Get the CC number up front, but still require an 'opt in' after trial expiration to begin charging. You won't start automatically charging, you'll require the user to do something -- but the 'something' is just clicking a single 'yes, start charging me' button, with no need to enter the CC at that point, cause they entered it up front.
I have no idea if that will work to get the conversions he's getting with, well, automatic conversion. But I can't help but think products where a free trial automatically starts charging your CC on a certain calendar date if you don't opt out -- are getting conversions via trickery, and is not going to build a sustainable customer relationship.
Get the CC number up front, but still require an 'opt in' after trial expiration to begin charging. You won't start automatically charging, you'll require the user to do something -- but the 'something' is just clicking a single 'yes, start charging me' button, with no need to enter the CC at that point, cause they entered it up front.
I have no idea if that will work to get the conversions he's getting with, well, automatic conversion. But I can't help but think products where a free trial automatically starts charging your CC on a certain calendar date if you don't opt out -- are getting conversions via trickery, and is not going to build a sustainable customer relationship.