Elite Membership

[FrankRizzo]

Hell guys, Howard's computer help alone is worth the $30 ! You know how much tech support costs these days?

I wonder what is $30 in pounds sterling? How much is $30 if you convert it to quid? Do you ever call your X a "lorry"?

I digress....I suggest we take up a collection for those who are really poor and can not go elite - yet are entertaining many on the board - like those who wish everone "peace" on every thread.
Such a nice guy...

[Hokie]

Originally posted by XplorerKid
this is jsut my point of a veiw

PEACE

haha.. who ever could you be talking about?

[Chew_12]

30$ isnt that much when you think about it, I think some people dont pay because it is wierd paying for something that actually isnt phyiscal. Im a poor college student, but once i get some money in the summer, im comming elite!

[ipozestu]

Damn You make me feel so bad. I was seriously thinking of becoming elite. Ever since I became a member I am an addict of this forum. The information, advice, suggestions and wealth of information at my finger tips is unquestionable. I'm going to do it right now.
I agree with 98' though and wife recognized this as well I have spent more money in the last 3months than I had in the last three years but hell look at my truck now.
Thanks
Jeff

[Howard]

Frank

$30 is about £20.69 thats about a third of a tank full of petrol (gas) over here.

I never call my x a lorry that would be sacrilege, beast maybe but never lorry.

And thanks for your support. It takes a long time to learn this stuff some 20 years now and still learning.

[Mbrooks420]

If you can't afford the Elite fee, then you can't aford to have an Explorer.

Some of us bought them not knowing how horribly expensive they can be.
I agree there are non-elite members of the site who have a ton of posts that should be supporting the site. I can't see charging everyone, like someone who stumbles upon this site while looking for Explorer info and uses it once or twice a month. It also comes down to what your using this site for. If it's just info to keep your truck on the the road for less $$$ because you can't afford to pay someone else it's one thing. It's a another story if you are always posting threads like "need help wiring in 4 15's and 3 amps" because you obviously have the loot.
Oh, and thanks Rick for wanting to keep the site fun, and not big corporation style.

[Black Magic]

Well, I am not sure if we need to start charging everyone. I think that would end up being the death of the site. I am addicted to this site and was very happy to become Elite! However, if we start having a joining fee we will not get a lot of those people who bump on to the site and have lots of information
on their X and could help everyone here! Now they would not join if it is going to cost them $20 and they don't know what we have to offer them. So we lose a future very valuable member.

Now what I think we need is more sponsorship. I am very thankful for the current sponsors that we have now! Thanks Guys! Why can't we structure this site a little like FordTruckWorld.com and have some more articles and in some articles have featured (Sponsored) Products that would support the site
as well as provided good information for the members.

Rick you could have a few of the more verbal and informative members write some of the articles. Then the Sponsors will provided a lot of the information for the ones by sponsors. Being sure to have at the top of the article SPONSORED FEATURE PRODUCT. That way we all know who we should support as well.

I am a member on many a boards on the Internet. Every type of Ford Vehicle, other automotive forums to Paintball, and Mountain Biking. No other site charges me. Granted this is the best Forum hands down. And I will support it forever. However, that is voluntary. I would not like to be forced to pay
for it if I didn't know what I was paying for. Like someone mentioned reminds me of an internet scam.

In conclusion of me Thesis, LOL. Sponsorship is the key. Keep it clean and informative for the members. That way we can ALL still enjoy the site and Rick can keep it up and running.

[Howard]

Matt

You make your point very well and I agree that to force a payment before trial is not good. Perhaps there is a compromise whereby elite members have access to their own forum or a limited trial period or limited number of posts. The ideal of course is free to all but sponsored. Unfortunately we do not live in utopia and we have to face reality.

I started this thread to try and raise awareness and give forth to open discussion. So far it has all been very constructive. Keep it up.

[GaSouthern1]

Paypal has been taking money from my checking account to my paypal account for 2 days...my guess is that I will be elite by friday if PayPal gets their act together. Once this happens we are gonna have good time with the hump day thread, i have all kinds of funny pics.

[Mikes95XLT]

Originally posted by aldive
If you can't afford the Elite fee, then you can't aford to have an Explorer.

