Paid membership.....Why not?

[Tom_123]

So why don't more people join?

Frankly and honest?

I’m not living in the USA, so I would have to pay $5 more for a membership
than the guys living in the USA.
It’s not the money and I think it is not meant this way,
nevertheless, for me this feels like being a second-class member.
I’ll never beg anyone to be a member nor would I pay additional money for that reason.

 

[Kiah]

Frankly and honest?

I’m not living in the USA, so I would have to pay $5 more for a membership
than the guys living in the USA.
It’s not the money and I think it is not meant this way,
nevertheless, for me this feels like being a second-class member.
I’ll never beg anyone to be a member nor would I pay additional money for that reason.

It's not a matter of country, it's a matter of automation. International sales cost time for the owner to manually deal with IIRC. If it makes you feel any better, US members that pay by MO or PP have to pay extra as well.

 

[Nordic Viking]

I met my wife through Bladeforums. Since then we've had two kids; Blade and Forums and have a third one on the way. We're going to name him Spark.

 

[Robert.B]

I need to get my gold on, I wish they had an option for lifetime membership...I'd buy that just so I dont have to renew, will likely get the 3 year option going.

I've been putting it off till I was stateside, and before that I didn't see a point because I rarely posted on bladeforums until last year when I got back into knives full steam (always carried, but stopped collecting for nearly 5 years while building tuner cars and racing).

 

[CWL]

Orrr...there are some of us who just plain don't have the cash at the moment.

Might I point out that you have been here for over 3 years and have made more posts than I have in 10 years...

Rather than telling everyone how wonderful you are, why not lay out a small bit of cash to support a site that you obviously enjoy partaking in?

 

[Codger_64]

I don't need anyone's opinion/advice on how to spend money I earn, codger. Not that it is any of your concern, but I bought a $4 tool set to repair a knife that I received from a Pay it Forward thread so I could actually use it. A thread I started by giving other forumites my things, that I paid for, for free. For your further information, no I don't have ten bucks to spend on something I don't really use on a regular basis because I am saving as much cash as humanly possible so I can live/work in El Salvador helping homeless people. Not that any of this is any of your business or concern, of course. Copy?

Hey Codger! I think dougo83 is upset with you. Do you care?

Not really UffDa. Hell, in a year's time I could save enough sodie-pop cans to pay for a membership. Ten bucks? Hell, sell a knife. Or buy three less gallons of gas one month. Or two less packs of cigs a year. Or fewer beers. I have been too broke to pay before, so that I can understand. But if BF.com is of any importance, there is a way to pay. I also use USPS money orders to pay by mail so pay a bit extra for membership. I don't get my panties in a wad over it and don't feel any less like a superhero that men admire, women swoon over and children stare at in awe. Well, my dog likes me anyway. I am his favorite person.

 

[Bufford]

Membership works out to only pennies a day. Good value for the information, the conversations with others, and entertainment. No magazine could provide that much for this little.

 

[UffDa]

This thread reminds me of the people standing on a corner panhandling while smoking cigarettes. What do they cost now? $5 to $7 a pack?


Yeah, spend your money as you see fit, but remember this sign......

DO TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR FREE SERVICES, THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY FREE SERVICES.

 

[dougo83]

Might I point out that you have been here for over 3 years and have made more posts than I have in 10 years...

Well, of course you may, but what does that have to do with anything?

Rather than telling everyone how wonderful you are, why not lay out a small bit of cash to support a site that you obviously enjoy partaking in?

I have never once said how wonderful I am. Because I am not. I am just a guy doing his thing. For the record, my membership lapsed. But thanks for your oh-so-valuable input.

Hell, in a year's time I could save enough sodie-pop cans to pay for a membership.

Don't drink 'em. The internet told me they would kill me.

Hell, sell a knife.

Wish I could. I have been trying to pare down what I have. Mostly because I only use a handful of them.

Or buy three less gallons of gas one month.

I ride a bike now. One of the perks of living close to work.

Or two less packs of cigs a year.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=812990

Or fewer beers.

I don't drink. Well...I work at a bar, I don't buy beer.

