New Classified feature

[MP Guy]

Let us not forget that there currently is NO fee for posting a classified ad.

 

[flashover]

I want to post an add no button

 

[Gid]

I've had think and come up with what I think could work.

$5 buys you basic membership. You can post, but only in the general discussion and FSU threads. but no politics or religion. You can look at the classifieds but you can't have them.

$10 buys you superior membership. You get basic plus you can post in the CV, and Canon threads, but no politics or religion. You can look at the classifieds but you can't have them.

$15 buys you extra superior membership. You get superior plus you can post in everything except the Leica M forum, but no politics or religion. You can place ads and buy stuff and you can poke fun at lower members.

$20 buys you Superior membership XL. You get extra superior plus you can talk about religion and politics.

$500 buys you Elite membership. You get superior XL plus you can post in the Leica M forum. You can talk about anything you like, but that will mostly be Leicas. You can bemoan the cost of your membership, but will be able to console yourself with the fact that it is after all the best.


For the avoidance of doubt this is a Joke and I do won a Leica and L glass, so I'm entitled. 😀

 

[MP Guy]

flashover, send me your password via a pm

 

[RayPA]

Just some quick thoughts:

Obviously this Jorge's site and he can do what he wants BUT

If there is to be a paid membership scheme should RFF adopt an open book policy to its accounts so that everyone has a clear idea of what it takes to run a site like this and where the money goes? Perhaps even a comittee to conduct future competitions with prizes out of excess funds etc.

If this is a community then a paying membership should have at least some say in where their money goes. If its going to be a straightforward commercial site then the community just become customers. If we are at the stage where rff is to become a subscription site. Jorge (and the moderators) should have a clear idea of what they want the site to be in the future and express those ideas to us all. It is clear that change is inevitable and that could be a good thing but it needs to be handled carefully

I don't know about the "open book" to the accounts, but one consideration about a subscription-based site is the sense of entitlement, or ownership. If you pay for something, you expect something in return, and someone (ownership, moderator) should lay that out.

Unfortunately, does that mean 'Rules' about behavior, acceptable gallery postings, etc.? This stuff has always sort of been "common knowledge," but I think a subscription changes all that, changes everything.

Before any major change occurs the administration needs to consider this type of stuff, because it will come up and someone will challenge it.



.

 

[Toby]

I don't know about the "open book" to the accounts, but one consideration about a subscription-based site is the sense of entitlement, or ownership. If you pay for something, you expect something in return, and someone (ownership, moderator) should lay that out.

Unfortunately, does that mean 'Rules' about behavior, acceptable gallery postings, etc.? This stuff has always sort of been "common knowledge," but I think a subscription changes all that, changes everything.

Before any major change occurs the administration needs to consider this type of stuff, because it will come up and someone will challenge it.



.

I was only talking about open book accounts because if someone does a 4000 x $25 sum and then claims it only takes $2000 a year to run the sight you end up with a lot of rancour. I'm merely thinking about ways that these problems could avoided for the future

 

[planetjoe]

I'm with Joe on his scheme to "tier" the existing memberships into a new arrangement, by the way. I also think that paying for what we already have isn't such a bad thing...before anyone gets cranked about that comment, I'll say this:

Sometimes, to keep a (free) service from disappearing, the True Believers have to finally start coughing up the dough. And most of us, myself included, would be glad to do it in this case. As for offering additional features to satisfy the value-added, well...as a start, not letting RFF die is a good enough entitlement for me. I've gotten a LOT of value out of this place in the short time I've been here. Thank you for that, by the way.

Now, the following is just my opinion, but...to keep things on the up-and-up, Jorge might let us know his rough operating expenses, and design the membership fee based on good assumptions concerning participation. But, in all honesty, he doesn't have to. At least, that's what I believe.


Cheers,
--joe.

ps. i'm in for contributing to the "keep gman around" fund, by the way. it's a no-brainer.

 

[Ken Ford]

Face it, gang - any forum website takes money to run, and one as bandwidth intensive as RFF (due to the photos) takes more than most.

