Rant: Lost a paying subscriber because I changed my release schedule without asking first

I run a small newsletter on Substack about indie filmmaking tips. Last month I decided to switch from weekly to bi-weekly posts because I was burning out. I sent out a quick note saying hey we're changing things up. A paying subscriber emailed me back saying they only paid for weekly content and they canceled right there. I get that I should have maybe polled my readers first or given more notice. But it still stung losing that $10 a month over something small like timing. Has anyone else had a subscriber leave over a schedule change?

2 comments

2 Comments

jesse_williams621mo agoTop Commenter

Oh man, that $10 a month hit is rough lol. I feel you on the burnout thing though - once I switched my podcast from weekly to every other week and lost this one guy who said and I quote "I only subscribed for your weekly hot takes on bad movies." The kicker is my "hot takes" were just me ranting about how much I hate Adam Sandler comedies. Honestly you probably dodged a bullet. Someone who can't handle a schedule adjustment over a newsletter with indie filmmaking tips sounds like they'd be a pain to please anyway. Keep your sanity man, bi-weekly is way more sustainable.

bennett.mason1mo agoMost Upvoted

It's WILD how people treat subscriptions like a strict contract these days. Everyone expects everything to stay the SAME forever but life doesn't work like that, you know? Glad you're prioritizing your sanity over one picky subscriber.