would you contribute to forum costs?

[peanut]

I for one enjoy this community immensley ,a view shared my most I'm sure.

However once again the subject of non members using this facility for free whilst PCGB membership fees pay for it has reared its ugly head again. There are doubtless many reasons why non members choose not to avail themselves of the full PCGB membership facilities and benefits and we need not open a debate about that here. Afterall we are all free to choose which clubs we wish to join for whatever reasons.

I for one do not expect to use any facility for free and am only too happy to contribute my fair share towards the costs of hosting and running this forum. I do not however see why I should be required to pay full club membership fees to use the forum .I would like to know other non member's views on this.

It should not be too difficult to evaluate the costs of this forum from the annual Company returns .If the club were to make a reasonable charge would you be prepared to contribute to the costs ?.

 

[TTM]

As a foreigner who doesn't even live in the UK I believe I have little to no use of what's offered by the PCGB club, however as a regular user of this forum I would be happy to pay a fee for its running costs.

 

[Black_JPN]

I wouldn't pay for it. If it was locked to non-members then I'd go elsewhere. There are plenty of other free forums to dive into which support themselves through advertising etc. If PCGB is struggling for cash to support this forum then entice the non-members on this forum to join or show the forum with adverts for those who aren't members to supplement the cost of running it. Simples However, advertising on here for some reason has always been a sore point for PCGB but if it were for non-members only then I don't see an issues. Make it optional for members as they main see benefit from it.

It's a club and it has a load of captive non-members littering it's forum's, if it is that bothered by it then make a proactive action to reach out to them and get them to join. So far, since unjoining from PCGB a year or so ago and riding the PCGB wave I haven't seen enough that sells it back to me and I'm talking more than the odd regional prime to tell us how good it is. However, then we're into what you can do for the club and not what the club can do for you etc and the argument goes full circle.

If I had to pay for every forum that I sought advice from then I'd be a poor man. One of the massive benefits of the internet as I see it is online forums and the sharing of experiences, problems and interests across the complete spectrum of life.

 

[zcacogp]

Yes. I would pay a reasonable fee to use this forum. But it would need to be reasonable - I wouldn't expect the costs of hosting it and the assocated bandwidth, divided by the number of forum members, to work out at more than a couple of quid per person per year. For such a measly sum (and the costs of collecting such a measly sum) I expect it is cheaper for PCGB to carry on offering it for free.

I say this ONLY because it is such a good forum - Damon makes some very good points which I wholeheartedly agree with.

I'd also add that pay-to-use enthusiasts forums on the internet are never a great success. If I was new to the world of 944's and came across this forum but had to pay to use it, I would close the browser window and go elsewhere. To close this forum to those who don't shell out cold hard cash would be the death of it, in my opinion. (I include making this forum 'members only' in this statement.)


Oli.

 

[TTM]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp
But it would need to be reasonable [...] a couple of quid per person per year.

A gentleman in the other thread suggested £54.60 per year. What do you think?

 

[edh]

Agreed Oli - It can't make any sense to intoduce a fee. Closing it to non members would kill the 944 section.

I pay my PCGB subs - and am very happy to subsidize all you freeloaders [] The more people on here the better.

An active forum is tremendous value both for information and entertainment (I'm a bit bored this morning, so have trawled through my usual diet of PCGB, Rennlist, 924.org and Pistonheads - where would I be without them? [])

 

[bennyboy]

(I'm a bit bored this morning, so have trawled through my usual diet of PCGB, Rennlist, 924.org and Pistonheads - where would I be without them? [])

Ha! Never a truer word spoken EDH! The only difference for me is TIPEC rather than 924.org, but I may add that to my daily list. Drives my missus mad! On the rare 'working from home' days I get, it's always those 4 tabs, plus ebay occasionally, which are open on my internet explorer!

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: TTM
A gentleman in the other thread suggested £54.60 per year. What do you think?

I think (and sincerely hope) that he was having a turkish.

John Sim's response suggested so, for sure.


Oli.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

ORIGINAL: TTM
A gentleman in the other thread suggested £54.60 per year. What do you think?

I think (and sincerely hope) that he was having a turkish.

John Sim's response suggested so, for sure.


Oli.

[]

Personally (ie with no official hat on) I believe this forum benefits from the interaction of members and non members. Members gain from non members technical advice and non members gain similar advantage. It works, and makes this forum as popular as it is.

Provided people behave appropriately I think it works extremely well.

I would be against charging a fee to non members. In the first instance the administration would be such that the cost would probably make the fee unpalatable. In the second part, this is a PCGB forum. It is a benefit of The Club. It is up to the members who they allow to use the forum and I don't believe it would be beneficial for non members to consider they have an absolute right to use the forum, and think they can say what they like, just because they are paying a fee.

As said previously - non members, you are guests on this forum. In my book you are very welcome provided you treat your host appropriately. Under those circumstances I am willing to argue for your continued use and enjoyment of this forum.

 

[poprock]

The only way charging for forum use can ever work (for any web forum, not just this one) is by showing adverts to non-members whilst letting paid subscribers browse ad-free. Both user levels need full access to the entire forum"”otherwise it will stagnate very rapidly.

Some car clubs also offer incentives to paid subscribers, on top of the ad-free model. Car stickers, club T-shirts, discount cards, etc. In the case of PCGB I feel that sort of thing would be inappropriate, as full club membership caters for those needs.

