Just more evidence that somebody’s out to make a substantial profit, not merely to “cover costs”.
Evidence, Doghouse Reilly?
I suppose you’re privy to all the costs incurred by the SDMB?
No, and it looks like nobody else (outside of a certain circle?) knows either. I find it curious that the mods and admins are being so closemouthed on what their costs actually are. Slacker and many others here (who are more knowledgeable than I) have strongly suggested that $20-$50 is far more than they need merely to cover costs.
per the message:
We’re thinking about charging for the SDMB - probably in the range of $20-$50 per year.
it’s not a monthly charge.
Why don’t they come clean with what the cost are, i.e. gives us the “Straight Dope” on that?
All the same, you’re counting on a certain amount of monthly turnover, aren’t you? Based on what I’ve seen on this board in this past, perhaps roughly 10-20 new subscribers a month? That still represents a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $750 per month outside of your already-established base of subscribers.
Now that I look at it, the subscription fees alone wouldn’t generate that great an amount of revenue: maybe around $25,000 per year if we assume that there’s an ongoing customer base of around 1,000 people along with a monthly churn of 10 new posters a month, all being charged the minimum of $20 per year.
But I can’t shake the feeling that someone’s playing an angle here. Coldfire’s most recent post gives me a particularly suspicious vibe.
Or you could read the ATMB thread in which that very question is discussed
Honestly people - how can you expect to read the facts if you never venture out of the pit?
pan
Whoops - that was a typo (and I previewed and everything).
The numbers I mentioned are considering a $20 yearly charge.
I haven’t been following the “debate” too closely, but…
Why all this whining about profits and costs? Who cares? If the board is worth to you what they want to charge then what differnece does it make? Do you give rat’s behind about the cost to produce everything you use? Do you only buy from companies that don’t make a profit? By the way, if they do roll out with their costs are you going to let them include a return on their money? Wages? I mean what costs are acceptable?
I am not here to tell or ask people to pay, but honestly, all you need to know is the cost and what you feel it is worth to you.
To reiterate, I have nothing against people making a profit, but I don’t like being played for a rube to that end. If the SDMB wants to transform itself into a profit-making enterprise, than please come out and say so rather than whining about the costs and the trolls and how much trouble it is and then saying no, no, we wouldn’t feel right taking donations, instead let us charge you a flat fee individually. Keep out all the trolls except the rich ones ;).
Money does make a difference in how you feel about personal interactions. How would you look at a pretty girl if she told you up front that she wanted $50 if you two were going to have sex? Maybe you’d spend just as much taking her out to dinner, but something about tying the experience so directly to the cash leaves some people with a different kind of feeling than they might otherwise.
What makes you think that because people are apart of this discussion, in the pit, they’re not also looking at the thread in the ABTMB forum?
Some are… myself included.
And maybe instead of coming in here and smarting off about how this discussion is this, that, or the other thing, compared to the other, you just give a heads up and link to it?
Since you won’t, I will- SDMB Chargin for Access- Comments
(Some of the better points come in towards the latter pages, IMHO. Besides, there’s quite a bit of moderator, administrator, and even Cecil action back there too.)
::quietly taps Chris on the shoulder and points him to the first line of kabbes post where the thread in question is linked::
Oh my…
That goddamned slime volleyball game is getting me all kerflustered.
I see now that you did link to the other post, kabbes. Sorry about that part of my post.
But the other point remains- there’s two discussions going on about this in two different forums. Coming from someone who’s been reading both from the start, they didn’t start out discussion the exact same thing, there were subtle nuances within them that made them different. Besides, I’ll be darned if I know which forum this kind of stuff goes in now. I had thought is was supposed to be put here, in the pit.
I just got here from this thread. For those of you who haven’t seen it, it’s worth a look.
What’s the deal with the SA forums? I love the site but I went to check out their forums and they wanted me to pay. Not to post, but to even read it. Hello, how am I supposed to decide if it’s worth my $10 if I can’t even see what it’s about?
When did they switch to a fee? How did people react?
::shrug::
I’ll post my response to that thread here, since I don’t want to rain on any parades.
Sure, the mods have done a nice job, but the SDMB wouldn’t be the SDMB without the vast majority of posters who are not mods. I’ll say “thanks” to them, but at the same time I hope they’re not exaggerating their own sense of importance. It’s their “party”, fine, but nothing brings down a party faster than a self-aggrandizing minority with a martyr complex. And there’s always another party just up the street.
One thing I’d mention in particular is Anthracite’s plea to remember all the good times I’ve had in the past via the SDMB. Two points:
(1) As I’ve stated before, the SDMB I’ve known and been mildly appreciative of up to now will no longer exist starting from the day they start charging posters. Nothing’s going to change that, not even an appeal for all of the current, active posters to ask him or herself, how much do I “owe” the SDMB. Which ties into the other point . . .
(2) If the SDMB is going to set itself up as a business from here on out, it had better be prepared to face the world as a business. I may have had some good times in my old Mustang, but that doesn’t mean that I “owe” Ford Motor Co. a damn thing. Maybe the SDMB has been something akin to a family up to now, and maybe family members pitch in to help one another, monetarily and otherwise. But the day that a group of people sees some explicity charging others in an attempt to make a profit off of them, that ceases to be a family and becomes a business arrangement. And I have every perogative to guard my wallet in those circumstances.
He, Cnote, no need to take it quite so personally. I was specifically responding to the whiners that were demanding to know what costs the Reader were facing etc apparently without actually going in search of that information.
For example:
OK? So you understand why I might suggest to these people that are demanding to know the Truth[sup]TM[/sup] that they might like to go where the truth may be revealed? It’s not always about you, you know.
pan
Well it should be, dammit.
Mostly I’d say, “WOW! A discount! Two please.” 
But seriously folks…
If you’re operating under the assumption that the SDMB isn’t currently a business you’re just flat out wrong. As an arm of the Chicago Reader the SDMB is part of a for-profit corporation.
Really, demanding to see their books before you’ll pay strikes me as ludicrous. I don’t ask to see Coca-cola’s balance sheet before I pick up one of those new ‘Diet Coke with Lemon’ cans.
The interaction with the customer is limited to “Here’s my product…here’s the price…any questions about the product?” They owe you nothing more. Nothing at all.
Ya know what? Then don’t pay. Easy, eh? :rolleyes:
Shit, if you people would stop with the paranoid hysterics long enough to pay attention. . .
I was going to respond to a few other things, but got too disgusted so I will make it short and sweet. If you don’t like the way the SDMB is going - fine. If you think they are pulling some get rich quick scam over your eyes - whatthefuckever. But I have yet to see any proof that failing to subscribe to the SDMB is punishable by death. I have yet to see your arm twisted behind your back forcing you to stay. Unless you are directly involved with the Chicago Reader, they owe you exactly dick as far as knowing the cost of keeping the board running. Don’t like it? I have a very simple solution for you -
:::drum roll:::
**DON’T SUBSCRIBE! **
I’m sure we’ll miss you. :rolleyes:
Diane - Who is still amazed the Administrators haven’t had enough of this bullshit and just pull the plug.