245 replies to this topic

[FrequentFlyer]

sure your first item isn't going to be a $1000 rod, but say chase wants to put up a box of 20 hand tied trout flies, guess what, he'd get whatever compensation to cover his costs of materials, time and shipping, the rest goes into the fund

[troutddicted]

...or whatever else we decide on doing...

[guest]

what if the the amount collected doesn't cover his cost? who will top up the cup? makes no sense

[FrequentFlyer]

if it doesn't cover the cost, then the draw doesn't happen, simple

[AGMartin]

Totally agree with you JMatt.

[guest]

so the people that gave money get a refund? ok forget it I am out--this is all over 5-8 dollars a month man--I cant do this. I will go with the flow....

[fishing with a fly]

I think maybe we should start a poll and see what the majority says but there has been a lot of great ideas tossed around that even if this doesn't go pay for use that they should still be implemented like off BBQ in the summer or raffles it might also help defuse some tensions having us meet but ether way I hope this doesn't turn in to a fight

[CJR]

That is why we are having this discussion... if enough people are willing to go ahead with this then we are talking about $200 monthly prize packs, plus the BBQ's.

 

[Diana Danger]

i think we have forgotten how the idea of membership started in the first place..

[FrequentFlyer]

so the people that gave money get a refund? ok forget it I am out--this is all over 5-8 dollars a month man--I cant do this. I will go with the flow....

 

 

to some people, thats breakfast for a week, loaf of bread and small jar of PB

[guest]

dude I love ya man but you drive a truck that takes up two lanes lol--come on..

[FrequentFlyer]

dude I love ya man but you drive a truck that takes up two lanes lol--come on..

 

 

which i bought before having a kid, and a girl on mat leave, if you knew what my monthly budget is, it'd make you wonder how i manage to do what i do

 

theres a few timers where i seriously thought about buying a monthly bus pass cause it would be cheaper than my fuel costs

[Rainbow]

I currently go on a forum that has the sort of thing remy's talking about and it doesn't go too well. There's a problem where active, but non-paying members feel segregated. There's also not a lot of money to be made unless enough members are willing to pay. What I personally don't like about it is how the staff and the members advertise it all over the forum. 

[Mr. Bassturd]

just my two cents on the issue personally if I wanted to pay for fishing advice I would hire a guide, and  remy don't wrry u r already exclusive you are part of team simms   

[WasagaWader]

One needs to ask themselves what is the purpose of a paid section.  Raise money to help cover hosting fees?  Be the dividing line between casual members and regular members?

 

I belong to other forums non fishing related.  some offer a paid membership option.  I agree with you can not tie membership payment to content.  you will lose people and divide the forum. 

 

You can tie fees to features though. increased inbox size, badges, signatures, skins and the like.

 

There are ways to fund the forum through sponsorship.  The forum I ran generated about 10K a year through sponsorship.  Members never paid a dime though. Mods did not make money either.

 

As for raffles. There are tons of ways to manage this without fees.  One forum a mod/admin takes donations from members in the form of product and each month makes 2-3 starter kits from the donations and does a contest.  Another forum does a PIF type thing.  Going to try the PIF here to see if there is interest.

 

The site works, before I say what I think about paid memberships I would need to know why,

[GoWithTheFloat]

I might be going off on a tangent here but I imagine a part of the issue getting people annoyed with the open forum is newbies getting on the site and discussing specific rivers / locations.   Not sure how feasible this is but perhaps there could be more screening on the posts before they are made visible to the public - at least for the first while. e.g. Mr Rogers writes a post. The post is not made public until it is reviewed and sanitized by mods.  This would happen for Mr. Rogers' first 25 posts with reminders of the forum rules. Mr. Rogers then makes his 26th post and starts talking about locations.  Mr. Rogers is removed from the forum and the post is deleted.   Seems to me that that the rules at the time of registration are not being read or just not taken seriously.

