Should a membership fee be implemented?

can some one email me name address etc i would like to send money order for support on this board this site saved me money finding parts for my project last year im starting a 67 skylark shortly thanks from geno geno@greenbaynet.com

 

Sure charge the fee if its going to keep the site ad free, also a nominal fee shows a little support, and dedication. I like the T-Shirt idea too, maybe hats?

 

I must admit that I have not read through all of the comments on this topic, but in regard to the original question, let me give you my experience on a similar forum. Prior to buying my GS I owned an '84 Mercedes Benz 500 SL that was purchased at a song as a project. I came across a website, www.sl107.com, that was similar in many ways to this one. The site was very informative and the members were very knowledgable and helpful and, as on this site, sometimes tended to wander from the original topic. They were, on the whole, not as friendly as this site, with some being very arrogant, many were know-it-alls that could not be told anything, and it was pretty clear that there was a small group that made up a hierarchy that was not questioned. I grew tired of the car (you think parts for '70s Buicks are expensive? Ha!), the on-line feuding and the snobbery, and sold the car. At some point the administrator of the site implemented a policy that gave the members a choice between becoming a fee paying member who had complete access to the site, or remain a "free" member and have limited access to the site. As I recall, only the paying members could use the classified sections, view the tech areas, and post and view pictures of their and other members rides. Participation in the site literally stopped cold. Member input ceased almost completely and after a few weeks the administrator backtracked and recanted the charges on one or two of the areas. For all practical purposes it killed the site. You can go to it now and the most recent posts in some areas are months or years old. Bottom line, I think it's okay to ask for donations for the website, but when you start requiring people to pay to participate, even partially, you run the risk of taking the pleasure out of it for them. This is, after all, just a bunch of folks talking about their cars, trading stories, and offering tech tips. Paying to do that would be like paying to spend time with your friends.

 

There is a "Donate" icon at the top of the page for Paypal users. For non Pay pal users click on the "Trishield Performance" icon at the bottom of the page as it passes by. Jim Weise owns this V8Buick Board site and Trishield Performance.

As the Board has gotten so big the the cost of the server time has grown. I believe JW said this line item alone costs 4-5K a year.

 

Here are my two cents.

In a perfect world the donations would work. Those of us that can and want to donate $50 can and those that have the passion and no money are not required to.

Think of this a Church for the Buick Faithful. Everyone knows what they can give. The problem is that we sometimes forgot to give. I did and it wasn't until last week that i made my donation. If we want to keep the site the way it is we need to remember to make our donations.

If we can not do that than another method must be used. I would start first by asking OPGI, Year One, TA Performance, Poston and the other Buick Supportors. This is their target market. $1000 for an ad for 12 months with this type of target would be very inexpensive. Allow them a link to put their catalogs in PDF format here.

If that can not be done the membership fee would be necessary. I agree with Joe B that it might just kill the site because the message we will be sending is that if you can not pay up we don't want you in the Buick Club. I am 36 and really just now starting to get into this. I read a fair amount of posts from younger people that will help grow the interest in Buicks. I don't think we should tell anyone that you may have to choose between a part for your car and getting information about your car.

IF YOU CAN DONATE AND HAVE NOT PLEASE DO. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO DONATE BUT ONLY GAVE $5 PLEASE GIVE $5 FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO. The part that make this site so great is that people are nice and seem to care. Lets keep it that way. Please care enough to donate for yourself and for someone that can not at the moment. In the future those of us that can not donate will be able to. They will remember that someone paid there way before and will donate for themselves and one other then.

Thanks,

 

aa

 

I came to this site looking for info and leads on some Buick motor mounts, and the people have been nothing but helpful to me. I have donated, for myself and one other person. Thank you guys.

Still need mounts though :laugh: :dollar:

 

Well, this poll pretty much started the heirarchy (spelling?) by showing everyone who is and isn't for it.

 

The thought of otherwise getting paid sponsorship from OPGI, Y1, etc is enough to motivate me to donate (which I have done). I'd rather not see ads and/or pop-ups.

:beers2:

 

I'm fairly new to the site and love it. I would not have joined if it cost 1$. But now that I know what it's all about it's worth 100$ to me. Having said that I will go donate. maybe you could give the first year free to get people hooked, and then ask for a donation through email every year. I believe that the people who really use the site would be willing to donate much more than 5$. I think that blocking part of the site would take away from the experience and people will not be able to see what they are missing. maybe every new year you could have a goal ticker and when the goal/operating cost are reached then the goal ticker goes away. I don't have a problem with being charged, but i do think you will turn away potential new members.

 

I think Turbo455 has excellent ideas!

 

Absolutely!!! I'm a newbie & am workin' on a 425 Nailhead. Within 5 minutes I found several tips that were well worth the $5 I just donated by PayPal! This is a HUGE site & someone is paying to host it & keep it running (no small task!). I can't *even* imagine how long it takes to back this big sucker up!?!? Kudos & thanks to whoever is doin' it! Awesome resource & glad to be here!!!

BoB

 

For the ammount of information on this site and the fact that you can buy or sell just about anything Buick related I think 5 dollars a year is nothing.

 

We went through this last year around the same time and there was good points on both side of the membership discussion. What happened was this discussion prompted people to donate and I think Jim got plenty to run the site last year, 2007, from donations. Correct me if I'm wrong Jim. It might be time to start a thread for 2008 contributors. I don't think the membership fee is necessary if last years donations are any indication of the support people give to this site. I will be donating for 2008 as I did in 2007. Some people just don't have the extra cash for the fee and I would hate to lose any of the good people we have around here.

Jim,
Kudos to another great year on this site. Thank you for all your hard work.

Tom

 

I know a lot of members bring up a good reasons for fees and no fees. All I can say. If paying fees keeps this forum open. So be it. If it can stay free EVEN BETTER .

I like what some talk about before about paying $25 and he got a shirt. This sound like maybe if someone is willing to pay $5 for fees or have the option to pay a little extra for a shirt with it. Options are always great and it allows the members to see more things happen. Like forum member calenders, shirts, mouse pads, Window stickers etc... Just a thought.

 

I've been a Buick nut for years - hit the "donate" button at the top yesterday and POOF! I feel $20.00 better. :dollar:
Hit it guys- more info and good folks here than you'll ever find...:beer
Robert

 

I donated last year and will this, when is the donation drive starting? I love T-Shirts but would dontate without one. This is a great group here, would be unhappy without access to the site.

 

Done and Done...Thanks for keeping the site up for all of us.

Wayne S

 

I was reading about BCA increasing their dues, and I about came unglued, and had posted it here on this forum. Well, I've got absolutely no problem donating money to this site, as I've learned tons from all the good people here. I've donated before and will again, but I just can't see paying more in dues for something that I'm not really getting anything out of (IN MY OPINION), so I'll just take that "increase" and dues and apply it here. Only makes sense to me. Now I've got to let 3 (I think) years of dues run out. But I'll still donate annually. When's the next donation drive?

 

I can't even get any of you gear heads to read my threads.