Difference from revision 13 to the current revision.
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**Q: How much does CellarTracker cost?**
  
A: As you probably know, CellarTracker is a free site with a "voluntary 
annual payment" model to unlock premium features (e.g. [AutoValuation 
automatic cellar valuation] and some [ContentChannels professional scores]). 
This is commonly referred to as a "freemium" business model, although 
CellarTracker goes further than other sites in merely suggesting the annual 
level of contribution based on cellar size. As of December, 2010, these 
subscription payments comprise more than 80% of the revenue of CellarTracker 
with the balance coming from advertising and affiliate traffic. I last revised 
the payment suggestions in January, 2007, but I wanted to give you heads up 
that going forward I am tweaking this upward. That said, I want to be VERY 
clear about one thing: FREE means FREE. Any data that a user enters is always 
intended to be accessible to that user regardless of payment status. And these 
payment suggestions are exactly that, just suggestions. Some users choose to 
pay $10/year for premium support while others gladly pay upwards of $250/year.
  
**If you are a long-term supporter and have picked an annual level you are 
happy with, then you should feel no pressure to revise that.**
  
**SUGGESTED AMOUNTS**
    0-499 bottles:  $36/year
  500-999 bottles:  $75/year
   1,000+ bottles: $150/year
  
In the spirit of transparency, below is a table showing the historical 
suggestions for voluntary annual payment.
  
**HISTORY OF SUGGESTED ANNUAL PAYMENT**
|| **Year** || **0-499 bottles** || **500-999 bottles** || **1000+ bottles** ||
|| 2004 || $20.00 || $40.00 || $75.00 ||
|| 2007 || $30.00 || $60.00 || $100.00 ||
|| 2011 || $36.00 || $75.00 || $150.00 ||
  
My simple goal is to build and maintain software that you will hopefully be 
using decades from now, and I am deeply appreciative for **any** support.
  
[http://www.cellartracker.com/payment.asp CellarTracker Payment Page]
  
**Q: What are the premium features?**
  
A: The primary premium feature is [AutoValuation automatic cellar valuation]
based on auction and community pricing data. In addition, premium members can
see scores (but not review text) from several [ContentChannels content channels]
including Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, John Gilman's View From
the Cellar, Roy Hersh's For The Love of Port, and Brad Baker's Champagne
Warrior. Finally, premium members do not see banner advertisements.
  
**Q: What happens if I renew early? How do you calculate the 'due' date?**
  
A: In short, there is no penalty for renewing early, as the system goes to 
great lengths to honor your original term. That said, the system is also very 
permissive if/when a user lapses payment. Any subsequent payment from that user 
starts a fresh premium period. This is 
[http://www.cellartracker.com/forum/tm.asp?m=12983 described in detail here].
  
**Q: What happens if lapse payment? Will I still be able to access my data?**
  
A: The system is designed to allow user's to always access any data they have 
personally entered regardless of their payment status. Some automatically 
integrated premium data (professional scores and values) will 'dry up' when 
payment lapses, this should have no impact on data that a user has entered. 
Accounts with data are never purged except by user request. If you are having 
trouble logging in it is for unrelated reasons, as no one is ever 'locked out' 
based on payment status etc.
  
**Q: Why don't you support PayPal?**
  
A: The short answer is that actually the site does accept payment via PayPal, 
although these are processed manually and may require a few hours to be 
credited to your account. Simply PayPal to my merchant account which is 
eric@cellartracker.com. The longer answer is that the payment system for 
CellarTracker, called Payflow Link, is actually owned and hosted by PayPal. It 
was originally part of merchant services division of Verisign which PayPal 
acquired a few years ago. At the time and subsequently, PayPal has mentioned 
that THEY would integrate PayPal into the flow of Payflow Link, but alas that 
has never happened.
  
**Q: Is my online payment secure, and how do you handle credit cardholder 
data?**
  
A: Please see my PasswordSecurity FAQ for a brief discussion of this.
  
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CategoryFAQ
Voluntary Payment
