Thread: Member Donations for Site Maintenance & Hosting Costs

Originally Posted by Utopian

I actually don't like the idea of a "contributor badge." I would hope that we wouldn't need to rely on peer pressure to get this to work.

I see what you mean about the badge. Hadn't thought of it that way. I withdraw my request of a badge! Wouldn't want people to think the needed to do this. :

Many sites have contributor badges. Many even tier the badges, the more you contribute the badge changes to show that like bronze level and silver level and gold level.

Originally Posted by Phrank

What do you think guys?

I think it's a nice gesture, but personally I feel weird about donating directly to the site. Maybe the money would go where I wanted, maybe not, and besides that it would be just a tiny bandaid. We did something very similar only about five years ago actually, collecting donations for a new server. I prefer to donate items to members or especially to community-driven giveaways and/or events, and donate time/energy to helping new folks on the forum, taking care of items that need attention on the site, etc. You can also support the vendors who advertise on SRP

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

...if the site owners had the funds to hire an outfit to maintain the site you wouldn't see it down on Friday/Saturday for hours.

It is an admirable resolve to run a free site. But as Nelson Rockefeller (former Governor of NY, and Vice President of the USA) said many years ago, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

Agreed. And regardless of any fundraising efforts we undertake, it's really up to those who hold the keys to figure out how to make the site run with free membership

Originally Posted by Phrank

Forgive me if I'm stepping out of bounds here, but figured there is no harm in throwing this idea out there.

For me, Straight Razor Place is a place where I can continue to learn from the best, most talented people, experience different tastes and ideas, and participate in discussions with a group of Gentleman that over the last three and a half years I've come to feel a tremendous connection and friendship towards.

I know that behind the scenes, there is a tremendous amount of work that goes on that as members we never see, and I for one am very grateful for this forum. I enjoy spending time here.

I was thinking - with all the members here, would it be possible to setup a PayPal account, and let members donate funds, whether it's $5.00, $10, $20, whatever amount a member feels comfortable donating, if donating at all, nothing mandatory here, and it could all be anonymous that funds the upkeep and maintenance, maybe the hosting costs and administration of the site?

Just thought I'd toss this out there, I for one think the quality of Straight Razor Place is superb, and since I can't contribute time as many of us can't, perhaps as members we could contribute via donations?

What do you think guys?

greate idea.. glade mrChick thought of it :-)

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I think it's a nice gesture, but personally I feel weird about donating directly to the site. Maybe the money would go where I wanted, maybe not, and besides that it would be just a tiny bandaid. We did something very similar only about five years ago actually, collecting donations for a new server. I prefer to donate items to members or especially to community-driven giveaways and/or events, and donate time/energy to helping new folks on the forum, taking care of items that need attention on the site, etc. You can also support the vendors who advertise on SRP



Agreed. And regardless of any fundraising efforts we undertake, it's really up to those who hold the keys to figure out how to make the site run with free membership

Well it is like Church. Everyone goes and smiles and shakes hands, they sing the hymns and eat the suppers, but there are very few who do the work in the background to make it happen, and clean up the mess after it does.

Remember how much work you did on the Wiki before you got tired of messing with it ? In the late '60s I was out in San Francisco in an area near Golden Gate Park, the Fillmore District. It became known as Haight-Ashbury because of the intersection of two streets. There was a sign in a store front window that said, "Buy Free Things."

I didn't get it at the time, but I realized later what it was saying. Relying on a volunteer to do the background work for nothing .......... for years ......... isn't fair to that individual. Chances are they will get tired of it. If they don't quit entirely they will be resistant to proposed new features that may enhance the site, but will add to their workload. If they do finally quit entirely it would be like being out on a lonely road with a flat and no spare.

You get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I frequent various forums that are not shaving related, and some that are, most of which have a voluntary donate button. I don't know how they allocate the funds they take in, but most, if not all, characterize the purpose of the donation as 'to help maintain' the site. SRP had a one time fund raiser, probably 8 years ago or so, to raise money for a new server because the one we had was on its way out.

We could probably use some new hardware, but the main issue is not having skilled volunteers to do the software bug fixes and updates as needed. To improve the features on the site when the owners have something they want to get going, but nobody to institute it. It ain't to get Lynn a new Cadillac. So, not having the volunteers, if we had the funds to do it, we could hire a professional to do the work. Takes money.

I have no idea how much revenue it would take to accomplish these goals, but brighter minds than mine could figure that out I'm sure. We're not talking a whole lot per member either. Whatever your little heart would desire to give. Assuming this ever gets legs and comes to fruition.

I'm with on this one. It seems like a bandaid and maybe the money goes where you want it.

Originally Posted by whoever

I'm with on this one. It seems like a bandaid and maybe the money goes where you want it.

In any donation, the money goes to wherever the person/group you've donated to feels it needs to be spent

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there something in motion right now with the classified's to assist in just this? To sell on SRP you will ahve to pony up a fee. Nothing wrong with that at all, I actually encourage it. Either a sellers fee based on a flat rate or even better, fee based upon sale. I would have no problem with a certain % going to SRP, considering that I'm using SRP to make the sale...

Originally Posted by ScottGoodman

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't there something in motion right now with the classified's to assist in just this? To sell on SRP you will ahve to pony up a fee. Nothing wrong with that at all, I actually encourage it. Either a sellers fee based on a flat rate or even better, fee based upon sale. I would have no problem with a certain % going to SRP, considering that I'm using SRP to make the sale...

That is correct, but the once a year fee of $10.00 for regular members is chicken feed. The vendors fee will be $100.00 for basic and IIRC $150 for more bells & whistles. I don't know if there are a mess of vendors beating a path to the door, or if they even know it has been instituted.

Whether the proceeds from both programs would be sufficient to pay for a pro systems administrator's services I don't know. I have no idea what their going rate is.

In addition, I think that the systems administration would only be on a maintenance basis, not a steady job. Here again, I'm clueless about what is involved.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Well it is like Church.

Even church has to figure out who it needs to pay and how much to pay them in order to keep things running. Waiting for the churchgoers to pitch in once every few years isn't going to solve that for them