 

[Riverside]

ORIGINAL: John Sims
As said previously - non members, you are guests on this forum. In my book you are very welcome provided you treat your host appropriately.

I agree with that sentiment and that allowing non-members is a good idea, and to treat it as a courtesy that can be removed. If there were a subscription fee I would just go elsewhere (Pistonheads, Rennlist) rather than paying though. If I were to pay I'd join the club rather than just paying to still have limited (I assume) access rights.

Try setting up a members only 944 section (ie same as this one) & see how popular it is. If non-members start to feel left out it may give them added incentive to join the club. If it doesn't work out no harm done, no significant costs incurred & no one gets offended.

 

[TTM]

For what it's worth I am a paid-up member of a German forum which membership features access to a member-only sub forum in which traffic is virtually non-existent. It is a privately run website though, not affiliated to the marque in any way, and some workshops and parts provider appear as "sponsors".

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: Riverside
If there were a subscription fee I would just go elsewhere (Pistonheads, Rennlist) rather than paying though.

I'm a Rennlist member as I enjoy it and think it was worth paying towards its upkeep. I don't have to and there really aren't any benefits but it feels right to me.

This perhaps sounds like I'm saying that non members should pay for this forum but I agree with the majority that would like to see it left open, but then I'm far more interested in 944's than most Porsches and see this as a way to get the largest variety of posts.

I would happily support advertising on the forum however, we have it in the club mag and sponsorhip of events so I struggle to see why it would be a problem. Any extra revenue must be good for the club as a whole.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

Not sure why this thread is on the 944 forum, but I agree with John's points.

 

[Hilux]

Not sure why this thread is on the 944 forum, but I agree with John's points.

Same here.

Agreed Oli - It can't make any sense to intoduce a fee. Closing it to non members would kill the 944 section.

Yup, we`d all go to Tipec which would then raise its profile and forum count or PH where there are still real car enthusiasts and not just club members. Club only forums are dull, dull, dull with infighting and willy waving on a big scale. Look at Blatchat nowadays!

I was a PCGB member but didnt see a benefit (to me anyway) although we did enjoy some WOTY`s, some rollers of truth days and a few days/lunches out, however on the last trip we came out on a bright sunny morning at 09:00 shaking off a late night and some wine to see a number of owners had got out their collapsible buckets and washed and polished their cars and were sitting beside them on collapsible chairs in the hotel car park waiting to go on a visit??? What did it for me was that it hadnt rained or been wet from the day before!!! Everyone to their own I suppose but I like the car and driving it and improving it so find the resource and knowledge on here great. I would miss it but still not pay and we'd all certainly miss Fen's input and knowledge. (where is he anyway?)

I now consider (in principle anyway) to be unwelcome at Frontrunner as its at Cornbury House and assume its members only. Problem is if it (and others) were thrown open (as per Westfield SS Club, Ginetta OC and Rover P5 OC of which I have been a member) then they are much better attended. The WSCC is one of the best clubs around. They have Cateringvan, Dax, Robin Hood owners etc all contributing and attending sprints, local meets and runs to Le Mans etc as its the cars that count. The club forms a basis for the real enthusiasts to gather with others who chosse to be less involved and dip in and out as they choose. I am also off on a long weekend trip with a local pub Car Club soon, non members welcome as (again) its the cars and people that count (Ford Anglias to Ferraris [and beer]), the club simply organises it!

 

[carreraboy]

There are plenty of free Porsche Forums ..... the Club gas to expose itself to attract members not exclude the Porsche enthusiast entirely ........ limited Registe access to non-members should continue as well more investment in developing the Web Image of the Club. Yey yet yet again the Board must see the Forum as an assett and embrace it ... 11,000 usres no longer the tiny minority ... they must move with the times . I'm sure long staying members have been attracted by the Register Forums ... the cost of non=member users is negligible ... maybe we could try a little harder in asking them to join as opposed trying to levy a charge ... they just go elsewhere were it's free ... I really sense the Forum is growing in numbers and popularity ....[]

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: Hilux

...we came out on a bright sunny morning at 09:00 shaking off a late night and some wine to see a number of owners had got out their collapsible buckets and washed and polished their cars and were sitting beside them on collapsible chairs in the hotel car park waiting to go on a visit???

Not all members are like that - you weren't...
I've never been told I have to wash my car at an event. I think that must be optional...[]

 

[Frenchy]

Ex PCGB member here,the reason i never renewed after a number of years membership was the "Elitist" 911 attitude and club high flyers buggering off on Porsche related jollys courtesy of club finances (my money).
The magazine was a good read, i already get discount at my local OPC,so i cannot see the point of membership renewal ?
I personally would not pay to use this forum even though i enjoy it.
Though not knowing anything about Porsches peanut because i use some naughty words on a forum ?
After owning them for 12 years or so and doing a lot of spanner work on them,as well as bodywork restoration then being told by a PCGB member that my knowledge is limited because i used an expletive on the forum also backs up my reason not to put my hard earned into club membership.

 

[charles.y]

Isn't it PCGB (therefore also this forum) subsidised by Porsche GB or a completely seperate entity?

 

[Suffolk944]

I wouldn't want to see a members only forum nor one which charges non-members for using it anymore than I want to see non-members who dont actually know what does and doesn't go on in the club use the forum to slag it off for no good reason.