BladeForums.com SitRep: Please read, IMPORTANT

I love Sal's suggestions. And HERE'S MY CALL TO THE MEMBERS OF THIS FORUM: Although not many of us own a knife company, among the 2000 members (and more lurkers), I'm sure that there are people with resources that we can donate to keep this thing afloat: equipment, knowledge of many kinds, personal/organizational connections, etc. As much enjoyment as we're getting from BladeForums, I hope there're something that we can do to give some back.

slowjocrow
 
Membership fees for hats, shirts, whatever is OK.

Also consider if the paid members would get a little discount from the advertising dealers. Not much, but some members could save their membership fees in one year's time. The increased revenues might also help ease some of the burden from the dealers. Balance the discount versus costs, etc.

Ron
Thoughts from the group W bench.
 
Spark, Mike:

I'm in for a membership.

I also like Sal's idea of donations from the commercially oriented members. As a small distributor I cannot match the generosity Sal has shown but I will donate one Fallkniven knife each month. Please email me with shipping information. The April model will be an A1 Wilderness Survival Knife with Cordura Sheath.

Hope this helps.

Tom L
 
IMHO, a membership fee would kill it only if it's excessive (more than, say, $15/year, which is what you pay for most magazines these days) and only if you don't have some sort of "sign-in right now, first month free, if you don't like it, there's no obligation" sort of feature so that people who come to the site can get in right away and see the discussions and maybe get a month or so free before being asked gently to pony up.

Selling Bladeforums.com tee-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. is a great idea. The margin on that sort of stuff is usually 100-200%.

Another idea would be a voluntary membership which would come with a tee-shirt and maybe a special member class (today we seem to have members and Sr. members. How about members, Sr. members, and Patrons.?

Chuck
 
I think that a membership fee shouldn't be required. Sure we would get alot of money but we would also probably lose a lot of members. I agree with Sal's idea though. We could also do some kind of raffle for more expensive knives. Charge like $3 a ticket.

Sincerely,
Adam
 
A small fee would not be too bad...I am not the richest bloke, but I guess since I owe alot to the members of this site I could spare a few duckies for the priviledge of gleening information here. I also think that Amamantium's suggestion of a raffle would be a good idea. KFc did a couple of auctions on the forum without any special software...If you guys were to have a special knife, like a Military with Sal's siggie in the handle, and were to open a thread with a picture, minimum bid and closing date, there would be alot of takers. An e-zine on disk that could be sent to members on disk would also be nice....the forums is where we find out about the coolest things first..having knife news first will make you really popular...I still want a "Have a Knife Day" boomparskeekar....

There is also the public television style fundraiser...at the $20 level we will give you a t-shirt...at the $50 dollar level we will send you this delightful Ladybug with the BF emblem etched on the blade and the t-shirt...at the $100 level we have the OE Impulse, and the t-shirt, along with a BF coffee Mug....the $200 level's toys are a Canivor (with BF Logo & serialized) and a Mug, and a t-shirt....Etc...I think it can be done...have it set on a secured site so we can rack up the Visa's....every doner gets a boomparsteekar....Don't forget the Cashcounter with the goal underneath...

I like the idea of site hosting...I might be interested in a site if the price is right...I have a line on alot of custom makers with NO net presence yet...I think I can help them out...Anyone interested in IRBI knives?
smile.gif
....

YeK
 
The mult level membership might work. I believe the minimal membership (reading only) should be maintained without fee - to encourage newcomers.

The basic fee should be low ($7-$10) for posting privileges. This would not include the BladeForums T-shirt or other recognition item. BladeForums recognition items would be extra for minimal posting membership.

A higher fee could be a lifetime or an annual fee and would provide magazine membership (the mag costs, so should be paid for by subscription fees). Also the lifetime or more expensive annual fee should include T-shirt or other BladeForums recognition item. For a lifetime fee I would suggest something in the $50-$100 range. Annual type fee should be in the $20-$30 range (similar to a magazine subscription).

Knife raffles would be a neat thing too. I like the free monthly knife thing - please continue that one for all posting members. However, why not provide a higher end knife each month for the higher dollar subscribers? Just a thought (if it smacks of elitism, just ignore this one).

Sal,

Your generosity overwhelms me.
smile.gif
Thank you for your terrific support of BladeForums.
 
