User Panel
Posted: 6/15/2001 7:53:52 AM EDT
Ok I said I was going to post this as we got closer to the testing of the new site and when I had the time, so here goes. I am doing this as a normal post to get feedback from everyone. I am also posting this in the NEWS Forum, but will do that as an announcement.
AR15.Com Memberships! After considering the choices to continue running this site, and in fact expanding services and resources, we've come to the conclusion that we need people's help. This site has been around for a number of years with contributions coming from donations usually headed by users of the site. The simple admiration we have for everyone is why this site has continued to exist even as a drain on Ed and I. (Ok more on me lately, since Ed is MIA!) With this said, we'll be looking to add a membership level to the site. Memberships will be billed as a yearly subscription. Cost of membership will be $5/Month. I will now post the details on the current set of benefits members will get. [See 1st Response Below!] [red][size=4][b]MEMBERSHIPS ARE OPTIONAL AND WILL PROVIDE ENHANCEMENTS AND TOOLS TO MEMBERS. THE SITE WILL REMAIN PUBLIC PRETTY MUCH AS IS, WITH THE ONLY CHANGES BEING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES LIKE PROD REVIEWS AND ARTICLES!!![/b][/size=4][/red] There will be an announcement when memberships will become available. The goal is to get the ball rolling and give those who sign up a month or two free to help us fully test and finalize all the code. I hope EVERYONE appreciates the hard work and effort it takes to run this site and considers helping out. Remember that this is a yearly fee/contribution and is not required of anyone. Sorry for the length of this post, and I hope you are as excited about this as I am! -- GB [i]Modified to make very clear that this is OPTIONAL![/i] |
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1) AR15.Com Email Address
- [YOURNICK]@ar15.com - A simple mail redirect to an existing mail account. 2) SIGNATURE PICTURE AND AR15.Com MEMBER TITLE - Will show up in forum posts and other sections of the site! - This picture is completely free to your creative mind, with a default picture which has not been created. You will be able to create your own signature (gif or jpg) with the simple restriction on size, and upload it directly to the server. (Normal quality rules will apply!) 3) MEMBER ONLY GENERAL DISCUSSION - A new Member Only GD will be created (Moderator Free!!! I hope!) So that members can have a place to fall back for private discussions free from Trolls and trouble. (The same quality rules will apply!) - If there is a need for further Forums, they will be created as well. 4) DISCOUNT ON MERCHANDISE - We are finalizing issues with a vendor for Licensed AR15.Com Merchandise. - Any item which uses the AR15.Com logo without our written consent will not be tolerated. - Those who wish to create AR15.Com items, such as the current items being sold now, will be allowed to do so with written permission. (So when this is announced, you will need to contact us again to work out the details.) - Members will receive a price break on EVERY AR15.Com Item. Non-members will continue to be able to get the items with a small markup. This includes items other may create. So take note if you are currently selling items! (Most likely $1-2 dollars on most items.) - Items planned include a wide assortment of things from AR15.Com Shirts, to Hats, to Beer Mugs, and so on! (A merchandise section will eventually go up for ordering and information, as well as pictures of the items!) 5) FULLY FUNCTIONAL PHOTO SHARING - Members will be able to create "Albums" online and upload pictures to them. These albums will accessible to anyone who comes to the site and will include links to cut and paste into the forums for easy addition! - At the current time a 50 picture limit will enforced (roughly 5megs of disk space PER user!) and most likely increase as we expand our resources. - No limit to the number of albums you create and simple user tools to create, edit, and delete pictures or albums as well as move pictures from one album to another! 6) MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTIONS - Members will be able to add their insight on products in the Product Reviews (including a rating score), contribute Articles in a variety of topics, and potentially secure dedicated weekly or monthly COLUMNS! - We may also look for a cartoonist to do a monthly cartoon for the site! - Public users will have access to read these sections, but not to add their comments. 7) MEMBERSHIPS WILL EXTEND TO FUTURE PROJECTS - One membership gets you into all the projects we build. This means that 50World (which will be going up back after the new site is tested and approved!) will be fully accessible to you at no further cost. - There are a number of TOP SECRET plans to expand to areas which interest YOU and others, which will roll out in the coming months. - Along with this, the STAFF for these sites will be chosen from Members who are both interested and knowledgeable in those areas! 8) FUTURE ADDITIONS WHEN NEEDED - Member input will be important to us in deciding future additions or modifications. New tools, information, site areas, sites, etc will all be available for discussion! |
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Now, let the discussions begin!!!
(Try not to hurt me too bad... I have been killing myself working on this stuff!!!) -- GB |
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OOOHHH!!!!! I love the product reviews / column idea!!!
re: membership fee - Will it be by monthly charge to a CC, or can we pay up a year in advance????? |
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I like it! Would really like the pay for a year in advance though.
