Looking for feedback on this idea to pay for ICMAG to stay here....
- Thread starter Gypsy Nirvana
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pHaroaH
Member
The following is not an attack on anyone, just my personal opinion.
I get the sense from Gypsy's posts that he feels same as I do, that the paramount importance is providing the information on how to grow this wonderful plant, but he shouldn't have carry this community's burden entirely on his shoulders. Those who say the Internet is free, obviously have never hosted a web site before.
Red's monthly fund raiser idea is fine initially, but it becomes a hassle to maintain month after month. It is also hard to keep the momentum up month after month. It eventually degrades to the same people giving each month. Doesn't that sound fairly similar to a monthly membership any way? I don't want to be hassled with sending a monthly money order.
Annual membership on the other hand can be a rather stable cash flow that is easier to maintain. If membership does not meet expenses, then you can then have an annual fund raiser drive like Red suggested.
A members only site would be a big mistake IMHO. Most would not pay to participate initially... but as time passed and they came to feel more and more like a part of the community they would. Shortly after OG was shut down, I am very thankful I found ICMAG. I would definitely want to give back now, but I would not have felt that way at first. It can take a while to really begin to feel part of a community.
People complain about member's only forums dividing the community, but I disagree. In a community those who can afford to carry the load for others need to in order to maintain that community. Should those members get perks for their support? Why not? It is an enticement to membership. I was never insulted that OG had special membership priviledges, I was just thankful for all the great advice and info I had access to. I say do what is easiest for you and go with a membership structure. Those who feel alienated should be greeted by a banner on the first forum page that says, "Please help ICMAG keep these forums alive, become a member today." Those who are ungrateful for getting 99% of the forums for free and expect you to carry all the burden yourself, should move on elsewhere any way.
The problem I see with seed idea is that it has the potential of cutting in to your current seed business. A person can only grow so many seeds at a time. Also, many have already expressed that they wouldn't trust the genetics any way.
However there are a few folks here whose seeds I would love to get my hands on. I think the seed idea would be a great membership perk. For example, members can enter in to raffles for free seeds from other members, members only auctions, commercial breeders can be solicited to donate seeds for membership raffles, members get advance notification of rare seed availability/auctions, and etc.
Flame/Troll troll free forums would also be a big membership plus.
Good luck, and thanks for these forums. I have learned a lot here. I don't know how I could cope with out the kind of information I have access to here. Unfortunately providing this caliber of a web site requires a level of participation which also demands a lot of resources.
Regards
I get the sense from Gypsy's posts that he feels same as I do, that the paramount importance is providing the information on how to grow this wonderful plant, but he shouldn't have carry this community's burden entirely on his shoulders. Those who say the Internet is free, obviously have never hosted a web site before.
Red's monthly fund raiser idea is fine initially, but it becomes a hassle to maintain month after month. It is also hard to keep the momentum up month after month. It eventually degrades to the same people giving each month. Doesn't that sound fairly similar to a monthly membership any way? I don't want to be hassled with sending a monthly money order.
Annual membership on the other hand can be a rather stable cash flow that is easier to maintain. If membership does not meet expenses, then you can then have an annual fund raiser drive like Red suggested.
A members only site would be a big mistake IMHO. Most would not pay to participate initially... but as time passed and they came to feel more and more like a part of the community they would. Shortly after OG was shut down, I am very thankful I found ICMAG. I would definitely want to give back now, but I would not have felt that way at first. It can take a while to really begin to feel part of a community.
People complain about member's only forums dividing the community, but I disagree. In a community those who can afford to carry the load for others need to in order to maintain that community. Should those members get perks for their support? Why not? It is an enticement to membership. I was never insulted that OG had special membership priviledges, I was just thankful for all the great advice and info I had access to. I say do what is easiest for you and go with a membership structure. Those who feel alienated should be greeted by a banner on the first forum page that says, "Please help ICMAG keep these forums alive, become a member today." Those who are ungrateful for getting 99% of the forums for free and expect you to carry all the burden yourself, should move on elsewhere any way.
The problem I see with seed idea is that it has the potential of cutting in to your current seed business. A person can only grow so many seeds at a time. Also, many have already expressed that they wouldn't trust the genetics any way.
However there are a few folks here whose seeds I would love to get my hands on. I think the seed idea would be a great membership perk. For example, members can enter in to raffles for free seeds from other members, members only auctions, commercial breeders can be solicited to donate seeds for membership raffles, members get advance notification of rare seed availability/auctions, and etc.
Flame/Troll troll free forums would also be a big membership plus.
Good luck, and thanks for these forums. I have learned a lot here. I don't know how I could cope with out the kind of information I have access to here. Unfortunately providing this caliber of a web site requires a level of participation which also demands a lot of resources.
Regards
So what perks should membership get?
I was thinking a supporting member can have the following under their name
Bronze member 3 mo membership
silver member 6 mo membership
gold member 12 mo membership
Lifetime member
Then you could have a custom title under your name at your discretion like the ones that are in glow. Just a thought
I was thinking a supporting member can have the following under their name
Bronze member 3 mo membership
silver member 6 mo membership
gold member 12 mo membership
Lifetime member
Then you could have a custom title under your name at your discretion like the ones that are in glow. Just a thought
does anyone have any idea about it would cost to run a site like this?
any guesstimates would be appreciated... i just dont know about all the in depth charges incurred with additional bandwith and all that mumbo jumbo?
is there any way for DG/GYPSY to purchase their own server, and host their own shit from their own facility? is this a possibility or am i way over my head?
i mean if we are people who have the innate desire to grow our own weed, why can't we do everything else on our own?
if we had a number to work with, im sure it could make things alot easier to figure out...
any guesstimates would be appreciated... i just dont know about all the in depth charges incurred with additional bandwith and all that mumbo jumbo?
is there any way for DG/GYPSY to purchase their own server, and host their own shit from their own facility? is this a possibility or am i way over my head?
i mean if we are people who have the innate desire to grow our own weed, why can't we do everything else on our own?
if we had a number to work with, im sure it could make things alot easier to figure out...