After having been here for a while I have no problem with a membership fee. However, if I ran into a fee the first time I looked at a forum I probably would have said no thanks and never returned. It takes a little while to get that “I belong” feeling or to make some friends.
This site needs to remain as inviting as possible to all comers. In other words IMO no membership fee.

I like Yekim suggestion of a PBS style fundraiser. I would go further and have a full calendar of events and avenues of raising support for the operation and improvement of the site.

I would suggest being completely open with the finances having a section that shows current funds and current expenses; projected expenses; proposed improvements and estimated costs. Anytime an event goes the amount of money generated should be posted. I have seen a thermometer graphic used to show progress toward specific goals.

Administration of the site and coordination of fund raising takes the time and effort of skilled and talented people. No one should object to those involved collecting fair compensation for their efforts out of the site fund. After all we all enjoy this site and derive some form of benefit from being here.

Last: I would include things that run all the time and some special events that happen once or twice a year.

All the time items:

Donations
With finances of the site an open book any member at anytime can see what the need is and if they are so inclined the can make a donation. Have an area where they can run their CC. If things are running tight make an announcement and if so inclined members can go to the finance section see for them selves and donate any amount they like.

BF Store
This can do much more then it is. Add more items.

Banner adds
Good move ! it is the most effective dollar for dollar advertising that I spend.

Full page adds
Add a separate section of the site where one full page add space can be purchased. It can be linked to your banner and you can also have a directory page.

Special events once or twice a year:

Donations with offerings
Special events; PBS style “Forum – a – thon” fund raiser. Donate $50 bucks and get a ???? ; $100 and get ???

Auctions
Items that are donated can be auctioned as well as items you acquire at a bargain or that are rare.

Annual gathering / fund raiser
There are hundreds of ways to turn a buck with this.

There always needs to be something going on. Always planing and looking to the next event.
Just my thoughts.
 
I find this site as informative if not more than most magazines I buy. Just yesterday, I spent over $15 for KI, TK and CK. I certainly would not mind forking over that amount to an annual membership.

I support a reasonable membership price, $10-$25 per year. The membership should entail some priveleges, along the line of having first dip at BF specials, e.g. Blue Native, REKAT sifu and other promotionals as well as monthly drawing. Manufacturer/dealer members, along the line of what Sal proposed can offer some merchandize at cost and allow the site to derive some revenue.

If you want to do "special" fundraising events, along the PBS line, that is an a lot of work. But, if you think you have the horses to run with (I not sure I can be counted as one of them), then by all means.

Non members should still be allowed to continue to participate and keep the forums dynamic. Hopefully, they will find the forums useful and be willing to support and access the "priveleges" of a BF membership.

Keep up the good work, Spark & Mike.

sing

[This message has been edited by sing (edited 15 April 1999).]
 
I like the idea of a voluntary membership fee & would be happy to support it, w/ or w/o a shirt or other such incentive item. If, however, you do opt for clothing items, please remember that "one-size-fits-all" doesn't -- 2XL please.

Hopefully, the voluntary membership fee & the other great ideas that have been put forth will provide the necessary financial support. I'd hate to see the volume/quality of posts reduced by a mandatory fee.

------------------
--+Brian+--
 
I am impressed, perhaps even touched, by the generosity of those distributors who have offered knives to sell. This sharing spirit is one of the things which makes Bladeforums.com my absolute favorite source of information on knives. I would gladly pay a 10-15 dollar membership fee, particularly provided it was voluntary.
 
How about a voluntary fee paid back to the forums when you sell a knife, it would encourage buyers to support the forums and would also help the individual sell the knife. Most classified advertisements charge a fee anyway, the for sale posts here are free. If sellers start contributing a portion of the sale to blade forums I think it would catch on. It's small but we gotta start somewhere.Maybe 2% of total sale....
Mike200

[This message has been edited by Mike200 (edited 15 April 1999).]
 
Thanks for all the input, kind words and great ideas.

The forum section of this site will always be FREE. It will be the worm so to speak on the hook. What we are talking about is as the site grows, so will the cost to run it.