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$5.00 a month or how about $50.00 a year paid in advance?
Check is in the mail... |
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Of all the features you will be adding the posting of photos would be the only one of interest/use to me.
Did not understand your billing statement. If you are billing by the month or year. Machine Gun News magazine kept selling 5 yr subscriptions right up to the day they went out of business. A lot of pople got burned by that magazine. For a site which is openly stating they have too much financial load then asking for trust for the money in advance for some people is asking a lot. A monthly fee would be better. If this site was a magazine then $60 per year would be on the very expensive side. Of course they get revenue from advertisers. |
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**Edited due to my greedy use of bandwith!**
The way I look at it is the guy(s) have been doing the very best to keep this site up for years. I've never seen an out right asking of funds to be sent to support this site from this site's director(s). The Paypal feature was short lived, seldom recognized and was more or less not money out of people's pocket. The above offer is for those who WANT to commit to AR15.com and because they do he's offering them a few perks. He is still keeping it free to all who wish to stay under the std. system. I really don't see where this offer has any drawbacks. |
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Paul has the right idea, $5 a month or a once a year fee of $50. This is something I'll have to think on as I only have a computer at work. I'm poor, but try not to show it. [smoke]
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It would be a one time charge for a full year membership.
There will be a membership agreement which will be very simple and basically state we will provide you with continued service as long as we exist (we've been eating the costs and continue to keep things rolling, I can honestly say I plan on this thing running for a VERY long time. My goal has been not only to inform and share, but also to unite the community where possible to present a united front against the Anti-Gun community. With more widespread reach we can help do this.) The only true item of concern would be that violating the agreement would subject your account to cancelation at our discretion. Most of you should know me by know as a very TOLERANT and OPEN MINDED person. The things which will get you into trouble are the things we need to avoid such as racism, threats, and obscene porn. Other things may be moderated to some degree (like excessive vulgarities) but will not be the cause for any problems. My hope is to work WITH you guys to make it all worthwhile for the present and the future. Basically, you come up with things you would like, and if they are reasonable I will do what I can to accommodate you. A few things which were NOT mentioned, are overall site changes. Some things such as code fixes, forum archives, and so on should have no real bearing on membership. (Other than a discussed AR15.Com CDROM, when we have the time AND enough information to make this worthwhile, being sold at a discount to members.) Also on the agenda is a HUGE upgrade to the Equipment Exchange which I don't want to go into since much of it is still being decided on and will involve a LOT of work. The goal is basically to streamline the process, enhance usability, and basically create an EBAY type setup for everyone. This includes looking into AUCTIONS, DUTCH AUCTION, and REVERSE AUCTIONS. We'll see how that goes, there's a lot of things that I need to focus on right now and make sure they are completed and out to you guys ASAP! Hope this helps answer questions! -- GB |
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I'll be joining..but I'm just wondering..will people who dont join be able to post still??
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How about let visitors have read-only access to limited forums, say GD & legal or similar. Require membership to post or read the rest.
Just a thought. Sign me up. Now that I've got an AR15.com shirt, I can't not jion. [:)] Norm |
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I have been watching this site improve for some time now. I already feel indebted. As long as I'm working, I'm in! Troll free zones sound good too. Thanks!
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I for one was kinda hoping for the fee to be a bit less. $50 or $60 bucks kinda puts a pinch on things. $25 would be the right price for me.
With all the members here $25 should do nicely. 10,000 members with only 40% 50% becoming paying members is a shit load of money! |
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The extra features for a donation are a good idea. The members-only forums are not. If you make some extra features available to people who contribute, I will contribute. If this site becomes one where only paying members can post, I won't be posting on it or contributing.
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I like it.
As to the Machine Gun News issue referenced by D.H.,Well...I was stiffed for a subscription. I think a monthly deal is a good idea to start with. And keeping the turds out of the punch bowl is an even better one(idea)! My .02 |
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I think this is a good idea, I am confused about the proceedure to sign up. Count me in! Will we be notified on when and how ect.
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As I have said from day 1, this site will NEVER be a member ONLY site. Memberships are for those who can and want to help out. This is why there is no LOSS in abilities, only additional abilities for those people.
How can I, as a person, uphold my beliefs of helping people learn and share their knowledge, by closing a door to them? I can't, and I won't. The reason for the Member Only GD Forum is so that members can have a place to hide out if need be or to carry on discussions without the fear of the normal BS which sneaks into the GD. This only means they will have one more forum to keep track of! Who knows, the Member GD may be totally ignored as things are much calmer and back to normal on here. BUT, this was one thing people made an uproar about, so I am obliging it. -- GB |
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[size=2][b][blue]I am sure this site doesn't run cost-free and to think that it has been running on contributions alone is amazing. I have used this site for quite some time and have certainly benefited much more than $50 per year. I will be happy to join and pay the $50 yearly subscription rate.