Well.....after much consultaion with many members and Mods and Admin's I have come up with a subscription idea for this website.....check the link:
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=82663
This idea will be the easiest to implement right now.....please show your support.....
What this site costs to run is variable and the cost is going up all of the time with every new thread, post and member that joins.......the servers are in a canna-tolerant country and are kept under great security by those with the technical expertise to maintain them and keep the security of the site at the level that we require.....
.....I wish to express my deepest thanks to all of you that have contributed to this thread with your ideas, concerns and comments.....
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=82663
This idea will be the easiest to implement right now.....please show your support.....
What this site costs to run is variable and the cost is going up all of the time with every new thread, post and member that joins.......the servers are in a canna-tolerant country and are kept under great security by those with the technical expertise to maintain them and keep the security of the site at the level that we require.....
.....I wish to express my deepest thanks to all of you that have contributed to this thread with your ideas, concerns and comments.....
I'm more for an annual fee than sending seeds through the mail for security reasons on my end. 25 is most doable, doubts start somewhere around 50. Sorry to get into the math. If your server/security costs are 3000 per month a year would be 36,000, and at 25 bucks a head, it would take 1440 people to cover the cost. 30 would be 1200 people and 36 a year would be 1000 people.
A monthly fee only works for so long. Then members want benefits, like free seeds of the month, or a few packs a year. This adds to costs, like postage and shipping but should pay for 20-30 seeds.
Another idea would be free membership with subscription to IC Magazine. Good idea to promote the magazine, not so sure it covers the servers fees.
Stock is another option, of course we would expect returns.
A monthly fee only works for so long. Then members want benefits, like free seeds of the month, or a few packs a year. This adds to costs, like postage and shipping but should pay for 20-30 seeds.
Another idea would be free membership with subscription to IC Magazine. Good idea to promote the magazine, not so sure it covers the servers fees.
Stock is another option, of course we would expect returns.
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T
terran2
Gypsy Nirvana said:
remarkable site , easily navigated & so very well designed...which appeals to
our effulgently beaming genius & brilliantly shining spirits.
(& fully appreciate the privacy features & secure servors too ;o)
you're a good man Gunga Din , for creating this space ....
(be happy to make some elite seeds for you)
regards
;o)
t2
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B
Bubble Puppy
I think people should have the option of sending seeds or a monitary donation.I'd much rather spend $20 on Redyeyes bubba kush f2's made at home ,than $100 + elswhere from a reputable breeder .
If the strains are top notch ,its worth the gamble in my opinion ,im sure not all think like this,but i think it would work .People who's seeds suck ,won't have them sold anymore ,they would all be critqued by members here im sure ..
If the strains are top notch ,its worth the gamble in my opinion ,im sure not all think like this,but i think it would work .People who's seeds suck ,won't have them sold anymore ,they would all be critqued by members here im sure ..
Yeah......sure you can send in beans for a fundraiser that I will put together in the future.....
....would be kinda nice if I could get this site upgraded REGULARLY.....and have alot of the features installed that would make it MUCH more interesting and user friendly......that all costs....
....would be kinda nice if I could get this site upgraded REGULARLY.....and have alot of the features installed that would make it MUCH more interesting and user friendly......that all costs....
G
Guest
Personally I wouldn't pay money to share my growing experience with anyone,and It seems I'm part of a very small minority in feeling that way.Or others have lost their voices..The timing seems a little funny to me too,didnt you just get your company back along with a juicy court judgement?Has the increase in membership not resulted in an increase in revenue from sales?
Did you not read the thread? The sales are seperate from the forum.
G
Guest
Yes I read the thread KG,and the link you posted about banners.I've read OP's response in that thread over and over.It's pretty ambiguous.What I'm getting is GNL is compensated by seedstock from various breeders sold through his company not by direct payment for banners.
G
Guest
Um, this site is defietley an avenue for selling seeds...I don't know how can you possibly say otherwise and above that expect people to believe that? This is the most money hungry cannabis site I have EVER registered to...the 12$ a year wasn't bad but 100$ a year??? I pay half that for xbox live... perhaps gypsy could sell his nice sports car and use a quarter of that money to have the site set for life? I mean, the users here put that money there anyways. lol...shameless. I think its just time to take my leave. Good Luck!
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Huh. Interesting. So in your figuring Gypsy should sell his transportation and use the money to fund a site for people. That's a good one. Let me bust your negativity bubble son. If he sold his car he might support the site for a year. Where do you figure a quarter of the cost supports the site for life? Maybe you should become familiar with facts before spewing propaganda. Enjoy your leave.......
Anti-Future said:
...If I sold my car I would get $14,000..(I just had it valued at the dealer that sold it to me)...that would keep the site up for 140 days.......good idea!........maybe I should start cycling again?.........maybe I could sell my washing machine too and just do the washing in the bath tub with a bar of soap and put those funds into this site?........would be a good work-out for the fore-arms....
.....how much does an X-Box cost?
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