# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/101 "2018-08-13T19:17:54Z")
I live in the wild outback of So.Arkansas and plastic is the way to go. Debit, credit, prepaid, chip or swipe strip, it don’t matter. The closest business to me is a small gas station/liquor store. It’s actually called 'The Last chance". They have gas, 40 kinds of beer, Coke ( no diet, no other flavors) cheese crackers, ice and fish bait. That is the complete inventory. And he hates cash payment. He’s been robbed a bunch so he don’t keep a lot of cash. Get a debit card. It won’t kill you. It’s not the mark of the beast. I promise. ETA I forget in the winter he sells coffee, bad. bad coffee. ---
**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 13, 2018, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/102 "2018-08-13T20:09:33Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > They have gas, 40 kinds of beer, Coke ( no diet, no other flavors) cheese crackers, ice and fish bait. I used to live near a store that put the fish bait in the same fridge as the cokes and the bottles smelled of crawdads and nightcrawlers. Mmm. Now that’s a tasty coke! ---
**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 13, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/103 "2018-08-13T20:51:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > … > They have … 40 kinds of beer, Coke ( no diet, no other flavors) cheese crackers, ice and fish bait. > … > > ETA I forget in the winter he sells coffee, bad. bad coffee. Got all the basic food groups covered there. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/104 "2018-08-13T22:57:24Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Every company I do business with accepts cash, I honestly thought it was the law… [snip] > So there’s an improvement to these boards going forward … let people join who maybe don’t have good credit, like **young folks** … I gotta tell you, this smells like elitism in the extreme, why on Earth does an internet message board need members to have good credit scores? … A good credit score is not required to get a bank account. Every bank issues Visa Debit cards (or similar). Plus, there are prepaid/gift cards next to the candy bars at every register in Wal-Mart. Aside from your imagination, there are exactly zero obstacles preventing you from using a card to pay for things. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/105 "2018-08-14T14:04:48Z")
Maybe a stupid question, but the Friends of Cecil thingy says ‘1 day’…so is the donation a one time thing or is it $X a day? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/106 "2018-08-14T14:37:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, that’s true. and of course newbies are guests. But we have a lot of very active posters, those who always complain, and who never pay. I think the term is right for them, but I understand your point. > > I am not saying pay to post, just either some limits on NPs or some benefits to paid members. > > Maybe NPers can only make so many posts a day. Or Paid members can get a old warning dismissed if no recent warning. Or something besides a meaningless title. Selling indulgences. What a GREAT money-making idea! 😃 ---
**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 14, 2018, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/107 "2018-08-14T14:44:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Selling indulgences. What a GREAT money-making idea! 😃 “Nice little reputation with no warnings you’ve got there. Would hate to see something happen to it…” ---
**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 14, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/108 "2018-08-14T15:12:34Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Maybe a stupid question, but the Friends of Cecil thingy says ‘1 day’…so is the donation a one time thing or is it $X a day? Answered in an earlier post. > [@TubaDiva](#): > > The time period is short (originally I set it at one day, then one week, I may go back to one day) because I want you to be able to donate through Friend of Cecil as often as you like. > > Sorry for the confusion. > > Jenny > your humble TubaDiva > Administrator ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/109 "2018-08-14T20:58:32Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > You’ve never used PayPal? You don’t need a credit card. You don’t even need a bank account, though that does make it a lot simpler. I don’t have a bank account, and I managed to get a paypal account up and running with only a prepaid visa card. While I’ll agree with **watchwolf49** that there is definite elitism on this board, their method of accepting payment is an not a good example of that. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Do you pay your bills by mailing greenbacks? I see this strawman trotted out regularly when anyone here mentions that they pay cash for things, and it fills me with the urge to fight some ignorance. How I’ve done it for over a decade now is that I take my bills and my paycheck to the bank, and then the bank teller cashes my check, takes the bills and applies my payments as I request, and then gives me the rest in cash. It’s not rocket science. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/110 "2018-08-14T21:08:10Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > I see this strawman trotted out regularly when anyone here mentions that they pay cash for things, and it fills me with the urge to fight some ignorance. How I’ve done it for over a decade now is that I take my bills and my paycheck to the bank, and then the bank teller cashes my check, takes the bills and applies my payments as I request, and then gives me the rest in cash. It’s not rocket science. You have to read the posts and understand the context, and see the emoticon I used. