So...how's business...will you be the last man standing?

[softball]

Apart from all of Hammer's friends, I think this is a tough time for porn. Is it tougher than any other business? I think not. It happens to be just like any other business and the last ten years have been the glow of the first adopters.
So, here is my theory. If your business is down and you are still making a good living or, more than likely, a very good living, then you are prolly doing the right thing and are a survivor.

If your business is down and you are hurting, you are a victim of immaturity and never planned for the inevitable. I lived through the eighties and learned my lesson on that.

If your business is improving, it is prolly an incremental improvement and chances are it was not doing gang busters in the first place. And the real question is "is it improving over last year or 2002?".

If your business is kicking ass....then you are lying. Which might be a good strategy if you need to bullshit your traffic dudes.

So, I am sure some of you might have opinions on this, but these are just my observations.

[Hell Puppy]

Business is booming if you're buying other programs and running their merchant accounts into the ground.

Wanna buy some cross sales?

Scorched earth has begun for some. They're no longer pissing in the well, they're sitting on the edge taking big ole chili and burrito dumps into it.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Hell Puppy

Wanna buy some cross sales?

Scorched earth has begun for some. They're no longer pissing in the well, they're sitting on the edge taking big ole chili and burrito dumps into it.

The swan song of despiration when you see people BUYING CROSS SALES.

Too weak to close a sale with that cookie cutter tour they got from some MikeW wannabe.

[RawAlex]

The real trick is watching there the shit is dropping and stay out of the way. I would say that if you run a program that deals with one of the major processors, you would be doing yourself and everyone a favor to question the pre-checked cross sales, which is something that has gotten companies in trouble in the past. It seems that one rapidly expanding group is setting up their terms in such a way that cancelling one membership triggers $100 or more of other charges to happen. Everyone is wondering why they keep buying programs, I think it is because they are trying to spread the carnage out far and wide before anyone realizes what the fuck is going on.

On another note, apparently Deecash bought Meatcash this week.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

The real trick is watching there the shit is dropping and stay out of the way. I would say that if you run a program that deals with one of the major processors, you would be doing yourself and everyone a favor to question the pre-checked cross sales, which is something that has gotten companies in trouble in the past. It seems that one rapidly expanding group is setting up their terms in such a way that cancelling one membership triggers $100 or more of other charges to happen. Everyone is wondering why they keep buying programs, I think it is because they are trying to spread the carnage out far and wide before anyone realizes what the fuck is going on.

On another note, apparently Deecash bought Meatcash this week.

My guess is they are on the Crescent game plan and figure that the FTC cant touch them becasue they live abroad.

[Toby]

The processors are the only ones that can put a stop to the pre-checked cross sales. Unfortunately, I don't think they're going to get involved until it's too late to prevent the carnage.

[RawAlex]

Originally Posted by Toby

The processors are the only ones that can put a stop to the pre-checked cross sales. Unfortunately, I don't think they're going to get involved until it's too late to prevent the carnage.

processors are notorious for showing up with the bucket to bail water when the boat is already on the bottom of the lake. The graveyard of the internet is filled with processors and acquiring banks that just didn't take any of the threats seriously.

CCBill, Epoch... you guys need to wake up and see where this is going. Yes, it keeps the transaction volumes up, but it is a house of cards that can easily fall over and take everything else with it. It's not far from fancy pool parties to swimming in the public pool.

[Forest]

Im doing better now then in any of the previous 8 years in the biz. I will be here 9 years the end of august.

I dont need to be the last man standing. Just make enough so I can make the segway into mainstream 100% without having to worry about income until that ramps up

[tony404]

Been paying the bills, its alittle more work but everything is covered. I figure if I can last thru the blood bath we will be alright.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

CCBill, Epoch... you guys need to wake up and see where this is going.

It seems they are too concerned with having pool party wars, racing cars and making movies.

[DannyCox]

The people I know and talk to that have been in this business for the past 10 years are all way down in income from 6 and more years ago. Competition, saturation in most niches, and the cookie cutter look of most sites have driven down sales. As Graham said, if you've been in this business for 10 years and actually say your sales are up, then you had none to begin with. Just look at the number of programs that have either disappeared or "sold out" this past year to know everything is basically down.

We've offset the drop in sales for our original sites by developing new sites and new projects. I've also been very lucky in a few non-Adult projects I started a while back. We're still nowhere near the insane money of the "Gold Rush" days, but we still do very well, and should continue to do so for a number of years to come. In fact, I can dump all my Adult properties tomorrow, and still make a very good living from my non-Adult stuff (which is growing month after month).

[DannyCox]

Originally Posted by RawAlex

CCBill, Epoch... you guys need to wake up and see where this is going.

I also saw Mitch from Netbilling trying to defend their policy of allowing pre-checked cross-sales over at the zoo...

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by DannyCox

I also saw Mitch from Netbilling trying to defend their policy of allowing pre-checked cross-sales over at the zoo...

Got to pay for that Poker Tour somehow . . .

[ali25extreme]

I came into this business at the wrong time..I have been managing to keep my head above dark waters but I am still learning and fresh out of the box..Sales seem to stay the same....for now. "if you build it, they will come" lol

[bluemoney]

Originally Posted by ali25extreme

I came into this business at the wrong time..I have been managing to keep my head above dark waters but I am still learning and fresh out of the box..Sales seem to stay the same....for now. "if you build it, they will come" lol

Every time I see your avatar I keep thinking, "damn I wish she would turn around" . . . . sorry I did'nt mean to interrupt

[ali25extreme]

Originally Posted by bluemoney

Every time I see your avatar I keep thinking, "damn I wish she would turn around" . . . . sorry I did'nt mean to interrupt

maybe I will someday! need someone to take the pic!

[RawAlex]

Originally Posted by tony404

Been paying the bills, its alittle more work but everything is covered. I figure if I can last thru the blood bath we will be alright.

In theory, I could make effectively zero for a couple of years and still not have to change lifestyle at all. There is a bloodbath in the making, it's going to get interesting.

My thought is that the current house of cross sale cards will collapse soon enough (end of the year) and a ton of people who were entirely dependant on that stuff to make a living will suddenly no longer be making one.

Just like when the first 2257 stuff came around a couple of years ago, I can't complain when 25% of the competition in the SEs disappears is a short amount of time.