Membership consultation

Would you have paid a small membership fee to be an active member of the A2OC?

  • Yes - through a voluntary annual donation

    Votes: 43 47.8%
  • Yes - through a fixed annual subscription

    Votes: 44 48.9%
  • No

    Votes: 12 13.3%

  • Total voters
    90
  • Poll closed .
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I've no strong feelings on the best model for funding the site, but I've just thrown a tenner in the kitty, after failing to notice the submission field until this thread - mea culpa.
 
I haven't donated yet but only because I'm away and haven't brought anything more than a phone with me! I'll be happy to chuck in what I can once I get home.

Just wanted to give another observation - advertising may threaten the impartiality and independence of the forum, plus many people now (myself included) seem to be running Adblock or similar (couldn't do without it) which mean these would have little or no effect to those users.

Cheers
 
(I have made a contribution however I never received any acknowledgement it was received)

Apologies Nige - This was completely my mistake. I usually do my best to respond to all donations - but this was pure oversight.

I'll raise this with the new management team - as clearly if we chose to rely on donations, then it is essential that members are properly acknowledged. It's also just common courtesy!

Thanks again for your continued support.

Ben
 
I think my preference would be:

1. keep it free
2. allow more context-relevant advertising
3. make the donation functionality and need far more prominent within the forum
4. consider charging people to place adverts for selling cars?
 
I give another vote to keep it free but promote vigorously the need for members to give a small donation on a regular basis.
Having said that to my total shame I have never donated to the cause but will do so now.
Crossed my mind many times but just never got round to it,slap on the wrist for me.
 
Well having it free as a read only site would still give none owners the chance to look up stuff but not contribute to posts, so if you want to have your say why not pay? As it posted before the software worked out i take it an average 380 members but if we took it at the rough guide of 276 active members then at a £2 donation gives you £552 which covers the £550 annual cost so if more than that go for the full membership then this would give you over the running cost of the forum.

I've now got a Harley and i've joined a forum to look up stuff like i did when i first joined this forum, that forum is free but if i wanted to join the HOG(Harley owners group) then this is £53 now for me i wouldn't get my moneys worth out of the club where £2 is less than a pint (in most places in the UK) so how much is all this info and savings worth to you ?????????????????

Phil
 
+1
"I think my preference would be:

1. keep it free
2. allow more context-relevant advertising
3. make the donation functionality and need far more prominent within the forum
4. consider charging people to place adverts for selling cars?"
 
I would say a two tier membership would be best.

Say £5 for 3-4 months, and then £10 for the year?

This would be a normal amount for other similar sites, however, I feel with few members, it may not get much revenue.

I do think different prices would be the best way to approach it, as that way, occasional users are likely to pay a small amount as and when they need to, but others can get a 'value' package, possibly including the sticker etc if any left and depending on costs.

I don't think it's fair that only a few pay a lot, although I have not contributed recently as not been on it recently. Therefore smaller costs are needed, or people who use it occasionally, may be put off.
 
Well, I don't like those poll options - too limited.

If it was a life or death of the forum then I would pay a subscription but I think that is risky as the subscription model is not that common, though some newspapers are trying it. However, as indicated, the forum cost money to run. If any of us joined a club with a posted newsletter we would expect to pay a fee to cover printing and postage (clubs I belong to seem to be charging £12 a year). So we need to recognise that in the virtual world there are also delivery costs. Maybe nagging pop ups to those who have not donated within the last year.

I think that people that advertise in the market place should pay a fee, either an annual fee or a sales percentage (though that might be difficult to administer / enforce).

Maybe 2 levels: small fee to sell parts or larger fee for complete vehicles (say £5 and £25 respectively for 3 months - needs some comparison with the market place web sites). Maybe another fee level for dealers who are selling all the year round. After all, the A2 members are a precise and accessible target audience that is likely to achieve a sell.

Also, I'm wary of a minimum number of posts as it may just encourage people to post rubbish or 1 word responses to other posts.

Many, members say they intend to keep their A2 for a long time (I've had mine for 8 years) and as they age and fail this forum is going to be worth its weight in gold.

Finally, my thanks to all the admins, the expert posters and the regular posters that make this a super informative and pleasant forum to visit.

