Paid Membership with perks? Any interest?

[1974]

I'd like to hear what Sinner/MODs/site owners thinks about all this

So far, it's been a healthy, sober conversation allthough views are in opposite ends

[Andy D]

I'd like to hear what Sinner/MODs/site owners thinks about all this

So far, it's been a healthy, sober conversation allthough views are in opposite ends

I agree, except I believe too many people seem to think we are discussing leaving the sites free or charging.

My opinion is leave site free, the way it is.

Add premium content for those who wish to pay and become supporters to help Eurobricks continue.

That way no one is left out, no one has to leave. No one has to choose to leave because they don't want to or cannot afford to pay, they just continue as they are.

We all stay, we all post, some are just providing more support.

Andy D

Edited December 6, 2013 by Andy D

[Darth Dino]

I'd like to hear what Sinner/MODs/site owners thinks about all this

So far, it's been a healthy, sober conversation allthough views are in opposite ends

Hi

although i would like to hear their opinion about our post it is quiet obviously why they do not post here. Everything they would post will influence our future postings here. E.g. if one of them would show up to be dissapointed would you still have the bravery to post again "no, keep it free"?

Be sure they are ready all our stuff ;) Maby they are going to post here to sum up "at the end" of the discussion, if everything is said, plus a "thank you for posting your opinion". This is like a survey where you do not crosspost.

Dino

[mechamike]

I know Im not really active poster here, most of my time on-line I spend posting on another site,(but hopefully that is going to change soon). I have lurked EB since the start and some of the nicest people I know hang here, and I logged a lot of hours reading posts on EB. There are some aspects of EB I really like and some Im not so fond of. Perhaps Im going out on a limb here but Im willing to take the risk,

If EB in the process of going pay site, also made they journey back to being a pure AFOL, (that's ADULT fan of lego) site I would actually consider payment.

As now there is frankly in MHO to many 13 years old kids who slaps together two battle packs on a baseplate and shouts "MOC", and then spams the forums with countless mindless posts just to climb in ranks.

This makes it hard fo find the good posts in all the background clutter of "KEEEWL", " WOOWZA", "Look at my 20 Clonetroopers army!!" The quality posts and threads, those worth my time are hard to find.

Perhaps it's not so surprising that EB attract kids, all the tags and flags and ranks are a goldmine for a young insecure kid going adult, what better way is it to show your awesomeness then that to display all your medals.

(well for the record even some adults seems to crave the tags beyond what I feel reasonable)

I know there are some really talented Young builders as well, that also are mature and in writing and behaviour, so that on the page they easy passes for an adult (and sometimes behave even better that some adults I seen here). Those I salute and nod my head in respect for! Also the mods are doing their best to stop spamming, but as an AFOL and a father I prefer to hang with other adults at my leisure time. Kids are all right but I have my own and would prefer my adult time to be with other adults.

The site rule says the is for 18 Years old and over, but I have seen countless profiles with 13-14-15 YO and so on, and even kids that are sent to the "taking a break" are welcomed back. Perhaps EB is no longer an AFOL site, perhaps I have missed the transition from AFOL site to something else, perhaps EB its more of a TFOL or just FOL site nowadays?

But for me that can not enjoy the Fellow pub and its conversations a bit away from the children's room I would not mind If EB made a pure AFOL area , even if it would cost me some money to enter it.

kindly mechamike

Edited December 7, 2013 by mechamike

[Andy D]

Please note I'm not talking about making everyone pay.

Some have assumed tha EB would become a "pay only site"

Re-read this early post from Sinner... It says it all. No need to panic about the loss of the "free to use site"

Andy D

[1974]

I agree, except I believe too many people seem to think we are discussing leaving the sites free or charging.

My opinion is leave site free, the way it is.

Add premium content for those who wish to pay and become supporters to help Eurobricks continue.

That way no one is left out, no one has to leave. No one has to choose to leave because they don't want to or cannot afford to pay, they just continue as they are.

We all stay, we all post, some are just providing more support.

