OSF Contributor

[MK5]

i don't want "trinkets"...

 

i want to proudly display the fact to the world that i'm an OSF contributor, which is why i want something under my name on here and a contributor sticker for my car

[martymk1]

just paid me £12, tried reading through the pages,

can someone give me a short version,

think i understand why you've done it,

but i've just got home & i'm tired,

cheers

[BudgieV8]

Same as Marty (above) - just got in from work, V tired, cant read through all the pages, wots this all about?

 

Seems everything we do today is taxed or paid-for, you will have to pay to breathe soon!

 

As I'm a regular, & I think this is the best site going forward for OSF'S, I dont mind paying £12 for the year - as long as it doesnt go up year-on-year.

 

DONT want 'Bling' (or trinkets as Gail sez), just promo items which I will pay for as I require (HATE getting a poxy Tax Disc holder or Pen or other crud when I join a club - if I want to promo the club on MY motor, I'll choose what to promo it with - pens & disc holders etc go in the bin straight off!)

 

HOWEVER! A warning - Other sites I visit who ask for a joining fee 'straight-up' to see/use the whole site (ie Caprilaser) DO NOT get my re-visit as I have little money as it is so I do not want to pay for something unless I am happy with my purchase.

- SUGGESTION: ONE MONTH FULL FREE ACCESS, then pay £12 for full access thereafter.

 

My point made - how & when do I have to pay?

- another suggestion: you should put out an e-mail (not PM - as I dont get the notification for some reason??) advising when people are due to be cut off!

[Twinkle]

quick summary guys.

 

 

up until now the costs of running the site have come straight from posses's pocket and beleive me it hasnt been cheap to get the site to where it is today!

nobody is going to get cut off as such and this is something that has been looked at over the past year or so, there have been various threads asking for peoples suggestions.

the idea of the contributor is to pay the running costs, after all wht should one person pay it all. the rest of the money is to improve facilities for us all, new ideas cost money and things like the show banners and gazebo etc need replacing. this will also allow us to enhance services the site offers for the contributors by introducing some more discounts, services and also priority tickets and show stand access as we now have so many members.

i hope this sort of explains it

[ZetecVan 2.0]

As Twinkle says, it's to help with the running costs of the site which is over £120 per month. For that amount to come out of someones pocket, who was recently made redundent, you'll understand why it was done.

 

You don't have to contribute but if you do, you will get some benefits which will include discounts on items and priority when it comes to tickets for shows OSF are organising or have a stand at.

 

A free trial is something the mod can do but as you get access to the full site, except the room specifically for the deals contributors get, what's to stop someone signing up for the free trial, getting all the benefits (discounts etc) and then not signing up. I think we'll have to make it clear exactly what you get and what the contribution is for so people can decide whether that's for them. Like I said, if you decide you don't want to contribute you are not getting anything taken away from you.

[Cookie]

All for it, have donated in the past and will sign up again pay day without a second though

 

gotta be most bargain per pound available in the whole OSF scene and YFKT

 

 

Just one suggestion on the for sale section, Some of the , well , 'special friends meet' sites I occasionally visit if you have not signed up, you have to wait 48 or 72 hours to view new posts, maybe an idea for the cars and parts for sale section, so you can still read them after first few days, but the contributor gets first dibs so to speak, should'nt stop items being posted up then aswell, as i think if any of the for sale or wanted ads being contributor only will kill them off.

[Jay_harrier]

From experience of turning a free site into subscription only I'd say don't restrict it yet until you see if its self sustaining with the current approach.

 

Ok some people will say "why should I pay if I can get exactly the same for free?", well if that's your outlook then you're not really part of the OSF community spirit.

 

If you start to limit access to the useful stuff the active membership will plummet & the whole thing may collapse or become too small with limited use. They'll just move to other sites - there's a ton out there just waiting to take OSF members.

 

I'd also avoid the trinkets & stickers for the time being until the overheads stabilise, if the kitty has enough spare for a trip to Hawaii then I want a keyring or something...!

 

Negotiating deals with suppliers, insurance companies etc costs the OSF nothing, this is the area I would focus on. I'd also keep the deals in place with the existing sponsors & not lose the discounts for the non-contributors. No incentive to use Alimax over Ralloy for example, lost customers for them & no renewals.