Here are the stats since inception.
October
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 635238
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 5574184395
Average Files Transmitted daily 23527
Average Bytes Transmitted Daily 206451274

November
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 781175
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 6916002631
Average Files Transmitted daily 24412
Average Bytes Transmitted daily 216125082

December
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 1297246
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 8046875486
Average Files Transmitted daily 41847
Average Bytes Transmitted daily 259576629

January
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 1946813
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 12352305889
Average Files Transmitted Daily 60838
Average Bytes Transmitted Daily 386009559

February
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 2922509
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 17877900383
Average Files Transmitted Daily 91328
Average Bytes Transmitted Daily 558684387

March
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 3416627
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 19021967551
Average Files Transmitted Daily 117815
Average Bytes Transmitted daily 655929916

So far this month
Files Transmitted During Summary Period 2530682
Bytes Transmitted During Summary Period 11915390216
Average Files Transmitted Daily 133194
Average Bytes Transmitted Daily 627125801

Last month we nearly passed 20 Gigs of files through here and we are currently at about 133,000 hits a day!

This site will cost nearly $36,000 this year based on growth estimates and the cost of the server and bandwidth. So far it has been paid for out of my pocket and through the sales of banners and items from the store.

I will open the books to you guys as suggested above so you can see what is happening.

I made a promise when I started this site and I will keep it. Just as a reminder the promise was that this site will NOT be an extension of my business or any business. It will however need to support itself and we are simply looking for ideas on how to accomplish this. It is not a huge problem now, but if I do not take proactive measures now it could be come one before long at all.

I also am not of the school to ask for something and give nothing. Although it could be argued that what you are getting is a great forum I would rather tie in a membership with a FREE gift like a shirt or hat or maybe even a knife.

Sal's generosity is overwhelming! It also shows that this site has the potential of being a very welcome resource for manufacturers. I have plans in that area as well that I will discuss with them at the Blade Show.

Now if the stats above are not impressive enough imagine this. We have done this without spending a dime in advertising! Heck I am scared to advertise now! I will run one ad for the Blade Show issue that I will pay for to see what happens.

It is obvious we have a great thing going here and we all want it to continue. All we need to do now is take the proper steps to insure that.




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




 
I'm game on what you decide here. A membership fee sounds alright with me. A membership ID card would be sufficient.


Mark


------------------
" Knife Collectors Are Sharp People -- Most of the time, that is! "
Click to expand...


 
To bad this wasn't a church. Then our donations whould be tax deductable.
smile.gif
A voluntary membership fee sounds like a good idea, as long as there are enough volunteers. I plan to be posting untill I'm 90 years old, and $15.00 a year is a small price to pay for all the great people on Bladeforums.com.
Blades
 
Hummm the Church idea sounds cool
smile.gif


The Church of the tactically advantaged
wink.gif


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




 
Count me in for the voluntary membership. Without this site, I would have to spend more time working
wink.gif


Later,
Chris
 
Several people mentioned knife mags. I refuse to pay money for the knife mags, quite simply, but I love the forum. So as long as this membership fee is in the neighborhood of a knife mag subscription, it's a deal. Count me in. If you want to give something besides the forums for the fee, I like the idea somebody brought up to let "paying members" have first shot at the specials like those Spydies.

My girlfriend wants a knife to carry now--I bet she'd love a fancy blue Native. Besides, money spent on presents doesn't count!

I'd probably also buy a BFC t-shirt. Just let us know what you want to do, Spark--I think we're all behind Mike on this.

How much is forum membership worth? Let's see what I've gotten out of it in the 5 months I've been here:
1. Found out FMA exists; soon to begin training.
2. Got to name a custom knife model, got #3 of 50 for half price.
3. Just bought a BM 830 Ascent for a good price from a forumite; didn't know what Benchmade was B.F. (Before Forums)
5. Learned about companies I'd never heard of: Mad Dog, Busse, REKAT, Microtech etc.
Here, I get to talk about Spydercos with Sal Glesser; how can a magazine ever match that kind of access?
6. Got to discuss knifemaking with great custom makers and smiths for free. Now making first knife from scratch.
7. Real, reliable information--how much is that worth?
8. New friendships (keep in mind, I know people like my girlfriend who pay hundreds per year to purchase friends from a fraternity or sorority, so this is really cheap
smile.gif
)
9. Found The Firing Line. 'Nuff said.
10. This place is cool. The people are cool. I enjoy it much and I'm not treated like a freak here simply for having a piece of metal that gets thinner at the edge.

Thanks Mike and Spark.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top