What would you do if the forum had a subscription fee (to post classifieds, etc)?

I don't think it should be just donations, I think compulsory contributions however small/big are the only way of ensuring David is not out of pocket each month, which is fair.

I don't think it should be just donations, I think compulsory contributions however small/big are the only way of ensuring David is not out of pocket each month, which is fair.

Compulsory = death to traffic = the slow decline and eventual collapse of the 'market'.

What about a per-post fee ?

Perhaps a slot metre on your computer ?

tynan, you know we all are enthralled by you, but this topic is a serious one.

VB shouldn't be out of pocket because of this forum.

Mmm, interesting model, whilst £3 a year is a bargain, I know not of another forum that requests a subscription - generally forums are a place to share info - people reply to questions/posts and are happy to provide free information of their own will - is it fair to charge for information which the author wishes to give for free? I'm not saying it wouldn't work, but its not the norm, I suspect less members (eg me!) might slowly fade away...

-o1

tynan, you know we all are enthralled by you, but this topic is a serious one.

VB shouldn't be out of pocket because of this forum.

Don't get shirty with me Mr Lister.

My suggestions are serious (except for the ones that are not).

What about a per-post fee ?

Perhaps a slot metre on your computer ?

All solved then. Hippy's paying.

Mmm, interesting model, whilst £3 a year is a bargain, I know not of another forum that requests a subscription - generally forums are a place to share info - people reply to questions/posts and are happy to provide free information of their own will - is it fair to charge for information which the author wishes to give for free? I'm not saying it wouldn't work, but its not the norm, I suspect less members (eg me!) might slowly fade away...

-o1

I think there is a valid point being made here.

I can't see that becoming a trend, non donating members will still be able to function on the forum perfectly well.

Lets get the facts straight. As a 'non-donor' all threads and information would be available, you just wouldn't be able to sell stuff.

I can't see that becoming a trend, non donating members will still be able to function on the forum perfectly well.

Lets get the facts straight. As a 'non-donor' all threads and information would be available, you just wouldn't be able to sell stuff.

Yeah !

The bastard didn't read what was set out by VB !

And I supported him !

He used me, I feel so used, he treated me like a 50p trick, some back-ally Susan, I feel so dirty.

Forms, I don't see how an annual fee/ subscription is going to change the dynamic of the forum dramatically.

Edd, i didn't mean to pick on you personally, though i realise that that is what my previous comment might have done. Your comment was simply at the bottom of the pile (nearest the quick reply box), and seemed to mirror other earlier comments.
It seems to me, and i could, and quite possibly am wrong, but older members (especially those who frequent drinks and other forum meetings) are quick to show there approval of the £3 donation scheme, and quite rightly point out that it's less than a pint and all that. But the amount of money isn't the issue that doesn't sit well with me. I would quite happily pay more, as you and many others would, as long as i was still enjoying and benefiting form the forum. But a big part of what i love about the forum is the fact that it is a free space. Somewhere where older members who may have built up 'relationships' of sorts directly through the forum, or by actually going out and meeting other forum members can come together and chat about obscure bike parts, gear ratios, and all that other thoroughly entertaining but pretty pointless crap. But also a place where people can get advice, help, an alternative to ebay etc. Some new users will become 'forumgers', and others won't.
The problem i have with the idea is that it will put people off joining the forum, and may even turn away older members who use it less.
I joined about a year ago, and i knew very little about fixed gear bikes. Now they have prettty much taken over my life and i use the forum every day. My point is that if i had had to pay for it, i probably wouldn't have joined.
Having a fee would maybe not change the dynamic of the forum for you, but the dynamic would definitely be dramatically changed overall if a fee was put in place.
TBH i feel as if i'm playing Devil's Advocate a bit, because whatever happens, i will definitely pay the fee. And i'm definitely not anti VB getting money to benefit the forum, and for himself (IMO he deserves a salary for what he's created and maintained). I am worried about the effect on the forum, of introducing a fee...
Sorry if this is a bit all over the place, i'm a bit drunk.

All solved then. Hippy's paying.

Shit ! Just think, if we managed to get a slot metre onto Hippy's account we could afford to have the secret meeting of LDNFGSS elders in Chessington World of Adventures again.

pound a month would be fine with me

My point is that if i had had to pay for it, i probably wouldn't have joined.

Good !

No one is suggesting a compulsory fee, so you are ok.

Whatever secures the financing of the site, Velocio. If you think that subscriptions are the way to go, go for it. If there's a way to make it work through donations and T-shirt sales, that would of course still be fine, as well. I do think that a subscription system would change the site quite a bit, but I can't really see that it would change it for the worse, and might have some new positives. All the regulars would be more than happy to subscribe, myself included, and we'd probably just lose fairly inactive members. How would you run it to prevent the site from becoming too much of a 'walled garden'?

i think the minimum donation should be raised to £5, and all members should be reminded with Pm's to dontate once a year.

that's a very agreeable and automatic solution

we could also have a forum donation day or something like that.

forms I understand your reticence about the possible change bringing in a subscription fee could produce, but as a couple of people have pointed out, not paying a fee doesn't stop you from finding out information, posting up questions, or coming to beers, it'll just mean you can't sell stuff, and as they say change is good, too often and especially on here, because we've gotten used to certain things, we don't want them to change, but the forum's getting bigger and it'll never be like it used to be as much as people want it to be, so we should try to make it as good as it can be....

@ dylan liking the forum donation day idea, an nice easy way to remind people to buy the forum a beer and keep it rolling...

and also,

have a merchandising section to the forum for t-shirts and keyrings and little things like that, even including bike parts like tyres and so on, which is already done in a fragmented way.

edit) these would be available all year round.

and also,

have a merchandising section to the forum for t-shirts and keyrings and little things like that, even including bike parts like tyres and so on, which is already done in a fragmented way.

edit) these would be available all year round.

Fuck yeah !

A ldnfgss shop ! (I have given this no thought)

...the forum's getting bigger and it'll never be like it used to be as much as people want it to be, so we should try to make it as good as it can be....

Hell yeah !

Good ideas Dylan.

And Mr Blackfoot, i must admit that letting all use the forum, but with restricted sections that can be accessed if and when new members choose to pay the fee, is a better proposal than my initial understanding of VB's plan...

Fuck yeah !

A ldnfgss shop ! (I have given this no thought)

question is who would run it.

question is who would run it.

God, obviously.

problem is he'd give everything away to the poor people.