🚀 go-pugleaf

gmd@netrail.net (G.M. Durrence) wrote:

>I am still waiting for someone to tell me what Mindspring offers that
>is worth $13 a month more.

>Gene

Having engaged Gene in a discussion or two before, I am quite sure
that I could not convince him that the world is round, or even roughly
spherical.  

But, he is missing a point here.  The other plan that he is talking
about is not simply cheaper than MindSpring.  MindSpring has two price
plans.  Two-thirds of our customers are on the Standard Plan, paying
$15 per month.  The other third are on our flat rate plan, paying $35
per month.  If we were to have only a single price plan of $22 per
month with anything less than totally unlimited useage, a very, very
large percentage of our customers would find that a change for the
worse, not a change for the better.  I know.  I have asked lots of
them, very specifically, in the context of researching some price
changes here.  Many  of the standard plan customers would be livid at
having their monthly bill go up by $7 per month.  Many of the flat
rate plan customers would be livid at having any restriction on
unlimited use, especially one where hours over some limit are charged
at $2 per hour!

We do have some new prices coming up very soon, so keep an eye out if
you are interested.

As to what besides price makes MindSpring a good value, I think the
most important factors are a network that really works, support that
really supports, a starter kit that lets even novices get set up with
little or no hassle and a great set of licensed applications, and in
general doing business with a company that is a pleasant to do
business with.  Other items include Clarinet news groups, space for
your own web pages, and special deals like our one with Security First
Network Bank (who will pay $60 towards MindSpring access for any of
our customers who open an account there).  We are not perfect, of
course, but we've managed to please most of our customers quite well.
Except Gene, I'm afraid :(

Best Regards,

Charles Brewer 
(MindSpring founder)