Should a membership fee be implemented?

Discussion in 'Board Supporters' started by GS-XNR, Apr 5, 2007.

?

Are you in favor of an annual membership fee?

  1. Are you in favor of a $5.00 annual fee?

    42.7%
  2. Should extra services be offered to paid up members?

    14.1%
  3. This site should be free.

    51.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Keith2k455

    Keith2k455 Well-Known Member

    If there were a fee, I would not pay it. Sorry, info and communities should be free.
     
  2. bluestang67

    bluestang67 New Member

    But the costs to run and operate a site would be great with a donation for the equipment to handle the volume for the info we so much seek .
     
  3. 65wildcater

    65wildcater Trishieldasaurus Wrecks

    5 bucks is peanuts. I would have no problem with that.
     
  4. 68ConvGS

    68ConvGS Well-Known Member

    my donation has been made.

    i believe the site should remain free.
     
  5. skylark52738

    skylark52738 Member

    I also just made a small donation. I found this site just after I pulled my Skylark home. It has been a GREAT help to me and I would hate to loose such a valuable resource. Well worth a few bucks a year to help with keeping the site up a running.
     
  6. gabe

    gabe "GOOSE"

    I'm all for a yearly membership fee! Some t-shirts/polo shirts would be cool too!
     
  7. pooods

    pooods Well-Known Member

    One ideal that may help is to do like another board I am a member of. They take donations just like V8. However, once you donate they underline your name when you post with what type supporter you are. $100+ makes you a "Platinum Member", $50-$100 makes you a "Gold Member", up to $50 makes you a "Silver Member". You also get access to the "Members Only" section of the forum. Not much to the members only section IMO. However, many people donate and want others to known how much or even the fact that they are supporting. Another ideal they are kicking around is to send cheap decals and thank you letters to the $50+ donators. Might cost a buck but in the long run it may help out.
    I personally wish we could get enough members to donate $$$ and drop the vendor's section. That section was created only because Jim could not generate enough funds to support this site. Maybe making donations more attractive would help.
     
  8. GNandGS

    GNandGS Well-Known Member

    Can't say what intent was but the benefit to a vendor section is you prevent mega bumPing of post or reg ads competing with them in same space
     
  9. DavidC77

    DavidC77 "Matilda" 1970 Buick GSX

    A shooting sight I belong to has a paying system ($21 a year).

    NES.com http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/forum.php

    Once you become a member you are concidered a "green member" and you are able to get better deals on things that are being sold, you can go to green member only shoots, ext.

    I also plan the yearly trip that we do to the S&W Factory and Shooting Center. Again you have to be a green member to go to the tour.

    There is also a very active "members only section" of the forum.

    Something like that maybe a good idea.

    Food for thought if this is still an issuie here (I see that this thread was 1st started in 2007 ).
     
  10. bdschuch

    bdschuch bdschuch

    You have to remember that some one some where is putting a load of work, time and money to keep this site up and managed... $5 won't hurt any of us.
     
  11. bino_5150

    bino_5150 Slab Rider

    I'm all for donations, and I'm all for extra perks for paying members, but as far as a fee?... no. Maybe raffles or fundraisers, but not the old tax collector going door to door.

    I'm sure like a lot of people, there are many other forums than this one that we belong to, as these forums are just the norm now days... $5 here, $20 there, $25 over there... before you know it, you're shelling out hundreds of $$$ to look at information that should be free, and to just to talk to people with similar interests.

    I once paid $40 for a 6 months membership to a forum, but that was because there was specific... information and vendors there that you wouldn't otherwise have access too. I like this site, I come look here often to read up when I have a question. But I don't come here enough to warrant paying for it. IMO, this site would lose a lot of members if they were forced to pay. If people are active members here all the time, then donate if you're able. That's the right thing to do.

    Think how many people sites like this help... and how many it will miss because there just got an old buick out of a barn, looked for a site, and turned away because they were asked for a fee.

    I'd rather see an ad here and there than be told I have to pay a cover charge. Just my .02 cents...
     
  12. GNandGS

    GNandGS Well-Known Member

    Agreed. Actual forums by nature are free. You have sometimes areas that guests do not see an possibly exclusive features for paid but if fee based participation will drop

    Ditto on shirt/sticker/pin/badge/hat sales being an option. Unless going retail tho this is too much work and would probably be small scale or seasonal.

    Nothing wrong with a donate link either
     
  13. bino_5150

    bino_5150 Slab Rider

    Shirts and hats and stuff as a bonus for your paid membership is kinda defeating the purpose though... That all takes money to produce. Money that could be spent supporting the site lol.
     
  14. GNandGS

    GNandGS Well-Known Member

    Bonus? Anyway, I agree. Unless planning some retail operation its energy wasted.
     
  15. TheSilverBuick

    TheSilverBuick In the Middle of No Where


    Bingo. I did because I could, not for any perk. Forum management, on and off the board, particularly of one this size, isn't cheap and easy. If you can, donate, if you can't, don't. Pretty simple. If you are having a moral hang up, donate a few bucks and easy your concience.

    I didn't even know there was a doner list until after I paypal'd mine in. I just figured I liked the site and would put some money towards it. It just turned out to be a fair amount, lol :beers2:
     
  16. bino_5150

    bino_5150 Slab Rider

    I understand what you're saying, and I agree. However, the question at hand isn't if one should donate or not; the question is if a mandatory fee should be imposed in order to be a member of this forum. I say no. But I'm all for donations.
     
  17. WV-MADMAN

    WV-MADMAN Well-Known Member

    Anything but a fee.

    Sure there are lots of members that would be more than happy to pay-to-play, but many more wont.

    It could also discourage new membership.

    With a fee V8Buick would take one more step away from being a Buick community and move toward being a Buick club....



    And I for one wouldnt join any club that would have me as a member:bla:
     
  18. Waterboxguy03

    Waterboxguy03 Well-Known Member

    Ummm if it was a club does that mean we get cool jackets and stickers!? :)

    Id pay a fee...and 10 other folks fees.
     
  19. azsigns

    azsigns Member

    How about this...Seeing that some have mentioned they would like to have T-shirts, hats, & stickers, and I own a screenprinting and Sign Company, I would be interested in helping the site out with some clothing that they could sell to cover operational expenses if they are open to some type of advertising of my company for doing so. I think it could be a win-win for everyone involved.
     
  20. Buickstaged

    Buickstaged The stable - 2204 Combined HP

    I donated - I have communicated with JW and some of his folks about issues I had with my motor (not to mention the many detailed instructions he has provided) - it has become part of my daily diet...I have had many enjoyable conversations with the folks on the forum. Thanks to all. Buickstaged
     
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