Premium Membership Discussion.

[rfrench102]

Originally Posted by sammy sandbag

Are you people even reading what ekool has written? What he proposes wouldn't change anything for you. He's offering a service in addition to what you already get from this site.

I didn't read it close enough. If it stays the same as it is now it would be no problem for me.

[pecora55]

Not a bad idea ekool. As someone who comes here every now and then looking for some useful info, and might I add doesn't own a Titan, but is looking and loves them I think your idea is good and people need to understand that it wont change a thing for them....I don't think people are getting that...

[schneid]

I think it would drive readers away followed by your advertisers jumping ship.

[caltitan]

Ekool,

I'll throw out a few ideas, not that these would necessarily appeal to me. How about also allowing premium members to upload sound/video clips (with a size limit - maybe on their gallery page instead of in posts)? Will there be a 30-day money back guarantee? How would posters know someone is a premium member, would there be some type of ID below their avatar/username?

[Pugsly]

If you are hoping the "premium membership" will cover the costs of running this site, and they end up not (because saying you'll pay the fee and actually doing it are 2 differant things!) So what will hapeen when say you only get 20 % of the people to sign up as you were hoping for?

Just something to consider, it happens all the time with group buys, you get 50 guys to say there in for whatever merchandise, and when it comes time to bank up, you're lucky to get 12-15!!!!

For what your proposing to include in the "premium membership" it just isn't worth it. I have online storage already, i don't need another email, what's an "arcade"? pay $20 to post what kind of truck I have?

what abouit vbookie and giving rwards to those that have a certain chip level? stuff like that,

[rugger515]

I don't mind paying if it is a reasonable amount $10-$20 yearly. I'm a poor bastard saving for a big wedding. So, while we are talking about taking donations feel free to send me some wedding cash. :-)
Seriously, I am very new to this site and I realize that it costs money for time and maintenance. There should be no complaints about the membership fees. I know I would want a little something if I were running the site.

[pagerdaddy]

Maybe when John posts his 1040 on here, we'll all be able to make a decision on this premium membership thing. Or could it be that some things are none of my business?

I like the idea that nothing will change for us unless we want it to. When it finally gets decided what additional features can be added for how much, I'll decide if it's something I want.

I like reading the suggestions for new features. What caltitan is throwing out there, would that be like a personal web page, or something? Make it so that when someone clicks on the pic of my truck, they hear my Flowmasters.

I think what John is looking for is positive ideas, like Pugsly's "vbookie" idea. I'll need to know more about it before deciding if it's right for me. If I don't like it, I promise not to say, "Well, that sucks!"

[mikedpsych]

Really like the RSS news feed. Thanks

[GA-matt]

No cost with all users having the same previledges and access to information... this is what has worked to make Titantalk the great place it is. I agree with others that charging users for items will only drive people away. One reason there is so much information available to all of us is because everything is free and users are not discouraged from joining in. Placing a limit on anything will only do harm. I of course appreciate the site and will probably pay, but I think we'll all pay more than just the membership fee if this takes place. I say charge the site sponsors more for ads. Otherwise Clubtitan is sure to grow!

[pagerdaddy]

GA-matt, I didn't get all those nice things like you did on your truck, like the Off-Road, Big Tow, Utility Bed, or Side Air Bags. How fair was that?

But you know, I did get a lot of the same great features that came standard, plus a few extras that I was willing to pay for.

The 05 Titans now come with stuff standard that I wish I had. I doesn't make me love my truck any less. And as far as anyone else's success, that really doesn't depend on us, does it? All we can do is wish them the best.

[ekool]

Originally Posted by Pugsly

what abouit vbookie and giving rwards to those that have a certain chip level? stuff like that,

I thought about vbookie, but the features that you could buy are not features that I want to give. I've seen them be abused, and its not a very professional modification. For example, changing the title under your username to say "Admin" or "Jackass" etc. I dont think its a direction I'd like to see the forum go.

