Matus
Well-known
I did exchange PMs while selling stuff here or just as a next level to replies in a thread. 100 limit is really low - I would be willing to pay a little more - but I would expect a $5 - $10 to give me limit of 1000. I mean - the plain text messages are really tiny. Should the fee be higher than the gallery should get different limits too.
I am one of those that 'subscribe' to APUG as I consider it the largest 'database' for analog photography knowledge. I actually post much more here and would be ready to shell a few bucks too.
Of course there could be several options of payed membership.
I do realize that including payed subscriptions and new features to RFF would require a lot of work - so I do not really expect solution overnight, but I think that this option should be give a though.
I am one of those that 'subscribe' to APUG as I consider it the largest 'database' for analog photography knowledge. I actually post much more here and would be ready to shell a few bucks too.
Of course there could be several options of payed membership.
I do realize that including payed subscriptions and new features to RFF would require a lot of work - so I do not really expect solution overnight, but I think that this option should be give a though.
ChrisN
Striving
I don't want more message space.
I think mandatory access fees would kill this site.
I think mandatory access fees would kill this site.
coelacanth
Ride, dive, shoot.
Many sites have "premium" or "gold" or whatever paid member level with benefits, and as long as the core experience with free account is not limited more than right now, I don't think making the paid "subscriber" level would kill the site.
I love RFF and would be happy to contribute say $25-$50 a year for something like
• Larger or unlimited mail box depending on annual contribution level.
• Lower or free classifieds fee depending on annual contribution level.
• Über member level (basically a generous donation) can get RFF softy or something like that.
Typically on forum, you'll get subscriber badge so that might give buyer/seller some peace of mind that you are a "serious" member, and help your sale/purchase in Classifieds.
I keep PM notification with my gmail so I can look back, but sent messages are gone forever if I delete from PM box so I'd love some more mail box capacity.
I love RFF and would be happy to contribute say $25-$50 a year for something like
• Larger or unlimited mail box depending on annual contribution level.
• Lower or free classifieds fee depending on annual contribution level.
• Über member level (basically a generous donation) can get RFF softy or something like that.
Typically on forum, you'll get subscriber badge so that might give buyer/seller some peace of mind that you are a "serious" member, and help your sale/purchase in Classifieds.
I keep PM notification with my gmail so I can look back, but sent messages are gone forever if I delete from PM box so I'd love some more mail box capacity.
ChrisN
Striving
Two people have mentioned that they would like free ads. I suspect that would require some restructuring of the way the site is supported and run. I've noted that when I buy an advertisement, the payment goes to Jorge, the original owner and operator of the site, rather than to Mr Gandy, the current owner and operator. I might speculate that this reflects an arrangement under which Jorge maintains the technical side in return for the revenue from the classifieds. If the classifieds became free (with a large increase in volume likely) then the owner would need to find another way to fund site maintenance. How many will really want to pay for a bigger PM storage and free adverts? Personally I prefer email, and to pay for the occasional advert.
BTW I do not think it wrong for the site owner to seek a decent return from the site. At the moment that appears to come from the advertising, generating sales. This is working - why mess with it? I recall the owner did try the subscriber model several years ago with a discriminatory membership level, but it caused considerable dissent and was soon dropped.
BTW I do not think it wrong for the site owner to seek a decent return from the site. At the moment that appears to come from the advertising, generating sales. This is working - why mess with it? I recall the owner did try the subscriber model several years ago with a discriminatory membership level, but it caused considerable dissent and was soon dropped.
David Murphy
Veteran
For those newer members, RFF used to have a paid premium membership. The current owner eliminated it when he purchased RFF. I thought that was a great move.
jtm6
Well-known
You can download any or all of your messages very easily using xml, csv, or text. I do this to archive PMs. Any PM conversation that would push my total over that limit would probably have already moved to email before that happened.
As for accessing them, I use Excel, Numbers, or Open Office, put it in a table, and it is easier and faster than any online forum's PM system. If I'm in a pinch, I can always open the archive in a text editor.
As for accessing them, I use Excel, Numbers, or Open Office, put it in a table, and it is easier and faster than any online forum's PM system. If I'm in a pinch, I can always open the archive in a text editor.
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Another simple solution is to use the private emailing instead of PM. The only downside is that you don't appear to get a copy of it. Now if they could switch on sending a copy to the senders email then you'd get to keep a copy of what you sent and also any replies from whoever you sent it to. And RFF would save some server space and its no extra work for anyone except a one off setting up sending copy to sender.
andersju
Well-known
Let's not get carried away here. I wasn't proposing membership levels or a change to the way the site is financed or anything (although some of the ideas presented are interesting). All I want is to send Stephen a few bucks to get rid of an annoyance. 
I know I can download my messages in various formats, but I'd much rather just pay a small one-time sum so that I don't have to think about it. $5-10 might sound like a lot of money for this (considering how little space text uses) but it would certainly be worth it for me.
I know I can download my messages in various formats, but I'd much rather just pay a small one-time sum so that I don't have to think about it. $5-10 might sound like a lot of money for this (considering how little space text uses) but it would certainly be worth it for me.