Do you have $1, $5 or $10 a month?

[Silverghost]

Let me see if my logic makes sense here:

9000 members (I think I heard or saw that somewhere)
x$12 - $1/month per member - anyone NOT have 3.34 pennies a day?
=$108,000 annual gross income

9000 members
x$60 - $5/month per member - who can't spare 1 or 2 gallons of gas once a month?
=$540,000 annual gross income

9000 members
X$120 - $10/month per member - 2-3 gallons of gas per month
=$1,080,000 annual gross income.

The saying goes many hands make light work. I say it is a small price to pay to keep something SO outstanding and beneficial to so many active.

Basil, don't feel bad or have ANY remorse about making this a pay site. YOU HAVE EARNED IT! I don't know about the fees and expenses that go into making this site function, but just based on what I typed above, it doesn't look like it would take big dollars per person to get you where you need to be.

Since I like saying so much, here's another one: Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Well, I for one will gladly pay for the cow. I can't even imagine how much time and money I'd spend to go various places and join various car clubs, meetings dues, etc. for the information, comraderie (sp?), and help I can can get in one place - here.

If you decide to do so, count me in for $25/month plus the fee for the Gold membership I already have.

 

[Steve_S]

The majority of those 9,000 members aren't active. On most forums, 10% active members is doing pretty well. So lower your number to 900, then figure that at least half of those (likely far more) will not be willing to pay to use an online car forum. You end up with about 400 possible paid subscribers, and then those who don't pay are locked out so now you have a forum with 400 members which used to have 9000.

I respect your sincerity to fix the problem with paid subscribers, but I'm just trying to be realistic about it. In my opinion, the only way to get a lot of people to pay is to give them something concrete in return, not just online resources. Something like a magazine that comes with access to discussion forums?

 

[Banjo]

Steve's right...
It's gotta be a heartwrenching decision for Basil. Every time there's a hint of trouble, we all rally behind our beloved leader, it gives him a moral boost, but it's not ever really fixed the basic problem. That being that he's sunk countless hours and money into giving all of us what essentially is a free gift. I can tell that he feels that it loses some part of it's genuine feel, and grassroots approach if it was to become a business, but I tihnk that's where it's at.
I'm horribly guilty about not stepping up with my subscription. and it's the folks like me that have helped to drive Basil to this point. If this site goes commercial, and is a pay-only site. I dare say I will buy a subscription.(I sould have right when Basil first offered them) But I guess that most of us are like that... I have respect for those of you who did buy the subscriptions.
Whatever happens, I would never say a single word agenst Basil. hes gone wayyyy beyond the average Joe, even the generous Joe with this vision of his for what has got to be one of the best online communities ever.
It's to late for me to help make it right. but if you guys wanna be upset about what may happen. I'll take my part of the blame.

 

[bugimike]

It certainly would be nice to get clued in on exactly what is going on here. This event is certainly nothing like the last "crisis" we went through about a year ago when the threat of a shut-down loomed. Not to be pushy, but since some of us DID try to step up last time the threat of a shut-down loomed by purchasing subscriptions to the site, at least those "paid-up" members should be clued in to what is going on, why all the drastic changes to the BCF have occurred and why it happened so suddenly with no prior warning or explanation at least to those who do have a subscription!!