Premium Packages

[alistair234]

Hi, I've been a FastMail/Enhanced package member since as long as I can remember. And logged on to billing section and noticed new yearly packages. When did these packages start ? Are FastMail not doing multi year packages anymore ? I've still got about 3 years left on my current enhanced subscription, what happens after my 3 years run out, do I automatically go onto the new yearly plans?

Sorry for all the questions but I don't log into web interface much as I use Apple Mail to get my email.

[BritTim]

The changes took place last August. This blog post explains the rationale. The general consensus is that most enhanced users will probably want to continue with their existing subscription for the time being.

[Jacinto]

Originally Posted by alistair234

. . . Are FastMail not doing multi year packages anymore ? I've still got about 3 years left on my current enhanced subscription, what happens after my 3 years run out, do I automatically go onto the new yearly plans?

. . .

Hello, Alistair.

When I checked last week, you could still renew an Enhaced (now legacy Enhanced) account for up to five years.

At this time, it's hard to predict which direction the wind will blow Fastmail in the future. It may be that they keep the legacy accounts for members who were already subscribed to them when the new plans came out, or they may do away with them in five years when five year subscriptions expire.

Unless you prefer the new plans, you may wish to renew your Enhanced account for five years while you still are able to.

Good luck.

--
Jacinto

[rnkn]

Originally Posted by alistair234

I've still got about 3 years left on my current enhanced subscription, what happens after my 3 years run out, do I automatically go onto the new yearly plans?

Despite misinformation on these forums, FastMail staff took great pains to reassure anyone on existing plans can renew those plans indefinitely.

[Jacinto]

Originally Posted by rnkn

Despite misinformation on these forums, FastMail staff took great pains to reassure anyone on existing plans can renew those plans indefinitely.

Notwithstanding Fastmail's assurances to the contrary, once you've been around long enough, you learn that "indefinitely" doesn't necessarily mean "forever," but only for as long as it is convenient or expedient for a business to offer a feature or product.

Of course, if you want to drink the corporate Kool Aid, go ahead.

--
Jacinto

[BritTim]

Originally Posted by Jacinto

Notwithstanding Fastmail's assurances to the contrary, once you've been around long enough, you learn that "indefinitely" doesn't necessarily mean "forever," but only for as long as it is convenient or expedient for a business to offer a feature or product.

Of course, if you want to drink the corporate Kool Aid, go ahead.

--
Jacinto

You are correct that one should not be naive, but unjustified cynicism is also to be avoided. Specifically on subscriptions, Fastmail has behaved impeccably over the years. Existing plans have, to my recollection, always been grandfathered when changes in charging take place. For example, the existing free accounts and member accounts are still supported many years after new subscriptions were no longer allowed. Those wanting to upgrade from member will even now receive credit for the payment they made all those years ago towards their new plan.

Certain functionality that we had been lead to believe would be supported "indefinitely" has been removed. I think there has been reasonable justification in most cases, though I fault Fastmail for, in recent years, too often introducing changes without notice.

No company is perfect, but I do not see Fastmail (at least yet) as an organization spewing insincere PR to cover up their real intentions. (I should note, however, that I did see that for a short period during the Opera era.)