Donations will now be subscriptions

[blantonl]

Lindsay,

Your attempt to elude responsibility is irrevelant to the situation. Making a "coliseum event" out of my refund request is absurb for a business. I am shocked and dismayed by your attempt to make use this situation as enterainment for the masses.

Further, your attempts to humilate me, in the forums is futile. Just 12 hours ago, we existed in harmony. Creating policies that generate this type of confrontation provides an opprotunity for further critisism from guests and members.

Finally, you lost before your stated by not engaging the community before your spontaneous policies emerged. I find the irony that you know choose to engage the community after you made your policy.

Amusement,

First, let me start off by saying that your contributions to this site are greatly appreciated, and I'm sure all the members here of the site can agree with me on that statement.

However, you came out of the gate on this issue by telling another member "why don't you let your WTF post stand, I agree". No one is eluding responsiblity except yourself. You made a concious decision to donate money to this web site. We can all have our oppinions about this issue, however, that stuck a nerve with me. I don't like people coming out like jerks on a situation like this, and frankly, that's how I took it. Am I a little sensitive about this issue, you bet... I have great reason to be.

So then your very next posting was, "I want my money back." I don't care how gentle you make the request, the smack in the face to me and the rest of the site is the same. If you didn't want this to be a collisieum event, you would have sent me a private email explaining that "I'd like my money back, here is my reasoning" Instead, you posted it publicly. You then subsequently through further postings attempt to question the process and manner for which I run this web site.

Finally, management by consensus does not work. As you can see by the results of this thread alone, we would have made no further progress on this issue if I would have "engaged the community."

 

[blantonl]

I know I am risking a ban by agreeing, but I don't like the way The President (if this is a business) has acted. The thing about raising the donations, then doubleing that to a "membership" just seems like something that is not well thought out...........

His attitude has also left a sour taste in my mouth (thank god this is not hamsexy )

The president can't please everyone... so my appologies to those that don't agree with the way that the site is being run. I'm doing my best to think things out for the benefit of everyone. I suppose though, just like the President of the United States, I can't please everyone. That is the unfortunant part of this process... and frankly it is upsetting to see so many folks, on an issue so minor in the whole scheme of things, devote so much negativity.

I feel my attitude on this issue is par for the course. Just put yourself in my shoes.

And please folks, please remember, that I've said numerous times that access to the database, forums, and wiki has been, and will always be free.

So frankly, I do not understand why I am being villified by the members of this site. It doesn't make sense.....

 

[SCPD]

Hi Lindsay and others.

The passion on this issue seems to be no less than many others that have come about on the boards. I don't agree with the personal "how could you" attitudes being displayed by so many.

That aside, I wanted to ask (or more clarify) an aspect of the new subscription that I'm not sure has been addressed.

Will it be permissable to pay for a quarter subscription only when the user needs it--as opposed to the entire 30 dollar fee? I think if that is the case people will be a touch more at ease about the whole deal. Right now it looks as though people see the 30 dollar thing and say wholly S*** that's a bunch of money that I won't be able to spend on a new scanner . Unless they're accessing the added value features all the time, it might just make more sense to pay only during a period they may actually want the extra features...Yes? No? Did I miss it on this one?

I made my additional contribution prior to the second change and I'm ok with that but for my use I think the option of pay only when I need those services once or twice per year would be better.

Hopefully the dust will settle and the new subscription system will work out for all of us in the end. I have previously stated that the nightmares of dealing with the many issues of managing a site like this are worth the money alone.

For those against the new system...Simple don't pay. If you can do it better...Go do it. I can't imagine McDonalds (as an example) being open to having any of us wander into a particular location to tell them that they need to roll back prices...serve this instead of that etc. etc. Unless we own it, we have no right to TELL anyone how to run a business...Suggest yes. Demand no.

Happy monitoring.

 

[blantonl]

wheelchair,

absolutely, the subscription model works so that someone can purchase the value added services for 90 days at a time, for $7.50.

That adds up to 30/per year for those that want the full year.

Lindsay

 

[scnnr]

Lindsay

Rather than reading through 6 pages of whining and pissing on about the subscription fee I just want to know if you will let us know via the user profile or email when and what amount is due. I know I just added another $20. US last week I believe.

Maybe you could point out just how much pay pal takes out of that $30. I never even gave that a thought when I donated. Thinking you are getting the full amount of my donation.

Oh and to all those that can't find what amounts to be $2.50 a month come on. I just retired last summer and can still afford that no problem. After all this site is one that I spend countless hours at.

Randy


EDIT: Ok I see the boss was going to make me read the whole thread to find my answer. Found it. Thanks again Lindsay for all your hard work.

 

[scnnr]

hi even though i am not a donator yet. how about charging a donation of $15. every six months instead of a flat out $30. at one time. ps this is a very interseting subject.

I like your " HANDLE" made me smile when I say it, I thought of Lindsay right away having lots of those " [SIZE=-1]Maalox moments[/SIZE] " the last couple of days.

Just trying to inject some smiles here Lindsay.. :wink::wink::wink::wink:

 

[amusement]

Lindsay, deleting my previous post today does not help your position.

 

[blantonl]

Amusement, nothing you say in this "argument" will improve your position. Let it go man, let it go....

 

[tonsoffun]

Hey Guys,
I would like to know if I pay, let say $60.00. Would that get me 2 full years of using the features.
If Lindsay can post some info on this whole issue because my balls are getting itchy reading all the posts so that would be great .
Take care

 

[blantonl]

It would get you more than that if you donated today because we are giving extra "credits" to folks that are previous donaters before the July 1st switchover.

