Snowest becoming a PAY SITE?????

[PhantomCat]

People need to quit being tight @ss's. First off a small fee would weed out some of the people here, that just talk sh!t with nothing really to say. Secondly, I know I've sold every sled and trailer, that I've every put up for sale on this sight, so to me that's worth something. Can't see how a small donation or fee for the year, is going to break the bank with folks. I'm sure running a site of this megnitude isn't cheap. With a subcription to the SW magazine, for the subcription fee you get a magazine. Why should SW be out of pocket $$$ to provide a free site, if their losing money? Seems like common business sense to take donations or charge a small fee for the up keep to run this site. If it cost me ten bucks for the year and I sell my sled on here for 12K like I have the last few years, big f#ck!ng deal.............

Could not have said it better myself !!

Can't we all just get along

 

[yammi4ever]

have to agree with dooski on this one also guys. Maybe all the changes haven't been for the better, but a lot of good information passes through this forum every day. Hate to see a few dollars ruin it.

I would bet we will see more and more great sites be asking for dollars as advertising revenue will or already has gone down. I, for one, do not putting a few dollars in. If it is too much I will not pay it, but i will not complain, I will make a choice either way and move on. Hope others will do the same.

Free Market at work, let the strongest survive

 

[03rmking]

92% of what? Lets play with your game..

92% voted no out of 460 that voted
7.9% voted no out of the 5375 that have read the thread
3.0% voted no out of the 14,068 active members
1.1% voted no out of the 36,117 total members.

Your 92% doesn't look that big, IMO.

Like most things, the squeaky wheel gets the grease... There seems to be a lot of people that are only on snowest to complain, to moan, and to carry on. IMO, the only thing that changed are the whiners. There are / is whining about everything now. Too many this, too many that, why wasn't I asked about this, I don't want it to do that.

I love all this, "I am leaving, I am leaving crap.". 10 posts later they are still hear saying they are leaving. Crap, some have been leaving for 2 months already....

LMAO, Twist it however you want. Anybody who knows anything about online forums or ecommerce in general will attest that a paid forum is not a viable business model. Especially in this situation. So again, twist it to make your arguement but I have a grand for SAWS, that if Snowest goes paid less than 5% of the total online viewership will actually pay. In fact I would bet less than 1% would.

I like your insinuation that people who didn't read the thread are counted as YES voters. Seriously? If they are too lazy or perhaps not interested in reading the thread, do you think they would even have a remote interest in partaking in a required membership fee? LOL

 

[03rmking]

Let me elaborate for a second on my thoughts. For a paid forum to have even a remote chance at working it must provide a unique service or content selection that can not easily be replicated elsewhere. When perhaps a dozen other FREE reputable forums already exist and anyone with $195 (plus a few bucks a month) can purchase a vbulletin license there is only a very small barrier of entry into this market.

Now there is a more viable business model possible that should be pursued if Harris Pub is dead set on charging. Instead of charging those who provide the daily content (posters), charge a small fee to use the swap meet. While I still feel this isn't a 'good' option, it is much easier to charge in a situation where profit and money exchange is involved. As opposed to charging for content exchange.


...IMO

 

[bushy]

If nothing else...10 pts for Dizz

I'm sure we'll all kick in a buck or two for the servers and some for admin, but I'm not going to fund your hot-tub ventures.

 

[irondave86]

Burandt switched to polaris? That bassterd better not be expecting people to pay him when everybody knows you can ride for free!!!

 

[NorthMNSledder]

Let me elaborate for a second on my thoughts. For a paid forum to have even a remote chance at working it must provide a unique service or content selection that can not easily be replicated elsewhere. When perhaps a dozen other FREE reputable forums already exist and anyone with $195 (plus a few bucks a month) can purchase a vbulletin license there is only a very small barrier of entry into this market.

