cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/36832835
The website failed, went to an error page, and then charged my credit card the wrong amount of $64.70. I received a confirmation email saying I’ll receive a confirmation when my order has been shipped, but I haven’t provided a shipping address or paid the full $499 price tag. It is the worst experience I’ve ever faced buying a consumer electronic product and I have no idea whether or how I’ll receive the phone.
I look forward to learning more about how terrible these phones turn out.
I get where you’re coming from, but how would they make money on donations when we live in an economy that promotes free (as in beer) products and people feel theyre entitled to free beer. Our small corner of the world (the FOSS/Federated/Left leaning folks) are willing to make this step, western society as a whole (the target audience of 404media) is not. They demonstrated this when advertising won over premium products in the “free market of ideas”. You’re more than welcome to pirate their work (if your morals allow it, I’m not legally liable for your actions), but do understand that generally, its better to pay-wall a site than to sell ads on your site for the end consumer, and that not everyone is willing to take the risk of having their livelihood be based on the goodwill of others after theyve already gotten the product for free (as in freedom).
Wikipedia does fine with the donation model.
They could do Patreon as well.
Paywalls just turn me completely off. Information should be free and freely accessible.