I was another one who fell victim to the MGN scam, but still subscribe to SAR. There will always be some bad apples in each bag, but to eradicate the apple is not a resolve. Count me in and reply or post where and when to send the funds. I'm with Crowboy on the early subscriber program. Can we send funds now? Thanks for your hard work and efforts. Best Regards, Clay [;)][8D][):)][(:)][:P][:D][%(][;)][8D][):)][(:)][:P][:D][%(][;)][8D][):)][(:)][:P][:D][%(][;)][8D][):)][(:)][:P][:D][%(] [/size=2][/b][/blue] |
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I'm in.
I would like to suggest that members keep in mind thier contributions to pro-gun groups like NRA and GOA. If I can afford $5/month for AR15.com then I should be able to afford $10/month to NRA & GOA. If you're part of the choir, I'm not preaching to you. |
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Hey count me in. If you like the rifle then this is the place to come so I look at it as part of the ownship costs. Email me when your ready to take the funds. thanks
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AR15.com has a HUGE reader base and LOTS of traffic. You could likely sell advertising hand over fist to shooting related merchandisers. I have no problem whatever with advertising that is firearms related. I'll even put up with advertising about finding the right "soul mate" through some computer dating service (although they won't sell me anything).
BUT . . . $5 a month is going to drive your audience away. Too many other FREE gun forums out there. Also, and you may have overlooked this, keeping tabs of membership is a HUGE task. We have a 600 member non-profit organization with dues paid annually. Keeping membership records requires a couple volunteers and a half time staff member. With advertisers, you'd probably make money from this site. It's one of the better/best gun sites on the web. |
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Quoted: $5 a month is going to drive your audience away. Too many other FREE gun forums out there. View Quote Again, you guys are missing the point that [b]this is not MANDATORY[/b]. This is for additional functionality and to those who care to contribute and help. I don't want to this to turn into an off topic discussion about forcing a fee which we are not forcing!!! Nobody is keeping anyone here by force and I've already stated that this is 100% optional. [b]Those who wish to take advantage of this can, and those who do not, wont.[/b] With advertisers, you'd probably make money from this site. It's one of the better/best gun sites on the web. View Quote This is another area we're pursuing as we feel that no one group should be forced to pay some crazy fees on our behalf. I think we're being fair to all parties here and that by offering VERY attractive prices to companies, my hope is that perhaps some will work with us to offer discounted prices and bulk buys through the site. It's obviously their choice, but I think it benefits everyone to save a little on our end and sell more on theirs! -- GB |
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Please correct me if I am wrong Goatboy, this sounds simular to what Rush just did with his site Everything is the same but with the membership we get some xtra use, right?
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I'm in. Let me know where and how I have to agree I personally receive much more info than $ 5.oo a month. [):)] pg
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Not to mention, most of us piss away that much money every month!
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How about a $100.00 (?) Life Membership catagory? As to MGN I didn't get stiffed on subscription, but wrote 1 lengthy test article for them and it took nearly 1 full year after publication to get paid. They asked for further submissions, but screw me once, shame on you, screw me twice...SHAME ON ME! Of course I learned my lesson as to the professionalism of the editorial / business staff.
[X] [X] |
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GoatBoy:
How does this effect Moderator status, Due to my poor health I do not have an income? Yet, by our glorious system of government SSI I not quit dead enough to count for a check in the mail. I hope this move won't make me the hated red headed step child of ar15.com? Dave Dee NRA/ILA Member AR15.com Moderator of Reloading Forum A great place to get answers to your reloading questions. |
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Sounds fine but I prefer to pay by check/Money Order.
I try not to use credit cards too often and prefer cash. I would need an address to mail the payment to you. |
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I would like to suggest an AR-15.com credit card. Anyone using it would be contributing to the site and there would be no administrative headaches as far as membership goes.
As for the equipment exchange, to add to the possibilities already mentioned, how about enticing someone like Armalite or Bushmaster to operate an on line store for Ar-15.com and they get a commission on each sale? |
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Quoted: GB will you accept Canadian Tire money on par? [:)] I'm in. View Quote Damn you beat me to it!! I wonder if they would ever know what it was?? |
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I am in.....I do like the fact that there are not advertisements popping up all over the place. But maybe you could get some advertising income from NRA....I would not mind an add or two from them....just a thought...but I am in....and if you need any volunteers to help with anything let me know.
