Over the last couple of day’s we’ve heard from many pet owners about Petlog’s new subscription model just to be able to update your phone number / address. Many of the legacy databases have moved to this model with Private Equity and other investments force them to make more money, more quickly.
The New Landscape: Annual Fees
Identibase has long utilised a subscription model for premium services.
Petlog has recently adjusted its offering, with new pricing structures that can mean annual fees for owners who want the flexibility of digital updates (such as “Petlog Secure”). These packages cost £15 and £39 per year and one is required to update your address / phone number.
Petlogs changes have came through a partnership between Identi and Petlog
For many owners, this comes as a surprise. When they attempt to update a phone number or address—vital steps in keeping a pet safe—they may now be presented with a paywall or a subscription plan.
For Vets, Breeders and Rescues this can also come as a shock when a pet owner complains about this.
This introduces important questions and concerns:
How it impacts pet owners?
We’ve taken many calls over the course of the last few days of pet owners asking to transfer to MyPet because of these newly announced fees. As a pet owner there are a few questions to consider:
- First, are your details up to date. We highly recommend checking this with your existing database no matter who it is.
- Do you want to subscribe just to update your details. To learn more about changing database you can read our support article.
- If you’re getting your pet microchipped, ask your vet which microchip provider they use. This will impact what you have to pay to register or update your details. If you’d like to find a local MyPet microchip user, drop our support team a note.
When it’s a MyPet Microchip, we have MyPet Basic, our most popular plan which is always free to register, update and transfer MyPet Microchips. There is always a way to update your details free of charge.
How it impacts Veterinary teams?
Veterinary Teams will hear from customers about these changes if they use a provider with a subscription model as for breeders it means the new owners of the animals will have to pay to update their details, and for pet owners they will have to pay to update any details.
Today we receive around 10 request a week for information on who uses our microchips locally purely because of these charges. When your customers ask or enquire about this there are a few things to consider:
- Are your team prepared and trained to answer questions on the charges of your microchip database provider?
We field questions from pet owners every day about these charges. We hear often, my vet didn’t tell me about the charges to rehome these pets what can I do? Ensuring your team know the charges and know how to communicate it. If theuy get frustrated about these charges they often associate this frustration with the vet practice that sold them the chip, not just the database.
- Is the subscription model just to update details creating a problem of microchips with out of date details?
The biggest barrier to reunification is outdated contact details. We hear time and time again from customers who simply won’t do it because of the charge. You can read more about that HERE.
- Are we prioritising ‘Lifetime Value’ or just ‘Lifetime Cost’?
A cheap chip price or a free microchip might look good on the invoice and the P and L but is it coming with significantly higher lifetime costs for your customer.
How can MyPet Help?
When it’s a MyPet Microchip we always offer MyPet Basic completely free of charge. This allows:
- Free registration
- Free updates for life
- Free transfers for life
- Registration Certificate
In short everything to ensure accurate details are stored with no barriers and no cost.
We do offer a range of plans for those who want additional features, but are by no means required to transfer a pet or update details. You can learn more here: https://mypethq.io/microchip-database-pricing/
To request no obligation samples and pricing you can fill out this form: https://mypethq.io/pricing-and-sample-microchips-for-your-veterinary-practice/
How it impacts Breeders?
All breeders I know work hard to provide a perfect Puppy Pack and handover process with their new owners. They hate it when the microchip turns into added cost for the new pet owners. Some questions and concerns to consider as a breeder are:
- Does your puppy pack come with a hideen invoice?
Your pups or kittens go to a new home. The new owner tries to transfer and has to subscribe just to get the pet into their name, how does this impact them. This sours the new owners experience.
- Am I prepared to explain the charges?
If you do use a provider that charges these subscription charges to complete the transfer are you up to speed to explain the charges to the new owner?
- Are animals remaining in your account because pet owners won’t transfer them?
Do you have a number of pets you’ve rehomed still in your account because the new owner hasn’t completed the transfer? This is very often because of the high charges.
How can MyPet Help?
When it’s a MyPet Microchip we always offer MyPet Basic completely free of charge. This allows:
- Free registration for your and your pet owners
- Free updates for life
- Free transfers for life
This means your customers can get the pet into their details and keep it up to date forever free of charge.
We do offer a range of plans for those who want additional features, but are by no means required to transfer a pet or update details. You can learn more here: https://mypethq.io/microchip-database-pricing/
If you implant your own microchips you can learn more here: https://mypethq.io/mypet-for-pet-breeders/
If your vet implants microchips for you find out which microchips they use and if they’re aware of the charges. If they use a databe your not happy with ask them if they’d use our microchips for your pets. You can purchase them from us for your vet to use. If not get in touch with us and we can help find a MyPet Microchip implanter near you!
How it impacts Rescues?
There are many concerns for rescues. The number 1 complaint from rescues is animals not having up to date details. The database you use or you’re forced to use can be causing this. Here’s a few questions and concerns to consider:
- Are you handing adopters a bill on day one?
You charge an adoption fee, the adopter then has to immediately pay another subscription just to update their details they feel blindsided. This can cause friction between your rescue and the keeper during a delicate time as the animal is setting in.
- What happens if the adopter refuses to subscribe?
If the new owner won’t pay a subscription just to update their details, the data might not get updated. This leaves the pet you’ve cared for and adopted unprotected.
- Does the database offer you rescue specific services?
Does the microchip database offer you rescues specific services such as free transfers from other databases, free registration of unregistered microchips rescue back up and discounts off microchips?
To learn more about how MyPet can help your rescue with this click here or contact us.
How can MyPet Help?
With MyPet we make it as easy and as affordable as possible. For using database:
- Always free to register, update and transfer our microchips for you and the adopter
- Rescues can register unregistered microchips free of charge with us.
- Transferring microchips from another database to us? That’s free as well.
We also offer excellent pricing on microchips if you microchip animals within your rescue. Learn more and get in touch with us HERE.
