Can You Please Consider Lowering This Donation?

[DasFox]

I'm being honest here, I haven't had a steady job in many years, money isn't something I see much of in my life, so for me to donate this 15 Euro is a big chunk of change I don't really have.

I remember before when altbinz started you'd take anything people were willing to give.

I wish you'd reconsider for those that can't afford to pay this amount.

8 Euro is all I can handle paying and I'd really love to use the latest versions.

THANKS for your consideration...

[antgirth]

I may be speaking out of order here, but 0.25 is free, and works very, very steadily.

If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. If you've not got huge amounts of cash available, then the free version should suit your budget perfectly. 

[davidq666]

I may be speaking out of order here, but 0.25 is free, and works very, very steadily.

If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. If you've not got huge amounts of cash available, then the free version should suit your budget perfectly. 

i agree and i might add: i can't imagine someone who can afford a usenet account and raising 8€ but can't get 15€ if he's serious about it

[Hecks]

People have forgotten how to save, apparently,  Put 4 euro in a sock each week for the next month.  Or if you're British, ask your MP to claim it against his expenses.

[Binz]

I've just discovered the new minimal amount for "donation"... With the new control system, the situation is now clear for me. And for now on, if someone ask me details on AB, I will speak about it as a "shareware" for > 0.25 versions whose "licence" costs 15€. This is a bit sad...

[Rdl]

I've just discovered the new minimal amount for "donation"... With the new control system, the situation is now clear for me. And for now on, if someone ask me details on AB, I will speak about it as a "shareware" for > 0.25 versions whose "licence" costs 15€. This is a bit sad...

Please clarify situation for me. And what part is sad?

[Binz]

Until these new rules, Alt.Binz was for me a "free" project in the world of usenet, unlike others real commercial applications (even we can find them "cracked" on the net). It's for that I made a lot of ads for it, and of course because it's the best usenet grabber.

The fact only contributors had an access to the last versions didn't really change all that since all amounts were accepted (except very low like 1-2€). Plus there were no big differences during a long time between free and "contributor" versions. So I saw the donation as a free "gift" for developer to thank him for his great work and the time passed to improve AB. So, I think the real definition for a "donation".

But now, the last 0.25 version was released like 20 months ago, the donation becomes a real "obligation" of 15€ mini to really enjoy AB. And there is a new system which controls users to check if their membership is valid, like all others commercial apps. So, the donation doesn't appear to me as free gift anymore, but as a payment for a service with a specific price. In this case, it's not a problem for me. AB is excellent and its "price" would be justified regarding its quality. But then, I would have problem to continue to see it as a "non-commercial" project, and would think he has loose the "spirit" of its beginning. Maybe ridiculous, but that's what is sad for me.

[Rdl]

Until these new rules, Alt.Binz was for me a "free" project in the world of usenet, unlike others real commercial applications (even we can find them "cracked" on the net). It's for that I made a lot of ads for it, and of course because it's the best usenet grabber.

The fact only contributors had an access to the last versions didn't really change all that since all amounts were accepted (except very low like 1-2€). Plus there were no big differences during a long time between free and "contributor" versions. So I saw the donation as a free "gift" for developer to thank him for his great work and the time passed to improve AB. So, I think the real definition for a "donation".

But now, the last 0.25 version was released like 20 months ago, the donation becomes a real "obligation" of 15€ mini to really enjoy AB. And there is a new system which controls users to check if their membership is valid, like all others commercial apps. So, the donation doesn't appear to me as free gift anymore, but as a payment for a service with a specific price. In this case, it's not a problem for me. AB is excellent and its "price" would be justified regarding its quality. But then, I would have problem to continue to see it as a "non-commercial" project, and would think he has loose the "spirit" of its beginning. Maybe ridiculous, but that's what is sad for me.

Since its lost its spirit and is a problem for you, check your paypal email for confirmation of your 5Eur refund.

[Binz]

I don't understand your reaction, this little donation (I though I have given more) was for you when I found Alt.Binz for the first time. My post was only to express my opinion about the new situation I've just discovered and to clarify the status of AB. Since we are, users and contributors, whatever the money we give (I hope), more or less active, members of a community. And the question isn't the amount itself... 5, 20€, 30€ isn't the question, it's the fact there is a minimal amount which appears like a "price".

[davidq666]

I don't understand your reaction, this little donation (I though I have given more) was for you when I found Alt.Binz for the first time. My post was only to express my opinion about the new situation I've just discovered and to clarify the status of AB. Since we are, users and contributors, whatever the money we give (I hope), more or less active, members of a community. And the question isn't the amount itself... 5, 20€, 30€ isn't the question, it's the fact there is a minimal amount which appears like a "price".

the mere fact that there is minimum donation doesn't make it a price. it's not uncommun to have a set minimum donation amount and it was set to give people what they wanted: to know that their donation would be acepted. I personaly like the fact that it's not a price but a donation. the way i see it, it just represent a different mindset which makes u part of a project rather than just an other consumer. i think this is on of the main reasons why this has become a very active and creative forum with a helpful crowd of people and a high level of respect for one an other.

[Watcher]

The "cost" for a lifetime license to alt.binz is not 15 euro. alt.binz is donationware with a 15 euro minimum donation, due to paypal fees and other factors. I'm one of the people who welcomes a stated minimum. Now when I tell people about alt.binz, I can say something concrete and move on. They either want it or they don't. I've compared licenses of other binary downloaders, and I think $30USD is fair and that's what I tell folks. NewsBin Pro charges $35 for a lifetime license. But for folks who really can't afford $30USD because they're eating dog food twice per day, they can donate a smaller amount now and maybe another donation later. However, the smallest donation is 15 euro.

Debating semantics ("donation", "subscription", et al) is an exercise for the bored and changes nothing. There has always been a minimum. rdl did exactly what some of us wanted and stated a minimum as opposed to leaving it ambiguous. He's tired of defending his reasonable decision. You can't please all of the people all of the time. There are times he can take user feedback into consideration, but there are times he has to make the decisions that work best for him. Those who can't live with those decisions should probably move on because it does nothing for either party to debate it to death. Again, it's a waste of time and changes nothing.

[Hecks]

Those who can't live with those decisions should probably move on because it does nothing for either party to debate it to death. Again, it's a waste of time and changes nothing.

Agreed on the time-wasting, this thread is going nowhere, just the same discussions recycled from other threads. The OP's question seems to have been answered, so:

/closed