Pub membership rates

[navychop]

Inflation drives up costs, including the costs of running this site. Advertising revenue is fickle. The price of Pub membership has not changed, as least as far back as I can remember.

I suggest we peg the price of a year of Pub membership at the price of one month of the lowest regular plan offered by Dish or DirecTV at the time of signing up or renewing Pub membership. That would be $24.99 right now, for the Dish Family Plan. This would ignore things like the Absolute Plan, etc, and the price would not decrease if they came up with some super cheapie (probably temporary) plan. Then there's no grief to go thru now and then to determine the rate for Pub membership. (Yes, a lot of this is copied from a post I made in another thread.)

Options:
-Keep Pub membership at $20 as long as possible.
-Raise Pub membership by $1 each January first.
-Peg it to the price of 1 month of the lowest regular plan offered by Dish or DirecTV, adjusted when those rates change.
-Peg it to the price of 1 month of the lowest regular plan offered by Dish or DirecTV, adjusted each July first.
-Some other way of automatically adjusting Pub membership rates (explain).

 

[jayn_j]

I once suggested that we eliminate supporting founder catagory and make people renew yearly. Scott's reply was that supporting founder additional contributions were higher than he would get if he required renewals.

Basically, the system is working, and Scott should be the one to decide when it needs to be fixed. If the rate goes up, memberships will go down. Not my job to analyze the tradeoff.

 

[lakebum431]

Although I know there are some of us that would pay more (for instance I've given before my membership was up since I joined - usually when I received help from someone or when I was really impressed with what Scott or the staff did (ie CES), I have a feeling that $20 is probably the right number to get new people to join. I wouldn't have paid more than that in the beginning I don't think.

 

[mike123abc]

It could also be lowering the rate some could attract more people. Maybe a non pub member but reduced ad subscription for $10. Less than a $1/month might get people to join to just remove the ads.

 

[bhelms]

Yeah, reduce the rate and increase the overall revenue. (I've heard that somewhere else...and I also believe it works!)

But for me, what I pay annually is peanuts and I've probably saved a lot more than that with one or two tips / suggestions I picked up along the way. (On the flipside, other ideas have COST me a bundle, but I say that only with a smile!)

A better question to answer might be what will it take to get heavy users who do not contribute to do so? Maybe a personalized prompt or two as certain post numbers or rates are reached to encourage them to join ?? (I'd even wager vBulletin has such a feature built in?)

I have no problem helping with a larger contribution when one is needed. I do have some heartburn helping to carry deadweight and wish that could be mitigated somewhat to the greater glory of all who derive some pleasure and benefit from this site....

 

[meStevo]

Usefulness and value is how you get people to pay, not nagging, IMO, which is what the current method of inline advertisements do.

 

[jrp]

I'd like it to stay at $20 if possible, but wouldn't complain if an increase was needed.

 

[riffjim4069]

How about increasing pub membership awareness, host pub membership campaigns and pub members events to raise funds (raffles, giveaways, etc.), and perhaps additional pub membership giveaways over the Holidays. Just throwin' some ideas out there.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I have no plans on increasing it, nor do I plan on asking Supprting Founders to pay up again.

The supporting founders donated money to us before we ever asked for support, some donated only $1 but we had a donation as high as $500! These fols helped put us on the map. Because of their support I grandfathered them in and am honoring my promise to them. Hopefully if these folks believe in what we are doing they will want to continue to support the site, but thats up to them.

The same thing goes for pub membership, I only want people to do it if they have benefited from the site. Hell look at how many people we saved $10 a month by telling the trick of getting Dish's Platinum HD add on for FREE. That is a $120 a year savings for a lot of our members, something like that is worth $20 a year.

That being said, honestly the syndicated ads regular registered people are seeing are not paying the bills, and haven't in the last 4 months. When this happens and funds run short I have been able to pick up the tab from my own pocket. I just hope the syndicated ad revenue goes back up.

Sure some folks might use ad blockers so they dont see the ads, and if they do god bless them but honestly if they believe in the site and the information we provide I don't think $20 a year is that much to help keep the lights on.

Thank you to everyone for their support.

 

[Jeff0575]

as soon as i can afford the 20.00 i will donate i have saved so much time and money by reading this site.

 

[jrp]

as soon as i can afford the 20.00 i will donate i have saved so much time and money by reading this site.

I've saved some $ by using SG.U. In all honesty, however, I get even more value from the knowledge, enjoyment, and camaraderie I find here.

 

[jayn_j]

How about increasing pub membership awareness, host pub membership campaigns and pub members events to raise funds (raffles, giveaways, etc.), and perhaps additional pub membership giveaways over the Holidays. Just throwin' some ideas out there.

Please, NO. My local NPR station is un-listenable this week because of the quarterly pledge drive.

I can see it now: "New hot DISH rumors, but first, have you considered the benefits of pub membership? For only $20/year..."

Shoot me.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Nah I don't like that idea eaither.

 

[gadgtfreek]

I'm with bhelms. The tech support and knowledge of the product is well worth the $20.

Why not adjust for COLA percentages every year, or every 5 years. How long has it been $20, why not bump it?

Also, why not offer 3, 6 and 12 month tiers for hesitant people who just want to try the pub?

 

[jayn_j]

I'm with bhelms. The tech support and knowledge of the product is well worth the $20.

Why not adjust for COLA percentages every year, or every 5 years. How long has it been $20, why not bump it?

Also, why not offer 3, 6 and 12 month tiers for hesitant people who just want to try the pub?

I never implied it wasn't worth the $20. As a supporting founder, I try to make sure that I contribute more than $20 each year. I do appreciate that Scott carried me a few years ago when Cindy was sick and I was out of work.

The monthly and three month rates kind of reflect the for profit boards, especially the porn ones. I think it would leave a bad taste in potential members like this was a way to suck money as opposed to being part of something.

Again, system is working. Scott didn't ask for more money. Let him decide how to best fund the board.

Oh yeah, toss a little extra at him if you are so inclined since he says he currently isn't meeting expenses. I just did.

 

[gadgtfreek]

First off, my post wasn't aimed at you.

Secondly, the OP asked for suggestions and I gave mine, so quite acting like your train of thought is the best.

 

[jayn_j]

First off, my post wasn't aimed at you.

Secondly, the OP asked for suggestions and I gave mine, so quite acting like your train of thought is the best.

Sorry, didn't mean to annoy you. However, this thread was an unsolicited offshoot of Scott's original one calling for suggestions to make the board better. Scott has already indicated in that thread and this one that he is not looking to increase rates at this time, so I was just echoing that.

Not my idea.... Scott's.

 

[gadgtfreek]

No prob. I just did not want you thinking I had pointed my post at you, and was just giving my 0.02's.

I know what Scott wants to do, but that can't always be the case. If the need arises, Im OK with paying more.

 

[KimmiKat]

Maybe add a button for those who block ads to toss some change in for the mboard.