Andy D

Well, I allready said it once, but Andy says what I think too. Would be the best of both worlds, I think

I really have no more to add

[de Gothia]

I have a huge intrest in Lego and mocing. If it wasn´t for swebrick (the swedish forum) and EB, I would not have developed as a mocer and seen all the news, discussing with other members and so on.

Of course I will pay EB for this great site! I don´t know any other lego site with such a great forum (except swebrick which I already pay for)

[Calanon]

I personally would go with opening a EuroBricks PayPay account with a link provided so people can donate money to the site. I'm sure people will donate and people that don't want to pay a fee for premium membership wouldn't be left out of anything. You'll probably also get a greater variety of people donating as more members may do it occasionally who wouldn't want to pay $5 a month.

[Off the wall]

I would pay a monthly or yearly flat fee for premiums features. I would not 'donate'.

[Si-MOCs]

I'm rarely even on EB anymore.

But I would pay to keep it free.

I'd be totally willing to donate on a yearly basis to keep things zero tiered.

Or sponsor prizes, or write off unpaid expenses

[LEGO Guy Bri]

I think a donation box is a great idea. As for a paid membership, I'd be more inclined to pay for one time fees rather than a "per month"

[slovakiasteph]

Another hobby website I frequent has a funds drive at the end of the year... we get a badge saying we support the site (and adblock) for $15/year. I've contributed every year for the past 6 years... I can spare $15 or so a year but wouldn't pay a monthly fee.

[Lord Vladivus]

I'd be happy to make a donation, via pay-pal. But I'm personally not in a position to make it a regular thing, but I would definitely do it when I could. This site is great, and I'd like to see it continue.

As others have said, I don't really notice the ads.

[Andy D]

How about several levels of support?

Zero... Nothing no $$'s if you cannot or do not want to contribute... Use the site just like now.

Donation... Contribute what you want, when you want.

Subscribers... Pay quartly, semi-anually, anually

$15 per year... Supporter

$25 per year... Supporter

$50 per year... Subscriber

$75 per year... Subscriber

$100 per year... Super subscriber

$250+ per year... Super-duper subscriber

$1000 per year... Eurobricks angel

This should satisfy everyone!

If you cannnot or do not want to contribute it is perfectly fine, you are still welcome here a far as I'm concerned, just continue to use the site as you always have, invite your friends, have fun.

If you want to donate on a regular, semi-regular or irregular basis... Perfectly fine as well.

If you want to be a recognized subscriber... Perfectly fine as well.

This way everyone can contribute what they want or not at all if they don't want accoding to their ability and we can keep Eurobricks healthy.

Just MHO, YMMV

Andy D

Edited December 8, 2013 by Andy D

[BrickG]

Honestly... no.

I don't pay to talk on the internet and never will. I doubt there's any perks you could supply that I'd care about. It's just not something I'll likely do. Donating? Maybe.

[Pop Bumper Pete]

There are ads on this site?

never noticed

I do not mind once a year making a contribution, I want no perks

many sites offer a donation button and the funds are processed through PayPal

this works for me

EDIT

you will need to make a minimum donation ($20)

I was a admin on a site that asked for donations, many people donated only $1 for the extra perks

Edited December 8, 2013 by Pop Bumper Pete

[Paul B Technic]

At least I suggest setting up an official EB PayPal account with a link on the frontpage so you could get donations

I think this is the best way. Sometimes I end up with a few dollars in my PayPal account and I would be happy to see these used to help fund the site. Maybe a smaller banner or something else for those who do donate over a given amount?

[timmyc1983]

There seems to be very split opinion about this. And I echo what others have reiterated: I don't think it's ever been on the table that to be a member you HAVE to pay... The discussion is about how much you would be willing to or how much you think would be fair for membership fee on top of your current membership.

I didn't even notice there were ads on this site until I read this topic so they certainly don't bother me. Having said that, I think a 'premium' paid membership with perks is a great idea. Things like contests only open to subscribers etc would be great. Another site I frequent has subscriber members (of which I am one) and you get a little black box saying 'subscriber' under your avatar, people wear this proudly as it shows their dedication to the site. So I would definitely pay $5 a month or $60 a year for a premium membership. And if possible you could let people decide how they want to do it ie monthly, quarterly, yearly.

