would you contribute to forum costs?

[georgethackray]

As a member, I feel we pay something towards the running of the forum anyway. I don't think we should expect non-members to pay though, as others have said, I think that would kill it.

Someone earlier mentioned events such as Frontrunners - why not use the email address of non-members (subject to their approval of course) to publicise such events, and charge an entry fee over and above that which a member would pay, this extra amount could then be refunded if the person subsequently joins. That way, non-members can see some of the benefits we enjoy, and they can meet this wonderful bunch of 944 owners (which makes £54.60 a year a real bargain []).

 

[MRGT]

Whilst not wishing to get overly involved in the members vs non members discussion, I can only point to the other forum which I regulalry use which is Briskoda, an unofficial Skoda owners site. When I joined 5 yrs ago, the site was free and had approx 3000 members, now it has over 43,000 and is still free, however they have introduced a seperate section called 'Freedom' which costs £12 per year and offers additional discounts and a couple of additional forums and the ability to post in the 'For Sale' section. However the main purpose of 'Freedom' is to support the site. Despite no longer owning a Skoda I will continue to be a Freedom member as I feel I have gained so much from the site over the last few years and continue to visit on a regular basis.

Maybe PCGB should consider a similar scheme as opposed to the 'all or nothing' current setup.

 

[nags]

Well, this thread has prompted me to stop lurking in the shadows - I've now joined PCGB.

I'm not sure that 'members are subsidising non-members', though. I assume the marginal cost for an extra browser/poster is small (if noticeable), in which case booting all non-members would achieve no reduction in cost but a meaningful reduction in forum usage (would be interesting to know what the ratio of members/non-members is). True, some may be enticed into full membership following such a clampdown - but you'd hardly expect the majority of current non-members to switch.

A good forum is generally a delicate balance, which PCGB seems to have found. Change current rules at risk of disturbing what makes it a useful resource for members and non-members alike.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: 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'm not. I do wash my car occasionally though. Is this a bad thing? []

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: nags

Well, this thread has prompted me to stop lurking in the shadows - I've now joined PCGB.

I'm not sure that 'members are subsidising non-members', though. I assume the marginal cost for an extra browser/poster is small (if noticeable), in which case booting all non-members would achieve no reduction in cost but a meaningful reduction in forum usage (would be interesting to know what the ratio of members/non-members is). True, some may be enticed into full membership following such a clampdown - but you'd hardly expect the majority of current non-members to switch.

A good forum is generally a delicate balance, which PCGB seems to have found. Change current rules at risk of disturbing what makes it a useful resource for members and non-members alike.

very sensible observation Nags and one which many will doubtless agree with. Glad that you will find full membership rewarding however for many non members it seems that full membership will offer little of benefit unfortunately.
For me its not a question of the cost but more a question of principle.
I spend many hours each week researching technical manuals/articles ,editing images and posting what I hope is helpful advice . I have no desire to pay £70 for the priviledge. Club membership has nothing to offer me personally but I am sure that it offers others considerable advantages .

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: 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 b*******g off on Porsche related jollys courtesy of club finances (my money)......

Well that excuse for not being a member certainly isn't relevant any more.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: nags

Well, this thread has prompted me to stop lurking in the shadows - I've now joined PCGB.

I'm not sure that 'members are subsidising non-members', though. I assume the marginal cost for an extra browser/poster is small (if noticeable), in which case booting all non-members would achieve no reduction in cost but a meaningful reduction in forum usage (would be interesting to know what the ratio of members/non-members is). True, some may be enticed into full membership following such a clampdown - but you'd hardly expect the majority of current non-members to switch.

A good forum is generally a delicate balance, which PCGB seems to have found. Change current rules at risk of disturbing what makes it a useful resource for members and non-members alike.

Top man for joining Nags and a very fair observation all round in my opinion.

 

[peanut]

ORIGINAL: John Sims

ORIGINAL: 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 b*******g off on Porsche related jollys courtesy of club finances (my money)......

Well that excuse for not being a member certainly isn't relevant any more.

why do non members need any excuse not to join John ? I thought there was freedom of choice ?

I don't see why anyone should be made to feel uncomfortable or obliged to join a club that has nothing to offer them.

I have no desire to join PCGB and that decision is only reinforced every time a member tries to make me feel I'm being unreasonable in not joining

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Peanut,

OK, you feel that the club is not for you. Fair enough, that's your decision.
It is certainly appreciated when you offer help and advice to owners here though.

I am however confused why you feel the need to keep slagging the club off in these latest posts. You don't want to join - fine. But you appear to be trying to denegrate the club by keeping on posting negatively.

I think you've taken some posts in the wrong way in these threads as well. and thus put a slant on them which means your replies put a negative spin on those posts.

Be fair. You don't want to join, but you like posting here, that's fine. If you have ways the club could do things better, great!- I'm sure the Board would love to hear them. But slagging the club off because you don't want to join is just being negative.

