Should a membership fee be implemented?

:gp: I am a brand new member here - since yesterday in fact. I don't mind $5.00 even though both my wife and I have found ourselves unemployed recently.ray:
Rowdy65

 

Rowdy, don't worry about it. Get you and your family on their feet, and the homestead in running order. This forum should be the last thing on your mind. Currently it's just donations. Take that $5.00 and tuck it away to where you can use it for the family. There's enough nuts on this forum like me that will contribute to keep this board running. :Brow:

Oh... Welcome to the Board...

-SGM

 

Thanks SGM, for the kind words, but we already have put $20 in the pool for this. We want to be able to place some ads.
Rowdy65

 

i would much prefer voluntary donations & i will gladly make a donation to this site. i would guess that every member using this site has certainly saved many, many $$$ from the gained knowledge of its members. i certainly have!

 

I found my new ride here, made some new "keyboard" friends and have had a lot of fun in addition to gaining a lot of knowledge.......well worth a donation......but keep it free for those that are feeling the pinch and not so fortunate...........Tom

 

You could restrict avatars and signatures and reserve them for dues paying members, as well as the classifieds postings. I don't think that anyone should be locked out of a site for not paying, especially being a new guy. You give to sites that you find useful and the only way to know is if you can read and participate. Add a dues paying member sign on the profile and the other things I list above and I think it is good. If everyone is paying then everyone needs to be getting something in return as well. I look forward to posting more on here and if it will cost me 5 bucks a year that is no real big deal but I also run websites and the costs can be negligible, or depending on bandwidth costs can be extraordinary so do what you have to do, but don't make it prohibitive. 2c

 

Yes, our bandwith use is costly, along with the leased server that runs this whole deal..

But as always, I have no plans of implementing any user fees, as long as you guys keep being so generous.

As always.. Thanks

JW

 

I have no problem with a fee if it keeps adds from appearing.

Mikey

 

I voted that the site should be free.

I fully understand that there are costs involved. There is also alot of hard work and time on JW's, MB's and others part to make this site what it is. Without Jims information (and many others who I do not know by name), this site would be worthless. They work hard to keep it up and running, and supplying us with the latest dyno results, new builds, and valuable info to keep us Buick guys going. Without their support, we would be lost in a world of experimentation, and we all know what THAT costs.

I think a fund drive would be great. If Jim kept us informed of the costs associated with running v8buick, and the time he and others spend to keep it going, I think more users would donate. Heck, we ALL benefit from this site, otherwise we wouldn't be here, eh?

If we implement a membership fee, I think we will severely limit the # of potential donators, decrease traffic, and limit the amount of info available here.

It took 2 years to get a donation out of me, but I tried to make it worthwhile. I would not have started using this site if it required a membership fee. No amount of flash would have made me give my c.c.# over the net to use a site I have never used before .

I also think we all need to band together and make a donation if you haven't already. If you are a daily visitor, is 20 bucks a year too much for what you get?

The other thing that could be done is after 100 posts within one year would have to make a minimal donation to keep using the site.

If we make a membership fee mandatory, we will be cutting off alot of people/information/parts. Lets face it...people today don't have extra cash to throw around.


My long-winded .02!

 

As a member of the Riviera Owner's Association, I'm not too pleased that their site is mostly un-usable unless you have a password you get from the membership fee... and I usually can't seem to get the one that supposed to work... to work!

I don't think this site is helping anyone get involved... much less doing a good job of keeping ME involved.

Talk about a waste of money, sheesh...

I dropped the membership at one point, but rejoined only to gain access to the classified section of their magazine.

Sorry to vent...

 

I like free. Free is good. :TU:

 

There should be a way to get more funds from sponsors and advertisers.
I belong to a lot of sites, and all are free. Unfortunately, because of life, family, and health issues, I dont get on any of them very much. I dont think Ive been on this one since August of 2007, so I would not want to pay a fee. I realize that there is a ton of information here, and a whole lot of members, but its the same on the other sites too, and they exist solely on advertisements tastefully located at the bottom of the page. I usually click on them every time I'm on, just to help out. Perhaps that could be tried for a while, and members could do their part by clicking on at least one ad per visit, just to help keep the site free. Ads dont have to be annoying, glaring, intrusive, etc, and pop-ups should not be allowed.

 

I am new to this board so i cant say much. What i do see at other boards is that thy have advertising pay. The advertising must be auto related witch is a good thing. At this time in my life i had to let lots of magizines go like hot rod for one that hirts to let them go. but what should be told to members is that THIS IS WHAT IT WILL CAUST TO RUN THIS BOARD for the year. From that we as members should pitch in and help. Kind of like a gole. That way it is still free but it might just help get more members to help out with out the preshure. Just my .02 :idea2:

 

Dangerous area. This why this thread was started, to test the waters to see how many would bail and that could affect the supporters like T/A Performance and the rest of the big names that support this board. Is this board losing money? Or just not generating to your expectations? I have a feeling these question may remain unanswered, AL.

 

I think the site should be free to peruse for information, help, and insights. However, a $5.00 fee for extended user privileges, such as posting parts or cars for sale, is reasonable if needed to maintain the site and sponsorship $$ is not available.

 

instead of $5, how about $4.55? :beers2:

 

Sounds good until the 4.30, 4.25 and the 3.8 guys get involved

 

I pitched in $20 that I'll never miss..

Without this site I would not have a perfect running, looking, and driving 72 GS..

I don't know how people fixed up these old cars before the internet and websites like this. The information and the networking of people here is priceless..

 

Time to pony up everyone....

http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=168898

 

With the number fo users we have, there may even be a guy who owns a T shirt graphic business, or a print shop that can print posters. Whole sale or even donated to be incentives to give to donating members of certain amounts. Stuff to put on the garage wall is always nice!