A mad, bad Mini project

[Caddyshack]

n3il123 said:

I do remember them ages ago doing a video where they had all their new projects (that MG, escargot etc) and they seem to have got no where with anything. I think they did the C1 after which was a complete series and then nothing. I understand that they could be having issues with Binky but i'm sure they could get some content out on other projects....

Unless business has just overtaken them and they have basically given up on Youtube in which case they should come out and say that and archive everything.

Or milk the Patroen until it dwindles to nothing - Morally wrong but it is a better business model.

[Lefty]

Switching from pay per video to pay per month was the piss take I think.

[skwdenyer]

Lefty said:

Switching from pay per video to pay per month was the piss take I think.

Have any who are Patreons (or former Patreons) reached out to them, on there, or via Twitter etc, to explain their PoV and ask what the plan is!

[donaldtherapist]

Or Binky is driveable but doesn't live up to expectations? The video from a couple of years ago where it was bucking and farting along on some rally weekend showed it has almost no steering lock. Either way it's not a great way to advertise either a car prep business or draw in an audience to youtube.

[skwdenyer]

donaldtherapist said:

Or Binky is driveable but doesn't live up to expectations? The video from a couple of years ago where it was bucking and farting along on some rally weekend showed it has almost no steering lock. Either way it's not a great way to advertise either a car prep business or draw in an audience to youtube.

Do they actually have a car prep business? I know it is said, but I’ve not heard of anyone who has had work done by them.

[donaldtherapist]

I'd never considered that they didn't actually build stuff for other people. Do you think it's all just smoke, mirrors, Patreon and YouTube?

[Lefty]

They do engineering and modification/tuning/fabrication and maintain a variety of race and rally cars.

I spoke to them about making something for my s1 Elise to fit a QR hub to the steering column but retain the oem wheel. TBH they didn’t seem that keen.

[donaldtherapist]

I guess if you've got 3500 undemanding souls giving you £90,000 a year with nothing expected in return then the motivation to actually produce anything must diminish.

[Dave.]

They stopped making Binky vids around the same time I bought a mug.

Sorry

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

Dave. said:

They stopped making Binky vids around the same time I bought a mug.

Sorry

[donaldtherapist]

Two Binky uploads to Youtube since December 2021 - that's 21 months at £7500 per month just from Patreon. Over £150,000 for two videos. Astonishing return on their investment.

[donaldtherapist]

skwdenyer said:

Have any who are Patreons (or former Patreons) reached out to them, on there, or via Twitter etc, to explain their PoV and ask what the plan is!

This is the bit that baffles me - who's paying real money for the absolute lack of decent content? A 'cryptic/funny' post on their Facebook page every few months smacks of the attitude that they know they're getting away with pulling a fast one on subscribers. I predict a bonfire kindled by dried up goodwill, fuelled by a few bales of complacency.

[skwdenyer]

donaldtherapist said:

skwdenyer said:

Have any who are Patreons (or former Patreons) reached out to them, on there, or via Twitter etc, to explain their PoV and ask what the plan is!

This is the bit that baffles me - who's paying real money for the absolute lack of decent content? A 'cryptic/funny' post on their Facebook page every few months smacks of the attitude that they know they're getting away with pulling a fast one on subscribers. I predict a bonfire kindled by dried up goodwill, fuelled by a few bales of complacency.

Pattern numbers are in decline, but still holding up remarkably well:



Don’t forget, however, that they have a lot of content, and get a lot of new visitors to the channel. I don’t know what the Patreon churn rate is for their channel, but it might be significant.

Do they also monetise their videos with ads? I’m a YT premium subscriber, so I don’t see which videos carry ads.

[Truckosaurus]

Do they have their Patreon setup such that you don't pay if there's not a video?

I'm not one of their Patreons but use the platform for other channels, people like Chris Harris paused donations once he got the Top Gear gig.

[Voldemort]

It's the radio silence that pisses me off.

They've managed one (quite average/poor) Binky video in the last 18 months.

Whether this is due to technical, legal or personal reasons I have no idea but I think they ought to - at least vaguely - explain what is going on and if the project is over, or just massively delayed.

[robemcdonald]

Off of Twitter the other day.



I was going to reply “insurance job” but someone beat me to it….

[donaldtherapist]

No, it's a monthly only deal, either £2 + VAT or £4.50 + VAT. Subscribers pay whether or not any content is delivered. The question about monetising YouTube is a good one also, I would imagine there are enforced ad breaks - my YouTube premium strips them out though.

I'm a bit disappointed that what was a really entertaining and informative channel has been turned into a purely financial deal - with the cash from Patreon giving an excuse to never actually conclude the project.

I hope Nik and Rich have a plan B for when the subscribers figure out they're being hoodwinked....

[robemcdonald]

donaldtherapist said:

I hope Nik and Rich have a plan B for when the subscribers figure out they're being hoodwinked....

Carry on doing their day jobs and use the money to send the kids to private schools / go on really nice holidays.

[Megaflow]

robemcdonald said:

donaldtherapist said:

I hope Nik and Rich have a plan B for when the subscribers figure out they're being hoodwinked....

Carry on doing their day jobs and use the money to send the kids to private schools / go on really nice holidays.

You’re not going to believe this, but, this is their day job! I know… when they set up Patreon they were surprised by the take up, thought about it for a while and then quit and decided it to do it full time.

Since that moment the videos have slowly got less frequent.

They published a Patreon only update which lost their plans for this year, it was the last one I got before I cancelled. There should have been at least 4 videos from them this year by now.

[Alex@POD]

I don't remember adverts in their videos (I have become quite good at muting the TV when they come on though). I've cancelled my Patreon subscription a while back, I wouldn't mind them being behind schedule if we have a bit of a clue as to why but this is ridiculous.