Now there is a more viable business model possible that should be pursued if Harris Pub is dead set on charging. Instead of charging those who provide the daily content (posters), charge a small fee to use the swap meet. While I still feel this isn't a 'good' option, it is much easier to charge in a situation where profit and money exchange is involved. As opposed to charging for content exchange.


...IMO

Do you really think you can run a Snowest type site for $195 and a FEW bucks a month? Really?

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

Do you really think you can run a Snowest type site for $195 and a FEW bucks a month? Really?

I think the boys over at BCR are doing just that.
Go look and see for yourself.....

http://backcountryrebels.com/index.php

 

[NorthMNSledder]

I think the boys over at BCR are doing just that.
Go look and see for yourself.....

http://backcountryrebels.com/index.php

I bet they have a little more into the site then $195. (computers, servers and what ever other start-up costs there are or don't they need that stuff?)


And I have already seen the site since I'm a member there also

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

I bet they have a little more into the site then $195. (computers, servers and what ever other start-up costs there are or don't they need that stuff?)


And I have already seen the site since I'm a member there also

Well of course they need that stuff!
AFTER the start-up costs are taken care of was what I believe Tom was referring to.

 

[Rob1334]

Ok, just chiming in with a few things here, nothing major just what I got.

Some peeps were wondering about the views vs. actual members who seen it, I have just over 1100 different members who have viewed the thread, and about 6800 views, so I would guess it refreshes as peeps visit the thread, and a lot have been viewing this thread!!!

As for a response, Chris is working on something that will have a LOT of questions answered. He has put a lot of time into addressing everyone, and a very well written response is coming out.

I think what Tom was refering to was the cost of vbulletin licensing, a one time signup and then so much in support from the parent company, servers, hardware, etc of course will be more.

I have no problem speaking my mind especially to Chris (he will tell you that first hand haha), but right now he is dealing with some real family issues that might be very private to him (he can share if he wants but I am in no place to say...), no matter how much hate you have for actions or posts or whatever, he is still a dealing with a lot outside SW and has some medical issues in his close family that I am sure he would appreciate the prayers of the forum. The sooner the mess his family is dealing with cleans up the sooner he can get back to SW, but when health and family are in the equation family is first...

 

[03rmking]

I bet they have a little more into the site then $195. (computers, servers and what ever other start-up costs there are or don't they need that stuff?)


And I have already seen the site since I'm a member there also

There is absolutely no need to purchase or run your own servers. That is what web hosting companies are for. Any entry level hosting package literally starts at a few bucks a month and then you scale from there as needed. There is no need to build your own datacenter simply to open a website.

 

[1M800]

Ok, just chiming in with a few things here, nothing major just what I got.

Some peeps were wondering about the views vs. actual members who seen it, I have just over 1100 different members who have viewed the thread, and about 6800 views, so I would guess it refreshes as peeps visit the thread, and a lot have been viewing this thread!!!

As for a response, Chris is working on something that will have a LOT of questions answered. He has put a lot of time into addressing everyone, and a very well written response is coming out.

I think what Tom was refering to was the cost of vbulletin licensing, a one time signup and then so much in support from the parent company, servers, hardware, etc of course will be more.

I have no problem speaking my mind especially to Chris (he will tell you that first hand haha), but right now he is dealing with some real family issues that might be very private to him (he can share if he wants but I am in no place to say...), no matter how much hate you have for actions or posts or whatever, he is still a dealing with a lot outside SW and has some medical issues in his close family that I am sure he would appreciate the prayers of the forum. The sooner the mess his family is dealing with cleans up the sooner he can get back to SW, but when health and family are in the equation family is first...

Thanks for the info. I can't believe where this thread has gone. I enjoy hanging out on SW. Some good info and alot of bs. But seriously...it is a forum! People take this $hit so serious. Give the guy a break! As mentioned above SW is not his whole life. I know personally family always come first.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

There is absolutely no need to purchase or run your own servers. That is what web hosting companies are for. Any entry level hosting package literally starts at a few bucks a month and then you scale from there as needed. There is no need to build your own datacenter simply to open a website.

