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Why is Aweber charging for unsubscribed records (and duplicates?)

by bolaji
14 replies
I got sticker shock a few days ago, when my most recent aweber bill came in.

I had been bumped up a couple of billing levels, to $69/month.
$19 for the service,and $50 for storage.

Really?
$50 for storing 5,000 records?

I wasn't too happy with this.

So I looked at their pricing page to ensure there hadn't been a mistake.

aweber-pricing-plans - RatRaceEscapee's library

Notice that they specify that they charge for SUBSCRIBERS. (Not UNsubscribers)
But in reality, they are charging to store my unsubscribed records.

Between the 1,000 unsubscribed records I had in my account, and the 1,500 duplicate ones (I had created a master list, and was using automation rules to add subscribers of all my free eBook lists, to this master list)... I was bumped up to the $69/month level.

Aweber provides a great service.

But charging me... us... to store unsubscribed records AND duplicate records... is bad policy.

(Besides which - does it really cost that much to store 5,000 records?)

Please weigh in.

My challenge was now this: I wanted to build an auto-response follow-up sequence for every one of my subscribers. The only ways to do this were:
1: To create a brand new list, and add new subscribers to their appropriate eBook list... then use an automation rule to ALSO add them to this master list. Then, put the follow-up sequence on the master list.

2: To create the exact same auto-response follow-up sequence for each of my eBook lists.
Note that every time I'd have to make a change to the sequence, I'd have to make that change
#autoresponder #aweber #charging #duplicates #records #unsubscribed
  • Profile picture of the author Ron Douglas
    Yes, they charge for everyone who has subscribed and is still in your database (including unsubscribes).

    You can request that their help desk remove all of your unsubscribed and inactive leads. You can also do it manually.

    To avoid duplicates on your lists, you can use their automation tool to remove an email address from one list when it is subscribed to another list.
    Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Hey, guess what? List maintenance is something that goes with the job.

      Every so often, I go into Aweber and delete my unsubscribes. It's not hard
      to do.

      Unverifieds, you are not charged for.

      Don't want duplicates? (I assume you have multiple lists) then set it up
      to unsubscribe from one when they subscribe to another.

      And if you didn't know all this, then shame on you for not getting all the
      details about the service you're going to use before you use it.

      Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who get stuff and then bitch and
      complain because they didn't know this, that and the other thing.

      I know every little thing I need to know about every service I use right
      down to the TOS violations.

      You're running a business...not a hobby.

      /rant
      Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author Bill_Z
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Hey, guess what? List maintenance is something that goes with the job.

        Every so often, I go into Aweber and delete my unsubscribes. It's not hard
        to do.

        Unverifieds, you are not charged for.

        Don't want duplicates? (I assume you have multiple lists) then set it up
        to unsubscribe from one when they subscribe to another.

        And if you didn't know all this, then shame on you for not getting all the
        details about the service you're going to use before you use it.

        Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who get stuff and then bitch and
        complain because they didn't know this, that and the other thing.

        I know every little thing I need to know about every service I use right
        down to the TOS violations.

        You're running a business...not a hobby.

        /rant
        Wow, you're awesome.

        OP - I didn't know it either to be honest. As someone already stated, their helpdesk will remove all the unsubs from the database.
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      • Profile picture of the author Mike Grant
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Hey, guess what? List maintenance is something that goes with the job.

        Every so often, I go into Aweber and delete my unsubscribes. It's not hard
        to do.

        Unverifieds, you are not charged for.

        Don't want duplicates? (I assume you have multiple lists) then set it up
        to unsubscribe from one when they subscribe to another.

        And if you didn't know all this, then shame on you for not getting all the
        details about the service you're going to use before you use it.

        Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who get stuff and then bitch and
        complain because they didn't know this, that and the other thing.

        I know every little thing I need to know about every service I use right
        down to the TOS violations.

        You're running a business...not a hobby.

        /rant
        Yes, because you have NEVER purchased something without knowing 150% of all the intricacies.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy Crofford
    Fortunately, I learned this before I ever signed up with AWeber. It was all thanks to this screencast:

    How To Remove Unsubscribers From Aweber
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  • Profile picture of the author haymanpl
    What you can do is buy your own autoresponder and they will setup it up for you for less than it would cost using 4 months with aweber. Never have worry about paying out again and would be far more unique as everybody's doing the same thing with aweber.

    I have closed my aweber account for exactly the same reasons you are discussing here. It pure greed. There behaving like a bank!
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard Green
    Originally Posted by abonje View Post

    I got sticker shock a few days ago, when my most recent aweber bill came in.

    I had been bumped up a couple of billing levels, to $69/month.
    $19 for the service,and $50 for storage.

