# Changes in subscription pricing here at The Straight Dope **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 8, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294 "2018-08-08T19:13:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/61 "2018-08-10T13:42:11Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > The ‘Member/Charter Member’ distinction is backwards. It’s obvious that the ‘Charter Members’ highly value the title as a Title that sets them apart from the ‘Members’. What people value more, you charge more for. Not give them a discount. Maybe so, but “half price” was explicitly part of the deal for Charter Members. > [@The SDMB is switching to paid subscriptions](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/1): > > we promise that as long as you remain a subscriber, you’ll be able to renew annually for 50% of whatever the regular rate is at the time. That said, raising prices a bit for everyone seems like a reasonable thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/62 "2018-08-10T13:49:01Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Why would there be a “Friends of Cecil” category when Cecil has left? One of the better username/post combos I’ve seen on this board 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/63 "2018-08-10T13:50:08Z")
I’d definitely go for the $30 regain Charter Membership option. It’s a great idea, I’m sure I’m not the only one who kicks themselves regularly for neglecting to re-up in time. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/64 "2018-08-10T14:13:16Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > I’d definitely go for the $30 regain Charter Membership option. It’s a great idea, I’m sure I’m not the only one who kicks themselves regularly for neglecting to re-up in time. I would have liked to keep it, but it was mainly the fault of the Mickey Mouse way subscriptions were (maybe still are) handled/paid for that caused me to miss it. So I don’t blame myself much for it. If I could just pick it back up as an amnesty, I would. I’m much less enthusiastic about paying a premium for it. I’m not saying they shouldn’t offer it, especially since others seem more enthusiastic, but I don’t know how excited I _personally_ am. I still have my 1999 join date to keep me warm at night. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/65 "2018-08-10T14:33:38Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I would have liked to keep it, but it was mainly the fault of the Mickey Mouse way subscriptions were (maybe still are) handled/paid for that caused me to miss it. So I don’t blame myself much for it. > > If I could just pick it back up as an amnesty, I would. I’m much less enthusiastic about paying a premium for it. I’m not saying they shouldn’t offer it, especially since others seem more enthusiastic, but I don’t know how excited I _personally_ am. I still have my 1999 join date to keep me warm at night. Yeh, I’m with you on this. I liked the CM designation, but I liked the 50% discount even more. At the time, I was getting emails that it was time to re-up my subscription a few years ago, but my email client was tossing them in the Junk folder for whatever reason, so it lapsed on me and I lost the designation. It was maybe less than a month until I re-subscribed at full price. Kind of a bummer. I’d like to get the Charter Member designation back, but for $30? _Ehhhh…_ ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/66 "2018-08-10T18:33:51Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I’ll be donating. > > That said, I think you price point is way too low for CM. Most people like their CM status and I think they would be willing to pay more for it. > > Keep up the good work **Tuba**! 🙂 It’s kind of neat to have but I’m not going to pay a ridiculous price for it. $17.50 for two years isn’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/67 "2018-08-10T19:00:58Z")
If I renew my subscription for two years, am I guaranteed that there will still be a message board in two years? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/68 "2018-08-10T19:38:28Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > If I renew my subscription for two years, am I guaranteed that there will still be a message board in two years? Of course not. Have you heard of such a guarantee in any subscription ever? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/69 "2018-08-10T19:44:48Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > It’s a wonky thing, the “Friend of Cecil,” but it’s the best I can come up with in the face of what I have to work with. I can’t tell if I should feel honored or insulted! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/70 "2018-08-10T22:03:14Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Not at all; it’s available to everyone. > > To access, please click on the “UserCP” hyperlink in the blue band at the top of every SDMB page. Then click on “Paid Subscriptions” in the list on the left hand side. > > Click on the subscription you like/qualify for. Only current Charter Members can renew their subscriptions at Charter Member rates. “Member” is the subscription category for everyone else. > > Friend of Cecil is a one time donation device; I am currently working on ways to reward people for making such a donation, it’s a work in progress. > > Choose your category accordingly and follow the prompts. > > You will be asked in big links if you want to use your PayPal account to pay for this transaction. You may do that if you like. > > You will be asked in a tiny bit of hard to find text if you want to use your credit card to pay for this transaction. You can do that if you prefer. > > Click on the link of your choice. Follow the prompts. > > (NOTE: It may be confusing to some folks as the processing mechanism is through the PayPal network. But that does not mean you can’t use your credit card if you prefer, though of course you will be encouraged to use a PayPal account.) > > Hope this helps. If I have one piece of business advice for this board, it’s “make it easier for people to give you money”. