Grow Up!!!

[Theron]

I have read a lot of crap about paying for a membership, and how it’s not the money but how they did it blah...blah...blah. I’m sure Snowest did not intend to upset anyone with how they are making this transition. This is a business and they want customers so they are not intentionally trying to offend anyone. By the way $30 for three years, I spend more than that at Mickey D's on my way out of town every Saturday morning, but enough about my weight problem. I am not for one second ready to give up the solid advice that I have gotten over the years from people like Joe I., Big John, Winter Brew..... and on and on. That is worth a lot more than $10 a year, or my delicate sensibilities. Also they are not asking you to pay for what you are allready getting, they are adding great features not to mention donating to snowmobile related non-profits. Now pull you panties out of that bunch and think about what you will give up if you leave.

 

[MNSLEDNECK56308]

Point taken...however what if Bigjohn, and winter brew don't have similar views about snowest chargeing people for THEIR KNOWLEDGE and INFO, and they don't contribute. Then what you get for your $30.........and in three years....Let me know how much info you get......... Just my .02 cents!

 

[311Hemi]

You can get similar info from many other sites, who use their membership base as a way of selling sponsorships/advertising. The more members, the more this is worth to the site. Why not have that income pay for the site instead of members? What they are doing is not the only way it is done. I know of only one other brand specific site that does the same thing......out of all the forums I am on (which is a lot).

I have no problems with offering a paid membership to grant you access to special things, but limiting what you can post/read because you didn't pay crosses the line.

Big John.....the same Big John as on a specific skidoo branded forum that allows free access for it's members? Hmmm....I wonder how they do that?

 

[buck50]

You can get similar info from many other sites, who use their membership base as a way of selling sponsorships/advertising. The more members, the more this is worth to the site. Why not have that income pay for the site instead of members? What they are doing is not the only way it is done. I know of only one other brand specific site that does the same thing......out of all the forums I am on (which is a lot).

I have no problems with offering a paid membership to grant you access to special things, but limiting what you can post/read because you didn't pay crosses the line.

Big John.....the same Big John as on a specific skidoo branded forum that allows free access for it's members? Hmmm....I wonder how they do that?

doesn't dootalk doo that!!!!!!! the doocrew peeps get access to some extra stuff, but the free peeps still have access to the entire site, and no posting/reading restrictions

 

[311Hemi]

doesn't dootalk doo that!!!!!!! the doocrew peeps get access to some extra stuff, but the free peeps still have access to the entire site, and no posting/reading restrictions

Turbo Diesel Register is the only other forum I am aware of that charges it's members. I'm obviously not a member there, and there are other diesel forums to get information without paying for access.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

Doo talk is supported by BRP, just like Can-Am Talk and Spyder talk. That is why you can access all of the them from their respective sites.


And yes DooTalk does have a Member area and is $25 a year. I'm not sure how many members the Doocrew has off the top of my head. But I would think a good chuck of the $25 goes towards the shirt we get every year.

 

[311Hemi]

Dootalk might be a bad example, but come to think of it why doesn't the magazine related/involved with this site help out. Same sort of deal.

Of all the sites you visit, how many require payment to read/post info?

How do HCS do things.....or the refuge if your a duck hunter....hmmm.......

 

[skidooboy]

i am a moderator on dootalk, and other than "normal" advetizing, brp does not give any more support than any other advertizer, nor do they control the site whatsoever. this includes spyder and can-am talk. those sites are independantly owned and operated by craig deats.

and yes, they offer upgrades to paid memberships that give more features but, they do not limit anything a member that is not paid, from reading or posting on the regular forums. ski

 

[buck50]

i am a moderator on dootalk, and other than "normal" advetizing, brp does not give any more support than any other advertizer, nor do they control the site whatsoever. this includes spyder and can-am talk. those sites are independantly owned and operated by craig deats.

and yes, they offer upgrades to paid memberships that give more features but, they do not limit anything a member that is not paid, from reading or posting on the regular forums. ski

thanks for clarifying, that's what i thought!!!!!

 

[MNSLEDNECK56308]

i am a moderator on dootalk, and other than "normal" advetizing, brp does not give any more support than any other advertizer, nor do they control the site whatsoever. this includes spyder and can-am talk. those sites are independantly owned and operated by craig deats.

and yes, they offer upgrades to paid memberships that give more features but, they do not limit anything a member that is not paid, from reading or posting on the regular forums. ski

Oh, so you mean you get something extra for the upgraded membership on dootalk... Novel idea huh SW......

 

[Theron]

Point taken...however what if Bigjohn, and winter brew don't have similar views about snowest chargeing people for THEIR KNOWLEDGE and INFO, and they don't contribute. Then what you get for your $30.........and in three years....Let me know how much info you get......... Just my .02 cents!

Are you going to continue to use Snowest? If not can you please PM me with your contact info. I would hate to compile all of this info I get for three years, and not be able to find you to let you know what I have learned. It will only cost you $30, hey I just found a way get free membership again.

 

[Theron]

doesn't dootalk doo that!!!!!!! the doocrew peeps get access to some extra stuff, but the free peeps still have access to the entire site, and no posting/reading restrictions

I know, Its like the stupid Decpticons have taken over.

 

[SuperJfunk]

You can get similar info from many other sites, who use their membership base as a way of selling sponsorships/advertising. The more members, the more this is worth to the site. Why not have that income pay for the site instead of members? What they are doing is not the only way it is done. I know of only one other brand specific site that does the same thing......out of all the forums I am on (which is a lot).