I have been too broke to pay before, so that I can understand. But if BF.com is of any importance, there is a way to pay.

It's all about priorities, man. Mine are in line for me.

DO TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT OUR FREE SERVICES, THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY FREE SERVICES.

What complaints? The only complaint I have seen is from paying members who think that shelling out a few bucks for a website makes them something special and somehow superior to those who do not. Either way, I would be fine with that. It's life. I am sure mine would not end if Spark decided that he was only going to allow paying members.

 

[Shann]

Why not? Pretty much laziness. I've been a paying member before and will be again. No good explanation.

 

[FLymon]

I don't need anyone's opinion/advice on how to spend money I earn, codger. Not that it is any of your concern, but I bought a $4 tool set to repair a knife that I received from a Pay it Forward thread so I could actually use it. A thread I started by giving other forumites my things, that I paid for, for free. For your further information, no I don't have ten bucks to spend on something I don't really use on a regular basis because I am saving as much cash as humanly possible so I can live/work in El Salvador helping homeless people. Not that any of this is any of your business or concern, of course. Copy?

Not judging about weather or not you are/have been/will become a paying member, that is absolutely your prerogative, but I am curious to see where 4 posts per day ranks you in a list of "Most posts per day on Bladeforums". My guess is the top 10% or higher.

Personally I think it's worth all 20 cents a week just to make the ads go away.

 

[Codger_64]

...Personally I think it's worth all 20 cents a week just to make the ads go away.

Ads? What ads???

Shann... Why not? Pretty much laziness. I've been a paying member before and will be again. No good explanation.

^^ This^^ ... honesty. :thumbup:

 

[Parasitic Psycho]

I don't really mind non-paying members. Either they have paid in the past or will possibly pay in the future. Some people contribute in the form of information. As long they contribute in one USEFUL way or another, why bother getting worked up over it?

My membership expires next month and I'll more than likely be renewing right away. I don't post all that often, but I do enjoy the limitless knife knowledge the forum provides. After a little over a year, I feel as though I got my moneys worth and that's all that matters to me.

Oh yeah, I wouldn't be able to stand the ads either!

 

[CWL]

... I am saving as much cash as humanly possible so I can live/work in El Salvador helping homeless people. Not that any of this is any of your business or concern, of course. Copy?

Hey, you stepped into this post volunteering how much of a saint you are.

You're meaning to say that you couldn't have come-up with $10 at some point in any of the past 3 years?

 

[UffDa]

Hey, you stepped into this post volunteering how much of a saint you are.

You're meaning to say that you couldn't have come-up with $10 at some point in any of the past 3 years?

I think his meaning is quite clear. He enjoys the forum, but doesn't want to contribute a few bucks. All the rest is BS.

 

[dougo83]

Hey, you stepped into this post volunteering how much of a saint you are.

If that's what you read, fine. I am sorry for your comprehension problem.

You're meaning to say that you couldn't have come-up with $10 at some point in any of the past 3 years?

My membership lapsed. Since then, I haven't renewed it.

I think his meaning is quite clear. He enjoys the forum, but doesn't want to contribute a few bucks.

Same reading comprehension problem as cwl? Sad.

All the rest is BS.

You can call me a lot of things, but not a liar. Not that I care either way. It sure does say a lot about your character though.

ETA: I am the member of 4 forums. 3 are hobby, etc forums like BFC and the other professional. They all are exactly the same as far as formatting, set-up, options, etc. Why is it, then, that this is the only one that charges? For everything? hmm...

 

[Nordic Viking]

Guys, Let's not badger folks for not being paid members.

 

[dougo83]

But...where else would they go to find their self-worth?

 

[UffDa]

Guys, Let's not badger folks for not being paid members.

We are not badgering all the folks who are not paid members. Only dougo83 who brought it on himself.

But...where else would they go to find their self-worth?

Oh Boo Hoo. You hurt my feelings.

 

[CWL]

There was no badgering, but if someone steps-up and volunteers explanations, one that IMO, is not reasonable, then it does open the poster up for skepticism.