[dreeves]

Here's our (Beeminder's) answer to that astute objection: http://blog.beeminder.com/perverse/

In short, our interests and our customers' interests turn out to be highly aligned, even though it seems prima facie perverse.

Another way of arguing the point: a manufacturer of physical goods has the perverse incentive to make pieces of crap that last just long enough to make it out of the store. Ok, maybe that's commonplace enough that I'm totally not helping my case with that analogy! :)

Ok, better argument! Beeminder has been around 4.5 years which probably wouldn't happen if we were myopically making people fail to get their money.

[davemel37]

It seems to me that Beeminder has put a ton of thought and effort into the experience that triggers a penalty with the user always in control. I see this as much more flexible than the non zero day app. It also appears that beeminder has a freemium offering and this payment/penalty is a feature more than the whole point. In other words, I see the charges on beeminder to be similar to paying for extra lives on candy crush as a one time in app purchase... as opposed to model that the pricing gimmick is basically the core offering.

Edit: cool app btw, gonna give it a try :)

[dreeves]

Hooray! New user! :) Our biggest issue right now is that we've gone so far down the rabbit hole with our hardcore superfans that it's a little overwhelming for newbees (as we call them; our 2nd biggest issue is our obsession with bee puns).

So we'd be super grateful to hear about things you find confusing/frustrating/offputting as you try setting up some goals.

Thanks again for trying us out!

[tomjen3]

I am a very happy beeminder, but for me it wouldn't be nearly as useful if money wasn't on the line - I have now been more than a year in the inn in Habitica for example - even though I never have had to actually pay them money.