Thanks Erik for answering our questions here. I am very pleased with the site and the proposed membership changes. I can't wait to see the new features!! Keep up the good work!
Upcoming Changes to Chess.com Memberships
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Dec 11, 2008
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#103
Erik,
Does the planned change for Platinum members impact their ability to organize tournaments. I don't actually remember the details, but the main reason I went to platinum was related to that...
Graybeard 
Dec 11, 2008
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#104
erik wrote:
The_Pitts wrote:
Yes, allow us to be informed consumers, I doubt many of the self described heavy users meet your heavy use threshold, if you give us an idea at where the line is, you'll sell the platinum.
yep. we know this is delicate, which is why we are being up-front with people before the change.
I would like to clarify that I feel in no way at a loss in regards to the tactic trainer, furthermore what you are doing is great and would like to thank you for your clarification.
erik wrote:
the total count of people this affects just isn't large at all. and those who are using more than that can now, for $1 a month, get unlimited.
How does one apply for this benefit?
One of the great things that I like about this site, is that you can buy lifetime membership. But I cannot afford $900 because I'm only a teen, ($900 comes from the exchange rate between Aussie and American dollars) so you please keep the lifetime membership?...
Just a thought though, please respond with what you all think...
does this mean platinums get another year added?
Regarding the proposed Tactics Trainer restrictions:
erik wrote:
you also have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Gold members also have a guarantee that the services they subscribed (and payed) for will last the duration of their subscription.
"Subscribers are guaranteed to receive the services outlined on the subscription page for the duration of their subscription." - Chess.com Subscriber Agreement
erik wrote:
i hear you and understand your concern. but then should i also restrict you from using the new features we are giving to gold members, or any of the other features that were not available when you signed up for gold?
i hear you and understand your concern. but then should i also restrict you from using the new features we are giving to gold members, or any of the other features that were not available when you signed up for gold?
Giving gold members the option of either continuing with their current subscription services or moving to a new-gold subscription would be ideal.
Some gold subscribers out there, as you've shown, do in fact use Tactics Trainer a lot and would benefit by having an optional "upgrade" to the new gold plan.
erik wrote:
there is only one small negative to the whole thing, and it will only affect a very small percentage of users.
The "small percentage of users" you refer to are gold members who are currently using Tactics Trainer in excess of the proposed limitations.
All gold members have payed for (and have been guaranteed to receive) unlimited access to the Tactics Trainer service for the duration of their subscription.
Though, as you were saying, the vast majority of gold members aren't using Tactics Trainer to its fullest. So why even restrict it?
Dec 12, 2008
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#109
Hey, I'm quite excited about the new plan, but I fully agree with ratkins & god.
You can't take away what we've paid for. As the terms of agreement said: "for the duration of their subscription".
Dec 12, 2008
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#110
Maybe a choice for golds would cause less hassle?
- Stick to the terms given them as gold members(unlimited tactics). Do not avail of the new features.
- Go for 200 tactics per week and have whatever access is given to the new features.
Personally I would go for number 2 but the 4 % that exceed the 200 tactics a week might feel very different?
I guess the third option is we keep all our tactics and gain the new features.. probably not feesable but am just laying it out clear and simple.
Just some thoughts.
i am a platinum member and does that mean i can't give any free memberships?
god wrote:
Regarding the proposed Tactics Trainer restrictions:
erik wrote:
you also have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Gold members also have a guarantee that the services they subscribed (and payed) for will last the duration of their subscription.
"Subscribers are guaranteed to receive the services outlined on the subscription page for the duration of their subscription." - Chess.com Subscriber Agreement
A guarentee is a guarentee..
I'm totally satisfied with the coming changes, however, I'd advise the chess.com staff to look into the legal ramifications of changing services in mid subscription. There could be some litigious members out there who decide to raise a stink, a possibility that was alluded to earlier in the thread.
Dec 12, 2008
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#114
we'll likely allow existing gold members to keep their unlimited tactics until the next renewal. :|
^ Oh, lol -- no I'm not trying to cause amok. I already sent in my payment Monday afternoon by mail, before this thread was created on Tuesday night. That's why it affects me too, I mailed my cheque so that I could get gold membership primarily (if not solely) for Tactics Trainer.
