BladeForums.Com is shutting down! PLEASE READ!

M

Mike Turber

Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
5,461
I am sure you shuddered when you read the headline. Now that I have your attention I want you to understand it can happen and I am trying my best to prevent it.

Folks this is serious!

We are doing our best to keep this site open. As you have already seen elsewhere, keeping a site like this open is no easy task. The more successful we become, the more overhead we take on.

The BFC Store only takes in about $1,000 a month in sales. At about 35% profit that is only $350 and that does not include any overhead!

I can open a HUGE retail web site here and with the traffic we generate, I know we would make enough money to keep this site open and do many other wonderful things, but we would also alienate most all Internet dealers.

So what we must do is offer you guys something you want and make a few bucks to keep this site up and keep things fresh and new around here.

Bandwidth ain't FREE! Neither is software, the server and many other things I pay for to keep us running. We have done OK with several items we have sold in the past, but we can not keep throwing knives at you folks, as it would turn this site into a commercial site. I do not want to do that, although if I must, I will.

What I do want is some subscriptions to our magazine! To date we only have 45! Arrrggggggg......

So please help us help you!

I don't ask for much. Those of you who have done more than your fair share to keep us running I thank you personally from the bottom of my heart.

We now have a way for many of you to show your support and get something KICK ASS in return!

Our Trial addition of "To The Point", our NEW On-Line knife magazine is up for your review. www.bladeforums.com/magazine
The trial issue is a scaled down version of what the magazine will be like. Our actual issues will be much larger and contain many reviews, pictures and stories for your enjoyment. Plus you will learn about new products, months before the printed magazines. And just like BladeForums, it will grow into a "Must See".
Plus if you subscribe today, you will get your choice of a FREE knife, Shirt or a SeberTool M2!
See our subscription page for ordering. www.bladeforums.com/magazine/subscribe.html
Here is what you can expect from our new on-line magazine.
  • No Fluff and no BS! Like you, I am tired of reading that every knife made is great. Well some are and some are not. Either way you will get the truth all right here in one easy to swallow package.
  • Unlike the magazines, we will be able to respond very quickly to new products. Manufacturers will be able to showcase their products within days of their arrival rather than waiting months to just get a chance to be in a rag. We will show EVERY new knife that comes our way in the very next issue or we can update a current issue! You can't do that with a regular print magazine.
  • Current events in our industry will be reported in our very next issue! And we may even have live remotes and updates while we attend shows.
  • Pictures, lots of pictures! Unlike the rags, we are not limited to space.
  • On-line access to ALL previous issues! Can't do that with any rag.
  • We will have unique contests for subscribers only.
  • Write your own article and have it published! Members are encouraged to submit any articles to us at anytime on nearly any subject relating to knives, martial arts and survival skills. You may even make a few bucks or get a FREE knife!
    Send articles and pictures to article@bladeforums.com
    We reserve the right to edit content.
  • As with BladeForums, we will add many new features and services as they become available. With no limit on size, we can do what we want at anytime without limitation.
  • Tests, Tests and MORE TESTS! You guys love 'em and we will provide them. Not just our tests, but your tests too! If a knife fails, you will know it. Ever see a knife fail in a regular magazine? Of course not! We will publish any and all test results without hesitation.
Our premier issue will debut on January 1st and it will be HUGE!
The trial issue you are about to read now is only an appetizer!
I want to thank each of you for making BladeForums the HUGE success it is. This new on-line magazine is our next logical step. The magazine will also be a way for BladeForums to be self supporting. We have been searching for ways to keep our site running and we feel the new on-line magazine will deliver you the content you have been missing in the print media.
At only $29.95 per year, only $2.49 per issue (plus a FREE gift!), we feel that "To The Point" will be a bargain for the content we will be offering.
I hope you enjoy the new magazine and thank you for supporting BladeForums!

P.S.: Also check out our Knife Exchange section for hot buys from the BladeForums Store and many dealers between now and Christmas. www.bladeforums.com/cgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Knives+for+Sale:+Dealers&number=8
Or visit our Store for special offers. www.bladeforums.com/store/index.html

P.S. II: Also please visit the sites you see on the banners atop each page. These people pay a very large portion of the bills around here.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!

