[dang]

I always tell YC startups not to do this when they're launching on HN. Well, except when I forget, and then it usually goes bad.

It's in the launch HN instructions we give YC founders, which are here if anyone wants to see them: https://news.ycombinator.com/yli.html. All the advice is valid for HN generally, though the logistical aspects are specific to YC.

Edit: I even keep a list of examples to scare people:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40237070 (May 2024)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40170609 (April 2024)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39787870 (March 2024)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39513573 (Feb 2024)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31840885 (June 2022)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31659066 (June 2022)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31655259 (June 2022)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30630736 (March 2022)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29554111 (Dec 2021)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29552753 (Dec 2021)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29551538 (Dec 2021)

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29551412 (Dec 2021)

[erikig]

It is telling, perhaps, that a few of these are no longer alive (kable, astro etc)

[dang]

Maybe...but most startups don't survive. Most probably there's not much signal here.

[cush]

I think there's a big difference between a HN startup not being upfront about their simple pricing, hiding it behind the "Start for Free!" anti-pattern, and an established B2B SaaS with a "Request a Quote" flow. One is deceptive, the other is a necessary barrier in doing certain kinds of business

[dang]

Perhaps, but it's a distinction without a difference in community terms because the pushback is the same either way.