Pay real money for the privilege of beta testing unreleased product
And I just got an email:
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We have several big things to share, so let's get right to it!
1. Tuple is launching publicly in August. Since our private beta launched in January, our customers have done 4,000+ calls, our average call quality rating has reached a 4.5 out of 5, and a steady stream of positive testimonials have rolled in (like this one, and this other one, and a third).
<snip to keep short>
That said...
2. You're invited to sign up now.
Since you were cool enough to join our email list, we don't want you to have to wait two months.
If you'd like to try Tuple with your team, you can do so today.
(Quick caveat: the app is macOS-only. We'll very likely going to offer a Linux client eventually, but haven't started work on that.)
If you'd like to use Tuple on your team at work, we charge $100 for a 1-month pilot, during which you can try the app with your entire team (unlimited seats). After the month is up, we charge $25/month/person for folks who want to keep using the app.
If you're a freelancer who wants to pair with clients, we also offer a freelancer plan. You can pair with as many clients as you like for $300/year. However, your clients can pair only with you, not each other.
<snip marketing talk>
→ If I've piqued your interest and you'd like to give Tuple a shot, just reply with your work email and I'll send you our secret payment link.
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So are they trying to get people to pay THEM and at the same time beta test it, before they go public?
Should I feel privileged for paying to beta test their product?
Am i reading this the wrong way, or there are more people that this rubs them the wrong way?
PS: After I emailed them (a rather snarky email about this) they replied that they are not on beta and the money they ask is because: "I'm asking you to pay for software that provides value."