Love2Shoot |
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Quoted: Quoted: GB will you accept Canadian Tire money on par? [:)] I'm in. View Quote Damn you beat me to it!! I wonder if they would ever know what it was?? View Quote I'm not sure if they would or not. I've heard stories of some Navy guys using it in Bermuda or Jamacia to party on. Wine ,women and song till they got caught![:D] |
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GB, might I suggest a slightly different tactic: Instead of memberships, sell sponsorships, different levels at different prices. Perhaps a jr sponsor @ $25 per year, sponsor @ $50 per year, advanced sponsor @ $75 per year, GawdAllmightyKingTutBFG sponsor @$250 a year... Give us an ego incentive to contribute more than the other guy, and show what kind of men we really are ;-). Hell, it just might work.
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Quoted: AR15.com has a HUGE reader base and LOTS of traffic. You could likely sell advertising hand over fist to shooting related merchandisers. I have no problem whatever with advertising that is firearms related. I'll even put up with advertising about finding the right "soul mate" through some computer dating service (although they won't sell me anything). BUT . . . $5 a month is going to drive your audience away. Too many other FREE gun forums out there. Also, and you may have overlooked this, keeping tabs of membership is a HUGE task. We have a 600 member non-profit organization with dues paid annually. Keeping membership records requires a couple volunteers and a half time staff member. With advertisers, you'd probably make money from this site. It's one of the better/best gun sites on the web. View Quote Before I start, let me say this. Everybody here and there mother is going to say "$5 a month is nothing!" - to which I reply "you are correct". However, a $60 one-time fee is [i]too much[/i] for me. I just got an overwhelming power bill (and I'm a conserver), I have to pay my water works a $50 deposit, I had a book for one of my classes that was [b]$150[/b], and on top of all that my job is pays minimum wage, and I have to sustain myself on certain things. (No, I can't get 'a better job'...this is the best I can find, and I basically get paid to study - I'm an engineer). So as you can see, I'm STRAPPED FOR CASH - not only now, but ETERNALLY until I graduate. To me, I can either buy ammo for $60 or pay for the site. I saved up for over a year, A YEAR, to pay for my gun; you can see how much disposable income I have. While I wholeheartedly condone membership fees to root out the bad seeds here, I think we should have some sort of monthly basis, at least for the time being. That way, I can more easily budget my funds. For those who know me, you know (hopefully) that I'm a respectable guy who contributes a good deal to the forum, as do another 1,000 guys here. Not trying to sound like a braggart, I'm simply saying I hope you take what I say with, at least, a [i]minor bit[/i] of consideration. Thanks guys, you know I love what you have done for me - sometimes I just have to speak out [;)]. Your Friendly, Neighborhood Jew~ P.S. - Goatboy, Check your AR15 mailbox...I wrote you a few days ago (about something which may now be obsolete - que sera). |
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Originally Posted By Kevin@AR15com_1&2: Originally Posted By David Hineline: Machine Gun News magazine kept selling 5 yr subscriptions right up to the day they went out of business. A lot of pople got burned by that magazine. For a site which is openly stating they have too much financial load then asking for trust for the money in advance for some people is asking a lot. A monthly fee would be better. If this site was a magazine then $60 per year would be on the very expensive side. Of course they get revenue from advertisers. View Quote The way I look at it is the guy(s) have been doing the very best to keep this site up for years. I've never seen an out right asking of funds to be sent to support this site from this site's director(s). The Paypal feature was short lived, seldom recognized and was more or less not money out of people's pocket. The above offer is for those who WANT to commit to AR15.com and because they do he's offering them a few perks. He is still keeping it free to all who wish to stay under the std. system. I really don't see where this offer has any drawbacks. View Quote Just a continuation of people who feel the need to wast site bandwidth by pasting what everyone before them has said in thier reply. |
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I'm in. Just post an address where I can send a
money order. I never, ever use credit cards over the Internet. Ever. Eric The(IMeanNeverEver)Hun[>]:)] |
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Originally Posted By David Hineline: A lot of pople got burned by that magazine. For a site which is openly stating they have too much financial load then asking for trust for the money in advance for some people is asking a lot. A monthly fee would be better. View Quote As far as I can recall, in the past 3 years that I've been hanging around here, AR15.com has never asked us for a penny ! Knowing how much of his lottery winnings that McUZI spends on HIS site [BD], AR15.com must cost a real fortune to operate! $60 bucks a year is a mere pittance for the benefit that we derive from this site. AND that does NOT even include the new features that they are adding. I am quite sure that MOST members here are NOT AFRAID of "trusting" AR15.com. Do you think that it would be worth all of the hassle and expense to bill members $5 per month ??? No Way!. I really don't mean to sound brash or insulting with this post. I am sure that they can make an exception for you though.... How about if they set up a paypal debit for you at $.14 cents a day? [>(] . [i]fixed quote --GB[/i] |
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Quoted: I would like to suggest an AR-15.com credit card. View Quote Hey -- that would be VERY COOL ! |
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Hummm, pay extra to read the whining and crying in the GD forum? But this would be exclusive whining and crying? Well, gee where do I sign up?
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