The $2 PayPal coffee
I’ve been running a lot of experiments on underscorebleach.net of late. My newest one involves PayPal and a cup of coffee.
The idea is simple: ask folks to donate $2 so you can buy a cup of coffee. What’s the point? Well, I’m combining ideas from two sites here. First, I recently read in a lengthy and informative article by Steve Pavlina that his #2 revenue source is donations. I was quite surprised.
Second, I saw that eConsultant was accepting gifts via PayPal for specific items and amounts. Their page:
Saved you Time/Money? Buy me caffeine. Paypal : $2.00 (Red Bull) | $3.00 (12 Pack Coke) | $4.00 (Venti Chai) | Thank you.
The item is arbitrary, but it serves as a symbol. This is vital. The symbol says things like:
- “The donation would be for an everyday item”
- “Everyday items are cheap”
- “I use use everyday items”
- “It’s no big deal to buy someone an everyday item — I buy stuff for people sometimes”
etc. I decided to improve on eConsultant’s donations idea by using an image rather than a text link. I’m asking for $2, symbolized by a cup of Starbucks coffee. Everyone knows coffee, everyone knows Starbucks, and people buy each other Starbucks all the time. I stuck the “$2″ price tag right on the image; it’s brainlessly simple.
All that said, with the image up there for almost a week, no one’s bought me a cup yet, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I still think it’s a neat idea.
May 14th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
This is actually quite briliant. If you think about it, people have mixed feelings about donating money. Some donate to charities all the time, some neve do. Donating money, to a non-charitable cause is even more complicated… But we buy coffe for our friends every day. It’s easy.
If you don’t mind I’m stealing this idea :)
May 14th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Honestly, I’d donate, but I lack money and PayPal.
:Honestly, I’d donate, but I lack money and PayPal.
:
May 15th, 2006 at 5:37 pm
It looks like an ad, not a donation; ergo, I do not use it, and you go sleepy and poor.
May 15th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
What would make it NOT look like an ad?
May 16th, 2006 at 8:05 am
I happened on your site, looking for a derivation of the phrase ‘top drawer’….kept clicking and found this thing you’ve got going about the donation thing. I’m so far out of the normal demographic who would visit, read and then comment, that I just had to…from your sense of humor, I thought you might enjoy knowing that someone like me (who’s old enough to be your mom) would take a minute to type this. I like your coffee donation idea and it actually could be very good for people who give information to the public via their websites, such as helpful tips of any kind. For instance, I have an interior design business and a website. I have been thinking of doing a ‘decorating tip of the week’ kind of thing. If I did what you’re doing (with the buy me a coffee), I might not ever have to work again! But I think your idea needs some work…for instance, friends buy coffee for friends….we don’t normally buy strangers coffee, do we? Also, people don’t HAVE to have a paypal account to pay for things via paypal…they can use a regular credit card. Anyway, your site is so unique and you obviously have a lot of talent, therefore, I had to send my comments along. And btw, using the Starbucks cup only gives them free advertising and really does look like an ad, so maybe using a generic coffee logo might be better. You could also say something like, ‘I know we don’t know each other, but I’m a coffee addict so could you help a brotha out?’
May 16th, 2006 at 9:37 am
Ah, those are very good points. I will definitely refine the idea with your feedback in mind, Laura.
May 21st, 2006 at 3:39 am
Laura was right. The generic cup of joe looks much more inviting surprisingly.
May 21st, 2006 at 4:08 pm
Okay, with this tactic, I’ll put up a picture of my student loan bill. Maybe someone will pay it off since it has a numeric value showing right on it.
May 28th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Hey I think it’s a creative idea. I heard about a guy who started a website and was asking for donations to save a kitten or a puppy… and got thousands of dollars coming into his account.
I might steal your idea. I am working on a cars classifieds site right now, somewhat similar to craigslist car section, but a little more advanced. I want to keep it free but I guess I will put an ad similar to your but with another cup… I would not put a Starbucks cooffee cup just because I personally don’t like this chain because they are on every corner. I’d rather put some small guy’s logo on the cup.
Anyway, so did anyone donate $2 yet?
May 28th, 2006 at 9:36 pm
Sasha — yes, I’ve gotten a couple of donations, but it actually hasn’t been as successful as I anticipated it would be. It’s all good, though.
May 30th, 2006 at 9:02 am
Tom Sherman will u marry me?
May 30th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Not for $2.
July 14th, 2006 at 8:18 am
hey I know it’s off topic - I just have this page bookmarked. What engine do you use for this blog?
July 27th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
umm well i bought my first starbucks coffee 2dee or wel at lesst meh mom bort it fo mii (not tht anii ov yew actuallii cer bt thtaint trha point k) x it was quite nyc bt hey i dont lyk coffee bt hey i yk the idea of drinkin the ame as sum kwl celeb ppl n suff ..hey im onlii 13 fo petes sake yes pete off bb isnt he funny nw yes i agree newayyy……………….chau x p.s im not a retard :(:( bt thats a gud thing :D
July 28th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Holy shit xlouisex, hooked on phonics worked TOO well for you. Why did you even comment on this post? You’ve added absolutely NO value to the discussion, to yourself, or anyone else in the English speaking world. I honestly feel dumber having “read” it. P.S. you are a retard. 13 or not. You’re a retard. And it’s “ciao” not “chau” or “chow.” Have fun in English class. Say hello to Ralph Wiggum for me.
August 3rd, 2006 at 6:15 pm
n alsooooo y wuda haf fun in englishh class nw tht jus wel cnfewsin i meeyn…english class suks! !
August 3rd, 2006 at 6:17 pm
heyy no fer it didnt wurk b4 the uva 1 n nw ther in tha lyk totalii rong orada owell sooooo iyah xx i reli dno y iv cem on this twice na??! :S oh yerr i bort anuffa *starrbukkz* tewdeh ther kwwl! :D n btw i dont think chau or chow or w/e is efen english soo yah kno wudnt a lern in languages or w/e or w/e bt hey….so…….n btw wat ar phonics…i dno y i comented n i dont no wat its abowt bt owelllllll n also hu on erth is ralph wiggum?? :S hmm sownds lyk sum random guy u jus med up bt owel i wil if i ever c ne1 cald it…evan is it?? :S heyy nd ar yoo guys al american?? i wna b american!! america is kwwwl!!!!!!! :D n am nt a retard am jus speshall *starr* in tha maykin xx :P luv yal x hehe x
January 12th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Tom, now that’s about 6 months later, how did your “buy me a cup of coffee” effort go? I did a quick browse around your site and I didn’t see anywhere where the coffee cup tip jar could be found?
– Eric
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 am
pre teen pageant gown