Charging Does Help Yahoo Make A Profit

Meshach writes "The globe and mail has an article about how yahoo is starting to charge for their email service. Payment is not mandatory but if you don't pay you have many restrictions on your accont. It says that while many are angry about the change enough people are paying that it is helping Yahoo rebound from their slump. This seems like a recent trend in e-business." The conventional wisdom around web stuff that's been free, but converts to pay is that "they die off, no one wants to use it anymore etc etc", but I think what people fail to realize is that for many businesses, less people is *just fine*, if those people are paying.

Comments

Subtle.

[saintlupus]

I think what people fail to realize is that for many business, less people is *just fine*, if those people are paying.

Hmm. Sounds like we're in for another harangue on the topic of Slashdot subscriptions in the near future.

I'd happily pay, if you guys would promise to use the money to buy some English as a Second Language courses. Maybe a spell checker.

--saint

Re:Subtle.

[Twirlip of the Mists]

I'd happily pay, if you guys would promise to use the money to buy some English as a Second Language courses. Maybe a spell checker.

What you have to realize is that Slashdot isn't a service. When you pay for a subscription, you're not paying for a service. If that's the way you look at it, you'd be a fool to donate, because the quality of the reporting and the discussions on this site really, really stinks.

You have to think of Slashdot as a charity, like the church or the homeless shelter. By giving to Slashdot, you're helping to keep a bunch of dot-com refugees off the streets and out of the gutters. That's all there is to it.

Which is why nobody subscribes. Charity sucks.

Re:Privacy Policy?

[Twirlip of the Mists]

Why should you care about Yahoo's privacy policy? You didn't give them any real information, did you? I thought every Yahoo user lived on 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Beverly Hills, CA, 90210 and had the phone number 212-555-1212.

*sigh*

[ArizonaBay]

This sort of stuff makes you miss the good old days when .com's weren't concerned with such trivial things like "profit".

Finally

[m_chan]

Well, I for one am relieved to finally have the answer to what goes in the number 2 slot of all of those

1. do this
2. ___________
3. profit!

multiple choice quizzes people keep posting on /. I never was able to get that answer and was starting to feel like I was being picked on.

this just in...

[peachboy]

this just in from the associated press:
a new study has confirmed that by charging people, you can get money. this revolutionary new business model is being adapted to other businesses around the world as we speak.

Re:Privacy Policy?

[BrokenHalo]

This Yahoo user is called Sir Mudge Pinkerton-Bottomley and lives at 42 Bonkalot Street, Didjabringabeer in Western Australia, and his phone number is 9221 1111 (which is coincidentally also that of the Western Australian Police).

Re:Privacy Policy?

[GordoSlasher]

My phone number is 911-555-1212. Still wondering whether any telemarketers have called me.

Yes, being a Slashdot editor is a difficult job.

[Futurepower(R)]

Yes, being a Slashdot editor is a difficult job. Slashdot is popular because of the intelligence of the stories posted. Yes, the editors don't know English very well, and have a negative attitude, but they are also very good at selecting articles people want to read. See other sites for comparison; the content is mediocre, but spelled correctly.

Re:Privacy Policy?

[ejdmoo]

How in God's name could that be considered insightful? (Score:2, Interesting)

How could that be considered interesting?