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(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Dec 5th 2001 11:55pm





Now You Have To Pay To Send eGreetings?

from the great dept

There goes another free online service. Just as more and more people are thinking about sending anthrax-free electronic holiday cards instead of those crazy paper ones, American Greetings has announced that they're going to start charging an annual fee to anyone who wants to send online greeting cards at any of the sites it runs, including AmericanGreetings.com, Blue Mountain Arts, and eGreetings. I wonder who would actually pay for this? I mean, this is the type of thing that really only makes sense as a free service, and it's easy enough to build. So, there's no reason why people will pay when they can just use a free alternative. Hell, why not just install your own greeting card system on your own site?

4 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    Charing for e-cards? Mad...

    identicon
    David, Dec 6th, 2001 @ 6:21am

    This is just plain silly. There are so many good free e-card sites (may I mention the excellent Postcards from Prison?) that charging is wildly out-of-kilter with the whole spirit of the thing. I set up my card site in late 1995 for the love of it. After paying hosting fees and the like, I think I've made precisely -$100 on it all. E-cards are fun, not a money-making experience!

    Two comments in one day, after never posting a comment here before... keep up the good work, Mike.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    This will go the same way as pay webzines...

    identicon
    thecaptain, Dec 6th, 2001 @ 7:48am

    ...there are too many free alternatives which are JUST as good..if not BETTER.

    There's no real way for American Greetings to add enough value to their offerings compared to a free site (or MANY free sites) to justify charging even a SMALL fee.

    Heck, even if there were NO free sites available..what's stopping you from firing up Paint Shop Pro, grabbing a .gif or .jpg and making your OWN card? Nothing...

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Why not charge?

    identicon
    Dan Peterson, Dec 6th, 2001 @ 9:12am

    Seems sensible to charge for your services. However, $12/year seems a bit much for casually sending e-greeting cards. I wonder if they asked anyone what they would be willing to pay. I bet they would have a better response by charging two or three dollars per year or accept micropayments.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    No Subject Given

    identicon
    Why pay you say...., Mar 14th, 2002 @ 7:55pm

    those programs you buy suck!!
    take a look at some of the online greeting card companys www.2000greetings.com Its a no brainer which one is better...those programs you buy are so plain..you probably shouldn't send anything if you can't afford to spend 12.00 a year to send the good ones

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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