Dec 12, 2008
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#116
This conversation resulted in me looking at the terms and conditions when I stumbled across this. It's absolutely insane what companies must outline to avoid lawsuits/legal ramifications.
"A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF USERS MAY EXPERIENCE EPILEPTIC SEIZURES WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN LIGHT PATTERNS OR BACKGROUNDS ON A COMPUTER SCREEN OR WHILE USING THE SERVICE. CERTAIN CONDITIONS MAY INDUCE PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED EPILEPTIC SYMPTOMS EVEN IN USERS WHO HAVE NO HISTORY OF PRIOR SEIZURES OR EPILEPSY. IF YOU, OR ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY, HAVE AN EPILEPTIC CONDITION, CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN PRIOR TO USING THE SERVICE. IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE USE OF THE SERVICE AND CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS WHILE USING THE SERVICE: DIZZINESS, ALTERED VISION, EYE OR MUSCLE TWITCHES, LOSS OF AWARENESS, DISORIENTATION, ANY INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT, OR CONVULSIONS."
Erik, thank you for the update on the upcoming changes to chess.com, and the status of current premium players. I realize I am not a premium member, but would that help me to get better? I think your opinion could help.
bondiggity wrote:
This conversation resulted in me looking at the terms and conditions when I stumbled across this. It's absolutely insane what companies must outline to avoid lawsuits/legal ramifications.
"A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF USERS MAY EXPERIENCE EPILEPTIC SEIZURES WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN LIGHT PATTERNS OR BACKGROUNDS ON A COMPUTER SCREEN OR WHILE USING THE SERVICE. CERTAIN CONDITIONS MAY INDUCE PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED EPILEPTIC SYMPTOMS EVEN IN USERS WHO HAVE NO HISTORY OF PRIOR SEIZURES OR EPILEPSY. IF YOU, OR ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY, HAVE AN EPILEPTIC CONDITION, CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN PRIOR TO USING THE SERVICE. IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE USE OF THE SERVICE AND CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS WHILE USING THE SERVICE: DIZZINESS, ALTERED VISION, EYE OR MUSCLE TWITCHES, LOSS OF AWARENESS, DISORIENTATION, ANY INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT, OR CONVULSIONS."
You can't acuse them of making it happen.
Dec 12, 2008
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#119
It sounds like being a Gold member and having a Chess Mentor membership I'm going to become a Diamond memeber when the change over occurs? Does that mean that I'll get a T-shirt at that time? When I signed up there were no T-shirt options, or being the geek that I am I would have got one of those babies.
I've got to send out a big THANKS to Erik and his team. I've always thought the Chess.com was a great value. Ever since I've joined things have just been getting better and better.
So if we put down $499 before the 15th or the 1st we can have lifetime membership and lifetime chess mentor membership? I wish I had that right now it's very tempting.
Dec 12, 2008
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#120
I'm just ruminating outloud here (so to speak). In my personal case it would seem like waiting in the short run would be the best. It seems like getting the Diamond membership would "waste" the Chess Mentor membership that I already have? Of course the problem with that is that I rarely get to use the Chess Mentor since I don't really have the time to use it, and I was going to become a platimum member anyway when my renewal time came up since this site save me so much money on all the other chess memberships that I had already.
Oh man. Decisions. Decisions.
Sam, so it's a valuable service... the developers have to make a living, yes? If you celebrate Christmas you could always add a £20 gold membership to your list, or if you have to pay message Erik yourself and ask if he might work out a student discount.
thegab03> If I can I'll give you mine!
Very nice. 'Tis the season. :)
I'm on about everything that comes with the golden star, all I wanna do is PLAY CHESS, & have no pubs, if you can find away aroun that, pls be my guest for I do not have the time for the advantages, but one does not touch my game limit, my tourney limit & in time of utter desperation my vacation limit, appart from that it's yours, the ball is in your camp!
PLAY CHESS & have fun!