Proxy prices move. Vendors raise list prices, end introductory offers and let discount codes expire, and a job you budgeted at one rate can cost more the next time you top up. A rate lock fixes the price you pay for a stated period after you buy.
Why it matters
For a team that runs the same collection every month, the price at renewal matters more than the price on the first invoice. A low starting rate that jumps after three months is a different product from a slightly higher rate that holds for a year. Work out the cost of the whole period you expect to run, not the first order.
Questions to ask any vendor
- What starts the lock? The date of purchase, the account's creation, or a contract signature?
- What does it cover? New orders at the same rate, renewals of existing ones, or only the order you placed?
- Does it move down? If the list price falls, do you get the lower one, or are you locked into the higher rate?
- Is it written down, in the terms, or only on a landing page?
On ProxyHive
Rates hold for 12 months after purchase, and move down if the list price drops. The terms are on the FAQ and the rates are on the pricing page, at the price checkout charges.
Common confusion
A rate lock is not a commitment. It fixes what you pay if you buy, not how much you must buy. It is also different from an introductory discount, which is a lower price with an end date: the opposite promise. The residential pricing explainer shows how discount codes with an end date change the real rate.