# The SDMB is switching to paid subscriptions **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 18, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724 "2004-03-18T18:26:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dobbinaire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@dobbinaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dobbinaire)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/61 "2004-03-18T20:23:37Z")
I am more of a lurker than a poster, but I’ll gladly pay. However, count me as one without a credit card or knowledge of PayPal. If someone who is definitely going to subscribe would email me, I would like to work something out. I could mail a check or M.O. to whoever (whomever?) would sign me up. Many thanks if someone would do this for me. dobs ---
**Author:** ![Sgt.Pepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sgt.Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sgt.Pepper)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/62 "2004-03-18T20:25:48Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Two things here. First, a month really isn’t very long: I registered in May 1999, and it took me until at least September to climb above the 100-post threshold; by November I would surely have forked over my $14.95, but probably not much sooner. I’d have probably just wandered off. > > I’d recommend either a longer guest membership (60 days, anyway) or a guest membership based on posts: maybe 100 or 200 posts allowed as a guest before you’ve got to pay. As a new member, I would have to agree with this. After lurking for a couple of months, I’m still learning how this board works. Not the mechanics, but the social aspects of it or the unwritten rules. It’s quite intimidating at times. As for me, I’ll likely pay. I’ve come to enjoy reading the threads here, and if they are not to my taste, then a search will get me my fix. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/63 "2004-03-18T20:42:52Z")
Cheap at the price. ::getting out moth-eaten old coin purse and checking contents:: Yep, I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![Qburn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/bc79bd/32.png) [@Qburn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qburn)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/64 "2004-03-18T20:44:08Z")
I suppose that after the first year, your subscription goes up to 15 bucks like everyone else. To be honest, this is a huge dissapointment. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/65 "2004-03-18T20:46:38Z")
I’m in. Heck, once they got PayPal hooked up so that you didn’t need a credit card to use it from Canada, I was into a number of things… …er, I digress. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/66 "2004-03-18T20:47:04Z")
> [@elf6c](#): > > Well worth it. Plan on getting my $5 on March 22nd. > > 🆒 Ditto. I’d gladly spring for a gift sub or two also. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/67 "2004-03-18T20:47:20Z")
Damn I just e-mailed you admins the other day suggesting you consider accepting donations, and now I am gonna have to fork over my credit card one more time.🙂 But seriously though, if Dopers will put up with me I will gladly pay the fee. (I hope you Dopers realize that I may be stupid, but my intentions are good) Also I will pay the fee for one (1) additional Doper with no CC or funds that needs help to stay on board. e-mail [askeptic2001@yahoo.com](mailto:askeptic2001@yahoo.com) Best Wishes, Jason ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/68 "2004-03-18T20:48:19Z")
One more data point: I’m in. However, a **major** concern of mine would be subscribing my credit card through vBulletin. (I don’t have PayPal). Can someone comment on the type of security (SSL, etc) that it would have? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/69 "2004-03-18T20:49:01Z")
> [@Qburn](#): > > I suppose that after the first year, your subscription goes up to 15 bucks like everyone else. > > To be honest, this is a huge dissapointment. You must have missed the part where it says that people who sign up prior to April 21 will _always_ get half off the going annual subscription rate. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/70 "2004-03-18T20:51:17Z")
$4.95?! For a year?! Sheeit, I’m in there like swimwear. ---
**Author:** ![odd-socks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c67d28/32.png) [@odd-socks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/odd-socks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/71 "2004-03-18T20:51:19Z")
\*"I can’t afford $4.95! Please. These days you pay more than that for a hamburger. An annual subscription even at the procrastinator’s rate of $14.95 works out to about four cents per day. You can raise that kind of money checking behind the couch cushions… \* when you say “four cents” a day, or “20 pence” or whatever, sure, it doesn’t sound like any money at all and everyone has a bloody good laugh about it: _however_, 20 pence is almost a small loaf bread (28p for a Danish loaf from Tesco), or it’s just under the cost of a tin of baked beans, with 3 pence “change” - a meal. Whilst the teeming millions may be fine, some people - and yes, that includes me - are living in Interesting Times; no, I don’t want to talk about it on a public forum. I don’t have paypal access, or a credit/debit card and I couldn’t afford it regardless; leaving aside the argument about info. and discussion being free to all, and going through the for / against subscription arguments to start with. So, I guess it’s “goodbye from me” and I wish all of the teeming millions the very best. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/72 "2004-03-18T20:55:17Z")
Pit thread in 3…2…1… I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/73 "2004-03-18T20:55:47Z")
What about a bake sale advance payment scheme? After the fee goes to full price, pay $14.95/1 year, $19.95/2 years, $24.95/3 years? Since some who would pay $4.95 have hinted that they’d gladly pay $24.95/year, lets meet them and their pocketbooks somewhere in the middle. It’s a better option than $4.95 for a year, then they leave when it goes to $14.95. You’ll make more money in the long run right off the bat, and you’ll also maintain a core membership. Beats the half price for charter members, making it more likely they’ll pay it. If this idea is accepted, I’ll pay it, but how about a “Thanks for the idea” t-shirt? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/74 "2004-03-18T21:01:36Z")
I just got a renewal notice on mone of my husband’s boating magazines - $25.95 for a year. That’s one of 5 magazines he takes. I quit taking magazines since I found I was recycling them unread. So I can easily afford the piddly amount to subscribe to the Dope, and I can probably help out a friend or two who can barely scrape by. Here’s hoping the mix stays lively! ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/75 "2004-03-18T21:01:44Z")
> [@](#): > > it will make the SDMB look like an elitist group. Good, show those maggots and worms that WE of the STRAIGHT DOPE are vastly superior to them in EVERY WAY. (Kidding. Or am I…? 😃 ) Anyway… If things do go south, I’m sure the Admins will fiddle with the Guest status… maybe they can limit Guests to 5 posts a day, or 20 posts a week, or something like that. Or they can fiddle with the registration fee, find something that works. The ultimate point is that this isn’t necessarily a perfectly static deal… it’s their board, they can fix and prod things that need it. I’m not worried, basically… and I’d be only far too happy to fork over a few bucks. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/76 "2004-03-18T21:04:01Z")
So, I have four days to get a job. I can’t sign up unless I have a job, I waste for too much time here. Does any one need a chemist? ---
**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:** [March 18, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/77 "2004-03-18T21:05:46Z")
I’ll pay the five dollars, but I have a feeling that a year from now this board won’t be worth paying for. New blood and all. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/78 "2004-03-18T21:08:06Z")
The signup fee seems almost absurdly modest. Any chance that you could include a bucket for voluntary donations for equipment upgrades on the signup page? That’s a tin cup I’d drop a few dollars into. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/79 "2004-03-18T21:09:22Z")
> [@dragongirl](#): > > I’m a bit confused. > > Where do we click to register before March 22 ? > > I’m on a really tight budget, but I think I can swing $4.95 for now. [snip]On Monday, March 22, at 9 a.m., we’ll take the board down for an hour or so to load some new code. This will accomplish two things:[snip] **After** Monday… ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724/80 "2004-03-18T21:13:57Z")
Do I find the board interesting? Yup. Will I pay? Nope. I pay for nothing on the net. Just a matter of principle. Adios, fine people. Damn - I didn’t even get to 1,000 posts! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-is-switching-to-paid-subscriptions/257724.md?page=5)