Just one more thought....

[averageguy]

Just one more thought before this new membership thing is finalized. I have always believed this would have to become a paysite. I also believe everyone should contribute. At $10.00 apiece that's $110,000.00. The problem for me is paying $30.00 to sell. I don't sell many knives here and when I do it is more often than not for some fraction of what I paid. And why should I pay as much as someone (dealer or maker) who hopes to sell many knives here or even make money (I know that's difficult in the knife business). In fact for some of these people Bladeforums exchange will be like a primary or secondary website getting far more hits than they could get through another website they created. Mind you, I am not suggesting that dealers - makers - or high volume individuals pay more necessarily. I like to be able to browse these offerings and consider it one of the best features of Bladeforums. Everyone should pay something to be a member of the premier knife site on the internet today. But, if I am forced to pay $30.00 to sell a few knives I will likely sell elsewhere. I just updated my registration at knifeforums. It is likely others will make the same decision. This means that $30.00 idea may not work and Bladeforums will still be seeking a means of financing. I believe that at least half of all forum members would accept a $10.00 fee. But I am guessing less than 5% will opt to shell out $30.00. I just want Bladeforums to work and I want to contribute but I probably wont pay $30.00. Everyone should be a paying member and I believe at least half of us would pony up $10.00 immediately to keep this going. The other half and many thousands of others would come around in time to pay a small fee also. In the near future one will likely have to pay to be a member of any premium website. And in time those fees may approach $30.00 but that's a pretty high fee now to sell a few knives at a loss.

 

[Starfish]

averageguy -

I'm not speaking for Spark here, just relaying what has been indicated in other threads on this issue where the Spark has spoken.

First - you will not be paying as much as the dealers do to sell knives. I'm not sure I ever saw the exact figure, but it was indicated by Spark that dealers would pay significantly more than individuals. And of course, along with that step-up in price comes a step-up in capabilities with regards to the For Sale forums.

Second - I wonder how many people, like myself, are tired of armchair economists explaining the law of diminishing returns to the rest of the forumites. Besides that, if you don't want to pay $30, then don't. It doesn't matter at all whether you think Spark hit the right price point for these forums. The decision has been made, Spark has obviously put his consideration into it, and has also indicated that $30 is the final offer. If it turns out to be the death of BFC, then so be it.

But who knows?

It could be just the thing to save it...