Membership/Subscription discussion

Mike Olbinski · January 25th, 2008, 08:07 PM

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 · January 25th, 2008, 08:30 PM

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 · January 25th, 2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · January 25th, 2008, 08:38 PM

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 · January 25th, 2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

Man am I glad you asked that!!!

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

Mike Olbinski · January 25th, 2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

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 · January 25th, 2008, 09:01 PM

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 · January 25th, 2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

We might be able to do email addresses as well.

Dback Jon · January 25th, 2008, 09:09 PM

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

Brian in Mesa · January 25th, 2008, 11:08 PM

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 · January 26th, 2008, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chandler Mike

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 · January 26th, 2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jersey Girl

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 · January 26th, 2008, 08:44 AM

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 · January 26th, 2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

BirdMan21 · January 26th, 2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Pretty sure that would cost like $3600 a year