P.S. Plenty of space at the top of each post (between the user name on the left and the Join Date on the right) to indicate if the member has donated within the last 12 months. People who have donated might find they get more replies to their problems/questions ;) Is that easy to implement?
 
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I'm not fussed either way but from what I have got from this site over the years I would pay a nominal subscription. It might be worth the Mods taking a look at how Rennlist.com operates. Mainly US led and I use it for my 'other' car. This site has various membership options yet still allows users to join and post for free. They are however excluded from some threads.
 
I don't think I've donated, certainly never had a nag screen to remind me.

A donation does not bother me, the information gained through here far outweighs any that might be requested.

I would buy a membership pack that is an enhanced donation but I get stickers and badge.

I like a clean and unfussy site so advertising always gets in the way - being told to pay to rid of them annoys the hell out of me.

I like the idea of limited free access - perhaps five thread views then donate (that could be a monthly or whatever timescale). From experience of running a site the post count model does not work, the "real" members hate the silly methods some use to reach the post target.

Paying a nominal fee to sell your wares in the marketplace is totally acceptable, a scale could be applied - free up to item value of £20, £1 for value up to £200, £5 above that.

It was mentioned that this is a niche forum providing a great service, but the reality is that that niche could be the downfall. The stock of A2's in the UK and beyond is only going down and so will the potential member base. My opinion is that something is needed to entice others to join.
Where I live I am aware of another 3 or 4 A2's. I would happily place an invite letter under the wipers or speak to them, but it would be great to be able to have an official communication letter/membership offer letter to print off and use.

I would also accept an annual renewal email.
 
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I have no strong feelings either way and will be happy with whatever the final decision.

Regards
Mike
 
I'm happy to go with the majority vote in helping to keep this site alive, as I have been using it for more than 6yrs now, I will want to keep using it for many years to come.

Thanks.
 
Some good responses. I have no personal problem with either in payment terms but I've voted for voluntary, because I feel strongly that we should at least try a mass donation campaign to see what we raise before going down the quite drastic route of a subscription. If we adopt the latter I feel it goes against the intentions of the forum and will result in a clique of the same old members being the only ones regularly active. It will deter new membership.

Only if the voluntary push is ineffective should we be considering a charge.
 
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Some good responses. I have no personal problem with either in payment terms but I've voted for voluntary, because I feel strongly that we should at least try a mass donation campaign to see what we raise before going down the quite drastic route of a subscription. If we adopt the latter I feel it goes against the intentions of the forum and will result in a clique of the same old members being the only ones regularly active. It will deter new membership.

Only if the voluntary push is ineffective should we be considering a charge.
I agree, especially with detering new membership.
Anyway, regarding users who register only to advertise their car. There should be a limit of posts before using a Marketing section of this forum. Many forums have it done like this. Or maybe a time restriction, for example you cannot place an add within 30 days of registration.
 
I've not been on this forum for a while - although I have many parts left to sell from my breaker - I think that a similar approach to vzi would be ideal - free forum, need small donation to advertise parts, higher to advertise car
 
Hello everyone,

I think that the best way is to have a yearly pledge.

This is just a quick draft:

- Investigate ( by looking at historic records) which month there are more visits - put that month as the pledge month.
- 3 months before the event make the A2OC webpage to display the upcoming pledge and reasons for it (i.e. amount desired to achieve, running costs, etc.)
- 2 months before pledge, start e-mailing the user community - reminding the upcoming pledge
- 1 month before - update the A2OC webpage with amounts raised to date and informing of the upcoming event.
- Offer to the person that donates the biggest amount some sort of prize - something like the VAG-COM member title - put some title next to the name like A2OC 2013 member of the year and perhaps couple stickers and badges - this to keep costs down but at the same time acknowledging the fact this person has contributed the highest amount.

Any thoughts?
 
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have a small area for free and a 'if you want to read more then subscribe'

I voted for a voluntary but as most characteristics of this car have generally gone wrong already people can read for free?Why?
Either Lock it down with a fee even if via a 3-4 click paypal link as otherwise its the contributors who are getting the raw deal not the readers who have searched for info here and will be available gratis.

Just a thought,would It work,I dunno

Chubbz
 
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