Thread: POLL: Adding for-pay membership options

Originally Posted by Bart

If SRP would need money to keep in existence as is, I would be more than happy to become a donating member, preferably without any extra titles or rights than the non-donating members. I understand this is not the issue right now.

As far as extra payable functionality to be add to the site, I'm not interested.

Best regards,
Bart.

Ditto.
I kinda like the staus quo.

I would contribute just because this site is great. I think it would be ok if contributors got more photo space etc, but I don't like the idea of their being certain content that only contributors can see. So as long as we keep the whole site open to everyone, I think a lot of us would be happy to contribute [and I second JimmyHADs point about not ranking contributions].

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I don't like this special badge identifying who gave what and special areas and perks for contributers because that just makes second class citizens out of the others.

I also think if any site starts accepting funds from members that essentially changes things and the site has a responsibility to let the contributers know how those funds are being spent.
Just my 2 cents.

I agree on not making a difference in what people can access. Fwiw they have this over at martialtalk, but it's pretty much dead or dormant.
And we would keep an open ledger. This is not going to be a Lynn and Don vacation plan. Unless they cut me in of course Not.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

What I would really like to see is that backups are performed religiously.
A great deal of information/knowledge has been accumulated here and it would be a shame to lose it simply because of a lack of funds.

David assures me they are. The entire database is backed up daily.
This is one lesson we learned after the 2008 server crash.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

I would contribute just because this site is great. I think it would be ok if contributors got more photo space etc, but I don't like the idea of their being certain content that only contributors can see. So as long as we keep the whole site open to everyone, I think a lot of us would be happy to contribute [and I second JimmyHADs point about not ranking contributions].

Everything will be visible. The money would go to other stuff. For example, people could start a blog. Everybody will be able to view those blogs and post comments and stuff. But only paying members can start their own blog. Things like that.

The forum itself will still be the place of equals, the same way it is now.

I think this is a good idea. I would gladly pay $20/year although I am cheap and would probably do the $100 for 5 years. I do want to say one thing though. If I was able to get a blog and an email for that price that would be great. But, I would want it to where anyone could email me at the address because I have sold razors to people who just browse and don't have an account here. But, I know the site costs someone and I would gladly pay to have a blog among other things here so that I don't have to maintain 2 sites. My only hope is that people who don't want to pay can have access to the people who do pay. I hate exclusive clubs and this site has come great members who although they never meet in person, they can share advice and experience.
You have my Support!

since we have a choice to pay or not to pay i would say do it. thanks for leaving us the option, i think charging a small fee for extra services is a great idea. anything to help srp

Guys I just want to say thanks for all of the super good, super nice feedback.. It's much appreciated.

Thanks
David

Just saw this and voted yes. Not sure my funds at present stretch to it but am interested in some of the features and would consider paying at a later date, or as others have said, just making a donation anyway. Certainly some of the advice I've received here was worth money, and, thinking about it, some of the pleasure as well.

I have seen some other sites that have a donation button only. I think this is the best way to get operation funds without being obtrusive or in your face. It also does not favor or put in a class of people who donate over the ones who don't.

bj

Slippery slope fellows, slippery slope...

While I am all in favour of supporting SRP, there are ways and means. I do not think that is really the issue. We all support the site just by coming here and participating. Others do more like mod, wiki, donate to raffles, give good advice and so on. So paying to support SRP holds no weight in my mind with regards this idea.

I think what it boils down to, putting the spurious and emotional "support" argument aside, is that there is an idea to offer additional services for a price, full stop. None of the mentioned services appeal to me, so I voted no.

And although I know that it has already been touched upon in previous posts, I will find it interesting to see how, if this goes ahead, the two "types" (let's not call them "classes") of membership develop over time in practice, rather than in theory.

Just my 2 cents.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I think what it boils down to, putting the spurious and emotional "support" argument aside, is that there is an idea to offer additional services for a price, full stop. None of the mentioned services appeal to me, so I voted no.

Yep. All people should realize that we don't NEED support for SRP as is: a forum with bells and whistles.

IF people are interested in additional bells and whistles that cost more money than we have right now, then we could add those with the additional money.

I am still considering different things, and I will have to talk with David about what it is going to cost to e.g. add email and blog functionality. And then we could even see if we keep it limited to the people or open it up completely.
The danger of this is that if this is going to cause us to beef up the server resources (money) we will rely on the support and that would be a bad idea.

So I will make a list of suggestions that were offered here, discuss it with the other guys, see what the cost is going to be, and then coming back to this place to get puclib feedback.