new subscribers for Flikr Pro?
I was less than surprised to see this come into my inbox today:
I can't say that the price rise particularly bothers me; it's still fair value. Of course PBase offers even better value if you have a relatively normal quantity of photos, both in terms of price and control over how your photos are displayed. Not so much in terms of exposure, though; whenever I post a new gallery on PBase I'm lucky to push into triple digit views, on Flikr I get 5 digit views.
Support is also a different matter; at Flikr it's a constant, here it's whenever someone gets the enthusiasm bug for a couple of weeks.
It does concern me a little that they're bringing forward cashflow with this offer, though they may have calculated that ingraining pro members into the site for a longer period will be worth it. (If their membership expires in 2 years rather than 1 and they have a larger number of photos on display by then, they may be more inclined to re-sign.)
The other thing is that there is an ever-present possibility that PBase may vanish tomorrow while Flikr is unlikely to. Being Borged with SmugMug is a different question. I dread that day if it comes, but at least the photos will continue to be up. You can therefore regard the higher Flickr price as a "peace of mind" premium.
I know that I'd happily pay more for PBase... IF it meant that it switched to professional development, support and maintenance. But if wishes were horses and all that...
I was less than surprised to see this come into my inbox today:
We’re writing to inform you that effective today, the price of Flickr Pro subscriptions has increased to:
1 month: $6.99, plus tax
3 month: $18.99, plus tax
1 year: $59.99, plus tax
2 year: $117.99, plus tax
To thank loyal Pro members for your continued support, we are offering all current Pros the opportunity to renew now at last year’s price. Click here to extend your subscription term now.
Why has the price changed?
Please see last month’s letter from Flickr's CEO and Chief Geek, Don MacAskill. In short: Flickr is a huge and extremely costly service to run. We intend to keep investing in making it even better, but it cannot continue to operate at a loss.
If I renew now, what happens to the remainder of my current subscription?
We will extend the term of your current Pro subscription. For example: if your current subscription expires in July 2020 and you choose to renew now, we will add an additional year to your subscription at the 2019 price, extending your subscription end date to July 2021.
Who is eligible to extend their subscriptions?
All current Flickr Pros are eligible. We are inviting monthly subscribers to lock in a one- or two-year term at the 2019 rate. Annual subscribers with a renewal date prior to July 1 are invited to add two years now. All others are invited to add a one- or two-year term.
All other questions
Please contact our Support Heroes with any other questions. Premium support is a key feature of your Flickr Pro membership and they will be happy to assist you. We appreciate your ongoing support as we continually work to improve Flickr for all of our members. Thank you for being a Pro.
The Flickr Team
I can't say that the price rise particularly bothers me; it's still fair value. Of course PBase offers even better value if you have a relatively normal quantity of photos, both in terms of price and control over how your photos are displayed. Not so much in terms of exposure, though; whenever I post a new gallery on PBase I'm lucky to push into triple digit views, on Flikr I get 5 digit views.
Support is also a different matter; at Flikr it's a constant, here it's whenever someone gets the enthusiasm bug for a couple of weeks.
It does concern me a little that they're bringing forward cashflow with this offer, though they may have calculated that ingraining pro members into the site for a longer period will be worth it. (If their membership expires in 2 years rather than 1 and they have a larger number of photos on display by then, they may be more inclined to re-sign.)
The other thing is that there is an ever-present possibility that PBase may vanish tomorrow while Flikr is unlikely to. Being Borged with SmugMug is a different question. I dread that day if it comes, but at least the photos will continue to be up. You can therefore regard the higher Flickr price as a "peace of mind" premium.
I know that I'd happily pay more for PBase... IF it meant that it switched to professional development, support and maintenance. But if wishes were horses and all that...