Support BladeForums! Check out the BFC Store!
www.bladeforums.com/store
Subscribe our NEW online magazine!
www.bladeforums.com/magazine
 
I have one suggestion: use social pressure. Create two new classes of bladeforums.com membership: sustaining member and sustaining senior member. To become a sustainer, one just subscribes.

BTW, my subscription was just submitted. Please keep the shirt.


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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick
 
Mike,
I subscribed and will be looking forward to the first issue! Sounds like a lot of good stuff!

When I hit the subscribe button it just told me to pick a free gift. I expected it to ask for credit card, do we pay for the subscription when our password comes i.e. either by credit card or send in a check?
 
I'll try to subscribe after christmas sometime and will take a peak in the store.

Those with money - please try to help out, this site going down would be rather unfortunate...
 
I knew there was something I forgot to do when I ordered that Y2K Apogee. I also grabbed a Red Photon while I was at it.

Come on guys, time to step up.

------------------
James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
Hey I did it........wrong.Mike I clicked the button twice so please dont send me 2 shirts....lol.But please call for cc #.
Take care

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Jay
Life is like a box of chocolates,never know what your gona git!
 
Mike, do you get any money when people click on the advertiser links?

I have a feeling that you don't, but if I'm wrong, and you get a bit of cash, I'm sure that the majority of members would be happy to click away.

Too bad about the lack of subscription sales, but maybe after the Holiday season people will be able to spring for more.

I'll rave like a lunatic about the subscription, so's people will flock to it, knowing what an expert I am in the subj...
On second thought, I'll keep quiet.
wink.gif


Somethin'll work out, don't worry.

Hackin' into Chase Manhattan & CitiBank for the better of the Forums, I remain unaprehended and VG

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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.


 
I tried to subscribe, but I didn't find anywhere to submit my email or anything. I'm pretty sure I was missing something. Could be please help me through it. I got to the "pick your gift" part, but what do I do after that?

Thanks,
Mitch
 
Click on the shopping cart after you selcet the item you want. I will make the page better in the morning to reflect how to use our shopping cart software.

------------------
Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!

Support BladeForums! Check out the BFC Store!
www.bladeforums.com/store
Subscribe our NEW online magazine!
www.bladeforums.com/magazine
 
I just got done ordering my subscpiption. Come on people, let's help to keep this site open. Where else can you learn so much about knives for so little?

------------------
John

 
Less than a dime a day to keep BF afloat AND get a subscription to a cool magazine?

It's a no-lose scenario!!

My subscription is in, and I bought a neat Spyderco sharpening system to boot!

Thanks Mike!


Nick
 
Mike,
So its press on the shopping cart, now I would have never figured that out, I dont feel so bad cause it looks like others didn't figure it out either, I'm glad you changed the page.
 
Photon Light, available at the BFC store, make great gifts for the Holidays! Get one for the woman in your life. My wife uses hers to go spelunking in the cavernous expanse of her purse. My Aunts, sisters, and Mom love theirs as well.

Support the Site!

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
Members of BFC: Thats sad. And the word Sad is probably the best word to describe this. I would put money on the fact that twice as many people said they would subscribe than 45. Come on people, bills don't pay themselves. I'd hate to see Mike get screwed because he tried to his friends a place to meet.

Mike, Spark: Well, I guess you guys could always try to do a handfull of raffles. Might want to go ask Spyderco how thiers turned out. I'd hate to see this site shutdown or become a pay sait.

Sincerely,
Adam

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Self improvement is a hobby of mine :).

 
Good thing you brought that up Adam. I will be test a rafle soon. Maybe as soon as Sunday for the drawing on Friday!



------------------
Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!

Support BladeForums! Check out the BFC Store!
www.bladeforums.com/store
Subscribe our NEW online magazine!
www.bladeforums.com/magazine
 

Um, Mike,

Am I considered to live in a "foreign" country? (Canada)

------------------
KSwinamer
 
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