Donations will now be subscriptions

[DaveH]

Lindsay,

Just a comment on polls, although that thread is closed. I think you knew what
the answer is, as did most of the other credible people on the site without the
need for a poll. Polls like this tend to attract people who are most dissatisfied,
or those who support the apparent "winning" view. A lot of chest-thumping
goes on, which further biases the outcome. That's why I don't place a whole
lot of stock in them. Personally, I'm not much in favour of the return of donations
in this case, although you might want to cut a bit of slack in a few cases. If the
site is worth what you are asking, which it is, the facts will stand for themselves.

Dave

 

[hawkeye]

donation

I sent my 5.00 donation last month 4-15, to get a few local scanner frequencies for my
area, but haven had any response yet, would lik to see what is offered for the added
charges, not happy so far.

 

[Jeffn8wb]

Hawkeye, why don't you just use the database to look up the frequencies? The database is free.

 

[mciupa]

I sent my 5.00 donation last month ... but haven had any response yet. Would like to see what is offered for the added charges, not happy so far.

I'm guessing you sent it via snail-mail as opposed to Paypal.
Check with the bank , has that check number gone through ?
If so, contact this site's Administrator to check into it.

Also hawkeye this request should been in a new thread (posts 142 to 144) as it doesn't apply to the discussion at hand. :wink:

 

[blantonl]

I sent my 5.00 donation last month 4-15, to get a few local scanner frequencies for my
area, but haven had any response yet, would lik to see what is offered for the added
charges, not happy so far.

Hawkeye, there is a big nice sticky above this thread in regards to this issue entitled "Donated, but Still No Access"?

http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28997

Take a peek at that, then folllow the instructions and I'll take care of this issue ASAP. (That goes for anyone having a problem)

Warm regards,

Lindsay

 

[shadow7271]

Lindsay, the $30 is fine with me... Some of you guys *****ing about $30 is crazy, some of you make that and more on a sale of a scanner so think of it as a commision. $30 isn't so bad.. Stop *****ing or go to another site.... Oh you can't because this is the best site....

 

[hotdjdave]

Posts Removed; Scanner Software Interface Usage of RR - Violation of Agreement

Why were my posts from this thread removed? I see that others who discussed what I was discussing (described below) had their posts removed, as well.

I wrote about the fact that suddenly charging additional for a subscription here might violate agreements with software makers (Butel, Win96. etc), being that purchasers of that software assumed that their initial subscription with RR would be sufficient for their software to interface with the application. Some poeple pay up to $99 for the software, expecting it to perform as described. I wrote that this might constitute a breech in contract or even false adverstising for the makers of the software. I wrote that before any final decision is made to start charging additional fees to access the needed features at RR, this issue need be resolved. I also wrote that if the additional fees were not retroactive would be a sound resolution to this and other problems arising from need to increase the fee to access RR features.

I also wrote that I do not have a problem with the fee hike, and will pay the necessary fees; only that I feel it should not be retroactiive for the reasons described above. I wrote that I fully support Linday's website and his sacrifice and dedication to it.

Again, I am not sure why my posts were removed. Was this a major issue that "someone" didn't want others to view?

Planning to send in my payment soon!

 

[Jeffn8wb]

The only thing that I would think is that when purchasing software, the makers of Win96 etc are not affiliated with this website. So to purchase the software and not be able to download from here really doesn't make them liable. The two fees are seperate and users have the choice to purchase one, the other, or both.

 

[hotdjdave]

Support

The only thing that I would think is that when purchasing software, the makers of Win96 etc are not affiliated with this website. So to purchase the software and not be able to download from here really doesn't make them liable. The two fees are seperate and users have the choice to purchase one, the other, or both.

I am not saying the RR is liable for anything, but that purchasers of the software have an expectation that the software will perform as described at the time of purchase. What I am saying is that the fact that the fee hike is retoractive, this may cause the software that we purchased to not perform as described by the manufacturer. Making the fee hike to be NOT retroactive would avoid this problem.

Again, I have no problem with the fee hike, membership dues, donation increase, or whatever you want to call it. The small fee we pay to use this site and its services is well worth it (so far). I just think that it should not be retroactive, for the above described reason, and because when we first agreed to pay the donation to access the services, we were not informed that the amount would change or be an annual requirement. If it was, I still would have paid and joined anyway. I guess it is the principle of the matter. I still plan to pay whatever fee is required (within reason).

Again, I applaud and support Lindsay and all the Admins for their hard work and dedicaiton - if I could be an Admin, I would. Moreover, I applaud all of us who have contributed to this site, both financially and informatively. As I have written, I advertise and talk about this site whenever I can, to whomever I can (in emails, in person, on my groups, etc.).

Go RR!!

 

[hawkeye]

I guess i am lazy, but if I had the files all ready in pro 97 format I could save a lot of time
and I would be more sure they were correct maybe.

 

[blantonl]

Dave,

No one removed your posts - at least, I didn't remove anything from this thread.

It is very clear that the Web service is just that - a service. There is no expectation or false advertising if a software developer points you to the Web service and indicates that you must be a donating user, which requires you to meet the terms and conditions of the Web service provider. you didn't purchase a license to use the value added services, like the license you purchased when buying a piece of software.

