Bait and switch
About five years ago, after subscribing year after year, I decided to take advantage of a promotional life membership subscription. I also updated my genetic file by purchasing their DNA kit. Soon thereafter, Self Decode radically changed their website, dividing what was a single service into split services with some pay up front upgrades. At first these added pay features were a minor annoyance, but over the years the website has devolved into a bunch of a la carte purchases, so much so, that the original life membership site is hardly recognizable. Usually when one upgrades to a life membership, one expects to receive at least the same level of services, and if improvements occur, then those are usually included as well. There is a tacit understanding that If I am going to pay you in advance, then anything on the website in the future should be included. If you keep putting your website behind an ever-growing number of pay walls, then the original advantage of a life membership becomes meaningless; and off course, one cannot get their money back. If there was some fine print that I missed when I signed up, then my bad, However, when I was reupping every year, there was no extra cost for new information or site changes, these were included with the subscription. Much of what you get now are reports that seem specific to you and your genetics, but most of it is boiler plate text that often becomes so general that it often conflicts with information in other reports. Take this much of this in one report, then don't take any of the same stuff in another report (you get the meaning). The reports on occasion stray from science in some recommendations, suggesting generic practices such as meditation, yoga, and other forms of general improvement to address real genetic polymorphisms. As any number of writers produce these reports, with many opinions not in agreement with other reports; to some degree it seems their free-lancing products are not affiliated with each other or to a company with prescriptive policies. Many report sections seem like opinions rather than scientific facts. Overall, I believe Self Hack, then Self Decode, was originally a good idea of a company that has morphed into a sketchy business that treats its customers rather poorly. The goal, not to share and learn together, but use customers as a cash cow. Maybe the company has had some growing pains and problems and perhaps needs some kind of restructuring. It's indeed sorrowful to say that Self Decode appears to have become a self-serving business. Now I visit the site less and less, there just isn't much to do there but look at advertisements. I hope the company takes this as useful criticism. One place I suggest they start, is to solicit their membership as to how they can improve. For all the years I've been affiliated, I can't recall one instance of customer feedback or a "how are we doing" email. Communicating better with subscribers is a good first step in understanding what they expect, and delivering a great service that both parties can feel good about. Good luck.