Managing eStore trial upgrade with eMember

[jyoung2480]

I currently manage a website that provides content for a particular video game, but the content is not delivered digitally. We simply provide users with a list of access codes for the game and they download our content through the game itself. We limit access to our codes by restricting site pages to particular membership levels through eStore and eMember.

Thus far, we have only charged our members a one time payment for access to our content for a particular version of the game. For example, if someone were to join right now, they would have access to our content for the current version of the game, but once the new game releases, they would have to renew by making another payment if they wanted to access content for the new game.

We are wanting to provide potential members with a 7-day trial membership, but due to the nature of our delivery method, we cannot allow them to access everything during the trial as our access codes do not change until a new version of the game is released and anyone who purchases a trial would essentially have everything they need and could cancel immediately.

That said, from what I can tell, these are the only two options available to achieve this:

1. I create a product with a trial price (let’s say $5) and then a one-time payment (let’s say $20) that brings them to a full membership. The trial will apply them to a trial membership level, which only allows them access to a partial list of codes to try. Once the 7-day period is over, they would be charged $20 and I would then have to manually upgrade them to the full membership level.
2. I use the auto-upgrade feature in eMember to upgrade a trial product membership to the full version. My question here is how does eMember know what to charge since there aren’t any fields tying it to a product?

Ideally, I’d like their membership to be one level during the trial period and then change to the full membership once the full payment has been made. Can you provide me with some guidance on the best way to achieve this?

Thanks in advance!

[admin]

Options 1 and 2 that you explained above are valid options. However, given your situation I would recommend you to consider the following option which might be a cleaner and easier setup.

1. Create another membership level called “Trial” with a duration of 7 days for example.

2. Use a $5 payment button for this level (the cost to signup for a trial account).

3. Anyone who wish to try it can pay $5 and become a trial member which gives them access to certain content as you set in this membership level.

4. Once the trial period is over (example, 7 days) this account will be inactive. The user can pay for the full account and upgrade their membership level to the full one.

Let me know if that helps.

[jyoung2480]

I like your suggestion better! Thanks for the help!

[Author]

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