 

People like gimmicks that distinguish them from the rest, contributor only features on the board or similar have a surprising effect.

 

One feature that is quite neat is the ability to rate other members on the quality of the information they post, a "Reputation" feature where others can only postively add to someones score.

 

I've paid as it's a useful resource to call on, I'll get back in my box for now...

 

Just had a gem of a thought - remember the dating thread a few weeks back?, a dating board for fee payers only ... not wanting to pimp OSF you understand....

[martymk1]

 

 

Just one suggestion on the for sale section, Some of the , well , 'special friends meet' sites I occasionally visit if you have not signed up, you have to wait 48 or 72 hours to view new posts, maybe an idea for the cars and parts for sale section, so you can still read them after first few days, but the contributor gets first dibs so to speak, should'nt stop items being posted up then aswell, as i think if any of the for sale or wanted ads being contributor only will kill them off.

 

agree with that, i subscibe to retro & classic ford,

supposed to get the mag through a few days before it hits the shops'

so you get first dips on the for sale section

 

also i like the idea of your name a different colour'

and a discount on club stuff

[Wessie]

i dont care if i get a window sticker or not, i've just payed my £12 knowing thats its going to make the site bigger and better

[ZetecVan 2.0]

Some very good points there Jay. This one in particular:

 

One feature that is quite neat is the ability to rate other members on the quality of the information they post, a "Reputation" feature where others can only postively add to someones score.

 

I was on a forum the other day with the reputation feature and I really liked it. I'll see if it's something we can implement on OSF.

 

I don't think it's possible as the site is to have a delay on new posts for none members, but I'll look into that idea too.

[MK5]

as long as its no misused...

 

it caused a problem on a forum i moderate

[Vista]

as long as its no misused...

 

it caused a problem on a forum i moderate

 

Yeah I can see how that kind of system could be abused.

[Posse]

If its not broke don't fix

[Slik 50]

If its not broke don't fix

 

 

I like it as it is and I dont really fancy things getting to complicated for newbies that may be scared to get involved

[steve dray]

I've paid

 

Worth every penny....................and then some

[Baz.]

Paid

[Jeff HPE Motorsport]

I`d gladly pay, like you said Jo at £12 per annum, 25p per week, most of us waste that sort of money on menial things.

As well as that what does it cost to have a banner or advert on this brilliant site. please PM me with some info.

 

Jeff Harris..

[Mk 1 Mark]

Fully paid up member....

[tazrocks88]

would it be possable to get halfords discount cards if ur a subscriber i know a few forums do it just think it would be cool if we could get the same!!!

 

 

paypal is gay and wont let me put my card on 2 pay

[ratman]

Paid mine straight away by cheque last year to posse when it was first mentioned

 

No OSF Contributor on my Avatar panel

[Posse]

Paid mine straight away by cheque last year to posse when it was first mentioned

 

No OSF Contributor on my Avatar panel

 

steve sorted

[BudgieV8]

tazrocks88 : "halfords discount cards"

 

HAA F**KIN HAA Matey

 

Remember the golden rules according to Halfrauds:

 

Thou shalt not have a Ford older than 5 years (wots a Capri 3.0? Its not on my computer, so it doesnt exist Mate! - genuine quote from Bognor Halfrauds!!!)

 

Thou shalt not ask the 'Parts Expert' anything..... (as he probably doesnt understand 'proper' cars ie: RWD, Carbed,non-ECU) - & he/she is targetted on Boom-Box or poncy light kits & ICE - so you Saddo's asking for pre-2007 bits are anoraks!

 

Thou shalt not ask about 'proper' bits (everyday consumables) rather you ask about Decals, ICE, air fresheners, crap alloys & other such crud...

 

Like the Murphys, I'm not bitter...

...Just avoid crap places like Halfrauds

-- & spend my hard earned at my local autofactors 'coz they are happy to help!

CAMBERLEY AUTO FACTORS - In the South, even found bits for my 1971 Transit!

[BudgieV8]

Rant over - sorry.

Paid my subs happily - better than ALL the so-called Ford clubs around!

Top Job Posse & all the admin crew

[tazrocks88]

they may not sell the parts but they still sell the tools for the job

[MK5]

damn fine tools too Halfrauds Professional range