    Really?
    $50 for storing 5,000 records?

    I wasn't too happy with this.

    So I looked at their pricing page to ensure there hadn't been a mistake.

    aweber-pricing-plans - RatRaceEscapee's library

    Notice that they specify that they charge for SUBSCRIBERS. (Not UNsubscribers)
    But in reality, they are charging to store my unsubscribed records.

    Between the 1,000 unsubscribed records I had in my account, and the 1,500 duplicate ones (I had created a master list, and was using automation rules to add subscribers of all my free eBook lists, to this master list)... I was bumped up to the $69/month level.

    Aweber provides a great service.

    But charging me... us... to store unsubscribed records AND duplicate records... is bad policy.

    (Besides which - does it really cost that much to store 5,000 records?)

    Please weigh in.

    My challenge was now this: I wanted to build an auto-response follow-up sequence for every one of my subscribers. The only ways to do this were:
    1: To create a brand new list, and add new subscribers to their appropriate eBook list... then use an automation rule to ALSO add them to this master list. Then, put the follow-up sequence on the master list.

    2: To create the exact same auto-response follow-up sequence for each of my eBook lists.
    Note that every time I'd have to make a change to the sequence, I'd have to make that change
    Why does aweber charge for unsubcribers and duplicates? Because they can and they want every cent they can get.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Acting like a bank? They want money? Well, yes - they are running a business. It takes space to list all those duplicates and unsubscribes that you have not removed from your list.

      It's YOUR list - manage it and you won't be paying extra.

      kay
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      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      2024 Patriot's Award for Service to Veterans
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      • Profile picture of the author haymanpl
        They are charging for duplicate emails which they shouldn't be considering their one of the most expensive in the business already. I don't believe storage costs them usd$10 per month for 500 emails. That's $120 a year

        There system takes times to learn and not many totally understand it
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        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by haymanpl View Post

          They are charging for duplicate emails which they shouldn't be considering their one of the most expensive in the business already.
          There are reasons for that, hello ... such as deliverability (which, the last time I looked, was very high indeed on the list of reasons expressed by Warriors for using Aweber).

          There are plenty of cheap services about for people who don't require Aweber's standard of effectiveness and reliability.

          A record in a database is a record in a database. If you choose to add someone to two lists, or if they opt in separately twice, why wouldn't you expect to pay for two entries in the database? And why would the fact that they're one of the best in the industry be relevant in any way to this matter? Sorry, but this just makes no sense to me at all. :confused:

          I agree wholeheartedly with Steven Wagenheim, above.

          Originally Posted by abonje View Post

          I got sticker shock a few days ago, when my most recent aweber bill came in.
          I promise I don't mean this impolitely, but an Aweber bill should not be a shock to a client. They explain everything very clearly. They're not trying to hide anything, you know?
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Motion
    I saw this - I'm slowly moving over to MailChimp.

    Had enough of it now.


    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Hey, guess what? List maintenance is something that goes with the job.

    Every so often, I go into Aweber and delete my unsubscribes. It's not hard
    to do.

    Unverifieds, you are not charged for.

    Don't want duplicates? (I assume you have multiple lists) then set it up
    to unsubscribe from one when they subscribe to another.

    And if you didn't know all this, then shame on you for not getting all the
    details about the service you're going to use before you use it.

    Sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who get stuff and then bitch and
    complain because they didn't know this, that and the other thing.

    I know every little thing I need to know about every service I use right
    down to the TOS violations.

    You're running a business...not a hobby.

    /rant
    Some people don't want to mess around with such mundane tasks though!

    I just want to pay a fee for my mailing list service without hidden extras. I imagine you'll come back and say "read the tos", but when signing up for a mailing list I don't expect fee's for such a thing
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    Living in SE Asia.. BKK.. PM me for a beer!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Some people don't want to mess around with such mundane tasks though!
      If you are running a business - you take care of the details. It really is that simple and some of the required tasks to stay in business are mundane - but necessary.
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      2024 Patriot's Award for Service to Veterans
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      • Profile picture of the author Joe Motion
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        If you are running a business - you take care of the details. It really is that simple and some of the required tasks to stay in business are mundane - but necessary.
        I run a business. I have outsourcers take care of details. And systems in place to make sure everything runs smoothly. I suggest you read "Work the system - Sam Carpenter", it will change your outlook.

        Just 2 weeks ago (I think) I left my business running and only logged on for 1 hour a day to check up on everything - I was on a long haul flight and traveling throughout Thailand - and I still made as much as I did the week before with my hands on
        Signature
        Living in SE Asia.. BKK.. PM me for a beer!
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