Removing old Dropbox folders (update)
Added 2024-08-22 08:00:04 +0000 UTCUpdate regarding below: I made a hasty decision to remove old folders not thinking that there would be some of you, or patrons who are no longer pledged, that may not download all the pinups you get DM'd to you. So I have recovered all Dropbox folders.
I will make sure to communicate with you all before I make a similar decision going forward!
Original post below:
Hiya!
Another update regarding the change to the new subscription model. I have be removing old Dropbox folders all the way up to 2022 but I'll hold off on deleting anything beyond that for now. I'll let you know in advance before I delete any more folders!
If there are packs from 2022 and backwards you hadn't downloaded yet, send me a DM here and I'll help you out.
I'll wait to remove 2024 for now until I've figured out a new way to send rewards to patrons with the new suscription model.
Comments
I would say that falls, unfortunately, under a lot to manage
Sjur
2024-08-22 15:03:33 +0000 UTCIt does have a system to create bulk keys yeah! Problem is how I would distribute these codes to the right Patrons ): It'd have to be sent manually since all the keys would be unique. That would be a big ask when there's almost 500 patrons hehe
MLeth
2024-08-22 12:57:42 +0000 UTCDoes the new store you use for previous works, have a discount code system? If so you could give codes to people who were subscribed at the time that make specific packs free. Might be a lot to manage though
Sjur
2024-08-22 12:01:33 +0000 UTCI really want to help you though :-/ The core issue is that once the Dropbox link is released to the public, everybody can access the files, right? So, from a technical point of view, one way to make this way harder is to only give access to files per some kind of account. The simplest solution would be to send out gift codes for your itch.io packs to all supporters. I don't know what data patron offers you about that, but I hope it's more than just accounts that are currently supporting you. Maybe you can see who supported you in what timeframe(s). I can only offer my help to automate that process, at least as far as I am able to. Another option is to only generate these gift codes once somebody asks for them, verified by the original dropbox links. At best, they could tell you the month and give the link - even if the folder is not accessible anymore. If it's correct, you can send them the corresponding gift codes. The gift codes of course could only be redeemed once and only for that exact pack.
RobinLe
2024-08-22 11:16:05 +0000 UTCYeah I'm trying very hard to make sure my Patreon is as customer friendly as possible. Otherwise I wouldn't spend so much effort asking my supporters what they think I could do or how important it is that new paying members get something as soon as they join with the new model. I know fighting scrapers is a losing battle and I may just have to bite the bullet and post the pinups directly here on Patreon to make things as easy as possible! I've yet to decide though and will talk with some mutuals to figure stuff out.
MLeth
2024-08-22 11:07:26 +0000 UTCI think it might be good to look at it this way: No matter how much you're trying to keep your art from being spread online for free, people that want to support you will continue doing so. At least 80% of people that only consume your content for free illegally wouldn't pay for it anyways, so you wouldn't have much more money. My main point is that you need to ask yourself: to what degree can I make the experience of what I offer to supporters worse/more complicated that's justified by people that leak it if there can always be people leaking it? Because it doesn't really matter how much you try to complicate things, in the end, as long as somebody has the original files, they could always decide to upload them to any website.
RobinLe
2024-08-22 11:02:36 +0000 UTCAfter some thought I have recovered all the folders! I made a hasty decision in the moment the other day which in retrospect was not the best hehe.
MLeth
2024-08-22 10:11:19 +0000 UTCI'll have to make sure I communicate that old folders eventually stop working after a certain amount of time going forward. But I will probably also change how I send out rewards when I switch subscription model anyway!
MLeth
2024-08-22 09:05:01 +0000 UTCSo... How will patrons be able to re-download their supported months after you deleted the folders?
RobinLe
2024-08-22 08:28:30 +0000 UTC