This is Jorge's site. If I were Jorge, if I couldn't consistently run this place in a revenue positive or revenue neutral manner I'd pull the plug in a New York minute.

I really feel the only acceptable long term solution is some kind of subscription system. I also think that there should be an option for more gallery privileges via an additional subscription - those that use the gallery the heaviest should shoulder more of the server and bandwidth load.

I have no idea what sums Jorge needs to make this work - I see the numbers $10 for membership and $25 for enhanced gallery privileges mentioned, but I'm sure those are off-the-cuff amounts.

In any case, I for one would gladly subscribe to help keep the lights on. RFF has great value to me, and I don't want to see it go away.

 

[pesphoto]

I also do not see the Place an Ad button. I will support Jorge on his decisions because I dont want this place to go away.

 

[kvanderlaag]

I would pay a yearly subscription to this site, if it were in the $10-$20 range. Even if it was just for advanced gallery access and classified posting, or what have you. I would also pay it if it was a subscription for membership (everything, including posting.)

I have no qualms with supporting this site, in any capacity. I do agree, though, that $2.50 for a classified ad is somewhat over the top, and I'll also agree that the auction feature is probably not the best of ideas for the community.

I wouldn't be opposed to keeping the current classified section, and making it accessible only by paid members for that membership class, or something.

Just a thought.

Long live Jorge!

 

[MP Guy]

Ok, those who could not place an ad before now can. Usegroup thing.

 

[pesphoto]

Got it Jorge, thanks!!!

 

[ch1]

Ok, those who could not place an ad before now can. Usegroup thing.

Now THAT'S what I call "prompt attention"! 😀

Thank's, Jorge.

 

[dcsang]

I'm confused..

I stay away from you guys for a week because of the WPPI / DWF convention in Vegas and I come back to ???? regarding the classifieds and such.

I'm willing to fork over dollars for any membership - I'll be forwarding the $25 shortly for sure (I read that email)

Can someone give me the "abridged" version of a thread now 133 posts and 7 pages long and growing?

Thanks
Dave

 

[thebanana]

Where are the old ads?

 

[JohnM]

The abridged version -

The site has grown and is now more expensive than any of us can expect Jorge to take on. He has been trying to find a way to help fund the site - he came up with a $2.50 fee to list a classified ad. The masses were not happy.

It's been suggested that there be some sort of patron's subcription made available for frequent users to help support the site.

 

[wrenhunter]

If the plan is:

• anyone can register for free and post in any forum, except Classifieds. They can also post 5 images/day
• $10/year lets you post in Classifieds, too
• $25/year, ditto, plus you can post unlimited (?) images/day

I'm for it. Personally, I don't need to post more than 5 images/day -- I wish I was that prolific!

I think this ought to work fine for most everyone, including the penurious. I mean, if you don't have $10, why would you need to post in the Classifieds? Even if posting images goes to paying members only, there's always Flickr.

I think the idea of "open accounting" to members is specious. Pay what you think the site is worth to you. Jorge isn't in this for the money.

 

[dcsang]

The abridged version -

The site has grown and is now more expensive than any of us can expect Jorge to take on. He has been trying to find a way to help fund the site - he came up with a $2.50 fee to list a classified ad. The masses were not happy.

It's been suggested that there be some sort of patron's subcription made available for frequent users to help support the site.

Thanks for that John..

I hate being away from this place for any length of time 😀

Dave

 

[FrankS]

Welcome back, Dave. Missed ya!

Jorge also suggested changing the classifieds section so that it would be like ebay (yeah, I know!?) with items auctioned and a BIN option. This was also not popular.

 

[Andrew Touchon]

I'm confused..

I stay away from you guys for a week because of the WPPI / DWF convention in Vegas and I come back to ???? regarding the classifieds and such.

I'm willing to fork over dollars for any membership - I'll be forwarding the $25 shortly for sure (I read that email)

Can someone give me the "abridged" version of a thread now 133 posts and 7 pages long and growing?

Thanks
Dave

You just returned from Vegas and your still have $25 left? LOL 😉 😉