# Hey, thanks for the notice that my sub was expiring **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2008, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912 "2008-05-11T12:39:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/21 "2008-05-11T14:48:30Z")
I noticed this morning that I was back to seeing ads, and I lamented that I had missed the deadline on renewing. Oh well, I said, I’ll learn to live with the ads and without my “Charter Member” tag. Then I got notice that my subscription was about to expire. I was allowed to pay the 7.48 rate, and presumably my CM status will remain intact (we’ll see after this post). So they seem to have fixed the problem. ETA: Yep, still a Charter Member. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/22 "2008-05-11T14:49:51Z")
I just got a very unhelpful e-mail telling me my subscription is “about to” expire. Haven’t decided whether to pay up. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/23 "2008-05-11T14:51:07Z")
[QUOTE=catsix] So you guys are all paying for what? A month or two of posting? [/QUOTE] $7.50 is not a whole lit of money to most people. I don’t care about the Charter Member tag and the ads don’t bother me I paid because I like to help support things that I use or enjoy. I enjoy this message board a whole lot more than the 2 deli lunches at work I can skip to make up the cost. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/24 "2008-05-11T15:00:23Z")
Okay, screw that. I just logged out to see what the SDMB looked like without a subscription. Damn, I didn’t know there’d be ads _in the middle of the thread_. Guess I’ll drop $7.50. ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/25 "2008-05-11T15:01:30Z")
I’ll join the chorus here. I’d been putting off renewing, waiting to see what would happen with the whole “free posting” switch and assuming I would get a reminder e-mail. I got the _paid subscription “Straight Dope Board Membership” is about to expire_ e-mail this morning. On May 11, one’s Membership through May 10 is about to expire, apparently. And, fool that I am, I re-up while I see I can still get the $7.48 rate, and hope that my Charter Member status remains in place. Because Charter Members are the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches. Really, though, this is ridiculous… and that’s coming from someone slow to complain about this place. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/26 "2008-05-11T15:02:42Z")
> [@](#): > > **samclem** said: > and no ads. Not like I’ll see them anyway. > [@](#): > > **Polycarp** said: > Let us clarify: Ed Zotti has promised no ads. Another promise with no delivery. > [@](#): > > **SP2263** said: > I enjoy this message board a whole lot more than the 2 deli lunches at work I can skip to make up the cost. I just think it’s dishonest and sleazy to deliberately set the ‘free posting’ to begin 2 months after the vast majority of people are supposed to pay up for a year. It screams of a last minute money grab, which I have no doubt that it is. There’s no other plausible explanation for it. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/27 "2008-05-11T15:14:19Z")
Same thing here. WTF? There’s even a notice at the top that says we’re switching to free posting. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/28 "2008-05-11T15:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] Okay, screw that. I just logged out to see what the SDMB looked like without a subscription. Damn, I didn’t know there’d be ads _in the middle of the thread_. Guess I’ll drop $7.50. [/QUOTE] Wow. I reupped a couple days ago, so didn’t even think about the ads. After reading this, I logged out to see, too, and holy crow. “No ads” though, should mean NO ads - we’re still going to have the Google ads at the bottom of each page? ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/29 "2008-05-11T15:37:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _catsix_ > It screams of a last minute money grab, which I have no doubt that it is. There’s no other plausible explanation for it. Oh, my sides. If you read Ed’s announcement and _didn’t_ think “Free posting eh? Bet they won’t have their shit together to make it happen when they reckon” then you are inexperienced in the ways of the world. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/30 "2008-05-11T16:00:18Z")
[QUOTE=LifeOnWry] Wow. I reupped a couple days ago, so didn’t even think about the ads. After reading this, I logged out to see, too, and holy crow. “No ads” though, should mean NO ads - we’re still going to have the Google ads at the bottom of each page? [/QUOTE] But at least it is the traditional fix circumcision damage ad i have come to know and love … ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/31 "2008-05-11T16:05:33Z")
I agree that this all seems like a last chance grab for money, but I wouldn’t not pay and have to look at that half page ad after every OP just because they’re doing whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/32 "2008-05-11T17:16:59Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Maybe it’s my eyes, but every single one of you save **jtagain** still shows as Charter Member. [/QUOTE] Thank you for noticing that for me. The form said I would be given “member” status. I assumed it was punishment for being late. My apologies. I’m no longer pissed. 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 11, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/33 "2008-05-11T17:21:09Z")