 

I think the private posts section might be a good idea.  I don't think $30 for example is steep if there are member benefits such as seminars, swag, etc.  I would be happy to volunteer to deal with the financial side of the operation provided it doesn't end up being too inundating..  don't mean to disrespect anyone that doesn't like the idea of fees. just a thought....and maybe for people that can't pay there can be other ways to get your membership like organizing a garbage cleanup day or similar.

 

As for membership size ........ are we looking for a large size of membership or for a quality membership.  I think the 'donation' shows that people are serious about the forum and hopefully less likely to be lurking. 

[Sparta]

if fishing is our passion! why cant we just help to volunteer on cleaning up rivers or help the community! if i remember i think Dozer organized it before if im not mistaken! sorry Dozer i didnt make it! i was sick! too much fishing! coz i only fish on days that end in Y lol..  that was a great idea by BTW! i heard you guys had a great time meeting up with OFF members in person!! that was awesome! i love doing something like that instead! and i dont mind paying my own lunch and gas! as long as for the good cause! we can get Tims or mc donald to sponsor our coffee or lunches for sure! coz most of the trash are either tims or mc donalds anyway! im pretty sure a lot of members here are the same way! the way i feel! i hope ! c'mon guys lets just help and do something for the community! lets continue the Dozer O.F.F. clean up the rivers  projec! LET'S UNITE!!!!!!!!         like i said before! why fix if its not broken!

[guest]

One needs to ask themselves what is the purpose of a paid section.  Raise money to help cover hosting fees?  Be the dividing line between casual members and regular members?

 

I belong to other forums non fishing related.  some offer a paid membership option.  I agree with you can not tie membership payment to content.  you will lose people and divide the forum. 

 

You can tie fees to features though. increased inbox size, badges, signatures, skins and the like.

 

There are ways to fund the forum through sponsorship.  The forum I ran generated about 10K a year through sponsorship.  Members never paid a dime though. Mods did not make money either.

 

As for raffles. There are tons of ways to manage this without fees.  One forum a mod/admin takes donations from members in the form of product and each month makes 2-3 starter kits from the donations and does a contest.  Another forum does a PIF type thing.  Going to try the PIF here to see if there is interest.

 

The site works, before I say what I think about paid memberships I would need to know why,

tying fees to features is tha same thing I mean to see...upgraded features--its that like with anything in your life from the second you wake up ....everything has an option to biggie siz--my BIGGEST concern is the people that wont pay 5 bucks to be here but spend half their life in here...buyingsmokes, etcc..but cant contribute money to a place where they would nestle in and sleep if there was room to do so.

[guest]

I might be going off on a tangent here but I imagine a part of the issue getting people annoyed with the open forum is newbies getting on the site and discussing specific rivers / locations.   Not sure how feasible this is but perhaps there could be more screening on the posts before they are made visible to the public - at least for the first while. e.g. Mr Rogers writes a post. The post is not made public until it is reviewed and sanitized by mods.  This would happen for Mr. Rogers' first 25 posts with reminders of the forum rules. Mr. Rogers then makes his 26th post and starts talking about locations.  Mr. Rogers is removed from the forum and the post is deleted.   Seems to me that that the rules at the time of registration are not being read or just not taken seriously.

 

I think the private posts section might be a good idea.  I don't think $30 for example is steep if there are member benefits such as seminars, swag, etc.  I would be happy to volunteer to deal with the financial side of the operation provided it doesn't end up being too inundating..  don't mean to disrespect anyone that doesn't like the idea of fees. just a thought....and maybe for people that can't pay there can be other ways to get your membership like organizing a garbage cleanup day or similar.

 

As for membership size ........ are we looking for a large size of membership or for a quality membership.  I think the 'donation' shows that people are serious about the forum and hopefully less likely to be lurking. 

donation is great except unless they get something in return most will watch the donation basket cruise by them..people are only gonna pay if its a value added proposition

[guest]

the only difference is prizes-raffles off  subsidised trips---<<<<<<<repeat this x1000 there is no segregation people of all shapes and sizes can be together-most will stay where the fun and most discussion is anyway--come one come all..hasn't anyone ever takena flight-or eaten fast food-or reserved better seats at a restaurant--you still get to dine with Clooney-