By the way, I too have previously suggested a lower "forum only" membership fee before, but on reflection I bet you that if implemented we would get a lot more "non members" having a go at us for being elitist and closing the forum to non-fee-payers - and hardly any would join just to use the forum. It would have a negative effect.

I'd much rather have non-members posting here. Some of thm will become members at some point, many will not. That's the way it goes. But having the forum open allows people to take a look and make their own decision as to whether they want to join. Having a closed forum means people have to make a £60 blind purchase.
Personally I made a blind purchase - I had never seen the magazine, nor been to a meeting, and the only "forum" for my car at the time was a USA based one. I haven't regretted it

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: peanut

......... Glad that you will find full membership rewarding however for many non members it seems that full membership will offer little of benefit unfortunately.
For me its not a question of the cost but more a question of principle........

13,000 people don't agree with you. The trouble with doing things on principle is it can be a fine line between biting off your nose to spite your face.

You may find your principles are based on out dated and now irrelevant perceptions.

As said earlier, non members are (currently) more than welcome to use and enjoy the PCGB Members Forum provided they treat their hosts with courtesy. Slagging down the Club the Members choose to support does not constitute courtesy.

Past Members please don't try to use this forum to promote membership of the X PCGB Club just to provide a sop to your discomfort. I haven't heard one good reason from an ex member why they shouldn't be a member now. I appreciate that they may not have agreed with the way the Club was in the past. Some of us may agree with you but we stuck with The Club and are trying to make a difference. We didn't walk away.

When you are a member of any organisation having someone leave is a disappointment. To then have that person stand on the sidelines and shout the odds about why they left will only cause resentment.

It was your decision to leave - don't try to validate it by discouraging others to join.

 

[John Sims]

ORIGINAL: peanut

.....why do non members need any excuse not to join John ?

I don't know. But several seem intent on making excuses.

We are all interested in reasons people don't think PCGB membership is appropriate to them but we haven't heard that many reasons. "Reasons" we can discuss, "reasons" are tangible things we can try to address.

Excuses are personal irrelevances that people use to hide their embarrassment of not standing up and being counted.

Perhaps we should just close the forum to Ex Members. [8|]

 

[Mark Elder]

Just going back to Nick's original question, I don't think non-members should be asked to pay to use the forum. That would be like advertisers on TV making viewers pay to watch their adverts. I'd be very surprised if the club restricted access to what must be it's most cost effective route for gaining new members.

 

[Alexw]

Theres a site here that has a different way of dealing with the money shortfall - donations. I think when you donate it shows up in your avatar, not that it really matters. Whats the thought on setting up something like that?

 

[944 LIL]

Nags

I too have just joined - cos I want to go on the Cotswold Run.

Two points to make on the substance of the thread

1. I joined the club because of the forum and if I'd had to pay for it I wouldn't have joined either forum or club. The club should view the forum as the best asset it has to increase membership. Your point about marginal cost is absolutley "on the money" (sorry[])

2. The forum is a better place because of non members - both Oli and Nick have taken time out to offer specific wise and helpful advice to me - so have many others but Oli and Nick have become the most high profile non members of late!!

 

[Frenchy]

Not being a member for a while i had no idea that things have changed and if so then excellent as it was needed,when I was a member you generally got the feeling from 911 members that the 944 was an "also ran" in the Porsche world.
Ignorance is bliss !
I do attend my local PCGB regional meets on occasion and have been karting with them tonight (3rd in the final) from a field of 15.
I would like to know what changes have taken place and would genuinely consider renewing memebership.
The voluntary donation idea is a good one, I have donated to 2 other forums that I use.

 

[Stu Alderson]

AlexW, you stole my thunder (lol) it was a suggestion I was going to make. If people, and I don't wish to differentiate between members and non, gain some support/advice/technical information they could not have acquired elsewhere - then I would suggest the donation scheme would work. I know I for one would, in the RW if someone does me a good service I either reward them in some small way or in the case of my local indie, who does provide lots of free advice to his clients, a recommendation to others to give him a try.

Something about scratching one anothers back springs to mind.

Stuart

 

[idwoodvale]

ORIGINAL: peanut

ORIGINAL: John Sims

ORIGINAL: 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 b*******g off on Porsche related jollys courtesy of club finances (my money)......

Well that excuse for not being a member certainly isn't relevant any more.

why do non members need any excuse not to join John ? I thought there was freedom of choice ?

I don't see why anyone should be made to feel uncomfortable or obliged to join a club that has nothing to offer them.

I have no desire to join PCGB and that decision is only reinforced every time a member tries to make me feel I'm being unreasonable in not joining

Come on peanut.
I felt that after reading the previous thread many of your points were well made and many of the members' responses were unnecessarily aggressive. Now you're just being belligerent.