Membership cost questionnaire

[Mike Olbinski]

So Jim and I are going to be taking this forum in a new direction...we're going to make it a membership forum with a lot of benefits to the members who pay a fee and help this site keep going.

UPDATE: I wanted to make sure since someone mentioned it below. This is an OPTIONAL membership which comes with benefits...like no ads, a member forum, etc.

But you don't NEED to be a member to post here.

It cost $500 a month to host this site. That is $6000 a year. Yikes.

Some of you threw out numbers you pay to other forums to be members, so I'm going to use those in a poll here to see what we come up with for a good amount.

If was did $50 a person and 100 became members, that almost takes care of it. I think we'll end up with more than 100 members too, so I'm not sure if $50 is too much or too little. Jim doesn't want to profit off this stuff at all.

So here is the poll, vote as you will...I want to know what each of you is willing to pay.

And PLEASE, pass this on to others on the forum and let them know about this poll...I need to get a good wide opinion.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Dback Jon]

I voted $40. I'd pay up to $50, but would prefer a lower amount, obviously.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

$40 seems about right too, but I would pay $50.

 

[AZZenny]

LOL -- human nature -- I thought $30 sounds about right, but I'd pay $40 or $50 if it was truly ad-free. But if you are going to continue ads for non-members, factor what little income they bring in to the total.

I do think making the Amazon on the bar a little brighter would remind people to use it more.

 

[Linderbee]

I'll be honest. You charge it, I'll pay it. I really can't imagine you would charge so much that I wouldn't pay it.

ASFN is my crack. I need my fix daily, and would pay whatever to know that I'm not missing out on anything. (Like the little kid that won't go to bed when there's company over)

 

[Brian]

I honestly wouldn't pay a dime. If it costs money, I'll have to stop posting. Somehow, I think my days here are suddenly short lived.

My family is my crack, I now view this like Ryan does. I like it, but don't need it.

 

[UncleChris]

LOL -- human nature -- I thought $30 sounds about right, but I'd pay $40 or $50 if it was truly ad-free. But if you are going to continue ads for non-members, factor what little income they bring in to the total.

I do think making the Amazon on the bar a little brighter would remind people to use it more.

 

[Linderbee]

I honestly wouldn't pay a dime. If it costs money, I'll have to stop posting. Somehow, I think my days here are suddenly short lived.

My family is my crack, I now view this like Ryan does. I like it, but don't need it.

You wouldn't need to pay, just get the extras if you do.

Nice jab about family, though. I liked that.

 

[40yearfan]

Mox, nix. I'll pay the going rate, whatever it is.

 

[abomb]

Just make the Paypal link more prominent. People would kick $5 here and there more often, IMO.

I always thought it was cool that LG had a HOF of donators. Not really my thing, but some people might like seeing their name up.

 

[AZZenny]

Mike, you need to make it clearer this is an optional membership with special perks you are talking about -- no rollover ad links, etc. for those who pay, but non-paying folks are free to continue as usual. You'll freak people out otherwise.

The alternative could be make an extremely low base member fee, like $5 or $10 a year for everyone. That's one starbucks venti capuccino or one beer at a ballgame a year for the user and even students and family men would have a tough time arguing they can't swing that. (Would also discourage visiting fan trolls.) Then let those of us desperate for one advertsing-free place in our lives pay the higher fee.

 

[AZZenny]

btw -- on Amazon -- if I buy a used book there, does it still kick in a few pennies? Because if it does, I'll try to do that rather than ebay or Powells.

 

[Darth Llama]

Just make the Paypal link more prominent. People would kick $5 here and there more often, IMO.

I always thought it was cool that LG had a HOF of donators. Not really my thing, but some people might like seeing their name up.

That would probably be a good idea. I have been posting here for months, and had no idea that such a cost was present for these forums or that donations were needed. Maybe because my bookmark goes right to the forum. I guess I'll update that.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

btw -- on Amazon -- if I buy a used book there, does it still kick in a few pennies? Because if it does, I'll try to do that rather than ebay or Powells.

If you click the Shop Amazon link and buy something, we get a commission...no matter what it is.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Mike, you need to make it clearer this is an optional membership with special perks you are talking about -- no rollover ad links, etc. for those who pay, but non-paying folks are free to continue as usual. You'll freak people out otherwise.

