Membership/Subscription discussion

[Mike Olbinski]

So I want to talk about the possibility of having a membership here. While we don't need it now as Jim is paying for the hosting, getting this stuff ready and even maybe doing it NOW, and helping Jim NOW will be good prep for the years to come.

After some discussion with you all, this is what the plan will be.

1. The normal registered user will lose a bit of stuff...smaller PM ability, smaller avatars, etc.

2. Being a member means being put into a special group with the following benefits:

- High PM storage
- Special members-only forum - censor-free?
- Bigger avatars
- NO ads


Can anyone else think of ideas of things that would be good for members, to make it more enticing?

Should there be levels? like a $20 level, a $50 level???

 

[BirdMan21]

I think you will find there are alot of people willing to throw down some money. Is this going to be a one time fee or a yearly fee? As someone who doesnt use PMs much, I think the levels would be a great thing. Just tell me where to send the money and how much and I am in.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I think you will find there are alot of people willing to throw down some money. Is this going to be a one time fee or a yearly fee? As someone who doesnt use PMs much, I think the levels would be a great thing. Just tell me where to send the money and how much and I am in.

I think it will be a yearly thing.

The server costs at least $3600 a year, so if we had around 100 people at $40 a year, we could cover the entire thing.

I don't know about 100 people doing this, but who knows.

Maybe we can also use some Google money if i put the ads back up, so that could help too.

Levels might be cool, but we really need incentive to get $40 or $50 a year.

 

[Linderbee]

I like the idea of levels...

I think perhaps EE should be a members' only forum. I can't think of anything that a member's only forum would have that EE doesn't already. fwiw, I'm against a censor-free forum. It's one of the reasons this place is so great. Maybe slightly looser moderating, but I don't want to be reading f-bombs every third word, either. (and I have as bad a mouth as anyone, trust me).

I'd pony up $40 a year without hesitation.

I'd suggest paying by monthly or yearly...

also, if someone were to get banned, do they get their money back, or no?

 

[82CardsGrad]

I like the idea of levels...

I think perhaps EE should be a members' only forum. I can't think of anything that a member's only forum would have that EE doesn't already. fwiw, I'm against a censor-free forum. It's one of the reasons this place is so great. Maybe slightly looser moderating, but I don't want to be reading f-bombs every third word, either. (and I have as bad a mouth as anyone, trust me).

I'd pony up $40 a year without hesitation.

I'd suggest paying by monthly or yearly...

also, if someone were to get banned, do they get their money back, or no?

Man am I glad you asked that!!!



Mike, FWIW, I believe you are now heading down the right path! Stay at it!

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I like the idea of levels...

I think perhaps EE should be a members' only forum. I can't think of anything that a member's only forum would have that EE doesn't already. fwiw, I'm against a censor-free forum. It's one of the reasons this place is so great. Maybe slightly looser moderating, but I don't want to be reading f-bombs every third word, either. (and I have as bad a mouth as anyone, trust me).

I'd pony up $40 a year without hesitation.

I'd suggest paying by monthly or yearly...

also, if someone were to get banned, do they get their money back, or no?

I think once we receive the money, we wont refund for idiots who get banned

They could also come, pay and then after 6 months say they don't want to come back and ask for 50% of their money back...well, I dunno....NO maybe?

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Some boards I post on have VIP or Green Membership Levels.

How it works is they pay a yearly fee (usually between 30-40 bucks) and have access to things the non paying members have. I know in the one (an MMA Message Board), you get inside access to chats with fighters, get your own email addy and stuff like that. Another offers a membership "card" and a free tee-shirt with every yearly subscription.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Some boards I post on have VIP or Green Membership Levels.

How it works is they pay a yearly fee (usually between 30-40 bucks) and have access to things the non paying members have. I know in the one (an MMA Message Board), you get inside access to chats with fighters, get your own email addy and stuff like that. Another offers a membership "card" and a free tee-shirt with every yearly subscription.

We might be able to do email addresses as well.

 

[Dback Jon]

$40/year would be well worth it to me.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I'd pay even if nothing changed...just to support the site, but I do understand your need for some incentives to get some posters to open their wallets.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I think once we receive the money, we wont refund for idiots who get banned

LOL. Agreed.

What about new people who want to check out the site before they join? Can you give them a two-week free trial or something?

I've been on a few great boards that have kinda tanked once they went to paid memberships (mostly because they lost a bunch of people); but, I don't think that would necessarily happen here.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

LOL. Agreed.

What about new people who want to check out the site before they join? Can you give them a two-week free trial or something?

I've been on a few great boards that have kinda tanked once they went to paid memberships (mostly because they lost a bunch of people); but, I don't think that would necessarily happen here.