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/71 "2018-08-10T22:30:03Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > If I renew my subscription for two years, am I guaranteed that there will still be a message board in two years? We’re doing our best here – and by subscribing that’s also helping – but what in life outside of death and taxes is absolutely guaranteed? Take a chance. Live a little. Two years from now we can laugh about it. Jenny your humble TubaDiva Administrator ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/72 "2018-08-10T22:30:55Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > If I have one piece of business advice for this board, it’s “make it easier for people to give you money”. I’m working on it as fast as I can! ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/73 "2018-08-10T22:39:17Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I’m working on it as fast as I can! I don’t know if you noticed in the other thread, but apparently gifting memberships has been disabled for over 4 years since an upgrade at that time. That’s pretty unforgivable though I know it didn’t happen under your watch. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2018, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/74 "2018-08-10T23:31:57Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > I’m working on it as fast as I can! I think you’re doing a fine job. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/75 "2018-08-11T00:16:34Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I think you’re doing a fine job. Seriously. I mean, things have REALLY improved around here. It doesn’t feel as, “my way or the highway!” anymore. (And I don’t mean this in a bad way, but do you feel, like, since you had some time off since your last round as an admin, it helped or it hurt? Just curious) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/76 "2018-08-11T03:56:23Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Seriously. I mean, things have REALLY improved around here. It doesn’t feel as, “my way or the highway!” anymore. > > (And I don’t mean this in a bad way, but do you feel, like, since you had some time off since your last round as an admin, it helped or it hurt? Just curious) I dunno. That’s what it was back then and now it’s something else and we’re all rolling with the punches. I’m just glad to be here now. I hope you all are too. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/77 "2018-08-11T12:46:45Z")
I’m confused about a couple things. How does one get a custom title? Regular membership? Charter? Friend of Cecil? None of the above? Friend of Cecil: I get that you can contribute daily. Do you get FOC under your username for 24 hours, then it goes away unless you re-up the next day? There is talk of a ‘tip jar’. How does that differ from FOC? mmm ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/78 "2018-08-11T14:41:40Z")
Is the mailing address for the _Chicago Reader_ still a good one for the SDMB? ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/79 "2018-08-11T17:16:47Z")
I asked about the “Friends of Cecil” thing, but in the avatars thread by mistake. It’s the “1 week” that has me puzzled. This thread is where I should have posted: > [@I turned on avatars today.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/292): > > Thanks, but I got all that. The part I was asking about is when you click on “order,” the drop-down menu shows the $$ amount with “ **1 week** ” next to each amount choice. What does **1 week** mean? > [@I turned on avatars today.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-turned-on-avatars-today/819255/293): > > [Here’s what I’m talkin’ 'bout.](https://i.imgur.com/bSKP9I1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/80 "2018-08-11T18:47:37Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I don’t know if you noticed in the other thread, but apparently gifting memberships has been disabled for over 4 years since an upgrade at that time. That’s pretty unforgivable though I know it didn’t happen under your watch. The gift membership thing was a hack Jerry Davis came up with. It broke in a system update and Jerry didn’t have time or resources to reinstate the hack. And now Jerry doesn’t work here anymore and no one knows what he did, so it was just unavailable. I have come up with what I hope is a suitable solution until we can get something better. So make your gift transaction and then send me an email ([TubaDiva@aol.com](mailto:TubaDiva@aol.com)) and tell me who it’s for. Also tell me if you want the recipient to know or if you’d prefer to be anonymous. If you’d like to give to a general “scholarship” fund, make a Friend of Cecil donation and tell me where you want it to go. You can either leave it to our discretion as to recipients or we can decide together. Whatever works. Jenny your humble TubaDiva Administrator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294.md?page=5)