Simpler Membership Pricing & Inflation

   not a problem here

It does make sense in that context. However, we are still in a terrible recession. People have less disposable income. Teachers in California have taken big pay cuts. The number of underemployed workers has increased. Times are hard.

The timing is still bad to raise prices on anything under the category of discretionary spending. Talk to business people if you are still confused. 

Erik - You need a good spanking for asking people to pay more when they have less money. Better yet, we all should make you walk the plank and say hello to the fishes in the deep blue sea. Joy to you and me.    Name that tune.

Jeremiah? Is that you?

Bingo!

I support it. This certainly won't be discouraging me from renewing my diamond membership when the time comes.

Just for curiosity's sake, how is chess.com doing financially, in terms of the sale of memberships? I don't know if that's bad etiquette to ask, but I like this place, and I want to see it do well. If it is doing well, I'd like to know. If not, I'd also like to know.

Cheers!

erik,

People will cry over a penny, lol

The changes look good to me. 

I think inflation statistics vary by country. I don't recognise your figures being accurate for UK members, we've had inflation at around 2% for over a decade.

The proposed price changes seem totally reasonable to me (even more would be fine too if you don't plan on raising them again for a while). Diamond membership will still be a great value.

No problem here.  Keep up the good work.....

Just upgraded to diamond today.  FYI, It was Chess Mentor & the videos that persuaded me to upgrade.  I think it will be hard to go over the $100 barrior though, but $96 something to $99 won't deter any.  There's so much available free on internet today that I think future sales growth must be in numbers - not price increases.  Just the opinion of one business owner, a chess.com fan, and a  MBA degree.

Best wishes for continued success on a great chess site!

I still think that Erik has gone looney for mentioning a price increase when people are losing their jobs and homes. Has the price of any other discretionary item increased this year?

Have the prices for luxury items at Target and Wal-Mart gone up? I need to ask my wife.

No matter, I'm very grumpy about the price of chess eBooks. Shouldn't the digital version be a lot cheaper? Example: The eBook for Garry Kasparov on Modern Chess, Part 4: Kasparov vs Karpov 1988-2009 by Garry Kasparov is $30.00.

I reduced my membership to Gold when David Pruess finished his Olypiad review which I have been watching on demand.  As soon as David starts up his own tv show again I will upgrade without a doubt.  His coaching is second to none !

How many people are aware of the origin of $4.99 (etc.) pricing?  It had nothing to do with making the price sound cheaper, but everything to do with keeping clerks honest.  LONG ago if something cost an even amount of money, say $5, the customer would hand over the money and walk out the door, allowing dishonest clerks to pocket the money and never ring it up.

By pricing things just one penny cheaper, the customer would invariably wait for change, forcing the clerk to ring it up on the cash register.

True story.  I believe I heard that on NPR many years ago.

Erik, I don't think you need to worry about dishonest clerks.  I vote for simplicity.

-Kurt

i agree with the consensus that a 3% increase is reasonable after 4 years of fixed pricing. great value.

Ok, Erik asks if they should increase the prices :) Therefore there is no really reason for it. Otherwise he would say "sorry guys" we have to increase our prices.

No arguments for me:

- It is simplyer to say 5$ instead of 4.99$ (Why not decrease to it to 4$ it is simplyer too ;) and the users are happy) ...
- We change the prices for platinum and diamond ... and not gold ... he??

- Increase the prices from diamond to 99$. Why not 96$. :)

However ... what would you do with the new money. Weekend videos? ;)

Soon we're going to see Erik in front of middle schools giving away chess sets.  First he gets you hooked and then comes the price increase!

Two questions:

1. Can the increase occur after Nov 27th which is when I am due to renew?

2. Can I buy a 10 year membership and lock in today's prices?

Just kidding, BTW, this site is a bargain at the proposed prices.

When i first found Chess.com my tiny brain instantly compared prices with other chess sites i am a member of.

The yearly subs were higher so i decided to opt for 1 month diamond membership and see how it goes.

All i can say is that it is the best VALUE for money by a huge margin you are gonna find and as soon as i can i will be raiding my piggy bank for the whole years 99 dollar yearly subs.

BTW i havent been back to my other paid sites since as EVERYTHING i need is neatly wrapped up in this superb site. A 3% increase is fine with me if it brings you up to date with inflation costs and i really hope that most members can live with this 4 yearly ? increase.

I think you should consider bringing back the lifetime membership option

No problem with the minor increase (3%). I'm impressed with you having kept the prices as reasonable as you have.