Well, the thing is...it wont be like you can't participate and be here without being a member...it just means that being a member gives you access to other, cooler things.

Like a normal person may only have a 10pm limit, 50x50 avatar, etc.

You become a member, and you get 500pms, 100x100, member's forum, etc.

 

[nathan]

I think there should a platinum diamond membership level where you can give Chandler Mike a list of up to five people you want banned and he'll ban them for you.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

I think there should a platinum diamond membership level where you can give Chandler Mike a list of up to five people you want banned and he'll ban them for you.

 

[BirdMan21]

I think there should a platinum diamond membership level where you can give Chandler Mike a list of up to five people you want banned and he'll ban them for you.

Pretty sure that would cost like $3600 a year

 

[AZZenny]

I agree with Linderbee -- no attraction in having a censor-free forum. BUT -- censor-free signatures, THAT I could get behind!
I also don't need a ton of PM space, bigger avatar -- the attraction for me is to eliminate advertisements and maintain the secure feeling that the place won't vanish some night, or go berzerker.

I'm mildly embarrassed -- I didn't even see the 'shop amazon' thing at the top -- but I never even look up there. I will start using it, and my only question is: do you guys see what people buy? I already know NSA is probably watching, just curious.
(LOL -- I was going to suggest blog space and photo gallery space for paying members, and whaddyaknow!)

Now -- members being able to preset certain font attributes permanently or having more font or formatting possibilities would appeal to me, although it's probably not possible and most people would find it unnecessary.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I agree with Linderbee -- no attraction in having a censor-free forum. BUT -- censor-free signatures, THAT I could get behind!
I also don't need a ton of PM space, bigger avatar -- the attraction for me is to eliminate advertisements and maintain the secure feeling that the place won't vanish some night, or go berzerker.

I'm mildly embarrassed -- I didn't even see the 'shop amazon' thing at the top -- but I never even look up there. I will start using it, and my only question is: do you guys see what people buy? I already know NSA is probably watching, just curious.
(LOL -- I was going to suggest blog space and photo gallery space for paying members, and whaddyaknow!)

Now -- members being able to preset certain font attributes permanently or having more font or formatting possibilities would appeal to me, although it's probably not possible and most people would find it unnecessary.

Yeah, we have the photo gallery already

As far as what you purchase, I am the only one that sees that, but yes, I see reports of how many orders, when they ship and what they were. But I have ZERO idea who bought them, so there is no worries in that area.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Pretty sure that would cost like $3600 a year

For $3600 from one person for a year, you'd damn well better believe I'd ban 5 people for him

 

[Jersey Girl]

Well, the thing is...it wont be like you can't participate and be here without being a member...it just means that being a member gives you access to other, cooler things.

Like a normal person may only have a 10pm limit, 50x50 avatar, etc.

You become a member, and you get 500pms, 100x100, member's forum, etc.

Oh, okay. So it's kinda like a casino players club, where if you drop zero money, you still get to play and maybe get invited to a slot tourney; but if you drop a butt load, then you get the free fancy toaster and cool windbreaker. I could get behind that.

I think there should a platinum diamond membership level where you can give Chandler Mike a list of up to five people you want banned and he'll ban them for you.

Pretty sure that would cost like $3600 a year

I could get behind both of those things as well.

 

[Assface]

I also think we should sell some ASFN themed gear. About 4 years ago there was a run of ASFN shirts that still get asked about. You can use www.cafepress.com to make shirts and such and nothing is made untill it's ordered so there's no overhead cost. Here's a list of what they have to offer. Not only is it income but having shirts and bumper stickers out there is advertising the site.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I also think we should sell some ASFN themed gear. About 4 years ago there was a run of ASFN shirts that still get asked about. You can use www.cafepress.com to make shirts and such and nothing is made untill it's ordered so there's no overhead cost. Here's a list of what they have to offer. Not only is it income but having shirts and bumper stickers out there is advertising the site.

I agree. I would love to get a new ASFN shirt. My old one is too big and faded.

 

[Linderbee]

I'll third that. I don't have one...got here too late for that...but I would LOVE one.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

I actually have designed a t-shirt, just haven't done much with it...I wanted to make a few cooler shirts.

http://www.cafepress.com/asfn

 

[Gee!]

I actually have designed a t-shirt, just haven't done much with it...I wanted to make a few cooler shirts.

http://www.cafepress.com/asfn

Would you autograph mine?

 

[Gee!]

Actually.. Could I get my own line of t-shirt to be sold there? It could be called "The Gee! Special" as this quote is what is constantly told to me by Chandler Mike..

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