This way people who don't want to/can't afford/don't like the perks don't have to pay but still get to use the site, whereas the subscribers can wear their badge with pride

A donation button is also a good idea and something that the non-subscribers can use to support the site too. But I must admit I would forget to donate, so personally this wouldn't work for me...

Anyway, just my 2 cents

[Darth Dino]

Hi

for site admins a donate function is not as good as you think. This is totally uncontrolled money income. You dont know when, or even IF somebody donates. But you still have to pay alll the time your bills. Bills dont wait for donates...

Ads will get you money on a regular base, per month, per year, whatever, bit you know WHEN to expect the money.

Donations might work if the reciever is totally transparent, e.g. EB states: we have now 325€ collected this month, but still need 175€. Or, if 800€ has been donated, the 300€ is a saving for the next months, or will be donated as well, or goes into server upgrades, or goes into prices of competiones, or.....

:)

Dino

[J.V.D.]

kindly mechamike

Not quoting/reposting his entire post here, but mechamike makes quiet some valid points.

I mainly visit EB to get inspiration from some of the great mocs that are posted here, and for some of the in-depth reviews that can be found here, and reading the opinions of others about the discussed set.. pointing out special parts, merits but also flaws..

But some threads just get clogged up with literaly 100's of just one line posts.. to and fro between a handfull of members.. just showing off with the scoop they found on another site, or working towards their next X00-th post..

I wouldn't mind donating from time to time, not sure about regular subscription fee though, and I don't even need special perks or tags in return.

But not in order to maintain some kids chatbox..

[Off the wall]

Random, sporadic donations are just another way of basically allowing something for nothing. Many never donate, or say they will and don't, and continue to ride on the coattails of the contributions of others. The developers/administrators devote a lot of their time, and probably money, to maintaining this quality website. I would make a commitment to a yearly or monthly fee to support their efforts. Until they get this ironed out, I would suggest they go the donation route so that immediate contributions can be made. Seriously, donations are a sporadic system with no steady revenue stream. It's one thing to say you'll donate, it's another thing to pay for premium services on a continuing basis. Besides, those who support the site, whether it be through time, labor or money, should have some perk for doing so.

I can't image HBO (premium American cable tv entertainment channel) would suddenly forget monthly fees in favor of turning the service on to everyone and depending on random donations.

[Fugazi]

I know Im not really active poster here, most of my time on-line I spend posting on another site,(but hopefully that is going to change soon). I have lurked EB since the start and some of the nicest people I know hang here, and I logged a lot of hours reading posts on EB. There are some aspects of EB I really like and some Im not so fond of. Perhaps Im going out on a limb here but Im willing to take the risk,

Not quoting/reposting his entire post here, but mechamike makes quiet some valid points.

I guess this belongs to another topic altogether, but thank you for your feedback nonetheless. Rest assured that staff are reading all your comments, and will keep exploring options to provide a better forum experience for new and old members alike.

[Mr Hyde]

I too would welcome a donate button, but I would hate to alienate people by offering premium/extra features for paid members.

Having EB as a pay only site seems out of the question to me (amazing as it is).

[GandalfofHoth]

Maybe reviews or breaking exclusive info from Lego on new sets would be available only to those who subscribe.

I love eurobricks, but the main 2 reasons I joined were reviews, and the fact it was free, so if reviews was taken away I would leave, now if there was a good perk maybe, but I would like the forums and topics to remain 100% free. I wouldn't mind to see a donate button though. I understand that the web isn't free, but thats why we have ads, and it seems they don't bother many people so unless they had a perk I would be interested in I will pass (in premium, not donating).

[MAB]

I read a lot here, although comment little. I don't mind adverts as they are.

What you could also do is have a simple amazon button on the front page, with an affiliate link to an amazon lego search or just amazon home page (if possible to the right country page for each user). Or if not, a link to the US, UK, DE etc amazon sites. If I was going to buy something at amazon, I wouldn't mind coming here first, and clicking the link each time I am going to buy there anyway, especially if it helps keep the site running.