Ed should have added this to his announcement, a post he made a few weeks ago: And then Ed said: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...53&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...53&postcount=26) > [@Ed Zotti](#): > > I don’t have much to add to what I said earlier. As of now a subscription is still required to post, and most charter member subscriptions expire around May 10. It’s highly unlikely we’ll be ready to switch to free posting by then - June or July is more like it. While dropping the fee is simply a matter of changing a software setting or two, we need to have an alternative revenue stream in place before we do so, and getting that set up is proving to be more complicated than I thought. So if you wish to keep posting once your subscription expires, you need to re-up, knowing that free posting may start within a month or two. If you’d rather let your subscription lapse and wait for free posting, that’s up to you. I remind you that free posting means you’ll see display ads, whereas subscribing means you won’t. I’m sorry I can’t be more definite, but felt it was better to give you what little information I have than simply surprise you. Dunno why notes that subscriptions were expiring were so late to go out – usually they go out a week or so before. For those of you who selected “No admin emails” in your choices, you probably won’t get one at all. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/34 "2008-05-11T17:46:39Z")
I just tried to post and was told my guest membership had expired. 😕 No warning for me, either, though I did still get billed half for CM and kept the tag. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/35 "2008-05-11T17:54:34Z")
I’m still confused. I paid $15 last July-ish. Why do I have Google ads at the bottom of my screen? I thought paid members had no ads, but if I wanted to post for free, then I would have ads. Why are posters here getting cut off completely, and not just logging in to posts and seeing ads…just like me who paid? (scratches head) ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/36 "2008-05-11T18:00:43Z")
Everybody gets Google ads at the bottom, from guests to administrators. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2008, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/37 "2008-05-11T18:00:51Z")
[I subscribed today - why am I still seeing Google ads?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467631) ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/38 "2008-05-11T18:01:44Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] Ed should have added this to his announcement, a post he made a few weeks ago: And then Ed said: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...53&postcount=26](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb...53&postcount=26) Dunno why notes that subscriptions were expiring were so late to go out – usually they go out a week or so before. For those of you who selected “No admin emails” in your choices, you probably won’t get one at all. [/QUOTE] While we’ve got you here, any info on why we’re still seeing the google ads? Ed did say no ads, not ‘no ads but google ads’ Thanks ---
**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:** [May 11, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/39 "2008-05-11T18:18:10Z")
[QUOTE=picker] While we’ve got you here, any info on why we’re still seeing the google ads? Ed did say no ads, not ‘no ads but google ads’ Thanks [/QUOTE] Again to quote from Ed: [Why am I still seeing Google ads . . .](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467631) “Subscribers don’t see display ads, the ones that explode over your screen and make sounds and so on - these were the cause of the uproar last fall. We’ve been showing Google text ads to subscribers for quite a while, have had few complaints (some people profess to like them), and figured there was no harm in continuing to show them. No doubt I should have been more precise about what ads you will and won’t see; my apologies. The plan at any rate was that, adwise, subscribers would continue on the same basis as before.” ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912/40 "2008-05-11T18:18:33Z")
The ads don’t bother me in the slightest. If I come across an ad for a movie trailer, I might even click on it. Some of the ads I’ve seen, between the OP and the first reply, have been on topic with the thread. It’s actually kind of interesting to see what comes up. Am I a freak? But now I have to join if I want to keep posting, which I’ll probably do tomorrow. I’ve been waiting until the last moment. I’d feel like a sucker if I joined the day before the switch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-thanks-for-the-notice-that-my-sub-was-expiring/448912.md?page=3)