# Why does the SDMB not have lifetime subscriptions? (not a pitting) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 4, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986 "2007-09-04T08:41:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/1 "2007-09-04T08:41:44Z")
The Something Awful forums offer lifetime subscriptions, and they probably get more traffic than the Dope boards. Why doesn’t the Dope do this, in addition to the yearly rate? Perhaps price it around what three 1-year subscriptions would cost ($45). Wouldn’t it be a good way to encourage contributing posters to hang around indefinitely, instead of just quitting at around one of the renewing periods? In terms of finances, isn’t $45 now significantly better than $45 spread over the next three years? Sure, you may lose out on future fees from some members, but you’ll also gain the money from those who pay the lifetime fee and would otherwise have quit after 1 or 2 years. And there’s always those folks who stop reading the Dope for a while, and then come back a year or two later (which is what I’ve done a couple of times). If it takes re-subscribing to get back into it, some may just decide never to come back. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/2 "2007-09-04T08:52:25Z")
From what I’ve seen, the subscription system is fairly automated. So any changes are going to mean a lot of work. I certainly get the impression that TPTB have little time left for overhauls after they do all the maintenance tasks. Although they could just be saying that because they’re busy spending the board’s profits. Also **TubaDiva** has mentioned a couple of times that they’re not making big changes until they know more about what the new owners have planned. So even if they like the idea (Personally, I like the idea) I bet the answer will be “Not Yet” ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/3 "2007-09-04T11:58:57Z")
But do we really want to encourage certain people to stick around year after year after year? Some people just never seem to get the hint and leave already. Hey, why’s everyone looking at me? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/4 "2007-09-04T12:35:21Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] Hey, why’s everyone looking at me? [/QUOTE] Because you look so pretty today. Have you done something with your hair? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/5 "2007-09-04T12:47:54Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] But do we really want to encourage certain people to stick around year after year after year? Some people just never seem to get the hint and leave already. Hey, why’s everyone looking at me? [/QUOTE] _embarrassed silence_ ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/6 "2007-09-04T12:49:46Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Because you look so pretty today. Have you done something with your hair? [/QUOTE] _Has she done anything with her hair_? That’s it, buddy. Your honorary straight guy status is hereby revoked. ---
**Author:** ![essell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/34f0e0/32.png) [@essell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/essell)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/7 "2007-09-04T13:11:45Z")
Hey **Lisa!** I’ve got a pair of shoes like that! ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/8 "2007-09-04T13:22:10Z")
[QUOTE=essell] Hey **Lisa!** I’ve got a pair of shoes like that! [/QUOTE] Those aren’t shoes. . . . I mean, who has time to shave every day?? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/9 "2007-09-04T13:23:59Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Because you look so pretty today. Have you done something with your hair? [/QUOTE] Oh. Ha Ha. Why yes! I got it highlighted the other day. Do you really like it? Ha Ha! Do you want some chocolate? ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/10 "2007-09-04T13:24:10Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] Those aren’t shoes. . . . I mean, who has time to shave every day?? [/QUOTE] That’s why they invented hot wax. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/11 "2007-09-04T15:35:05Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] Do you want some chocolate? [/QUOTE] Oh dear god, yes. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/12 "2007-09-04T16:17:03Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] Those aren’t shoes. . . . I mean, who has time to shave every day?? [/QUOTE] I never realised you were a Hobbit ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/13 "2007-09-04T18:31:07Z")
[QUOTE=chowder] I never realised you were a Hobbit [/QUOTE] No, it’s not growing _on_ her feet, it’s growing _down to_ . . . um . . . her . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/14 "2007-09-04T18:48:35Z")
Eww! ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/15 "2007-09-05T17:30:35Z")
Who does offer lifetime subscriptions anymore? How much did Reader’s Digest and Playboy lose with their $100 life subscriptions? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/16 "2007-09-05T17:50:44Z")
[QUOTE=LunaV] Eww! [/QUOTE] Well, at least she highlighted it! ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sdmb-not-have-lifetime-subscriptions-not-a-pitting/417986/17 "2007-09-06T18:25:54Z")
[QUOTE=essell] Also **TubaDiva** has mentioned a couple of times that they’re not making big changes until they know more about what the new owners have planned. [/QUOTE] Wait! New owners? What new owners? Can they sell the Dope without the approval of us investors?