Gumroad
Web and SaaS
payment links
SHOW HN2011
396points
202comments
#6of 1,097 in 2011
Top 1%of 2011 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
21 positive, 53 neutral or asking, 11 mixed, 39 critical, out of 124 comments about the project. Thread score -0.14.
Idea: 14 for, 10 againstPricing: 1 for, 10 againstExecution: 1 for, 10 againstDesign: 3 for, 3 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 6 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Simple idea and clean, well-executed design.
From 4 comments
As with many ideas I see floated and mvp'd on HN, I'm jealous. Great idea, good execution. I'd agree with others that the 30% is too high. 5-10% would be acceptable.
mgkimsal on HNI think it's a great idea, and really well implemented so far. Best of luck with it!
tommoor on HNLoving the simplicity of the idea. The simplicity is worth a higher cut (though maybe not 30% ;-)) and makes it a lot more attractive to use in small situations. One thing you…
petercooper on HNBrilliant little idea, I think the big selling point is speed and ease of use. I might create a similar product to this for BitBuffet.com (a similar file selling service I…
bryanh on HN
Fast, easy way to sell digital goods.
From 2 comments
This may just be the simplest way to sell digital goods. I think all content should be uploaded to your servers otherwise if someone gets to the final link they can just send…
rokhayakebe on HNBrilliant little idea, I think the big selling point is speed and ease of use. I might create a similar product to this for BitBuffet.com (a similar file selling service I…
bryanh on HN
Objections
Paid links can be shared freely after purchase; no access control.
From 3 comments
Is the redirect-link unique in any way? I mean. If anyone buys the access to a a non-unique-link (ie: http://mybook.com/book.pdf), and then shares the redirected URL to a third…
barredo on HNInteresting idea, but I see two main issues with this. First, anyone who pays and gets to the resulting link can trivially share that link; of course, you can always ask them…
JoshTriplett on HNHow does this work for art though? I mean you want to see the icon/graphic/design/whatever before you pay for it. Also - once you've been redirected to the page, what's to stop…
retube on HN
30% fee is too high.
From 3 comments
As with many ideas I see floated and mvp'd on HN, I'm jealous. Great idea, good execution. I'd agree with others that the 30% is too high. 5-10% would be acceptable.
mgkimsal on HNLoving the simplicity of the idea. The simplicity is worth a higher cut (though maybe not 30% ;-)) and makes it a lot more attractive to use in small situations. One thing you…
petercooper on HNi love the idea, i hate the new "We have a tiered system for pricing:" basically it says: if you earn less, we will take even more. so basically if - lets say - earn 2 dollars…
franze on HN
Fraud and chargeback risk.
From 3 comments
What do you plan on doing about fraud? Seems like it would be way too easy to move money around with stolen credit cards.
btmorex on HNInteresting concept -- how do you deal with the legalities? If I buy something am I buying it from you or from the original owner? How long do you hold onto the funds to deal…
aquark on HNAre you collecting taxes? if it's a company registered in the US Also how do you deal with chargebacks?
mtw on HN
Link shortener framing may look like spam tooling.
From 1 comment
Interesting idea, but I see two main issues with this. First, anyone who pays and gets to the resulting link can trivially share that link; of course, you can always ask them…
JoshTriplett on HN
Requests
Name your price / pay-what-you-want option.
From 2 comments
I saw it mentioned here already, but the idea of a "Name your Price" option would be really cool. Just like how Bandcamp does it. I'm always more motivated to support artists…
bokonon on HNI like it, there's a lot of functionality missing, as you said but tons of possibilities. I'd like to see a "pay as much as you'd like" feature, where you can set a minimum…
livejamie on HN
Show a preview of the linked content before paying.
From 3 comments
Nice product! Feature request: use the top half of the screen to show a preview of the linked page rendered as a PNG. Use the other half of the screen for soliciting payment. I…
eddieplan9 on HNI like the simplicity of the home page, but I would want to see what a user would see when supplied with a gumroad'd link before singing up.
mgeraci on HNPlease put a video on the homepage. If I'm on the fence, I'd rather watch a video than create an account.
fizx on HN
Limit number of downloads or sales.
From 1 comment
Nice - how about this as a feature: # of downloads allowed. This would allow people to sell just 1 copy or set up something like a groupon-esque clone. First 50 people get 50%…
suking on HN
Questions
How are taxes, 1099s and chargebacks handled?
From 4 comments
Loving the simplicity of the idea. The simplicity is worth a higher cut (though maybe not 30% ;-)) and makes it a lot more attractive to use in small situations. One thing you…
petercooper on HNInteresting concept -- how do you deal with the legalities? If I buy something am I buying it from you or from the original owner? How long do you hold onto the funds to deal…
aquark on HNAre you collecting taxes? if it's a company registered in the US Also how do you deal with chargebacks?
mtw on HNHow do I know that, when I pay, I am actually getting what I am paying for? How do you handle chargebacks etc..
Flam on HN
Does Stripe allow this use?
From 1 comment
Things you have to look at fast. * Money laundering. Cap fees now. * You are using Stripe, but you're still collecting CC data. Are you PCI compliant? * Does Stripe allow you to…
jasonlotito on HN
Alternatives named
Pulley
From 1 comment
I saw this post the other day, then came across Pulley. Is there a difference? http://pulleyapp.com/
Noleli on HN
eBay
From 2 comments
How does this work for art though? I mean you want to see the icon/graphic/design/whatever before you pay for it. Also - once you've been redirected to the page, what's to stop…
retube on HNI'd like to think that this has lower overhead than eBay. Nothing is there to stop you for now - I think this is more for casual use than building an entire business on top of.…
sahillavingia on HN
PayPal donate links
From 1 comment
I'm already giving this away for free with a PayPal donate link at http://pickdropapp.com/ but what the hell: http://gumroad.com/l/cvhhwi
dools on HN