[saosebastiao]

Note that many of these fall into a bait-and-switch category. You use the product for free for a while, and then all of a sudden you are spammed to high hell, or functionality is taken away unless you pay.

Paying isn't really that bad of an option sometimes.

[nonamegiven]

That's not bait and switch.

> "Bait-and-switch is a form of fraud used in retail sales but also practiced in other contexts. First, customers are "baited" by merchants' advertising products or services at a low price; then customers discover the advertised goods are not available. Other products are "switched" for them; however, these items are often costlier." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switch

Bait and switch means that you're promised or enticed with one specific thing, but that thing is not available and you're offered something different. The idea is that you wanted something, so fuck it just buy it and get it over with. And of course some people won't even notice the switch.

Free now pay later and the other schemes are not bait and switch. When you get there/sign up, you have the free version right now, exactly as advertised. And there is no attempt (usually) to hide the fact that free is only for N days, after which you'll need to sign up.

Similar for free/paid for reduced/enhanced. You're getting exactly what's being offered.

[saosebastiao]

But they are bait and switch when the terms and offers change after you sign up. Instagram for example.

[balajiviswanath]

Bait and switch model is a pretty old concept (promo offers, free trials, etc in consumer goods).

[SiVal]

Those are not bait and switch unless the buyer is told that the introductory price was the permanent price. Bait and switch is a form of fraud where an offer is made and accepted, technically constituting a legal contract, but then the offerer reneges on the deal, claiming some sort of snafu beyond his control. Having not made the offer in writing and having apparently made some sort of honest mistake make the buyer unlikely to hold it against him, even though it is often technically a breach of contract. Oh, well, the buyer reasons, I may as well trade up and finish this thing, now that I've put so much time and energy into it. And that completes the bait and switch.

Simply offering "first three months free, then we start charging" is not bait and switch. It's a perfectly valid offer.