That's not true. I can afford my truck (barely) by working a lot cause I saved up a lot of money before I went to college, so I use that for my car payments. But you also have to think, that some of us don't have a choice. I HAD to buy an SUV when I came to college, because my parents work a lot, and can't afford to be driving up and back to school to pick up me and my stuff all the time. I never go home, and when I do, that's a serious spending decision on my part. $30 means that tank of gas that gets me to my next paycheck, or a ride home for my brother's 18th bday, or money set aside for when I needed new tires or new brakes. $30 is a lot of money for a college student trying to balance work, car payments/repairs, and school. Sometimes my weekly paycheck is not even $30 depending on the weather (car washs aren't open during rainy days).

I am working 2 jobs this summer, so when I get the money, I will become elite. You can count on that. But don't say that college students have all this money that they're just not ponying up, cause that's not true. Just because you are an elite doesn't mean it's that easy for other people.

I'm not trying to be harsh here aldive I'm really not, I just want to try to explain a point of view that is not often seen.

[diablo5969]

Originally posted by section525
What you can do is get them on the hook by giving them 500 posts for free. Then after that, make them become Elite. Who would not pay?? They'd have no choice as the withdrawls from the site would be too overwhelming.

No, people would post for the 499th time, log off, and create a new screenname

[FC2ED]

I am not a broke college student nor do I post everyday. I have not become elite because I use this site for reading. Whether it be the "Fun Hump Day" posts or the "Proper way to tune your X." I do agree however that if you are going to live in this forum then you should pay a fee. Rick has been doing a wonderful job for years and it should not cost him money (especially after his latest purchase).
On the other hand, if you're going to charge a fee then you need to make the return tangible. I would pay for "Elite" if I were to receive say a T-shirt (that I would proudly wear) or a bumper sticker, mouse pad, coffee mug. Maybe that sounds stupid but I believe when this fee thing started some of the benny's were a e-mail box. I'm sorry to say but I have three now that I don't want to visit. As far as photos, anyone can go to Yahoo or Sony and set-up a personal page then just add a link to a post.

Please don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed this forum for several years and if push came to shove I would pay a fee to allow me access but I don't utilize this site enough to break even, other than the entertainment value.

Rick, keep up the excellent work and I'm sorry if this hits a sore spot.

[biggs92EB]

I've been wanting to become elite for quite some time now this sight has helped me sooooo much i cant afford to own my X though Now that is ever sense ive seen most of you guys with lifts and sh*t i cant stop im addicted but hey AT Least it aint crack! To make us all become elite would make the owner of this sites bank account look very nice id imagine. But hey you deserve it, this is a good thing and id be lost here at work without it. you will be getting my forty bucks shortly James

[Howard]

There are a lot of good comments coming in. Thank you.

There are two sides to every coin.

I'm only looking for suggestions and gently reminding people that nothing comes for free. This site costs money to run and the bigger it gets the more the cost both monetarily and in time to run it right. To date Rick and all the other moderators and doing a terrific job but at what cost to their own lives.

However if the site continues to grow there will come a time when Rick and all the others can no longer cope. The question is what happens then. I just wanted to feel the ground and give us all a chance to think about the future.

From a personal perspective this site has not saved me any money at all. In fact quite the opposite but it is great to feel part of a community that loves what they drive and are prepared to help each other out. I trust and believe that whatever the future holds that will never change.

Best wishes go to all members be they elite or not.

[Rick]

Originally posted by FC2ED

Rick, keep up the excellent work and I'm sorry if this hits a sore spot.

I understand where you're coming from and that's why being an Elite is optional. You will never find me prodding others to become an Elite (as long as the board remains free), I just try to offer the best incentives I can and hope for the best.

[99exEB1]

Rick, I love the site, I'm on it everyday. I wish that I could pay to become Elite, but as of now I got $.78 in the bank, I owe my dad $200 for insurance payments, and $100 to my mom from borrowing money. If you take Money Order, I promise you that I will become Elite sometime through the summer, as I will start up work again and will be able to pay off my debt.

[Howard]

Andy

I'm with Rick on this one. Voluntary contributions only I too have been there on more than one occasion. The purpose of this thread was a) to test the water and b) as a gentle nudge to those who can easily afford but don't bother.

[Rick]

Don't sweat it Get your financial situation squared away and then start thinking about becoming an Elite.

Rick

Originally posted by 99exEB1
Rick, I love the site, I'm on it everyday. I wish that I could pay to become Elite, but as of now I got $.78 in the bank, I owe my dad $200 for insurance payments, and $100 to my mom from borrowing money. If you take Money Order, I promise you that I will become Elite sometime through the summer, as I will start up work again and will be able to pay off my debt.

[99exEB1]

Howard and Rick,
Don't feel like you were pushing me to become Elite, it's something that I have wanted to do for a while.