The alternative could be make an extremely low base member fee, like $5 or $10 a year for everyone. That's one starbucks venti capuccino or one beer at a ballgame a year for the user and even students and family men would have a tough time arguing they can't swing that. (Would also discourage visiting fan trolls.) Then let those of us desperate for one advertsing-free place in our lives pay the higher fee.

Thanks, I added a note in the top post...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Wow 19 wont pays...this isn't going as well as I thought...

 

[Linderbee]

Wow 19 wont pays...this isn't going as well as I thought...

Well, I think that's a little skewed, with voters having thought it's all or nothing (not realizing there are benefits to membership), but we'll see.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Well, I think that's a little skewed, with voters having thought it's all or nothing (not realizing there are benefits to membership), but we'll see.

Really?

I think it means people don't want to pay for it regardless...basically if it comes down to do or die, they'd just leave if they figured it was all or nothing.

If that's the case, those people DEFINITELY wont suddenly pay $50 when they now know they can post for free...

 

[AsUdUdE]

maybe I am in the minority... but the Ads REALLY don't bother me at all... I mean every other site on the Net has ads, and if you ask people to pay $50.00, and you will get rid of the ads, I don't think people care...

That said I think if you charged a set amount just to get into the site, you will lose 75% of your audience.... and if you do an optional you will have about 3 people total pay it.....

I think ultimatly, the idea of charging a $10 annual fee plus ads may make sense, but I will pay whatever....

I also think most people who won't pay, don't feel obligated to give a reason, hence most of the posts going for "I'll pay" and like 2 posts of I Won't....

Just my 2 cents...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

maybe I am in the minority... but the Ads REALLY don't bother me at all... I mean every other site on the Net has ads, and if you ask people to pay $50.00, and you will get rid of the ads, I don't think people care...

That said I think if you charged a set amount just to get into the site, you will lose 75% of your audience.... and if you do an optional you will have about 3 people total pay it.....

I think ultimatly, the idea of charging a $10 annual fee plus ads may make sense, but I will pay whatever....

I also think most people who won't pay, don't feel obligated to give a reason, hence most of the posts going for "I'll pay" and like 2 posts of I Won't....

Just my 2 cents...

What about ads in the posts themselves, the text-links to Ebay?

My plan is that for non-members, those will come back, but they'll be double-underlined so you know the different between that and a link the poster put in there.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Wow 19 wont pays...this isn't going as well as I thought...

Out of 4k users, this isn't surprising.

Most people come to ASFN casually, I'd imagine. If they were forced to pay, they'd get their AZ sports information somewhere else.

There are some dedicated few though, ASFN means much more than just a website, and it is these people that will be willing to pay.

 

[AsUdUdE]

What about ads in the posts themselves, the text-links to Ebay?

My plan is that for non-members, those will come back, but they'll be double-underlined so you know the different between that and a link the poster put in there.

I don't think I am quite qunderstanding... so the idea, is to have an "X" amount annual membership fee, and in doing so, these "paying" members won't have to have Ads on their page, but will still have the same privlages as "non-paying" members?

Meaning Non-paying members get to do everything, but because they decided not to pay the membership, they have to deal with Ads, on Text pages, ect...

Is that the basic idea?

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

As much as I enjoy my time on the board, if it were changed to a subscription fee BBS I wouldn't pay for membership.

Not that I don't think ASFN doesn't' have a right to subsidize it's cost of operation...it's just that there are too many free alternatives to turn to in a case like that.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I don't think I am quite qunderstanding... so the idea, is to have an "X" amount annual membership fee, and in doing so, these "paying" members won't have to have Ads on their page, but will still have the same privlages as "non-paying" members?

Meaning Non-paying members get to do everything, but because they decided not to pay the membership, they have to deal with Ads, on Text pages, ect...

Is that the basic idea?

That's the idea, but members will also get:

Members only forum
Avatars
Bigger Private Message space allowed
Whatever else I can think of...

 

[Mike Olbinski]

As much as I enjoy my time on the board, if it were changed to a subscription fee BBS I wouldn't pay for membership.

Not that I don't think ASFN doesn't' have a right to subsidize it's cost of operation...it's just that there are too many free alternatives to turn to in a case like that.

Free alternatives with the information you get here?