Slack has raised our charges by $195k per year (mahadk.com)

Article summary

Hack Club, a nonprofit organization, was faced with a significant price increase by Slack, from $5,000/year to $200,000/year, with only a few days' notice. The organization considered this a form of extortion and decided to migrate to Mattermost. After the story went viral, Slack's CEO reached out and offered a better deal. The experience led Hack Club to prioritize owning their data and consider the risks of relying on external SaaS providers.

Main themes

• SaaS pricing models
• Data ownership
• Nonprofit organizations
• Corporate responsibility
• Market dominance

What commenters say

• Large companies often prioritize profits over fairness and customer well-being, leading to exploitative practices.
• The pursuit of profit can lead to a loss of focus on the original mission and values of a company.
• Self-hosting and data ownership are essential for organizations to maintain control and avoid vendor lock-in.
• Some companies prioritize growth and market dominance over ethical considerations, leading to a 'bait and switch' approach to customers.
• There are alternative, more ethical business models, such as those employed by 'hidden champion' companies that prioritize their mission and customers over profit maximization.
• The fiduciary duty to maximize profits can lead to a focus on short-term gains, rather than long-term sustainability and customer satisfaction.
• Small companies that remain small by choice can often maintain a stronger focus on their mission and values, avoiding the pitfalls of large corporate structures.