Fundraiser disclosure

I'd prefer the donation than advertising, all the script blockers I have (and undoubtably most other Firefox users) would render them invisible and hence pointless.

 

kev, have you thought of selling subdomains? it might be a good way to bring more poeple and cash here too... sure, some problems might arise

 

I still say ads for guests is a good idea, since a lot of guests seem to visit here. Wouldnt annoy any regulars, no fees, no anything for the normal people, and just some minor, non-annoying ads for guests.

 

Adding some google adds is fine with me.

 

Is it possible for Ads alone to make profit for the site owner?

 

Pardon my n00bishness, but I never saw a call for donations or even a donate link. I'd be more then happy to help out in anyway I can, I've got at least $25 with your name on it Assembler.

I like this place. :nod:

I'm in favor of any option to keep this place running. Another site I frequent, Allegro.cc, uses google text ads at the bottom and covers most of the costs of the site, atleast thats what I understand, and it only is there when your not logged in.

I like Parris's idea for a two tiered forum. I don't see anything wrong with having a XBL Silver/Gold account system. Those with silver accounts can access and post on the basic boards and then have the gold account be able to access the marketplace, allowed more space for PMs, maybe a little gallery to host pictures of their collections. I know VB can do ACLs so it shouldn't be to hard to implement.

All I know is that if you implement a mandatory subscription fee, like SA did. It will scare off new members and the community will suffer for it. I know for a fact had there been a fee when I first found this site I would not even be posting this. I would have moved on.

 

not wanting to be a party pooper, but I think they say that "the best things in life are free" . many will adhere to this philosophy, espcially those of a lower age-band (yet with brilliant minds)

 

I think the paying for access to the marketplace is a good idea, even $1/year would weed out 99% of the morons/scammers/spam.

 

I'd be happy to paypal $25 when my paycheck comes in end of the week.

 

Yeah, a paid marketplace might be an interesting idea.

Do Google ads only work if people click on them? I don't know about you guys, but I just ignore them.

I think that users would either make donations if it were an option, or be prepared to pay a nominal fee to get access to certain features.

As for the question about large sites - they will have their own dedicated server, so they only pay for either the pipe, or the pipe plus physical housing if it isn't kept on their premises. That said, server rooms are expensive to run, what with UPS and air conditioning equipment. Oh, and such places are usually maintained by network engineers who charge something stupid like $500 an hour.

 

if they re clicky, I d rather click 50 times a day than commit to having a subsciption fee, since i m broke!

 

I don't mean to sound like I'm being a bastard, but how does this site cost $140 a month? What is the typical bandwidth usage? What host do you use?

 

I strongly disagree with paying for access to the User Marketplace or any other forum section.

 

I agree with you.

I know running a website is not free, so adding something like a paypal donate button would be a great idea but this should be something that people do voluntary. Also google ad is a good idea.

You might want to do something like people who donate are the only person that can enter forum contest. I think something like that would be fair.

Forcing people to pay will just kill the marketplace and the forum i think.

Web should be free!

 

I wouldn't mind a few ads, as long as they weren't of the pop-up variety. I'm flat broke though, and I could not justify paying a monthly (even yearly) fee on a forum.

 

I just saw your post above mine, Kevin. I'll go click-happy on an ad any day of the week if it helps you pay the site costs.

 

Google can easy detect that and kill your account...

 

Hi, I'm new on this forum but i kinda love it, I wouldn't mind to donate but couldn't find any link or mail address for paypal ( i have some money on paypal which i'm not using so if it can be usefull for something... )
Even if I can't say to much due to the time passed on this forum compared to the other one, i would prefare donation over add.
Anyway Assembler, just let me know which mail address you are using on paypal I'll make a little something

 

What about an "admin fee" for sales on the marketplace, say 1% of the total sale up to a max of $2? that way the buyer doesn't have to pay to use it, and it's not unreasonable considering eBay and other places charge a few %