Interesting to know.

Thanks Tom!

 

[03rmking]

Interesting to know.

Thanks Tom!

Sorry, don't mean to come off a little harsh. I just want to see Snowest make the right decisions and remain at the top, where they've always been!

 

[rknight111]

Watch all the snowmobile sites come out of the woodwork, lol, Let me tell you its not all that easy. Getting hundreds of emails and PM's everynight. Always doing upgrades to hardware and software and you need commited people to assist. And working nights and weekends to get advertisers to pay for the venture isn't all a walk in the park. A good dedicated server combo will run between $500 - $900 a month, Either you have a big pocket book or you can sale Ice to an eskimo if you plan on going down that road.

Im sure if Snowest is doing somthing like this mabie its a premium member program which gives you more access like pics and some info. I once thought of somthing like this as there are alot of websites that offer that. It doesn't mean its all over. I wont be doing this with my site but see all the controversy and people posting there site url's all over.

 

[25oht6]

Originally Posted by 25oht6
Burandt switched to polaris? That bassterd better not be expecting people to pay him when everybody knows you can ride for free!!!

So one mod thanks me for this post; another mod deletes it (for lanuguage, yet this quote is left here). My problem here has always been overzealous moderation. Are we supposed to fall in line with mainstream media? If so, I'm offended severly by this picture and will be contacting the ACLU.

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At ALL of it...but mostly at sw Pub. HAHAHA. Thumbs up to you Mr. S.

Hey Mod! Scott used the letter F! Make him sit in the corner!!! And Scott, shame on you for laughing at other people's funny jokes.




If it goes paid or not, at least let people retain their personalities.

 

[BigRed118]

First can everyone please do this If not, then try one of these .

Please understand that as moderators we are volunteering our valuable time to you. We try to help make this forum the best snowmobile forum on the planet!! Which sometimes means deleting posts and doing things that not everyone agrees with. Please respect that these threads can be read by thousands of people and not everyone wants to see hostility or personal attacks. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Even on forums you are making impressions on people all over the world. Which is unfortunately why moderators are needed.

If there is something we are doing wrong or something you would like to see changed. You have every opportunity to PM us and let us know. Most of you know that if there is something I can do to help out I will. Things won't magically change if you never voice your concerns. And we will listen and help or pass on the information to make better decisions.

Christopher nor Snowest is out to get anybody. They are truly trying to help make this site better. The details will be along shortly, but some of you are creating your own scenario already. Getting upset is really not justified at this point. We know there will be questions along the way and we want to address as many as we can right away.

This site has so many good things to offer. So, why waste your time being upset on here? Especially about nothing more than rumors. There is probably some cool stuff going on over in the IQ forum.

I thought this was already the best snow forum on the planet. That is based on membership. If I heard correctly a while back, it is one of the most visited forums period. Over 4000 people online at one time back in January. Then things started changing. Not trying to bring politics into this but this is sounding way to familiar.

 

[Riff Raff]

yeaaa right ....

a $195 fee and set up will run the traffic and volume that snowest handles. everyone thinks that other site is fast.. wait until a few thousand users are on at once like here. whoever runs that site will get getting notices from the host site about exceeding storage/ bandwidth etc. then what ? upgrade to this it only costs 4 figures now then on and on. will they ask for $$ , will they suck up the cost because they wanna be cool or they are rich? you think the ads will pay for it all? lol. snowest is trying to look long range and stay viable.

If they structured this site like pirated4x4.com where any one can visit and post, but only red star members ~$20 /year get avatars/search function/ sections not available to non payers.. vender need to pay 100/year to sell their wares... true venders not guys selling thier sled. this site would stay alive and do well.



i know i run a few small web sites that have had to expand do to increased traffic.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

Sorry, don't mean to come off a little harsh. I just want to see Snowest make the right decisions and remain at the top, where they've always been!

Not harsh at all and I'm sure with all the traffic you get from this site you have a lot more personally riding on it then most of the regular users.