Lindsay

 

[DaveH]

DaveH sorry if I sounded a bit sarcastic.I have had a bad week.I well tri an lern how too spill ok : )

Wilf, don't worry about it. One of the only good things about a bad week is that hopefully
will be followed by a better one. The tone of this discussion is somewhat stressful as well.

I once misspelled my name as "Save" (S and D are adjacent on the keyboard. I hit return
and didn't notice. The subject matter of the message annoyed someone who started his response
with "Well, Save...."

Dave

 

[Radio1114]

Ok I just payed another $15.00 on top of the $5.00 and $10.00 I already payed.The site is definatly worth every penny.Lindsay I have come to the conclusion this has got way out of hand.I agree now if you want it buy it if you don,t will don,t.Lindsay keep up the good work.Now I should be good for a while I hope lol.

 

[eorange]

Lindsay, will there be additional fields in the User CP to help us manage our subscription (i.e. the last renewal and/or expiration date)?

 

[rescue161]

I think that if you do not donate, then you should be limited to how many times you can access info on the database. I think that three free "views" of the database per day is more than adequate. If you need more than three, then donate the .09 cents a day.

I think someone else posted this idea on the deleted thread, but I didn't see it in the previous six pages..

 

[DaveH]

It's Lindsay's site. If he wants to charge for access to databases, charge for forums, charge for fancy titles or censor
your posts, anything goes. You're in his house, you play by his rules.

One of the things I did when I published guides was to offer them at a reduced rate or even for free to people who contributed
quality information. Sure, I had people who would submit garbage just to try to scam a free guide out of me, but I also had
people that were really committed to having accurate and complete information, and shared it with me.

When I look at a username on this site and it says "Donating Member" it really means nothing to me. I don't think they're any
better or worse than anyone else, as anyone can pay a few bucks to get the badge. I would very much like to see a badge
that says "Contributing Member." Something to signify people who are making active contributions to the database.

There are many sections of the database that are woefully incomplete, especially in rural areas. I've submitted probably
50+ entries for my local area, something that I'd value much more than the money I've donated.

Data submissions won't pay the bills, but without useful database content, the site extras are of limited value.

Just something to think about.

This summarizes my thoughts fairly well. Money and info donations are both important; it's a case of
"what's one without the other".

Dave

 

[blantonl]

Yes, there will be extensive subscription management components to keep up to speed on the subscriptions in your profile.

In addition, I disagree on making people pay for viewing the database.. frankly the database should be open, since everyone is a contributor. The purpose of the subscription is for value added features for folks who use the database extensively. I certainly don't think it is fair if someone contributes information to the database, and then I tell them they can only view it three times a day.... then I might really have some negativity around here.. ;-)

 

[KC1UA]

I won't waste anyone's time by rehashing all of the positive reasons for this. I will say Lindsay that as the Administrator of a small/regional scanning site that it can at times be a full time job in and of itself. Granted you have your database admins assisting you, but I'm not sure how you juggle it, family, and that pesky full time job.

Speaking of being a database admin, I am one, but quite honestly I don't do a great deal of work in it, although I try to keep my area up to date when I can. That said I will gladly subscribe for the small price of $30 a year. Being able to quickly import data into any number of hobby related software packages (PRO-9X, ARC, UniTrunker etc) is most certainly worth the price of admission alone.

Rich Wells was considering a subscription service at one point in time. I (tongue in cheek) suggested to him that if he really wanted to generate revenue he should perhaps modify the site to be a dual purpose radio hobbyist/adult entertainment site named "Strong Hot Wet Signals". Obviously that didn't pan out, and I truly believe that you can give it a go on the radio hobby alone...

 

[kikito]

Rich Wells was considering a subscription service at one point in time. I (tongue in cheek) suggested to him that if he really wanted to generate revenue he should perhaps modify the site to be a dual purpose radio hobbyist/adult entertainment site named "Strong Hot Wet Signals".

I bet if that was the case here (adult entertainment), there wouldn't be any complaining and people would be pouring in the money to subscribe! :lol:

Of course, that was "tongue in cheek" also......

 

[JoeyC]

I can't believe this thread has as much momentum as it does. I have been a donator for a number of years and probably am way overdue to re-donate based on the amount of information I have pulled from radioreference.com.

You people that are whining and *****ing about this change need to GROW UP AND SHUT UP. As Lindsay has stated already NUMEROUS times, most of this site remains free and isn't going to change. ALL of the database information and forums are FREE.

Personally, I have RARELY (if ever) used any of the added-value services that require donation/subscriptions. ALL of the information is available for FREE and is remaining FREE!

Those of you griping about the donations/subscriptions/change of $ or amounts of subscriptions are no different than those who steal or pirate software. The extra services you get for contributions/donations/subscription are for the priviledge of using Lindsays online software. If you don't want to use it - DON'T pay for a subscription. How MUCH simpler could that concept be???

Lindsay has been MORE than generous in offering current donators a complimentary subscription based on their PRIOR contributions. This is MOST generous considering some of us may not have even contributed in the past year.

I can't believe there are so many babies in this community. All you free-loaders (both donators and non-donators) that are griping about this nominal change, I say GROW UP! If you don't want to pay for a subscription KNOCK YOURSELF OUT and make your own damned PDF files and scanner programming aids based on the FREE information you get here already.

 

[f2]

Six pages, man that was painful but I got through them, less the post edits etc. I have to hand it do Lindsay and applaud his patience. Open questioning and criticism of the owner / admin folk are usually dealt with a tad more harshly elsewhere. And how about those “it won’t bother me, but what about the other guys who can’t afford…” blah blah blah blah blah.

I don’t mind supporting this valuable resource.

Tic, but, I would like to suggest a mandatory listing of age in the profile. But then again it would only be physical age and not, well, you know.