I have no problems with offering a paid membership to grant you access to special things, but limiting what you can post/read because you didn't pay crosses the line.

Big John.....the same Big John as on a specific skidoo branded forum that allows free access for it's members? Hmmm....I wonder how they do that?

I really see your point here, yes there are other ways to gain the info you're looking for. I can also head on down to the public library and checkout books should I need to research something, but I don't because it's a huge pain in the ***! Some people don't have time to sit around all day and search different forums to try and find an answer to an obscure problem either.

SW offers a convenient way to read about so many different facets of our sport that to some it's worth it. It definitely won't be to all and I agree it's unfortunate that people might not get a free solution to their problems. Good thing you can still read the posts as a free member!!!!!

Really, we spend thousands on just being able to ride, I don't think i'll miss the $0.83 per month. In addition, the supremely helpful folks on here who are also vendors would be dumb NOT to share the same views. As a business, $30 to reach tens of thousands of potential customers is a no brainer. Shoot, maybe it's even tax deductible....advertising!

 

[diggerdown]

The whole problem has been caused by Christopher and his negative approach from the start. He comes on and says they are losing money by providing us with a site to share info and now we are going to have to pay. If he would have said, if you wish to keep things like they are, do nothing, but we are offering you an opportunity to get an online version of the mag, be able to make silly faces at other members online and at the same time a portion of the subscription fee will go to snowmobile groups and causes all for less than the cost of just the mag. subscription, the idea may have been accepted. People take exception to being kicked out of something they have been an asset to for years.

 

[311Hemi]

I really see your point here, yes there are other ways to gain the info you're looking for. I can also head on down to the public library and checkout books should I need to research something, but I don't because it's a huge pain in the ***! Some people don't have time to sit around all day and search different forums to try and find an answer to an obscure problem either.

SW offers a convenient way to read about so many different facets of our sport that to some it's worth it. It definitely won't be to all and I agree it's unfortunate that people might not get a free solution to their problems. Good thing you can still read the posts as a free member!!!!!

Really, we spend thousands on just being able to ride, I don't think i'll miss the $0.83 per month. In addition, the supremely helpful folks on here who are also vendors would be dumb NOT to share the same views. As a business, $30 to reach tens of thousands of potential customers is a no brainer. Shoot, maybe it's even tax deductible....advertising!

You do realize that vendors/sponsors most likely pay a lot more money to advertise their products here than just a basic membership. We will see if they continue to do so if membership level drop.

Also....if other sites can offer this same service free of charge, what's the difference here that would justify a membership fee? It's ultimately their decision and then can do as they please, but I believe membership will suffer from it......and ultimately information. I believe a few large sites I am on pay one or two members of the staff (main admin) as a full time job from the money they generate from sponsors.

They have a means to bring in money from other areas.....why not sure it?

 

[mmaxcarver]

Regardless how much they charge it's childish to start charging after all these years, they gain a huge following and then they start charging, setting the trap then springing it on us.... I guess that's how corporate America works, greed always rules... Let advertisers like "Tracks USA" pay for server and software upgrades....

 

[NorthMNSledder]

i am a moderator on dootalk, and other than "normal" advetizing, brp does not give any more support than any other advertizer, nor do they control the site whatsoever. this includes spyder and can-am talk. those sites are independantly owned and operated by craig deats.

and yes, they offer upgrades to paid memberships that give more features but, they do not limit anything a member that is not paid, from reading or posting on the regular forums. ski

That is interesting to know. That's not the story I got from two Ski-Doo reps while talking about the race program last fall. Good to have it from the source, thanks for the info!!

 

[sidewinder]

Running a business

If you have ever been in a managerial role within a business I think you understand why SW had to do what they did. SW was faced with a tough business decision, operate as they had and continue to get hammered for having a slow and ineffective web site, or: spend a ton of money on infrastructure and hire more people to provide a premium service that customers ultimately see value in. The market will determine the final outcome. If it is that terrible though, people will vote with their dollar and leave the site.

 

[skidooboy]

That is interesting to know. That's not the story I got from two Ski-Doo reps while talking about the race program last fall. Good to have it from the source, thanks for the info!!

dootalk has even went further with member help. they have THEIR OWN racing sponsorship program. the members buy "laps" for racers/races, the money goes to a general fund to be distributed by dootalk for racers that are chosen by the lap purchasers.

in years past they sponsored some pretty big name up and commers with wsa pro teams. the last two years they have scaled back to more regional grassroots guys.

again as stated, brp has no stake in dootalk other than advertizing. the site started by a gentleman when the rev chassis came out, as a fun forum for like minded rev owners. then it blossomed into it's current member entity which is considerably larger than snowests membership.

ski

 

[311Hemi]

SW was faced with a tough business decision, operate as they had and continue to get hammered for having a slow and ineffective web site, or: spend a ton of money on infrastructure and hire more people to provide a premium service that customers ultimately see value in.

While I agree the market will determine it's outcome....do you even visit any other forums? A ton of money on infrastructure to run a website/forum...don't you think all other forums have these same issue? What are they doing differently here that is requiring so much more money that they need to charge their members?

And who did they hire and what premium service are the providing? Do you see a value in what they have done vs how it was before, I sure don't?

Although being able to be thanked for my post is a nice feature....I'm not paying $30 for it!

It's a web forum....no different than any of the other hundreds of forums out there.