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/111 "2018-08-14T21:18:10Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > How I’ve done it for over a decade now is that I take my bills and my paycheck to the bank, and then the bank teller cashes my check, takes the bills and applies my payments as I request, and then gives me the rest in cash. It’s not rocket science. Actually, this is a little confusing since you don’t have a bank account at all. Are you leaving some steps out? Do you mean you go to the bank and buy money orders which are then mailed to your billers? I do have a bank account so I may not be aware of services banks offer to people who don’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/112 "2018-08-14T21:47:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Actually, this is a little confusing since you don’t have a bank account at all. Are you leaving some steps out? Do you mean you go to the bank and buy money orders which are then mailed to your billers? Nope. They deposit my check and then give me cash. (After they take out a service fee.) They then take the account number from my bill and some of my cash (plus another service fee of course), and then they post that cash as a payment on their internal system. From the third parties point of view, there is no difference between me paying the bill with cash at the bank and paying it through web banking. The bank gives them the payment and the associated account number either way. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/113 "2018-08-14T21:59:37Z")
> [@Crazy\_Canuck](#): > > Nope. They deposit my check and then give me cash. (After they take out a service fee.) They then take the account number from my bill and some of my cash (plus another service fee of course), and then they post that cash as a payment on their internal system. From the third parties point of view, there is no difference between me paying the bill with cash at the bank and paying it through web banking. The bank gives them the payment and the associated account number either way. Is the check you cash drawn on their bank? ---
**Author:** ![Crazy\_Canuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazy_canuck/32/5282_2.png) [@Crazy\_Canuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazy_Canuck)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/114 "2018-08-14T22:27:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Is the check you cash drawn on their bank? Yes, that’s how I determine what bank I use. Per Canadian law, a bank must cash any check issued from it, though they require ID and will charge you for that privilege. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2018, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/115 "2018-08-15T20:47:23Z")
"AND … coming soon: The Great Charter Membership Resubscription drive. Stay tuned for this $30 option to regaining your lost Charter Membership. " Any idea when this will happen? I’m waiting on that to re-join. BTW, just out of curiosity, I went to the page where you pay and I could not find the credit card option. Can someone point that out clearly? I’m in PayPal Catch-22 hell. I forgot my password and when I select the “forgot my password” option, they tell me I don’t have an account. But when I try to sign up for an account they won’t let me because… they claim I already have an account. :smack: ---
**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 15, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/116 "2018-08-15T21:03:00Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > "AND … coming soon: The Great Charter Membership Resubscription drive. Stay tuned for this $30 option to regaining your lost Charter Membership. " > Any idea when this will happen? > > I’m waiting on that to re-join. BTW, just out of curiosity, I went to the page where you pay and I could not find the credit card option. Can someone point that out clearly? > > I’m in PayPal Catch-22 hell. I forgot my password and when I select the “forgot my password” option, they tell me I don’t have an account. But when I try to sign up for an account they won’t let me because… they claim I already have an account. :smack: [You’d be in here somewhere, eh?](https://goo.gl/images/byHUFz) ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/117 "2018-08-23T21:12:14Z")
Been coming here, on and off, since 2001. Figured it was time to cough up a bit of my hard earned. $30 to be a member until 2020 means that my time on this board will have cost me about 4c per day. Not bad value that. ---
**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 23, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/118 "2018-08-23T21:46:56Z")
Looks good on you! Thanks! Jenny your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/119 "2018-08-24T01:03:04Z")
Just wanna make sure I don’t run out on my Charter Membership- which usually rolls over somewhere around March. Has the DopeClock been re-set and do I need to send in a few simoleans to keep my Old Timey Status, or am I good till March? FOC- heck, I’d be proud to be counted as a Friend. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**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 24, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294/120 "2018-08-24T02:32:01Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Just wanna make sure I don’t run out on my Charter Membership- which usually rolls over somewhere around March. > > Has the DopeClock been re-set and do I need to send in a few simoleans to keep my Old Timey Status, or am I good till March? > > FOC- heck, I’d be proud to be counted as a Friend. > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk You’re good until May 21, 2019, but you can renew your subscription anytime, you don’t have to wait. And the Dope could always use your support. Jenny your humble TubaDiva Administrator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/changes-in-subscription-pricing-here-at-the-straight-dope/819294.md?page=5)