As far as the manufacturer is concerned, the software is performing exactly to specifications - it sends a request to radioreference.com within the specifications outlined in the Web service, and a request is either granted or denied based upon radioreference.com's determination. In that case, in that scenario, the software has performed exactly as one should expect. The change over to the new model has a blended "NOT retroactive" model which does not cut off folks from the existing model, but rather very gracefully transitions them to the new one.

Folks, read the bold print. NOT A SINGLE PERSON WHO DONATED MONEY TO RADIOREFERENCE.COM WILL BE CUT OFF ON JULY 1ST 2006. Is that clear? Everyone will be transitioned to the new subscription model and EVERYONE WILL BE GIVEN CREDIT IN THE FORM OF A NEW SUBSCRIPTION FOR THEIR DONATION.

Along these same lines, no one who donated in the previous model should have ANY "expectation" of services to be performed other than a "best-effort" by me and radioreference.com. If the site went out of business tomorrow, no one would have a legal expectation to come back and demanding their donation back because of such.

In a subscription model, that is a little different, and I'll have to account for expectations which are somewhat more solid when someone pays for a subscription.

I swear, you guys are making mountains out of an ant hill .... I've never in my life see anything like this.

Amazing!

 

[fmon]

I guess i am lazy, but if I had the files all ready in pro 97 format I could save a lot of time
and I would be more sure they were correct maybe.

Hawkeye,
Download Win97 and purchase a cable, donate 5 bucks to this site. This will allow you to to retrieve (Web Import) Pro-97 files for 30 days after you download Win97. I'm also lazy and use the Import feature often for a 96 and 2096. However, I consider 5 bucks to be extremely cheap for my laziness so I donated 8 times that amount long before that added feature was even considered by the webmaster of this site and the software developers.

The real bonus with this new "subscription" model is that Lindsay is graciously giving me credit for that donation and is adding an additional 4 bucks credit (10%) because of that donation.

Shoot, I could happily send him 15 bucks today and get credit until July 2008.

 

[Kirk]

I swear, you guys are making mountains out of an ant hill .... I've never in my life see anything like this.

You must not watch C-SPAN.

 

[STiMULi]

Tons o' People standing in the side of the road watching the Band Wagons go by...

"Hey!

Look at that one! Let's everyone get on that bandwagon!"

(I think if one thinks that a subscription to this site is THAT expensive then some poeple might want to sell thier scanners to buy gas instead )

 

[blantonl]

No kidding!

I supposed we could be like:

http://www.nationalradiodata.com

and charge 30.00/per year for access to FCC databases and information that is already public. :roll:

 

[amusement]

Yes You Did

If you wanted a "refund" or "your money back" or whatever you want to call it, you could have emailed me directly and stated your position. Instead, you started out of the gate, standing behind someone else's sarcastic comment, and publicly requested a "refund" of your donation. Amusement, YOU made this issue with you public, not me.



No, it is an affirmation of my position, and I believe the "people" have spoken, you know, the same people you are trying to turn in your favor.



As you can see Amusement, I get blasted from all directions, not just you. Frankly, many times critical postings result in changes for the better. However, If you feel justified to "stir" up the community here, and try to turn the tide against what I have worked so hard to cultivate and develop then you better expect me to come back and tell you to pound sand, yell into the toilet, and chew your arm off...


I belive in the broadest sense I've put forth more burden and duties then you could even claim to have "shared" with me. Just look at what I have to do to manage negative individuals such as yourself.

It's a difficult task to effect change. I have received unconstructive feedback and comments (a few are very imaginative). None have hurt my feelings . Some folks are fustrated over the way this has headed. Other's have rallied around Lindsay. A minority have agreed with my position.

What I have gleemed from the posts in this thread is it's fustrating to administrate while balancing self interests and financial goals. Constructive critisism is needed. Personal conflicts are going to happen. It's a matter of managing the situation and not letting the conflict managing you.

Releasing the amount of my donations to the public was not necessary but, it was done.
I would not like to have my personal information leaked ... even in the heat of a conflict.

My dog tells me I have spent too much time trying to defend my position and effect a level of change. Or, it's time to through the ball in the backyard.

This conversation is over. But, I am confident Lindsay will put in the last word.

 

[hotdjdave]

I like to watch ant hills for a while...and then I get a can of WD40 and a lighter.:twisted:

 

[rescue161]

Amusement,

I just have to ask... Why did you donate in the first place?

 

[scanjunkie]

Hey Lindsay,
I'm in...$30 a year for this great site is a bargain as far as I'm concerned!! Even if I never used any of the value added features (Which I do, but if I didn't) I would still pay the money to help keep the site running!! Great business decision in my opinion!!
Keep up the good work!!

 

[sking128]

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.

From what I have seen so far, it's not a flat out all at once fee of $30. You can pay $7.50 per quarter if you want.

As for the value added features, it has personnaly saved me from throwing my PRO-96 across the room. I do use the MyRR, it is a very quick way of seeing if there are any updates to the systems I am Monitoring (CO DTRS for one). I haven't used the PDF stuff yet, but maybe in the future.

Lindsay, Keep up the good work. I WILL continue to subscribe in the future.

Steve