[Titan4x4Aggie]

Originally Posted by ekool

Terry,

Try as I might, I keep reading my message looking for some out of place tone, and I have yet to find it.

I found it:

[Sammy Sandbag]

Originally Posted by Pugsly

If you are hoping the "premium membership" will cover the costs of running this site, and they end up not (because saying you'll pay the fee and actually doing it are 2 differant things!) So what will hapeen when say you only get 20 % of the people to sign up as you were hoping for?

I think it would drive readers away followed by your advertisers jumping ship.

So what if it only covers 1% of the cost of running this site, so what if it covers 200% of the costs and ekool pockets the profit. This isn't a charity folks, I'm sure ekool didn't start this site just out of the kindness of his heart. If you look at the number of sites he owns, it's pretty obvious that it is a enterprise. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. Now if he were to start charging for the features we now use (posting, pm, reading, etc) I would agree that it would drive members away. What some of you are saying is no different than me being pissed that I don't get free parts/accessories for my truck. "Well I've been driving it for a year now, why should I pay for extras?" Come on, how logical is that? Not at all, that's how. If you don't want the extras, no one is pointing a gun at your head, and you still carry on like you have since the first day you registered here. The internet seems to make people think they should always get something for nothing, and even worse people think that forums should be non-profit. You are making someone richer every time you make a purchase from a "real world" retailer, so why wouldn't the same logic apply to a forum. Ekool is offering a service in exchange for money, nothing different about it. In fact, the moral thing to do would be for all of us to contribute monetarily in some fashion to this site. We have, after all, been making use of his services for absolutely free. Of course this includes contributing by way of purchases from supporting advertisers.

[Titan4x4Aggie]

Originally Posted by ekool

Here's a revised list of features/perks that Premium membership would bring... again, this isnt set in stone, but something I would like feedback on.

1. Access to Photopost/Gallery (50MB Storage)
2. Access to "vbGarage" -- a page where you can upload pictures of your truck and describe your modifications. As a user mentioned, you could link to it in your signature to tell people about your truck. (5 Images)
3. Email address @TitanTalk.com (50MB Quota)

Any other features anyone can think of?

I think this is a good starting list. Here is what I would do for members vs. premium members:

• Member
• Posting, editing, PM's, etc = same as the current setup
• Limit total attachment size to < 500 kB
• Limit picture size
• Limit signature size w/ small pictures
• Limited number of smilies

• Premium Member
• Membership benefits listed above
• Ablity to start polls
• Ability to post up to 10 attachments up to a total of 10 MB
• Ability to post sound and video (up to a certain number of files, and a certain size)
• Larger signatures with extra signature options
• Special "Premium Members Only" forum
• vBGarage with pictures, links, and other profile info
• Extra smilies
• Titantalk.com email address
• Monthly give-aways (titantalk sticker, titantalk t-shirt, titantalk shotglass, etc)
• Group-buy discount section for premium members only

Give me a few more days, and I might think of more ideas...

[Titan4x4Aggie]

I would pay $30 for all that listed above. I'll have my TITAN for a long while, and sooner or later it will start breaking down. Once that happens, I'll need a lot more help and advice from this site.

This is probably one of the hard things about running an online auto site for a new car. The new car doesnt' break down as often, so new parts aren't needed. The only adverstising money you get are for aftermarket goodies that are more frivolous than needed. Because of this, there aren't many advertisers.

MY MAIN COMPLAINT THAT I HOPE YOU FIX WHEN THE MONEY STARTS ROLLING IN: REMOVE THAT AD BANNER BETWEEN THE LAST POST OF THE PAGE AND THE "QUICK REPLY".

I understand your need / desire to charge for this site. And I dont think you should be expected to "donate" your time to this site. I spend enough time here, and I'm just a user, not a moderator. If I were running this site, I would charge too for extras to make back some compensation for the time you spend on this.

- mike