Would you pay a membership fee here?

Boys"R"Us

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 12:44 pm

southernbubby wrote:

The DSL portion of any phone bill is about $40 per month and is optional for those who want internet. I don't know what dial up costs. How do those who cannot afford necessities afford DSL? (That could also be said about cell phones, cable TV, video rental, etc.) My generation grew up without computers so we know what it is like to live without it.

Can't speak for others, but we get free (dial-up) internet access from the university cause my DH works there.

Maybe some others have something similar?
But I agree, unless they are posting from work or a library, they still need the hardware etc.

That said, if it was a nomimal amount - maybe $5 USD? I would do it. I like the previous posters idea and would do it like this: Mention upfront (with the application), that there is a $5 fee to join (payable through Paypal which automatically converts the currency). Also mention that we do not want anyone to be excluded for financial reasons, and to email if your circumstances do not allow you to spare the $5. Obviously this kind of "trust" situation is always open to scamming, but I think for the sake of $5, most scammers wouldn't bother. I think a lot of people would pay (maybe offer 1 month free, so people can see how great it is AND get hooked! LOL

)
For those who are already members, a similar email could be sent out. (Also a way to weed out all those non-posting members, if that is desirable)

Just some ideas....

Mevater

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 12:44 pm

Ruchel wrote:

I voted NO. Not because I don't want to, but because some people cannot, and if they are allowed to not pay, there will always be someone to say it's favoritism or even make comments that at least I contribute and you don't.

How would you, and others, feel about anonymous sponsorships?

Boys"R"Us

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 12:49 pm

Ruchel wrote:

I don't think it should be public who paid and who didn't.

I co-run a community orginization, and if someone comes to us that can't pay, and the decision is made to accept the situation, the person becomes a member equal to every other member. No one ever knows that someone did not pay, or paid less.

su7kids

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 12:53 pm

I was going to vote "yes" because I think I would pay, HOWEVER..... thre are people who are benefiting from this site who are "lurkers" and who would NOT come here if they had to pay, even $3.

I think one could sponsor if they want, but there is ALREADY a "donate" tab on the side and I don't know how much it is being used.

SouthernShalom

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 12:55 pm

I think that voluntary donations and advertising would be the way to go. That way no one feels like they can't be here. I have no problem sending a donation every now and again but I could not commit to a monthly thing.
Maybe some of you in a large Jewish community could do a fundraser? Maybe at one of the meets you could do a raffle or something.

Mevater

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:12 pm

For $25,000. added yearly income, 1,000 members would have to donate $25.00 yearly. I t-h-I-n-k that 1,000 members would be willing to donate $25. a year to keep the site going. Probably not more though. The wealthier among us, might want to give more though to increase the yearly income even more.

Does this make sense?

realeez

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:14 pm

DefyGravity wrote:

mommyabc123 wrote:

downsyndrome wrote:

Greenfire, did you see my post on the other thread about Imamother's situation? I suggested a minimal fee of around $3.00 per member. There are more than 2,000 members KA"H already. That would mean $6,000 for Imamother!, yet not make such a financial dent in individual member's pockets. What you say?

But $6000 isn't going to enable Yael's dh to quit his job and devote all his time to Imamother. Also, considering how a large percentage of the 2,000 members have never posted, why would they pay?

Plus, there aren't nearly 2,000 active members.

Right - over 850 never posted 1x!

gryp

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:23 pm

Quote:

My dsl is 14.99 and AT&T now has the same for 12.99

withhumor

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:50 pm

Although membership doesn’t scare me, it scares me that some valuable members may get intimated by the fees and not join! We need input from everyone!

I highly recommend a one time honorary fee which is due as your stars grow. Sort of a medal of honor. I wonder though how many members break out into a new rank every day. I have no way of checking.

Mevater

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:52 pm

Wouldn't 1,000 of us be willing pay $25.00 a year?

How many of us subscribe to newspapers and magazines, and use this site MUCH more?

That wouldn't pay a full time salary, but it's quite a nice amount to pay towards it, and supplement advertising revenue.

amother

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:53 pm

I am curios at the democratic / socialist slant to this whole dilema. We do not live on a kibbutz, where we all just go along for the ride. In life there are people who have more and people who have less. If Yael feels she can't continue the site as it is, and there has to be a nominal fee (approx $5 etc.) then that is what it should be. I don't understand the "I can't afford it and would feel bad" attitude. There are pleanty of things that I wish I could have but can't. Life isn't about everyone having equal, unfortunately we can't all have everything.

The american dream isn't about equal results, just equal opportunity.

DefyGravity

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 1:58 pm

I agree with amother above me.

I think the pple that frequently post would be willing to fork over $5 to be able to use the site. I also think that if there's a mandatory charge, the people that first join the site should NOT be charged for the first month. Wait until they are addicted, and then make them pay.

Many of us aren't going to give unless payment is mandatory b/c we have the mentality that nothing is really going to happen if we don't support the site.

I think that many of us would pay if we had to.

R&RMom

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 2:03 pm

I would pay a small fee!
What I find interesting are the people form the other thread who sounded like they were going out of their minds when imamother was down are the same people who are saying that they would not pay a small fee.
I am also a believer that time is money so if you have time to post 3000+ posts, you should be able to give 5 dollars a year to a website that you frequent a lot.

Ruchel

Wed, Apr 18 2007, 2:09 pm

Basya wrote:

How would anyone besides Yael know who paid and who didnt?

You can guess, sometimes.

I am talking of personal experience, because my community requires a membership fee, and some people can't, and we all know the X definitely pay but the Y... well... and there has been hinting about these differences going on.
You know what I mean?