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Andy · 09-04-2002, 10:56 PM

My first observation is that you have deautomated this greatly.

Helios can really help you do alot of the steps automatically that you are introducing "Variable" actions into.

I will give you my first take on this, if you like what I say I will then clarify how to do it if you wish or we can adjust that first take as you state we need to.

First lets separate the Instore Memberships from EFT, lets worry about EFT after we get the Instore Membership clarified and simplified.

On the Instore GOLD membership, is there some reason why you want them all renewing on the end of the month. This introduces the need to do two prorates that seem to me to have little purpose.

If someone signs up on the 10th let them renew on the 10th, this would also spread your cashflow over the month.

By establishing the initial GOLD membership with an expiry 6 months out (which could be programmed - it does not have to be variable, requiring you to do that manual input of the expiry date) you have remove the ability of Helios to control the expiry of non paying member.

The idea of a committed term of 6 months with monthly instore payments is like an EFT but with EFT you control the processing of the payment, here you are relying on the Client to make a timely payment - headache city, right.

On a committed term membership (normally EFT) if possible the end or first of the month is least desirable in my opinion (for those starting it to consider). Since months have a varible number of days the end/start of the month is a pain since the gap between the Cut-Off date and the Billing Date will fluctuate. Secondly since many people have many common payments (Mortgage, Rent etc) on the 1st of the month that may be the least desirable time to be trying to draft additional monies out of their Bank Accounts. By using the 10th or 15th with a 3 to 4 day gap between the Cut-off Date and Billing Date things become a little simplier. Again this refers mainly to EFT type memberships.

An option would be to establish the initial setup with the $30 (Initiation Fee) as one code, do they pay that fee every 6 months or just once? I would call this VIP GOLD to separate this Initiation Fee Membership from the Monthly GOLD membership,

How, if you have other types of membership, we should discuss this further because we could get into trouble if clients switch from one type of memberships to another.

OK now, the code for the Monthly fee of $33.

With 2 codes here you could have one that just charges the $33 BUT requires the GOLD membership to be in force to honor that "preferred" price. So this would be used if they are "renewing" before the current monthly membership expires.

The second code with the higher price (including the $1.00 late fee - I personally would make it higher $5. seems like more of a penalty) would require only the VIP GOLD to be in place. You would also be able to "F9-Discount" the price by the late fee surcharge if you wished to waive it (and you would use this 2nd code discounted in the first month).

OK, lets clear up some of these initital issues and/or questions and them move on.

THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL, Nichole ... more possible approaches, but lets clarify some of the above first.

Call me tomorrow or post your choice ...

_________________

Andy Thompson
ACT Business Solutions
Toll-Free 877-777-6717
andy@atso.ca
ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2002-09-05 08:28 ]

09-04-2002, 10:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Andy Join Date: Jan 25 2000 Location: CT Posts: 1,760 Rep Power: 9	My first observation is that you have deautomated this greatly. Helios can really help you do alot of the steps automatically that you are introducing "Variable" actions into. I will give you my first take on this, if you like what I say I will then clarify how to do it if you wish or we can adjust that first take as you state we need to. First lets separate the Instore Memberships from EFT, lets worry about EFT after we get the Instore Membership clarified and simplified. On the Instore GOLD membership, is there some reason why you want them all renewing on the end of the month. This introduces the need to do two prorates that seem to me to have little purpose. If someone signs up on the 10th let them renew on the 10th, this would also spread your cashflow over the month. By establishing the initial GOLD membership with an expiry 6 months out (which could be programmed - it does not have to be variable, requiring you to do that manual input of the expiry date) you have remove the ability of Helios to control the expiry of non paying member. The idea of a committed term of 6 months with monthly instore payments is like an EFT but with EFT you control the processing of the payment, here you are relying on the Client to make a timely payment - headache city, right. On a committed term membership (normally EFT) if possible the end or first of the month is least desirable in my opinion (for those starting it to consider). Since months have a varible number of days the end/start of the month is a pain since the gap between the Cut-Off date and the Billing Date will fluctuate. Secondly since many people have many common payments (Mortgage, Rent etc) on the 1st of the month that may be the least desirable time to be trying to draft additional monies out of their Bank Accounts. By using the 10th or 15th with a 3 to 4 day gap between the Cut-off Date and Billing Date things become a little simplier. Again this refers mainly to EFT type memberships. An option would be to establish the initial setup with the $30 (Initiation Fee) as one code, do they pay that fee every 6 months or just once? I would call this VIP GOLD to separate this Initiation Fee Membership from the Monthly GOLD membership, How, if you have other types of membership, we should discuss this further because we could get into trouble if clients switch from one type of memberships to another. OK now, the code for the Monthly fee of $33. With 2 codes here you could have one that just charges the $33 BUT requires the GOLD membership to be in force to honor that "preferred" price. So this would be used if they are "renewing" before the current monthly membership expires. The second code with the higher price (including the $1.00 late fee - I personally would make it higher $5. seems like more of a penalty) would require only the VIP GOLD to be in place. You would also be able to "F9-Discount" the price by the late fee surcharge if you wished to waive it (and you would use this 2nd code discounted in the first month). OK, lets clear up some of these initital issues and/or questions and them move on. THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS TUNNEL, Nichole ... more possible approaches, but lets clarify some of the above first. Call me tomorrow or post your choice ... _________________ Andy Thompson ACT Business Solutions Toll-Free 877-777-6717 andy@atso.ca ACT Help Center [ This Message was edited by: Andy @ ATSO.ca on 2002-09-05 08:28 ]