You left my name off of your list, just an oversight I’m sure.
Seriously, I am not in the habit of paying for anything that I’m used to being free, I have no cable TV, no rental of videos, nothing. But, since I spend almost $5.00 just on M&M’s in one week I figured, why not? I love this Board, it’s the first and only one I’ve ever been on and I have laughed harder and been moved more deeply and been informed better by stuff I’ve read on this board than some books I’ve paid much more than five dollars for.
[QUOTE=bordelondIMHO, the way to get newbies on board is to offer 90 or 120 days free. New subscriptions should be around $9.95 for the balance of the 1st year (1 year minus free trial period), then $9.95 annually to renew.[/QUOTE]
I’ve been thinking along similar lines, although with three tiers:
A free limited guest membership for 30 days (hook the fish).
A trial membership, with all features, for $4.95, for another 60 days (play it).
Full membership for the balance of the year, with the $4.95 applied toward the full membership price of either $9.95 or $14.95 (land it).
This is probably more complicated than necessary, but it’s another thought to toss into the pot.
Three thousand Dopers at just $9.95 per yearwould pay what we’ve been informed this board costs to run, and perhaps even return a modest profit to the Reader. I wouldn’t mind paying what new members pay per year, rather than getting the charter member discount, if it were $9.95 – heck, I’d probably be okay paying the $14.95, but ten bucks is easier to swallow. I’d hate to think on renewal we’ll lose some of our members for whom even the five bucks was a struggle.
Allright babies. I have a complaint. I would’ve started a new thread, but I’m afraid I’m going to get a slap on the wrist, and we wouldn’t want that now, would we?
So I have paid. I’m happy enough to do it. I like reading here. I’m lucky that five bucks ain’t much, so I did it. Now I’ve got problems.
I have seen the discussion raised about how safe our credit card numbers are with the Chicago Reader, and I thought, “Bah! The CR is trustworthy! I’ve got no issues with them at all, that is just silly!” Hmph. I got charged twice. I got charged my regular expected fee of $4.95. Then I saw a second charge for &7.98…wtf? So I looked for the fine print…I’m always willing to think that I’ve missed something, and if indeed I did, $7.98 ain’t all that bad…but I didn’t see anything about extra charges or anything like that…so I emailed the webmaster.
This was a little over a week ago. I have received nothing. Did I miss something? Did I contact the wrong person? I also tried to call the number that showed up on the charge list, and some woman picked up the telephone on the other end, and mumbled, “Chicago Reader.” I explained that I had a problem with some charges on my credit card and I wanted to know who I should speak with, and she asked, (In the rudest tone of voice, I might add) “What for?” I told her it was for the Straight Dope Message Board, and SHE HUNG UP ON ME. NO EXPLANATION, NO NOTHING. JUST HUNG UP ON ME.
Has anybody else had this problem? Is this an anomaly? Did I miss something important in the rules? GAAAAH! :mad:
I want to give the benefit of the doubt. I really do.
I saw this the other night in my user CP, “paid subscriptions” folder. It asks if I wish to pay an addtional $7.98 for an advance year. In other words, pay for next year as well, is what I’m thinking…so. Check your subscriptions folder. It’ll tell you when your membership expires. Is it 2005, or 2006?
I was actually GLAD to get the e mail about the subscription. I had quit coming here, mainly because it was so slow. My hope was/is that the speed would be increased.
You are forewarned…I bring very little and/or no content with me, take it to the bank
No problem, glad to be of help. I actually thought that was a pretty cool little option to put in there.
Wow. What do you know? A happy post in the Pit. Who’d a thunk it?
